Politics & Government

Triad Region Focus Of $2 Billion Bond Referendum Event

By Keri Brown

Published March 7, 2016 at 4:41 PM EST

Gov. Pat McCrory says if voters approve $2 billion in borrowing , it would pay for repairs, renovations and expansions in education, agriculture, parks and water/sewer systems. KERI BROWN/WFDD

The campaign is heating up for a $2 billion statewide bond referendum. State and business leaders are attending an event Tuesday in Greensboro to support the Connect North Carolina funding. The focus will be on the potential economic impact it would have for the Piedmont region if passed in the March primary.

The Triad alone could receive $360 million under the bond. The project includes a new National Guard readiness center in Guilford County, a new exhibit at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, and improvements at Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Parks.

UNC systems and community colleges will also see a boost. More than 60 percent would be spent on new buildings and repairs on campuses.

Governor McCrory has championed the measure, saying it will create 21st century jobs and improve infrastructure. He adds that there will be no new taxes to pay for it. State and business leaders will attend the panel discussion at the National Guard Armory in Greensboro.

The referendum will be on the primary ballot for voters to decide on March 15.

*You can follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

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Keri Brown

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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Triad Region Focus Of $2 Billion Bond Referendum Event

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