Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:11:04 -0400
From: Debra Henzey
Subject: Commissioner Barnes holding new positions on major boards
PITTSBORO-Chatham County Commissioner Patrick Barnes recently was elected vice chair of the Board of Trustees for Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) and also was appointed by Speaker of the House Joe Hackney to serve on the newly created N.C. Small Business Contractor Authority in the State Department of Commerce.
CCCC’s Board of Trustees elect their own chair and vice chair, who serve one-year terms. Barnes has served on the Board of Trustees for three years as a representative of Chatham County’s Board of Commissioners. He also chairs the Buildings & Grounds Committee for the Board of Trustees.
“Central Carolina Community College is such an important education and economic development resource. It not only prepares our workforce, it improves our quality of life and serves as a vital link throughout the region,” Barnes said. “I am very honored to be the new vice chair.”
The role of the Board of Trustees is to appoint and advise the community college’s president. The trustees recently appointed a new president, Dr. T. Eston “Bud” Marchant III from South Carolina, who will assume the new role when Dr. Matt Garrett retires on Sept. 1.
Additionally, the Board provides budget oversight and general policy guidance, including making decisions on new or discontinued educational programs.
Barnes also recently learned that he will serve a three-year term on the N.C. Small Business Contractor Authority, which reports to the N.C. Secretary of Commerce. The 11-member authority was authorized by the General Assembly through 2007 legislation.
The main purpose of the new authority is to help financially stable small businesses obtain required financing and bonding to compete for and successful complete government and utility contracts. However, this support is provided only when the small businesses are unable to obtain financing and bonding from other sources at a reasonable cost.
“As a small business owner myself, this is a critical program that will boost economic development,” Barnes said. “Much of the growth in our economy today comes from small businesses, but it is sometimes hard to meet the requirements to bid on a government contract. Small businesses doing good work and managing their money effectively now have a new resource available to help meet these requirements.”
The authority oversees two funds. The Small Business Contract Financing Fund provides loans to help qualified small businesses obtain equipment or capital needed to perform work related to specific government or regulated utility contracts. The Small Business Surety Bond Fund helps these businesses obtain certain types of bonds required for government or utility contracts.
The authority oversees the program, including making sure that rules are in place to ensure that loans and bonds go to qualified applicants that are financially stable and can repay their loans.
Debra J Henzey
Director of Community Relations
Chatham County Manager’s Office
919-542-8258