ARTICLE
Date	ArticleType
2/16/2007	Economic Development
Telecast on Faith Based Economic Development
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 12, 2007 CONTACT: Stuart Gilbert Telecast on Faith Based Economic Development Shelby, NC – The Cleveland County Chamber is partnering with Cleveland Community College to bring a telecast on faith based economic development to the county on February 21, 2007. The telecast will be open to the public for viewing from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in the Mildred H. Keeter Auditorium of Cleveland Community College. Economic Development is a team, really a community wide sport. It requires unity amongst the public and private sectors. Increasingly, nation wide, communities that involve the faith based community are becoming more successful at economic development. Look at some of our faith based institutions’ resources that are so important to increased unity and the ability to work together: 1. Congregations are composed of individuals with experience in extremely diverse fields that are willing to help others at no cost. 2. Faith Based Institutions are located everywhere in Cleveland County and our region. 3. Faith Based Institutions have buildings that for the most part could be used much more frequently, and for many people going to their faith based institution is a less intimidated place to go than a government office or college classroom. 4. Our local Faith Based Institutions offer spiritual and moral guidance and the opportunity to understand our purpose on earth and to help the lost to find the way to everlasting life. Chamber President Stuart Gilbert feels this unity will play a vital role in increasing economic development. “In the last six months as we have announcements that over a five year period will net over 2000 new jobs, I give Glory to God for answering our prayers for more jobs and opportunities in Cleveland County and our area. I hope that pastors and lay leadership will take the opportunity to come to this one hour meeting and investigate opportunities for ministry in their church that will help people to obtain a job. Last year a pilot program offered by a number of local Methodist churches in Cleveland County that gave hope and many resources to many jobless Cleveland Countians. Other local churches are investigating and helping the jobless. Most of us would agree that each family needs a job to provide adequately for their family. Let’s help each other to build unity in our communities by encouraging faith based institutions to bring opportunities to those that have been previously unreachable and to theleast of thee.” This telecast will focus on the impacts of faith-based initiatives on economic development and feature Missouri Senator Kit Bond, Deputy Assistant to the President Jay Hein, and Assistant Secretary of Commerce Sandy Baruah. The Assistant Secretary will interview representatives from the William M. Factory Small Business Incubator that recently received a service award from the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives as champions of compassion. The telecast will also showcase the recognition ceremony of the St. Patrick Center in St. Louis, MO, in which it received a Department of Commerce EDA award for Excellence in Economic Development in the category of Community and Faith-Based Social Entrepreneurship. For more information on the telecast, please visit http://narc.org/events/telecasts/faith-based-economic-development.html. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 12, 2007 CONTACT: Stuart Gilbert Telecast on Faith Based Economic Development Shelby, NC – The Cleveland County Chamber is partnering with Cleveland Community College to bring a telecast on faith based economic development to the county on February 21, 2007. The telecast will be open to the public for viewing from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in the Mildred H. Keeter Auditorium of Cleveland Community College. Economic Development is a team, really a community wide sport. It requires unity amongst the public and private sectors. Increasingly, nation wide, communities that involve the faith based community are becoming more successful at economic development. Look at some of our faith based institutions’ resources that are so important to increased unity and the ability to work together: 1. Congregations are composed of individuals with experience in extremely diverse fields that are willing to help others at no cost. 2. Faith Based Institutions are located everywhere in Cleveland County and our region. 3. Faith Based Institutions have buildings that for the most part could be used much more frequently, and for many people going to their faith based institution is a less intimidated place to go than a government office or college classroom. 4. Our local Faith Based Institutions offer spiritual and moral guidance and the opportunity to understand our purpose on earth and to help the lost to find the way to everlasting life. Chamber President Stuart Gilbert feels this unity will play a vital role in increasing economic development. “In the last six months as we have announcements that over a five year period will net over 2000 new jobs, I give Glory to God for answering our prayers for more jobs and opportunities in Cleveland County and our area. I hope that pastors and lay leadership will take the opportunity to come to this one hour meeting and investigate opportunities for ministry in their church that will help people to obtain a job. Last year a pilot program offered by a number of local Methodist churches in Cleveland County that gave hope and many resources to many jobless Cleveland Countians. Other local churches are investigating and helping the jobless. Most of us would agree that each family needs a job to provide adequately for their family. Let’s help each other to build unity in our communities by encouraging faith based institutions to bring opportunities to those that have been previously unreachable and to theleast of thee.” This telecast will focus on the impacts of faith-based initiatives on economic development and feature Missouri Senator Kit Bond, Deputy Assistant to the President Jay Hein, and Assistant Secretary of Commerce Sandy Baruah. The Assistant Secretary will interview representatives from the William M. Factory Small Business Incubator that recently received a service award from the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives as champions of compassion. The telecast will also showcase the recognition ceremony of the St. Patrick Center in St. Louis, MO, in which it received a Department of Commerce EDA award for Excellence in Economic Development in the category of Community and Faith-Based Social Entrepreneurship. For more information on the telecast, please visit http://narc.org/events/telecasts/faith-based-economic-development.html.