What: One-year agreement with a federal advocacy firm to pursue earmarks, Army Corps funding, defense-related funding and WIFIA financing for the authority.
Where it stands: Approved September 17 subject to attorney review, funded from the administrative budget (a director put the cost near $72,000 a year).
Next: Agreement execution; the board can review benefits after a year.
Details
The firm pitched earmark requests to the local congressional delegation, WRDA authorizations, NDAA funding near Camp Lejeune and changing North Carolina's limited access to WIFIA.
A member disclosed their town signed with the same firm the same day. The CEO later noted an EDA grant for a Holly Ridge water tower was denied and the firm could help find other funding.