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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><a name="_Hlk128563584"></a><a name="_Hlk63326234"></a><a name="_Hlk70930776"></a><a name="_Hlk503990985"></a><a name="_Hlk532890042"></a><a name="_Hlk532890118"></a><a name="x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><img width="148" height="148" style="width:1.5416in;height:1.5416in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01DA5A8C.3DCEB850" alt="A close up of a sign
Description automatically generated"></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">NEWS
RELEASE</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir LT Std 55 Roman",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">For
Immediate Release Date: 02/08/2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Contact:
Public Information Office Phone: (919) 560-0000/Fax: (919) 560-0020<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">E-mail:
</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir LT Std 55 Roman",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><a name="_Hlk68158767"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Durham
County Economic Development Department Publishes New Quarterly Newsletter<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></span></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk68158767"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-autospace:none">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-autospace:none">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Durham,
N.C. – </span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">The Durham County Economic
Development Department has issued its first </span></span><a href="https://www.dco-ed.com/home/showpublisheddocument/40570/638423928656370000"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">newsletter</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">
to offer residents a window into the work they are supporting in the Durham community. The newsletter features stories and updates from the department’s portfolio covering small business support, workforce development, and business recruitment. It is also
available in </span></span><a href="https://www.dco-ed.com/home/showpublisheddocument/40572/638423929909670000"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Spanish</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">The newsletter’s first edition includes an interview with one of the first BULLS Academies
graduates, Armond Shaw, who is now working full-time at Biogen after getting his certificate in BioWork from Durham Tech. It also highlights the entrepreneurial programming at Durham Success Summit, a community-based organization who participated in the City-County
Innovate Durham program. Additional features include Maya Freelon’s Durham Loan Fund Success Story, a small business spotlight on Antonio Alanis Art, and highlights from 2023’s business recruitment announcements.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">The newsletter will be published quarterly and can be found
</span></span><a href="https://www.dco-ed.com/resources/documents"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">here</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">.
If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, please sign up </span></span><a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=owBqwQlWwEeywnLYY140IyS6SHZzRAtPs3XoMA0uOSNUOEEzV0JIVjdFRk80QjRSQkszQ1FUWlRPNi4u"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">here</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">“On behalf of the Durham County Economic Development team, we are excited to publish our first
edition newsletter highlighting some of the excellent partnerships happening in our community,” said Andy Miracle, Durham County Economic Development Director. “Our mission includes promoting the economic equity and well-being of Durham County, and the stories
that we share here will reflect those values. We hope that readers will gain a sense of the programs that we support and how they benefit Durham residents. Please enjoy and come back for future editions.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">For more information about the Durham County Economic Development Department, visit their
website at </span></span><a href="https://www.dco-ed.com/"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">https://www.dco-ed.com</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">,
or reach out at </span></span><a href="mailto:econdev@dconc.gov"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">econdev@dconc.gov</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-autospace:none">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">###</span></span><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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