National Capital Baptist Convention Supports Northeast Maglev

By Micha Green, AFRO Washington, D.C. Editor, [email protected]

In hopes of providing more jobs and opportunities for residents of the region, the National Capital Baptist Convention (NCBC) announced its support of Northeast Maglev- the company overseeing the SCMAGLEV high-speed rail project between Washington, D.C. and New York City.

Northeast Maglev is working with the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) to create the- JR Central’s Superconducting Maglev (SCMAGLEV) system- to serve as the fastest, safest way to travel the Northeast corridor.  A like project in Japan has already undergone over 1.5 million miles of testing since 1998 and carried more than 260,000 passengers according to a press release.

With plans to start the first part of the Northeast corridor system between the nation’s capital and Baltimore, the SCMAGLEV construction boasts major benefits to area residents, and for that reason the NCBC is partnering as an ally and liaison to the community.

“We are not only places of worship, but stewards of our community’s welfare. The economic opportunities this project will provide are momentous,” said President of NCBC and Pastor of Unity Baptist Church Rev. Charles W. McNeill Jr.

SCMAGLEV is said to offer 74,000 construction jobs, over 1,500 permanent jobs, opportunities for job training and millions of dollars each year in economic activity according to an NCBC press release.

“Our relationship with Northeast Maglev underscores our commitment to promote projects that will benefit communities served by our member churches,” McNeill said.

NCBC’s endorsement of the Northeast Maglev reaches a large group of people as the nation’s oldest and largest African-American religious convention, with an estimated 7.5 million members.

“I am excited to have this relationship with such a vital member of the Washington, D.C. community,” Wayne Rogers, chairman and CEO of Northeast Maglev said.

“I look forward to Northeast Maglev and the National Capital Baptist Convention working together with area residents, government officials, institutions and other organizations to secure the SCMAGLEV project’s future, starting in the Baltimore Washington Corridor.”