| The Connect NC bond is a $2 billion general bond referendum to provide critical support for North Carolina’s university system, community colleges, water and sewer systems, state and local parks, agriculture, National Guard and public safety. The bond referendum, which will not require new taxes, will be on the March 15 ballot. If approved by voters, it will provide $90 million dollars to North Carolina A&T State University to construct the Engineering Research and Innovation Complex (ERIC) – a state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary, multifunctional facility for academics, research and community engagement.
The ERIC will provide the space and resources to attract some of the world’s most highly motivated and high-achieving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students and faculty to A&T and the Piedmont Triad. The facility has the potential to help the university increase the $656.2 million and nearly $1 billion economic impact it has had on the region and the state of North Carolina.
“In December, the N.C. A&T Board of Trustees voted unanimously to support the Connect NC bond. As key stakeholders, I encourage all of our alumni and partners to learn more about the referendum in preparation for the statewide vote on Tuesday, March 15,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. “The investment will provide the necessary resources to further solidify A&T as a 21st century leader in STEM education and its sustained workforce.”
The bond is an investment in the future for North Carolinians and the communities where they live, work and play. In the past 15 years the state’s population has grown by 2 million, becoming the ninth most populous state in the country. As the population has grown, so has the need to strengthen the state’s infrastructure. This strategic investment will cultivate a stronger economy, improve quality of life, enhance the safety of food and citizens and provide improved facilities for education and training.
If approved, the bond will make a significant investment in higher education statewide, including $980 million for the UNC System and $350 million for the North Carolina Community College System to address targeted construction and needed repairs and renovations.
Collectively, these improvements are needed to prepare students for careers in vital fields — such as nursing and engineering — that are growing in the state. State-of-the-art facilities are needed to provide Guilford County and North Carolina citizens with the necessary competitive edge in education and training to achieve their career goals and succeed.
Find more information about Connect NC and the ERIC online. |
