Perdue, Bev. Press Release, 2011-04-11, North Carolina Businesses Secure 14 New State Contracts Since January

Beverly Eaves Perdue Governor State of North Carolina Office of the Governor 20301 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-0301 April 11, 2011 Contact: Chris Mackey Office: (919) 733-5612 North Carolina Businesses Secure 14 New State Contracts since January Perdue ’s NC Business Preference program kept $6.6 million in tax dollars in-state RALEIGH - Thanks to Gov. Bev Perdue’s North Carolina Business Preference program, North Carolina companies received 14 new state contracts worth more than $3.6 million since the beginning of the year. Red Star Oil Company of Raleigh price-matched a bid worth more than $2.7 million for fuel for the Division Purchasing and Contract. Their bid was within five percent of three companies from Georgia, Indiana and Michigan. “That means those tax dollars were kept in-state and invested in North Carolina businesses, instead of being spent with out-of-state companies, said Gov. Bev Perdue. “As we pull out of this global economic recession, it’s critical to do everything we can to support businesses and keep people on the payrolls across the state.” The total amount awarded since Executive Order 50 was issued is now more than $6.6 million. As part of her effort to set government straight and grow jobs, Gov. Perdue signed Executive Order 50, which created the North Carolina Business Preference Program, a price-matching option for North Carolina businesses bidding on state contracts. Under the program, if a North Carolina-based business is not the low bidder on a state contract, but submits a bid within 5 percent or $10,000 of the lowest bid, whichever is less, the North Carolina business will receive the opportunity to match the out-of-state bidder’s price and secure the contract.