The NC Chamber and statewide business community are taking a leadership role in one of the most critical issues facing our state and our future. North Carolina’s transportation infrastructure is one of our state’s most important assets, touching every North Carolina citizen in one way or another through its impact on safety, quality of life, economic development and daily commerce. However, North Carolina is facing a transportation funding crisis, as transportation revenues will begin declining by mid-2015 by hundreds of millions annually – only a few months away!

Today, we hosted a press conference to address the urgent need for a sustainable, long-term funding source to ensure the safety and efficiency of our roads and bridges. We were joined by members of the Coalition for a Prosperous Future including Kit Cramer with Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Charles Edwards with NC Center for Global Logistics and Jerry Cook with Hanesbrands. Each speaker agreed that 2015 must be a year of action and the business community is leading the way! You can watch the highlights of the press conference and read coverage here. We will continue to share press coverage on this in the coming days.

Additionally, we launched the “North Carolina Cannot Afford to Wait” campaign on Monday to increase urgency and bolster support for transportation funding reform. While alarming, this ad brings attention to our state’s transportation problems that will only get worse as funding decreases and more people move to North Carolina. Check out www.nccantaffordtowait.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

This is a top priority going into the 2015 Legislative Session. Working with an expanding coalition of businesses and allied organizations, we are pushing for stable and diverse transportation funding that will meet the demands of our network and ensure the safety of our roads and bridges. Join the fight – North Carolina cannot afford to wait!

Gary J. Salamido
Vice President, Government Affairs
North Carolina Chamber