§ 53A-36.  Legislative findings and purpose.

(a) The General Assembly finds and declares that there exists in the State of North Carolina a serious shortage of mezzanine finance capital and credit available for investment in rural areas in the State.  This shortage of mezzanine finance capital and credit is severe throughout the rural areas of the State, has persisted for a number of years, and constitutes a grave threat to the welfare and prosperity of all residents of the State.

(b) The General Assembly finds and declares further that private enterprise and existing federal and State governmental programs have not adequately alleviated the severe shortage of mezzanine finance capital and credit available for investments in rural areas in the State.

(c) The General Assembly finds and declares that it is a matter of grave public necessity that North Carolina Enterprise Corporations be authorized to be created and to be empowered to alleviate these severe shortages of mezzanine finance capital and credit for investment in rural areas of the State.  North Carolina Enterprise Corporations shall help eliminate barriers to rural economic development by providing mezzanine finance capital and credit, and other types of financing as appropriate, to businesses in rural areas that have been unable to obtain sufficient financing through traditional financial institutions. (1987 (Reg. Sess., 1988), c. 882, s. 1.)