NC governor urges governments to seek funds

CLYDE, N.C. -- North Carolina's governor is encouraging local governments to ask for as much money as they can from the federal stimulus funds. Gov. Beverly Perdue told a conference in western North Carolina that local governments should move quickly to seek some of the $8.2 billion allocated for North Carolina. She says most of the money is intended to quickly create jobs. Perdue also said governments will have to be transparent in how they spend the funds. She also says she's recommending that the Appalachian Regional Commission provide $4.5 million to fund 16 projects in western counties of the state. The projects range from a regional livestock market to local water and sewer projects. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)