Dear Friends, 

I hope my message finds you and your family healthy and well.

During the month of June we celebrate Pride Month to honor the North Carolina's LGBTQ+ community, their many contributions to the state, their fight for equality and the goal of creating a welcoming community for all North Carolinians. While we know there’s more work to be done, this month is an opportunity to renew our commitment to fight for equality.

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. 

Stephanie Pigues 

Office of the Governor 

Governor Proclaims LGBTQ Pride Month

Happy Pride Month, North Carolina! This June, as we celebrate our progress toward LGBTQ+ equality, let’s also recommit our efforts to making our state a more welcoming and inclusive place for all to live and work.

- Governor Roy Cooper

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Memorial Day Message from Governor Roy Cooper

"Today is a reminder that freedom isn’t free. In fact, it costs so much. This Memorial Day, we honor the brave men and women who have lost their lives while serving our country. Today, we reflect on their sacrifice, courage and selflessness. Because brave Americans have been willing to step up and defend our country, I am able to say what I want, do what I want, go where I want and run for elected office. I owe these freedoms to them. Our prayers are also with their families and friends as they too have made great sacrifices as well. Today, on this Memorial Day, and every day, I’m deeply grateful."

-Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Cooper Highlights North Carolina Education Corps at Moore Magnet Elementary School in Forsyth County, Encourages People to Apply to be Tutors

NC Education Corps members serve as tutors in elementary schools to support students and accelerate learning

On Friday, May 24, Governor Roy Cooper visited Moore Magnet Elementary School in Forsyth County to see NC Education Corps tutors in action and learn how they have supported students and teachers at the school. The NC Education Corps members serve as high-impact literacy tutors that help K-3 students with reading skills and help them recover from the learning disruptions they’ve experienced over the course of the pandemic.

“Concentrated tutoring can help students catch up and accelerate their learning,” Governor Cooper said. “Our NC Education Corps is making a real difference helping our public school children and our educators and I encourage people to apply to be a tutor.”

“North Carolina Education Corps recruits, trains, and supports high-dosage tutors who work one-on-one and in small groups with elementary students to boost their reading skills. I’m proud to report that we partnered with 24 public school units across the state this year – and we will work with 30 next year – to extend the reach of teachers and make sure young North Carolinians have the support they need to thrive as readers,” said NC Education Corps Executive Director John-Paul Smith. “We are calling on more North Carolina residents to step up and serve as high-dosage tutors in the coming school year to help K-3 students build their foundational reading skills.”

To help respond to the impact of COVID-19 in schools, Governor Cooper launched the NC Education Corps program in 2020 in collaboration with the North Carolina State Board of Education, local school districts and the N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service. Governor Cooper recently directed additional federal funding to NC Education Corps to recruit, train and place tutors with North Carolina public schools and to plan for the possible expansion into math tutoring.

The NC Education Corps partners with public schools across the state to recruit and train members to support students and accelerate learning. There are nearly 200 NC Education Corps members working in 24 school districts across the state. Corps members are paid and work part-time. The NC Education Corps plans to recruit more tutors for the 2023 - 2024 school year.

Learn more and apply to be a tutor for the NC Education Corps Program.

READ MORE...

Governor Cooper Releases a Video on Critical Gun Safety Reforms to Protect Our Communities

Watch the video

North Carolina High School Students win Ready, Set, App! Competition

Winning student teams selected from Wake, Durham, and Guilford Counties in third annual contest to develop mobile apps

On May 26, Governor Roy Cooper announced that teams from three North Carolina High Schools won the third annual Ready, Set, App! competition by designing and developing mobile applications that solve a problem in their school or community. The competition is hosted by the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE), a business-led, education non-profit within the Governor’s Office, in partnership with Lenovo.

“It is great to see North Carolina students work together to develop innovative apps to solve issues in our communities,” said Governor Cooper. “Congratulations to the Ready, Set, App! winners on their accomplishments.”

This year, 42 teams from 20 counties entered the competition. Each Ready, Set, App! team includes 3-5 students and an advisor. In addition, each team received assistance from a peer mentor, a high school student skilled in coding, app design, and project management.

A group of more than 60 judges, including 19 Lenovo employees, reviewed and voted on the incredible 21 apps that were submitted and selected the top seven teams to present in the final pitch competition on Friday, May 13. 

First place went to Team Requestify from William G. Enloe High School in Wake County, which developed an app to address period poverty by allowing users to request hygiene products to be donated to local shelters. Team SLTranslate from the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham County came in second place by designing an app that produces live transcriptions of American Sign Language. Finally, third place was awarded to Team The Write Place of The Early College at Guilford for creating an app for students to peer-review school essays and papers.  

“As a global technology company with headquarters here in North Carolina, Lenovo is committed, long-term, to investing in STEM education in our state,” said Libby Richards, Community Engagement Manager at Lenovo. “Through programs like Ready, Set, App! we hope to inspire students to become problem solvers in their community – using technology to make a difference.” 

During the final pitch, the finalist teams presented their apps to a panel made up of industry professionals and answered questions about their development. Each member of the winning teams received prizes provided by Lenovo.

The competition, open to all North Carolina high school students, will be held again in 2023 with kickoff planned for the fall. For more information about the Ready, Set, App! competition, please visit www.ncbce.org/ready-set-app.

About the 2022 Ready, Set, App! Winners.

Governor Cooper Previews Circle K Speed Street at Charlotte Motor Speedway Ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 Race, Highlights State Investments in Racetracks

On May 26, Governor Roy Cooper previewed the Circle K Speed Street ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend to stop by vendor booths and highlight the significant investments the speedway will receive from the 2021-2022 state budget. The Governor was joined by Executive Vice President and General Manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway Greg Walter and NASCAR on FOX broadcaster and former NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip and other local officials.

