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Dear Friends,
I hope my message finds you and your family healthy and well.
Please share our newsletter so your friends and family can stay up to date with the latest news, information, and resources relevant to the Cooper Administration.
On behalf of Governor Cooper we wish all students a happy and safe school year.
Stephanie Pigues
Office of the Governor
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North Carolina to Require Vaccine Verification for State Employees, Urges Other Government Agencies and Private Employers to do the Same
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Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. announced that state government would begin verifying vaccination status of its workers. Employees not vaccinated are required to wear a mask and be tested at least once a week. Today’s announcement comes as North Carolina’s latest upswing in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is driven by unvaccinated North Carolinians.
“Until more people get the vaccine, we will continue living with the very real threat of serious disease, and we will continue to see more dangerous and contagious variants like Delta,” said Governor Cooper.
NCDHHS updated guidance encourages private sector businesses to, at a minimum, verify vaccination status for their workers as well. The requirement for state government employees applies to cabinet agencies and is included in Executive Order 224.
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ALERT: New Temporary Residential Eviction Moratorium
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new residential eviction moratorium effective August 3, 2021 through October 3, 2021, finding that evictions of tenants for failure to make rent could be detrimental to public health measures to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Most North Carolina renters would be eligible for protection from eviction under this order, with some important exceptions.
The CDC eviction order applies in U.S. counties experiencing substantial and high levels of community transmission levels of SARS-CoV-2 as defined by CDC, as of August 3, 2021. This map indicates the community transmission level by county:
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The vast majority of counties in North Carolina are experiencing substantial and high levels of transmission. Counties that are covered by the CDC order may change during the duration of the order.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives
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Your free COVID-19 vaccine comes with more.
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Not only are all COVID-19 vaccines free, but we’ll help pay for the time and transportation to get one—making vaccinations more??¯affordable and??¯convenient for everyone.
From Aug. 4 through Aug. 31, anyone 18+ who gets their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a participating location will receive a $100 Summer Card* in the form of a Prepaid Mastercard®, and anyone who drives someone to get their first dose will receive a $25 Summer Card.
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Rental and Utility Assistance
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The Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions Program (HOPE) continues to provide rent and utility assistance to low-income renters that are experiencing financial hardship due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. The program helps prevent evictions and utility disconnections to promote housing stability during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have questions or need help applying, program representatives are available 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
HOPE Call Center: (888) 927-5467
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Governor Appoints Interim Secretary for Department of Public Safety
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Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced that Casandra Skinner Hoekstra will serve as Interim Secretary for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS).
“Casandra is a talented leader who has dedicated her career to keeping the people of North Carolina safe,” Governor Cooper said. “Her legal background and experience within the Department of Public Safety have prepared her to serve in this role, and I’m grateful she agreed to step up.”
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North Carolina Communities Awarded $153 Million for Water and Sewer Improvement Projects
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Governor Roy Cooper announced today $153 million in loans and grants to help pay for 48 drinking water and wastewater projects statewide.
“North Carolina families deserve clean water, and this funding will help communities tackle the challenge of aging water and wastewater systems to improve quality of life and increase good paying jobs,” said Governor Cooper.
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Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
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The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program gives low-income households a discount on internet services so they don’t have to decide between purchasing broadband and other necessities as they work and learn at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, administered by the Federal Communications Commission, opens for enrollment on May 12, 2021.
Households may receive a discount of up to $50 a month for their internet bill. That rises to $75 a month for broadband service on tribal lands. Households may also receive $100 to buy a laptop, desktop or tablet through their internet provider.
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NC Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses Awarded 5-Year Grant from the US Department of Commerce
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Funding will be used to establish a business center to aid North Carolina minority business enterprise firms
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The NC Department of Administration’s Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses has been awarded a 5-year grant in the amount of $385,000 from the U.S. Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to establish and operate the NC MBDA Business Center.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2021
6:30 pm
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Governor Cooper's Office of Public Engagement and Inclusivity is hosting what will hopefully be the first of a series of town halls focused on key policy issues. This meeting will focus on education in North Carolina, including discussions on equity and the DRIVE Task Force, Leandro, and grants. Our session will conclude with a Q&A portion.
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Duke Homestead Presents Vintage Baseball at Durham Athletic Park
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Saturday, August 14, 2021
6:00 pm & 8:00 pm
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The iconic Durham Athletic Park has hosted baseball games since 1926 and was even featured in an iconic baseball film. But Durham’s baseball roots are even deeper. The first century of baseball was marked by racial segregation and separate leagues for black and white athletes at the DAP until the 1950s; however, Duke Homestead welcomes all people to participate and honors the struggles and achievements of the many players over the past century who brought us the Durham baseball culture we know today.
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