I don’t know about you, but I believe February is a very interesting month. With only 28 days (except for a leap year), it packs a punch. 

It sets the tone for the soon emergence of spring (or not). It is the most rare birth month (although two of our most celebrated Presidents were born in February - thus the creation of Presidents Day). And, of course, it is the month we celebrate Valentine’s Day (which has an amazing history - worth looking into). 

And speaking of history, February is also the month that Congress designated in 1986 to celebrate Black history. And more recently, in 2006, Congress chartered the third week in February to celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week across the country, which this year took place February 11-18, 2023.

In this issue, we have combined the celebration of Black History Month and National Entrepreneurship Week with a focus on Black owned businesses in our area. Fayetteville and our surrounding region represents a very diverse community. It is evident of the various awards and designations we have received. Two such examples are Methodist University, which recently was named the most diverse university in NC and last year, Fayetteville was named by LendingTree the city with the greatest percentage of Black owned businesses. 

What a tremendous community! We have a lot to be thankful for! What a great opportunity and responsibility we have - to continue to thrive as a community that greatly respects and values each other’s differences. I believe the best is yet to come!

And speaking about things to come, you won’t want to miss our next Power Breakfast on February 28, 2023 at Cape Fear Botanical Garden called “Our Future Economy.” Our speaker, Ted Abernathy says he will “plan to look at the global and local economies and the challenges businesses are facing to prepare for a rapidly changing and uncertain future. Ted further stated, “Evolving globalization, technological transformation, personal reevaluations and political paralysis are creating headwinds for all of us, and raising the question: What do we do to prepare?” Ted is extremely bright and has a gift for simplifying the complex. Go to www.FayettevillePowerBreakfast.com for tickets and to learn more. 

We will also introduce and distribute our first copies of the 2023 Book on Business at the next Power Breakfast! The publication clearly shows the Fayetteville region as a significant center of business. The publication also serves as an annual update to businesses and community leaders on initiatives that boost economic development.

In addition to being mailed to Business Journal subscribers, the Book on Business will be distributed throughout the year at different Business Journal events, by area Chambers, economic development groups and other institutions that support business development in the Fayetteville region.

THIS YEAR'S PUBLICATION INCLUDES: 

• Ranked lists with information about leading companies in a range of local industries 
• Demographic and other statistical information in the Fayetteville region 
• An annual report on several economic development initiatives in the region 
• Information on the leading economic drivers in the area

Now back to February. 

By the time this next issue is mailed, I will have also celebrated my youngest daughter’s 21st birthday, my youngest son’s wedding, and my youngest grandson’s 3rd birthday-all in February! What a month! 

God bless you and yours!

-Marty V. Cayton