A tourism-and-commerce alliance has selected 7th District Congressman Mike McIntyre for an award that cites his dedication to the North Carolina coast and vital economic facilities like the Port of Wilmington.
The group, North Carolina Coast Host, will present him its “Partner of the Year” award at a ceremony Wednesday night in Goldsboro, a press release from McIntyre’s chief of staff said.
“Helping local communities and our citizens to maintain a strong coast and waterway system has been one of my highest priorities, and I am honored to receive this special award,” the congressman is quoted as saying in the release.
It added he has “helped secure hundreds of millions of dollars for the port and North Carolina coastal projects and communities” since his time in Congress began, in 1997.
McIntyre, a Robeson County Democrat, is currently involved in Carolina Beach’s effort to renew the town’s federal beach renourishment program, which is set to expire next year. Reauthorization would keep the green light on for federal aid in the ongoing project, first authorized in 1962 for a 50-year period. The federal program, for as long as the permit is valid, generally sees that Carolina Beach receives some level of funding for sand replenishment every three years.
The release added: “All the beach and waterway projects in Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender have benefited from McIntyre’s sharp focus on securing resources for the various phases of beach renourishment, dredging of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the small draft shallow inlets that are critical to recreational and commercial boaters.”
