FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Pam Wall
(919) 281-2743
September 6, 2005

Triangle Tomorrow sets work plan to address regional quality-of-life issues

Research Triangle Region, N.C. – Triangle Tomorrow, the regional quality-of-life program of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP), has set a two-year plan to identify and address issues that affect the Research Triangle Region’s ability to compete globally for economic opportunity.

“Issues of air quality, education and land use transcend political boundaries but typically are only addressed on the local level,” said Roger Perry of East-West Partners, chairman of the Triangle Tomorrow board of directors. “We believe the Research Triangle Region will be globally competitive only if our communities collaborate to identify and address these issues regionally.”
 
Triangle Tomorrow’s work is a key component of the region’s competitiveness strategy, said RTRP President and CEO Charles Hayes.
 
“These issues directly affect our region’s ability to attract and expand business investment,” Hayes said. “Triangle Tomorrow is the only organization that is addressing them from a regional business perspective. The new two-year work plan should help keep our region’s business leadership focused on the important issues that will allow us to maintain our superior quality of life so we can continue to grow economically and prosper.”
 
Triangle Tomorrow’s work plan calls for expanding its membership and partnerships with business and community leaders in the 13-county region to identify, understand and monitor long-term challenges to the region’s livability. The group pursues advocacy, communications, education, leadership development and organizational partnerships to address the issues it identifies.
 
Triangle Tomorrow’s work plan focuses on three key project areas:

• Air Quality – continuing its work to help the region attain federal clean air standards through air awareness education and activities.
• Education –working with regional partners to identify critical needs and how a regional coalition of business leaders can help.
• Regional Development – ensuring the business community participates effectively on issues of regional growth.
  

An aggressive membership recruitment effort has launched to attract leadership and financial support to pursue Triangle Tomorrow’s work plan.
 
A tiered membership level structure allows businesses of all kinds to invest in the region’s economic future and participate in setting Triangle Tomorrow’s agenda and strategies.
 
For more information, Triangle Tomorrow Executive Director Pam Wall, (919) 281-2743 or pwall@triangletomorrow.org.
 
Triangle Tomorrow, a program of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP), works closely with business and community leaders to improve the quality of life and economic competitiveness of the 13-county Research Triangle Region.
 
RTRP is the public/private partnership that promotes economic development for the 13-county region of North Carolina comprising Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake and Warren counties. RTRP coordinates the regional competitiveness strategy, called "Staying on Top: Winning the Job Wars of the Future." It is a five-year, $5 million effort to create 100,000 jobs in the 13-county region and boost employment in every county. For more information, visit http://www.researchtriangle.org/ or call (919) 840-7372.

# # #