Gov. Bev Perdue announced that four North Carolina businesses have been awarded state contracts thanks to the new N.C. Preference.

In February, Gov. Perdue signed Executive Order No. 50 that directed the Department of Administration to develop price-matching procedures for North Carolina resident bidders on state contracts for the purchase of goods. Qualified North Carolina companies whose bid price is within 5% or $10,000 of the lowest bid, whichever is less, are given the opportunity to match the price of an out-of-state low bidder and be awarded contracts with the State of North Carolina.

Businesses in Cumberland, Rowan and Wake counties received contracts totaling more than $100,000.

“It’s critical that we do everything we can to support our home-grown businesses. North Carolina businesses employ our friends, our neighbors and our family members. They grow here, they stay here and they create jobs here,” said Perdue. “The preference for in-state businesses will save jobs and help North Carolina businesses grow and create new jobs.”

Gov. Perdue has also called on the General Assembly to legislate additional advantages for small and North Carolina-based businesses.

Below is information on the first four contracts awarded under the new price-matching procedure:

• Thompson & Little, of Fayetteville (Cumberland County), price-matched one bid for kitchen equipment. The awarded amount was $10,360.00.

• Desco, Inc., of Salisbury (Rowan County), price-matched one bid for building cables and wires. The awarded amount was $69,149.63.

• Anixter of Morrisville (Wake County), price-matched one bid for Sony network security records. The awarded amount was $12,950.00.

• Southern Emergency of Wake Forest (Wake County), price-matched the bid for First Aid and Safety Equipment. The awarded amount was $11,872.45.