APRIL 12, 2001

State Government News Briefs

Tourism Grows 5.5%: Roughly 43 million visitors spent more than $12 billion in North Carolina last year, a 5.5 percent increase in travel and tourism spending over 1999, Gov. Mike Easley said Monday at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Asheville. "Tourism continues to be a strong economic development engine for North Carolina at a time when our state needs these resources the most," Easley said. The travel industry generated $677 million total state tax revenue through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income, the governor said. Local governments within North Carolina received $399 million in sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses. Spending on auto transportation in North Carolina increased 7.3 percent in 2000. Lodging expenditures increased 5.3 percent; foodservice, 6.3 percent; entertainment and recreation, 1.0 percent; and general retail trade, 4.4 percent, Tourism generated more than 195,200 jobs within the state. North Carolina ranked seventh in domestic travel volume in the United States last year, behind California, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.

Wal-Mart Expands in Shelby: Wal-Mart plans to locate a distribution center in Cleveland County, investing $50 million and creating 600 new jobs, the state Commerce Department said. Wal-Mart will build a 1.2 million square foot distribution center on a 320-acre site approximately one mile west of Shelby. The company plans to break ground for the facility this fall and be fully operational by fall of 2002. Just last month, Wal-Mart announced plans to build a 400,000 square foot distribution center in Vance County that will cost $20 million and create up to 400 jobs. Wal-Mart currently operates 65 discount stores, 26 Supercenters, 16 SAM's Clubs and two distribution centers in North Carolina, employing more than 33,000 in the state.

Highway Patrol Targets Worst Roads: The N.C. Highway Patrol said it will be out in force at 25 of the state's most dangerous highways over the Easter holiday weekend (see list below). "Whether you're headed to the beach, visiting friends, or going to church, please drive with caution," said Colonel R. W. Holden, Highway Patrol commander. "Our Troopers will be looking for drunk drivers, speeders, and other violators throughout the state, in addition to our concentrated efforts on these particular corridors." Last year in North Carolina, 15 people died in 1,451 collisions during the Easter holiday period. The 2001 Easter weekend begins at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, April 12 and ends at midnight, Sunday, April 15. Citizens may report crashes, drunk drivers, stranded motorists or other highway situations to the Highway Patrol by dialing *HP (*47) on their cellular telephones. This is a toll free call that connects the caller with the nearest Highway Patrol communications center.

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