The preliminary results of the Defense and Homeland Security Business and Employment Sectors study were presented at the Defense Business Association meeting on April 14.  The results showed us the lines of business and types of jobs that will most likely be available in 2011 with the move of FORSCOM and USARC.  The study when complete will provide a regional inventory of all resources that can support the workforce, service, and product needs of FORSCOM and USARC. It will also analyze gaps and provide recommendations to meet the demands for a viable Defense and Homeland Security industry cluster in the region.

Design work continues on PipelineNC, the new career exploration, employment and talent platform which will be available in late August.  Erik Wells has joined our staff as IT Program Manager and is leading the effort and work with the contractor, Futures, Inc.  He has years of I.T. experience as founder and owner of a Fayetteville-based technology company, Schoollink.  

In addition to the PipelineNC project, the BRAC RTF has partnered with Hensel Phelps, N.C. Department of Commerce/Workforce Development Division, N.C. Military Business Center and Futures, Inc. to develop a Web site—www.buildbragg.com -- for construction employment and subcontracting opportunities related to the combined headquarters project on Fort Bragg.  This site, used in conjunction with other employment advertising and announcements, has attracted attention from job seekers and contractors in North Carolina and others in surrounding states and beyond. 

If you’re interested in construction progress of the new FORSCOM/USARC combined headquarters, please check our home page at www.bracrtf.com for a new photo gallery of construction progress images.  The photos will be updated on a more frequent basis once the building foundation takes shape.

A large crowd was on hand on April 14 for the Defense Business Association meeting.  Over 200 business people representing various defense firms and other industry attended this meeting.  Moving forward, our new Business Development Manager, Joy Thrash will lead the efforts of building the membership and formalizing the association.  Joy will also be responsible for recruiting business and industry to PipelineNC.  Joy has worked in the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community for many years and was most recently with the Chamber. 

Finally, we are planning for the fourth and final Relocation Fair at FORSCOM/USARC headquarters this fall.  Plans are coming together and we will have more information on what to expect soon.  John Bellamy and Renee Siemiet are leading this effort from the BRAC RTF office.

If you have any questions, please let us hear from you at admin@bracrtf.com or 910-436-1345.

Sincerely,

Paul Dordal
Executive Director