id you ever know a kid named "Squirt" who grew to be over 6 feet tall, or someone else whose nickname just did not seem to fit who they grew up to become?
      Many years ago, during the Vietnam era, Fayetteville, NC picked up the nickname "Fayettenam" due to the abundance of young military men and the types of establishments young men like to frequent. Unfortunately, that nickname stuck as the town worked to revitalize its downtown, clean up its gateways and expand its family friendly Southern charm.
      Today, the thriving city is home to the most highly skilled fighting force in the world, proud military traditions and thousands of this nation's heroes. The community is also known for taking care of its military neighbors through numerous support programs that assist the families of deployed soldiers. Because of this fact, Cumberland County can also boast that is has one of the highest rates of military retirees who choose to stay in the community to work, live and play.
      Over the past five years, the community has transformed its downtown life through several major impact projects that have created new office space, 100 new households and a family entertainment center. Additionally, the downtown area has grown to include a new amphitheater which hosts everything from outdoor rock concerts, to music under the stars played by its local symphony.
      While there are numerous quality of life improvements, the area has recently focused on creating a high tech military defense cluster to support the United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) that is scheduled to relocate to Fayetteville because of BRAC 2005.
      As Fort Bragg prepares the building and site for FORSCOM headquarters and headquarters for the United States Army Reserve Command, the community is preparing through the creation of innovative agencies to support the defense contractors who currently hold over $100 million in contracts from FORSCOM. The Defense Security Technology Accelerator is an incubator for new specialty products that better equip and protect the armed forces. The Military Business Center (MBC) born in Fayetteville, NC now has locations statewide serving defense contractors and entrepreneurs desiring to be contractors. The MBC provides networking opportunities as well as referrals and at matchforce.org the opportunity to post a resume or respond to a job opportunity.
      This fall, the community will break ground on the new 215 acre "All American Business Center." The Center backs up to Fort Bragg and will be the focal point for meeting the office, flex space and conferencing needs of those who work closely with FORSCOM to meet the needs of the armed forces.
      For more information on the transformation, please contact the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce at 910-483-8133.