As you are aware, the proposed Monroe Bypass has been placed on hold again. After many setbacks the North Carolina Department of Transportation led us to believe that it would begin in 2013. We recently found out they are trying to push it out further in to 2014. The delay of this project is negatively impacting the local economy and delaying our ability to recover as a County. North Carolina continues to be a draw for businesses and residents. As a state, we certainly want everyone to be successful but we are competing everyday with our neighbors all over our state and we currently do not have what Governor Pat McCrory outlined in his inauguration: an area where we are “promoting an environment that encourages, growth, innovation, research, and intellectual curiosity”. We lose projects sometimes just because of travel time to Union County via Highway 74 alone. This should not be a reason we lose projects that create jobs in a time of such high unemployment. We have a County that has been deeply divided by a number of factors over time but as a fairly new resident to Union County I have quickly realized that our communities on the eastern side have had very little as far as growth. This project will do wonders for employment opportunities, positive economic outcomes, etc. for Wingate and Marshville. As the Chamber President, I see this as one of the most important projects we can complete to get our county moving in the right direction from a roads and infrastructure standpoint. We thank you for taking the time to help us with this.