(CHARLOTTE) -- Since North Carolina voted Democratic in the 2008 Presidential election, both Democrats and Republicans have seen the state as more important politically than it's been in decades. To that end, the Democratic National Convention will be held in Charlotte in September 2012 and raising private funds is a major focus right now.

Dan Murrey, head of the host committee for the convention, said this is the first convention in history that will be funded solely by private donations, rather than corporate funding. "We're in fund raising mode and so if people can find ways to donate to the convention we have a web site, CharlotteIn2012.com and we're putting an opportunity to donate on there within the next couple of weeks," said Murrey.

He added that the convention is about more than just politics. "It's really about economic development and boosting tourism and hospitality for the state and also raising the stature of North Carolina in the country."

The convention is being dubbed "The People's Convention." Murrey said that is because it is being funded by the people rather than corporate funding.

Convention organizers will solicit donations of goods and services from corporations.  These goods and services from the corporate sector could have a final value totaling in the millions of dollars.