June 2022

Latest Announcements
The federal Congressional appropriations provide $4 million in funding toward building a transformational center designed to help people in the military and their families secure meaningful employment. FCEDC and Community Development Foundation are leading this effort, with strong support from the business community and various local organizations. The facility would fill a great need. Approximately 7,000 servicemembers transition to the private sector from Fort Bragg every year, and approximately 26,000 active military spouses live on or near Fort Bragg. Only 19 percent of those report adequate full-time employment. Additionally, more than 130,000 veterans live in the region surrounding Fort Bragg. Read more.
ChenMed, the largest family-owned and physician-led primary care provider in the United States, is opening a medical center in Fayetteville and plans to invest 1.2 million in the Cape Fear Region. The company offers VIP, concierge-style medical services to many of the most health-vulnerable, low-income, and underserved patients. ChenMed’s Dedicated Medical Center project received support from the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Building Reuse Program to renovate an existing 9,500-square-foot building at 4101 Raeford Road. ChenMed has committed to creating at least 30 full-time jobs, with an above-average annual wage. Read more.
Robert Van Geons, President and CEO of Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC), is the winner of the inaugural Innovation of the Year Award. Van Geons received the award during North Carolina Economic Development Association's annual conference in Wrightsville Beach. Van Geons was recognized for his work toward bridging the digital divide in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, advancing the goal of affordable and ubiquitous access to advanced digital infrastructure for all residents. Read more.
Longtime journalist Kim Hasty has been named FCEDC Director of Communications, which will allow Maarja Hightower to move into the position of Director of Marketing. Hasty graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Journalism in Chapel Hill in 1982. She began a long career with The Fayetteville Observer in the sports department, then went on to become a lifestyle columnist and editor of Sunday Life magazine and was a multiple winner of N.C. Press Association awards for writing. She went on to serve as Director of University Relations at Methodist University in 2018 and as editor of CityView Magazine in 2020. Read more.
FCEDC By The Numbers
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Executive Vice President Rob Patton represented FCEDC at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Tampa, Florida. The four-day #SOFIC conference provides opportunities for networking, business intelligence, brand promotion, and product demonstration. Participants were offered detailed insights and tips on how to do business with the U.S. Special Operations Command. Read more.
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Visits Fort Bragg
EDPNC's CEO Christopher Chung and EDPNC's Board Chairman Gene McLaurin accompanied by FCEDC's President and CEO Robert Van Geons and EVP Rob Patton visited the Fort Bragg Garrison Deputy Commander and 419th Contracting Support Brigade recently. Thanks to the informative briefing, the team departed with a much greater appreciation for the mission of the Post and the economic engine that Fort Bragg, North Carolina, represents.

Pictured (L to R): Rob Patton, Christopher Chung, Gene McLaurin, Robert Van Geons
Local educators visited a variety of local sites on June 1 to better understand the STEM ecosystem in the Cumberland County area as part of the STARward STEM program. Among the sites was the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, where teachers toured museum exhibits and engaged in a challenge activity to envision STEM connections to classroom instruction. Several other sites hosted tours, including Booz Allen Hamilton, Emerging Technology Institute, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, the Public Works Commission, Fayetteville State University, Methodist University, and Fayetteville Technical Community College. Read more.
Due to the pending retirement of our longstanding leader of Existing Industry, we are beginning our search for the mission-critical Director of Existing Industry position. Charged with continuing and expanding our award-winning program, this individual will serve as a liaison between our organization and local businesses, helping to troubleshoot issues, and assisting with opportunities for growth and expansion. Successful candidates will possess excellent communication skills and either a relevant degree or substantial and related work experience. Resumes may be sent to info@fayedc.com.
Check out the latest available, quality jobs in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, NC. We encourage you to share these opportunities with anyone who is looking for a new career.
#DidYouKnow?
The Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) provides public transportation
seven days a week (27 buses and 18 routes)

A Message from FCEDC President & CEO
We are excited to be able to share so much good news about our community in this edition of Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation’s newsletter.

The support of our Cumberland County, City of Fayetteville, and private sector partners is integral to our efforts to attract business, promote quality of life, support existing industry and transform our local landscape. 

Sincerely,
Robert M. Van Geons, CEcD