(Fayetteville, N.C.) The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC), North Carolina Aerospace Alliance (NC-AA) and the Golden LEAF Foundation (GLF) are pleased to announce that since June 2008, approximately 150 registered North Carolina vendors have won more than 425 Defense Logistics Agency purchase orders with a maximum award value in excess of $4.7 million.

While many industries are experiencing economic hardship, the aerospace industry is keeping pace in North Carolina, due to the shift from manufacturing for new aircraft to maintenance, repair and overhead for existing platforms. NCMBC, NC-AA, and GLF are combining resources and connections to assist the state in building the aerospace industry in North Carolina. Part of this network connects the Federal government’s Department of Defense (DoD) aerospace industry needs with part suppliers in North Carolina registered through the NC-AA’s www.SourceNC.com Website.

SourceNC provides qualifying NC businesses an interactive database of DoD solicitations. In addition, reverse engineering (RE) services are available through the NC-AA to provide the support and assistance small- and medium-sized businesses need to effectively enter into DoD RE projects.

NC-AA recently held its inaugural North Carolina Aerospace Supplier Conference in Raleigh. Over 400 people attended the conference, which featured over 55 (NC) original parts supplier exhibitors. Many of the suppliers historically manufactured parts for a variety of industries but are now finding a toehold in creating aerospace parts for aging military crafts.

“The support provided by the Golden LEAF Foundation to the NC-AA has been the key, critical factor to date, that has allowed the alliance to succeed and grow to its current stature,” said Bill Greuling, Operations Manager, NCMBC. “Without Golden LEAF’s leadership and financial support during the critical years, the NC-AA, quite simply, would not exist.”

New Phoenix Aerospace in Morrisville, N.C., and VX Aerospace in Morganton, N.C., are NC-AA members, which have received loan capital from the Defense Venture Fund managed by Neuse River Development Authority. VX Aerospace recently received several contracts to supply composite helicopter parts to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Recent contract awards to New Phoenix include:

· August 12, 2009 - awarded a contract to supply reverse engineered flight deck components for use on the B1-B program valued at $118,000

· August 7, 2009 - awarded an initial design development program from an undisclosed customer to reverse engineer components for use on an Air Defense Missile System. The full contract is valued in excess of $500,000

· July 30, 2009 - receives a new contract from an undisclosed customer to provide motor components for use on an Anti Ballistic Missile program. Initial contract valued at approx $30,000.

To find out how your North Carolina machining or manufacturing company can become a part of this growing industry, visit www.sourcenc.com or contact Bill Greuling at greulingb@ncmbc.us.

The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) is a business development entity of the North Carolina Community College System, headquartered at Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC). The mission of the NCMBC is to leverage military and other federal business opportunities for economic development and quality of life in North Carolina. The NCMBC’s primary goal is to help existing businesses identify, bid on and win military and other federal contracts. Businesses notified or assisted by the NCMBC since it opened in 2005 have won at least 663 contract awards worth $1.44 to $3.06 billion.