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"Actively serving members as a trusted advocate, excellent resource and proactive catalyst for quality business and community service through economic development, public policy and membership services." ONE 01111 TO: Chief Electeds City Managers RE: NC STEM Initiative FROM: John S. Cox, President & CEO Cabarrus Regional Partnership NC STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) has identified and named a number of "STEM" communities in North Carolina. NC STEM has informed us that we (Cabarrus and Rowan Counties) are being considered for the recognition. At the urging of Senator Hartsell, I assembled a group to meet with STEM leaders in June. A result is that this group would like to determine whether or not enough interest exists to support a STEM initiative here. Background: NC STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) (see http: / /www.ncstem.org)has received funding from MCNC, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Battelle Memorial Institute to facilitate the development and execution of proper STEM education so that every child has a chance to succeed. Currently they are seeking one community per economic development region to develop a STEM project. After a thorough review, our community, the citizens of Rowan and Cabarrus counties, has been asked by the NC STEM Community Collaborative to take part. What is involved: Citizen leaders from the public and private sectors, education, economic development, and the community go through a visioning process to develop a STEM initiative that is aligned with regional assets. Typically, this visioning entails analyzing our assets and trends, hosting and attending community meetings, brainstorming, tapping into STEM expertise, designing a rigorous sustainable STEM project. Then the community will implement the STEM project that it designed. The process should take about a year from receiving letters of support (due by mid - September) to implementation. What project is planned: Currently no STEM project has been decided upon. The visioning process will build community consensus on what to pursue. One community that has completed the visioning process has developed professional development workshops for their teachers. What are you asking of me: Right now I am asking you for a short letter of endorsement to be turned in by September 21, 2010. Margie Benbow is coordinating the application process and would like to call on you /your organization to identify citizen leaders who would like to participate, maybe you would like to participate in the visioning process or an advisory role. If you can provide in -kind or financial support that is always appreciated. To tap into the three granting institutions funds, the community must contribute at least $20,000 in cash or in -kind services. We are not asking for funds at this time from local governments. What is the impact: Immediately, we are able to leverage our resources and match them with international, national and state foundation monies. In the near term, we are building awareness around STEM and community Aft" number 1 F -1