November 2022

Latest Announcements
FCEDC Attended Fort Bragg Tour with National and State Organizations
FCEDC's Executive Vice President Rob Patton had the honor of attending a Fort Bragg Tour alongside representatives from The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, NC General Assembly, the Military Affairs Commission, and several other national and state educational, military, and government organizations. The day began with a briefing from the Garrison Commander. The participants then visited the Training Simulation Support Center, 82nd Airborne Innovation Lab, and Simmons Army Airfield. The educational tour highlighted soldiers and their need for technologies to maintain combat readiness. Thanks to the informative briefing, the team departed with a much greater appreciation for the mission of the Post and the economic engine that Fort Bragg, North Carolina represents.
Fort Bragg Research Institute (FBRI), a research program of The Geneva Foundation held a Grand Opening of the FBRI Fayetteville Office on October 13 at the CORE Innovation Center, co-located with FCEDC offices. Attendees enjoyed comments by community and military leaders, celebrating the organization's partnership with Fayetteville and Fort Bragg. Dedicated solely to research that supports the capability of soldiers, FBRI focuses on world-class medical research with a mission to enhance human performance through scientific innovation. Formed in 2018 as a collaborative effort between Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, and Geneva, FBRI links research infrastructure to meet the needs of operational readiness on Fort Bragg. Read more. 
The NC Tech Association, the primary voice of the technology industry in North Carolina, released its September NC TECH IT Job Trends data. The report reviews information technology job postings across North Carolina. Compared to all MSAs in the state, Fayetteville MSA had the highest percent increase for the job postings year-over-year of 85%. The association also reported that job postings for North Carolina and U.S. are both on the rise, with the overall monthly snapshot recording the third highest numbers of the past year. Read more. 
FCEDC Attended the Association of the United States Army Conference
Association of the United States Army (AUSA) held their Annual Meeting and Exhibition on October 10-12 in Washington, D.C. Rob Patton, FCEDC's Executive Vice President attended the event, which is the largest professional development defense forum in the country. Patton had the opportunity to get the latest industry insights, make new connections, and strengthen alliances to help our region grow and prosper. FCEDC is a proud supporter of AUSA, of which Patton and FCEDC President and CEO Robert Van Geons, CEcD, are both members.
FCEDC By The Numbers
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In the News
FCEDC’s President and CEO Robert Van Geons was recently featured in a Triangle Business Journal article titled "Executive Voice: He fights to bring more jobs – and possibly a megasite – to Fayetteville." The story by Evan Hoopfer focuses on the key strategic initiatives for FCEDC such as the HR Talent Portal, bringing more jobs to Fayetteville and Cumberland County, and site development and availability. When asked about how Van Geons envisions Fayetteville will be different in 10 years, he stated: "We have been making a concerted effort to battle cyclical poverty here. Ten years from now, we look to have effectively broken that cycle. Through workforce development programs, training, seed capital funds and entrepreneurship programs, we’re looking to lift up our citizens who are most in need and get them into the labor market, get them employed and give them opportunities for a better tomorrow. Ten years from now, we would really like to see ourselves as a center for applied innovation. Some of these great ideas that come up in places like RTP, we would be the place where those are put to active use." (Subscription needed) Read more. 
Community Events
FCEDC will attend the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal's Power Breakfast Series on Thursday, December 1. The program will feature an engaging discussion with three industry experts: James Freeman, Founder and President of the Emerging Technology Institute; Justin Hembree, Executive Director of the Mid-Carolina Regional Council; and Fred Surgeon, President of Surgeon & Associates, Inc. The agenda focuses on the growth of businesses in our community, what is driving these trends, and how our innovation economy can fuel further job growth for our region. Read more and register.
Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation is seeking a dynamic marketing and communications professional to serve as Director of Marketing & Communications. This position is considered mission critical for FCEDC’s success. The individual will spearhead the development and implementation of comprehensive marketing and communications strategy at the local, state, national and international levels to promote the community and its assets. Successful candidates will possess a bachelor’s degree in marketing, public/media relations, communications, or related field, with a minimum of three years’ experience, or a master’s degree in marketing/communications or equivalent field. 
 
Interested persons must submit a letter of interest, resume, and relevant marketing and writing samples to info@fayedc.com. The position will remain open until filled.
Check out the latest available, quality jobs in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, NC. We encourage you to share these opportunities with anyone who is looking for a new career.
#DidYouKnow?
Cumberland County is the top location in North Carolina for defense personnel (Department of Defense, 2022)

A Message from FCEDC President & CEO
Thank you for reading the FCEDC newsletter. In this issue, we share the latest news from our organization and highlight a few important happenings in our community. We are grateful to Cumberland County, the City of Fayetteville, and our private-sector partners for their unwavering support, as we continue to support existing industry, attract new businesses, and promote our outstanding quality of life.


Sincerely,
Robert M. Van Geons, CEcD