Guns and money.

• Author: Landis, III, Kel
• Position: Letters - Letter to the Editor

I commend your February cover story. It is imperative we build a collaborative effort throughout our state to drive awareness of North Carolina as the most-friendly military state in the country. We must then develop a strategy to attract and support military-related manufacturers, suppliers and service providers. As you reported, North Carolina ranks fourth in terms of total military personnel (but at the top on a per capita basis) yet falls near the bottom of all states in military-related manufacturing.

As a native of Eastern North Carolina, co-chair of the Foundation of Renewal for Eastern North Carolina and chair of the North Carolina Bankers Association, I was pleased with your efforts to inform your readers and raise awareness. FoR ENC and the NCBA both recognize this as a major opportunity for economic development and whole-heartedly support this effort. Each also understands the critical importance of the military to...