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qualified prospects that will visit the region. For the last several years, we have intentionally <br />targeted not only financial services, but health and life sciences, defense and aerospace, <br />energy, motorsports and the film industries in an effort to diversify our economy. As you know, <br />companies have recently announced hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in investment that <br />are coming to our region, some within the year, but most over the next three to five years. <br />College- educated professionals continue to be attracted to the Charlotte region. However, the <br />majority of newly created jobs require technical skills. For the Charlotte region to remain <br />competitive, it is crucial that our economy not only be diverse, but also has the workforce with <br />the abilities that companies demand. We must support our regional educational institutions, <br />from pre -K through college. In " Skills Trump Costs in the Global Market The American Institute <br />for Economic Research says that few Americans lose their jobs because of globalization. <br />Rather, educated U.S. workers are highly competitive with those anywhere in the world, <br />whereas less- educated ones have more difficulty in adapting to the global economy. Our region <br />remains highly attractive to businesses, and education holds the key to our continued <br />competitiveness. <br />Film update <br />"Artemis" continued filming in the Charlotte region, with uptown Charlotte and Concord serving <br />as the movie set this past week. The film, which is expected to be released in March, stars <br />Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland and Lenny Kravitz. <br />"Homeland," which premieres on Showtime on October 2nd, also continues production. There <br />are two new trailers on the Charlotte Regional Film Commission website, <br />http:Hcharlotteusa.com/ news- media / news/ new - trailer- for - homeland - released / <br />Finally, local talent is gaining attention. Charlotte filmmakers Michael Plumides, Robert Filion <br />and Anne Saunders won the Corman Award for best comedy at the Fright Night Film Fest in <br />Louisville, Ky., for their TV pilot "Ghost Trek." The made -in- Charlotte short "Aphasia" is an <br />official selection of the 2011 Feel Good Film Festival, and Charlie's Scars, made by Charlotte's <br />Episode XI Studios, will open at next year's Sundance Film Festival. More about local <br />filmmakers' recent accomplishments are in Lawrence Toppman's column in The Charlotte <br />Observer. <br />Attachment number 3 <br />1 -1 Page 627 <br />