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9 <br />Program Overview <br />Program Objectives /Purpose <br />The purpose of North Carolina's Certified Sites Program is to provide a statewide inventory of <br />industrial sites that have undergone a rigorous pre - qualification process to ensure they meet a <br />consistent set of standards. <br />A certified site reduces the risk associated with development by providing detailed and current <br />information about a site including price and availability, utilities, access, environmental concerns, <br />and potential site development costs. <br />Each site certified as part of the North Carolina Certified Sites Program must obtain approval of <br />the Intent to Certify from the Certified Sites Program Steering Committee, participate in a site <br />visit by member(s) of the Certified Sites Program Technical Review Team, meet or exceed all the <br />program criteria, provide complete and accurate documentation of each program element, and <br />receive final certification approval by the Steering Committee. <br />The entire certification process is completed online as part of the state's Buildings and Sites <br />database (www.ncedis.com). Once a site /park is approved by the Steering Committee, all site <br />certification documents will be available online to provide immediate access for prospective <br />companies and clients. <br />Program History and Successes <br />In 2001, North Carolina's Certified Sites Program was started in response to the rapidly changing <br />pace of economic development and the need to have more sites immediately ready for <br />development. It was one of the first statewide programs of its kind in the nation. In the first <br />year, 14 sites were certified. Between 2001 and 2008, more than 95 sites in 50 counties, totaling <br />almost 25,000 acres, have earned the Certified Sites designation. <br />Starting in 2008, the program's criteria and certification process were revised to incorporate <br />suggestions from a nationally- renowned site selection consultant, McCallum Sweeney Consulting; <br />a stakeholder group comprised of state, regional and local economic developers; and allies from <br />utility providers and engineering consulting firms. The redesign was initiated for several reasons: <br />• The level and detail of information expected from consultants and companies has increased. <br />• The redesign of the Buildings and Sites database (www.ncedis.com), allowed an <br />opportunity to provide immediate access to Certified Sites information for clients. <br />The N.C. Department of Commerce wanted to maintain the program's status as a leader in <br />an increasingly competitive environment, recognizing that 15 states and other economic <br />development organizations have created similar programs following North Carolina's lead <br />since 2001. <br />In addition, a Steering Committee was established to include economic development <br />professionals to assist in the certification process. A process for recertification was also <br />developed, and the revamped program launched in 2009. <br />2 N.C. Department of Commerce — Certified Sites Program <br />