AN ACT to appropriate funds to The carolinas aviation museum.

Whereas, the Carolinas Aviation Museum (CAM) is developing a multi‑building technology‑focused campus of over 105,000 square feet that will provide STEM education linking students to North Carolina's expanding careers in aviation and aerospace; and

Whereas, CAM's mission focuses on creating access to STEM and careers for North Carolina's underserved regions and populations by bringing together our State's aviation/aerospace industries to address workforce development and industry retention and recruitment; and

Whereas, investment in the Carolinas Aviation Museum will further North Carolina's rich heritage in aviation history and strengthen our State's leadership position in aviation/aerospace and STEM innovation through the support of a new aviation museum already generating national and international interest; and

Whereas, CAM is looking to leverage the State's leadership position in aviation/aerospace to form a statewide alliance connecting and driving the development of the aviation/aerospace industry sector throughout North Carolina, strengthening and expanding the STEM career pipeline essential to propelling North Carolina's aviation/aerospace industries, and increasing tourism from national and international audiences; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2022‑2023 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to the Carolinas Aviation Museum, a nonprofit corporation, for its multi‑building technology‑focused campus to provide STEM education linking students to North Carolina's expanding careers in the aviation and aerospace industries.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2022.