"Our university system and our community college system are two of the best parts of the state and they are about to be tarnished. From a business perspective, I see the UNC System and the community colleges in terms of an economic development tool that gives us an advantage over other states....It's just a very important asset that we can't let get any worse from a capital needs standpoint."
Mac Everett, Chairman of N.C. Citizens for Business and Industry

"We’re afraid nothing is going to happen unless the university and community colleges go to the legislature with a joint package and unless the business community aggressively lobbies the General Assembly."
Phil Kirk, President of N.C. Citizens for Business and Industry

As a national model for excellence in public higher education, North Carolina depends on its universities and community colleges to produce the workforce necessary to remain competitive in the ever-expanding global economy. However, without the proper facilities in which to continue vital research and quality teaching, UNC and the community colleges will lose their competitive edge, thus putting the state’s economy in jeopardy as well. North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry understands this critical relationship between continued economic prosperity and the need for a well-educated workforce and have teamed with higher-education leaders to advance the capital financing initiative.

NCCBI Chairman Mac Everett and former chairman Phil Phillips have agreed to make working toward a solution to the mounting capital needs of UNC and the community colleges the organization’s top priority. As Phillips told the Joint Select Committee on Higher Education Needs: "I characterize the problem as a bad case of benign neglect. The business community believes North Carolina can afford a first-class university system, and the business community believes North Carolina can afford a first-class community college system. I urge you to hear this plea and get the ball rolling now."

NCCBI, under the leadership of Everett, Phillips, and Kirk, is aggressively working to support a solution in the 2000 session of the General Assembly to the University and Community College construction and renovation needs.