Contact:Lesa E. Price, Strategic Initiatives Director 919-718-4605 ext.5505 lprice@leecountync.com August 15, 2006 Lee County Readies for BRAC Impacts At their regular meeting on August 14, 2006, the Lee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the establishment of the Lee County Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Coordinating Committee. This committee is charged with conducting activities necessary to ensure community readiness for the potential impacts of BRAC related activities. Additionally, the committee will advise the Commissioners of relevant developments and any resources needed to ready our community for the anticipated growth arising from BRAC actions. Over the next five years, eleven counties and seventy-seven municipalities in North Carolina will experience growth as a result of the Department of Defense (BRAC) actions at Ft. Bragg and Pope Air Force Base. The closure of Ft. McPherson and realignment of U.S. Army Forces Command headquarters and U.S. Army Reserve Command headquarters to Ft. Bragg and Pope Air Force Base will certainly affect Lee County, the City of Sanford and the Town of Broadway. County Commissioner Ed Paschal and Sanford Mayor Cornelia Olive were appointed by the Lee County Board of Commissioners to represent the county and to serve on the BRAC Regional Task Force. As members of the task force, Commissioner Paschal and Mayor Olive will represent Lee County in the regions planning and preparation for BRAC impacts. The BRAC RTF is the regional focal point for BRAC related issues for member communities. Its intent is to support long-term sustainability of Ft. Bragg as a national asset that is essential to our national defense and readiness. It is widely believed that the health of the neighboring 11 counties is directly affected by the health of Ft. Bragg. In addition to serving as representatives on the BRAC RTF, Commissioner Paschal and Mayor Olive lead the efforts of Lee County and will work directly with the Lee County BRAC Coordinating Committee. Committee members are: Commissioner Ed Paschal, Commissioner Robert Reives, Mayor Cornelia Olive, Bob Bridwell, Bob Heuts, Lesa Price, John Ramsperger, Jan Rider and Bob Stevens. The committee is busy making preparations for a "Welcome to North Carolina Re-location Fair" to be held September 13th and 14th at Ft. McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia. Three people will travel to Atlanta to represent our community's schools, housing, economic development and major attractions. With the efforts and support of Central Carolina Community College, the committee is producing a DVD that will promote our community and the quality of life it offers. The DVD along with other material will be distributed to families attending the fair. The committee has also developed a webpage promoting Lee County on the BRAC RTF website for military and civilian families who are moving or considering moving to our area as a result of base realignment and closure. Lee County BRAC Welcoming Page
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