Burr said he intends to have similar gatherings in the months ahead to address public education and health care. He also wants to help teach small businesses, municipalities and counties to submit better federal grant applications. His staff has also been working with state legislators and the office of Gov. Mike Easley to create a state grant-writing office.
The summit was closed to the media after Burr's speech. Burr's office permitted reporters to listen in on the first 15 minutes of the opening session before dismissing them. Burr said he worried the presence of reporters would make participants uncomfortable about asking some questions.
The state Open Meetings Law allows such a meeting be closed because the gathering doesn't meet the definition of a ``public body,'' said Amanda Martin, an attorney with the North Carolina Press Association.
— Associated Press
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