Raleigh, NC October 10th, 2017 – The North Carolina Defense Industry Diversification Initiative (NC DIDI) will host a town hall entitled the “NC DIDI Western DoD Suppliers Forum” on Thursday, October 26th, 2017 to discuss solutions to the challenges being faced by businesses who contract Department of Defense contractors in the state of North Carolina.

The town hall is a part of a 5-part series of town halls aimed at gathering the businesses and DoD suppliers to learn more about your experiences as a supplier to the DoD and US military. This is an opportunity to educate your state and local stakeholders about what elements of this relationship are positive and about the various challenges that suppliers face.

“The voice of North Carolina’s manufacturing and service providing contractors are the most important piece of this initiative. The opportunity to capture their thoughts on how this process could be streamlined is vital to fortifying the Department of Defense contracting supply chain in this state, ” said Secretary Larry Hall, of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Co-Chairman of NC DIDI.

“These town halls coupled with our ongoing pilot projects will give defense companies the opportunity to grow and diversify into alternative markets.”

The event will take place at The Collider located in the Wells Fargo Building at 1 Haywood Street in Asheville, North Carolina in Suite 401. The event will begin at 10:00am and conclude at 12:00pm. The town hall will be moderated by the host.

“As we look to insulate defense contractors form potential budget cuts, we ensure that these companies remain viable. This forum will capture the experience of being in the DoD supply chain and why it is important to better understanding how to both grow and protect these businesses in our various regions,” said Scott Dorney, Director of the North Carolina Military Business Center.

Following the forum discussion, an informative briefing will be provided on ITARs and the ever-changing regulatory environment for DoD suppliers from subject-matter expert Derek Chen. While the event is free, registration is highly recommended. Those wishing to participate in the forum can register at our website, www.ncdidi.com or at NCDoDSupplierWest.

The presence of the media is requested.

The NC Defense Industry Diversification Initiative Advisory Board is chaired by NC Department of Military Affairs Secretary Larry Hall and NC State Industry Expansion Solutions Executive Director Phil Mintz.

About
The North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NCDMVA) provides advice, counsel and recommendations to the Governor, the NC General Assembly, the Secretary of Commerce and other State agencies on initiatives, programs and legislation that will continue and increase the role that NC’s military installations, the National Guard and Reserves play in America’s defense strategy and the economic health and vitality of the State. The NCDMVA also works to improve the accessibility of health, education, training, counseling, financial, and burial benefits and services to veterans and their dependents. They work to increase the satisfaction of veterans and their dependents with benefits and services by meeting their expectations for availability, quality, timeliness, and responsiveness.

Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) is the engineering-based, solutions-driven, client-focused unit of NC State University. Our broad portfolio and deep industry expertise help organizations grow, innovate and prosper. Our extensive partnerships with business, industry, education and government generate a unique culture of collaboration that provides access to cutting-edge expertise, research, and technology.

The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) is a business development entity of the North Carolina Community College System, headquartered at Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC). The mission of the NCMBC is to leverage military and other federal business opportunities to expand the economy, grow jobs and improve quality of life in North Carolina.

Contact: Nimasheena N. Burns, Communications and Project Manager, 984-204-2994