Congressman Mike McIntyre, in the keynote address at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Bladen County Committee of 100, praised the efforts of Bladen officials and residents for their work to attract new industries to the county.

"I want to celebrate what all of you have done," said McIntyre. "I think it's not about who gets the blame, but rather, it's about who gets the work done.

"I want to salute all of you for what you have done to run the economic engine in Bladen County," McIntyre said.

McIntyre talked briefly about his role on the Armed Forces Committee and his travels to visit troops in combat theaters. He pointed out how important the role of the military is in preserving the American way of life.

Using a statement by former President Franklin Roosevelt, McIntyre outlined three traits he said were critical to improving society-listening, labor, and leading.

McIntyre said that in order to understand needs, one has to listen to the various segments of the country's society-to seniors, small business, to educators, to officials, to workers.

He pointed out that it is incumbent on everyone to labor to improve the quality of life in the nation.

"If we're not being a part of the solution, then maybe we're a part of the problem," said McIntyre.

He said people must be willing to "look in the mirror."

"Who is the 'they?'" said McIntyre. "We are the 'they.'"

He pointed out the importance of taking the lead in working to improve the quality of life. He talked about the importance of the Wilmington Port to southeastern North Carolina. He stated that funds to help law enforcement, fire departments, the water districts, education and healthcare will go a long way toward improving the area.

McIntyre presented a check from USDA Rural Development to Bladen's Bloomin' for the revolving loan fund.

The purpose of the revolving loan fund is to promote economic development in Bladen County by encouraging industry to locate in the county and making loans available to them at attractive rates.

The $99,000 will be loaned to Innovative Machine Technologies of Bladenboro for working capital. The loan will allow the company to expand its market and develop a new reverse osmosis purification unit for the military.

McIntyre concluded by saying that the U.S. House of Representatives had passed an appropriation that includes $130,000 that will be used to help fund another shell building in the Bladenboro Industrial Park. The bill is awaiting action by the Senate.

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