The Raleigh Report
from the office of Representative Marian McLawhorn
November 24, 2009
Even in the face of high unemployment numbers and a slowly recovering economy, North Carolinians have much to be thankful for this year. Our state is showing signs of recovering from this economic storm, and we will come out ahead. One of the most valuable resources of our state is the beauty and diversity of our natural environment. That’s why it is so important that we work in the state government to protect these invaluable natural resources and promote North Carolina’s tourism industry. The following information highlights just some of the legislation and budgetary measures we implemented this year to support tourism in North Carolina.
If you have any questions or if I can be of assistance, please feel free to contact me. Thank you as always for your interest in the work of the General Assembly and state government, and thank you for your support.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tourism
_A new state law created the North Carolina Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council (SB 1067 - S.L. 2009-530). One of the issues to be considered by the council is an in-depth analysis of the potential impacts that the production of sustainable local food would have on economic development in North Carolina, both the direct impacts for the producers of sustainable local food and the actual and potential indirect impacts, such as encouraging restaurants that feature locally raised agricultural products and promoting food and wine tourism.
_The 2009 Studies bill directed the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee to study whether to require the Division of Motor Vehicles to place the North Carolina tourism Web site, visitnc.com, on the State's registration plates and whether to require all license plates issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles to have a "First in Flight" background, including all specialized license plates (HB 945 – S.L. 2009-574).
_A new state law created the state Mountain Resources Commission, in part to protect the natural beauty of Western North Carolina and the associated tourism industry (SB 968 – S.L. 2009-485).
Budget
_This year’s budget included $360,000 to reorganize Heritage Tourism into three regions (SB 202 – S.L. 2009-451). Each region will have one Heritage Tourism officer, and a Heritage Tourism Director will be located at the Department of Commerce. One additional position will coordinate the Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary. Three jobs were cut.
_The Wine and Grape Growers Council of North Carolina was allocated $828,000 in this year’s budget (SB 202 – S.L. 2009-451).
_The North Carolina Aquarium Fund was allocated $657,770 in recurring funds and $551,436 in non-recurring funds in this year’s budget (SB 202 – S.L. 2009-451). The money increased the operating budget for the North Carolina Aquarium Fund to reflect the transfer of the Aquarium's Special Activities and Events funds into this fund.
_Because of the economic downturn, we were unable to do as much for North Carolina’s tourism industry as we would have liked. There were reductions in spending to the Roanoke Island Commission, the state Maritime Museum, Tryon Palace and other state historic sites, as well as general cuts to the Department of Cultural Resources as a whole. Cultural Resources received a cut of nearly $5.5 million, a reduction of about 7 percent, less than many other areas of state government. About 17 positions were eliminated. These cuts may result in fewer programs and less maintenance and upkeep at state-run tourist sites. When the economy recovers, we hope to restore some of these cuts and increase funding for state tourism sites across the board.