“The Circle K Speed Street is another example of our motorsports industry boosting our economy while bringing friends, families and neighbors together,” Governor Cooper said. “Racetracks like the Charlotte Motor Speedway help create jobs, attract tourism and strengthen our communities, and we’re glad to support them.”

“The Coca-Cola 600 will welcome fans from all 50 states and 12 foreign countries this weekend and today we were pleased to welcome Governor Roy Cooper to get a sneak preview of the attractions, food and fun that fans will enjoy over the next three days,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter. “Charlotte Motor Speedway has been one of the world’s premier motorsports entertainment venues for more than 60 years, and we are honored to be the epicenter of NASCAR’s industry with all the race teams, NASCAR Research and Development and NASCAR Hall of Fame throughout this region. Our events drive tourism throughout the year to the greater Charlotte area, and we’re grateful to Governor Cooper’s administration and our state legislature for their continued support of the motorsports industry.”

Circle K Speed Street will kick off the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend with concerts, racecar driver appearances, food trucks, games and displays. This is the first year Circle K Speed Street is being held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

During the event, former NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip drove Governor Cooper in a racecar through a banner, and the Governor stopped by vendor booths preparing for the Circle K Speed Street Event this weekend, including the Coca-Cola / USO booth.

In his budget proposal last year, Governor Cooper first included funds to revitalize speedways across North Carolina. In November 2021, the Governor signed the state budget including these funds into law. The budget allocates American Rescue Plan funding to speedways across the state, with Charlotte Motor Speedway receiving $13 million.

Governor Cooper and the North Carolina Department of Commerce recently announced that 15 local governments have been awarded $45.8 million to help 17 motorsports venues recover from the pandemic. The money can be used for water, sewer and other infrastructure projects pertaining to the speedways. The grants will enhance local tourism, travel and hospitality industries that benefit from the many motorsports events held in North Carolina.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsport complex located in Concord. The speedway hosts NASCAR racing, including the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Bank of America Roval 400.

RETOOLNC Grant Program Relaunches for Third Round of Funding June 1st

Today, June 1, the North Carolina Department of Administration’s Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) will once again open applications for grant funds for certified HUBs and disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) firms impacted by COVID-19.  

“We know that minority and women-owned businesses were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “The RETOOLNC program provides direct support to historically underutilized businesses to get the support they still may need to fully recover.” 

The RETOOLNC program awards up to $25,000 to eligible certified small, underutilized businesses to help with pandemic recovery efforts. 

“As we continue to emerge from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential we help our small businesses recover and prosper,” said NC Department of Administration Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell. “This funding will help many of those small businesses who continue to struggle.” 

The North Carolina Small Business Impact Grant Program, RETOOLNC, is an initiative created under Governor Roy Cooper’s??¯Executive Order No. 143, to assist small businesses disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The grant program is administered in partnership with the Carolina Small Business Development Fund and the National Institute for Minority Economic Development (the Institute). 

To qualify for RETOOLNC funds, North Carolina businesses must: 

• Have been in operation since February 2019 
• Be certified with NCHUB or NCDOT DBE 
• Be an independent business located within North Carolina 
• Be a business with 50 employees or fewer (includes sole proprietorships, home based businesses, and independent contractors) 
• Not have annual revenues exceeding $1,500,000 
• Not be delinquent on North Carolina State income taxes 
• Not have any active bankruptcies or tax liens 
• Be a for-profit business 
• Be an independent franchisor and locally owned, if it is a franchise 
• Provide a detailed statement of how the business has been impacted due to COVID-19 
• Be engaged in legal activity 

To learn more about the RETOOLNC initiative and how to register for the information session, visit the??¯NC HUB Office website for details. 

North Carolina College Students Explore State Government Employment During Summer Internship Program

Sixteen Agencies Offer Practical Experience in State Service

On May 23, 83 students, representing 31 North Carolina counties, embarked on a 10-week educational experience as they begin internships in North Carolina’s state government agencies.

"More than 4,000 students have participated in the state internship program during the past half century,” said NC Department of Administration Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell. “This program provides incredibly valuable opportunities for both the students as well as the agencies. Not only does it prepare the interns for future careers, but it cultivates a passion for public service. Meanwhile, the government agencies they serve are enriched by the interns’ creative ideas and fresh insight.” 

Interns will begin the program in a virtual orientation with Secretary Cashwell and members of the Internship Council where they will learn about job expectations, enrichment opportunities and have a chance to ask questions of previous interns. Many of the 2022 summer internships will be in a hybrid work environment that offers both in-person assignments, allowing for more hands-on learning experience with students, as well as remote work.

Sixteen state agencies* are sponsoring internships that range from workforce development to engineering, talent management, groundwater quality data analysis, communications, marketing and outreach, environmental research, legislative affairs and policy development. In addition to gaining practical work experience, students will also tour various facilities to learn about other government operations and state careers. 

Coordinated by the Department of Administration’s Council for Women and Youth Involvement, the State of North Carolina Internship Program offers college students across the state an opportunity to connect lessons learned in the classroom to potential career choices. Established in 1969, the Internship Program has provided state government work opportunities to North Carolina residents attending college, university, technical or community college.

Interns are selected annually through a competitive process overseen by the NC Internship Council. 

To learn more about the State of North Carolina Internship Program, visit the website. Applications for the 2023 State Internship program will open this fall.

*2022 Participating State Agencies: Administration (NCDOA), Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), Commerce, Environmental Quality (DEQ), General Assembly, Health and Human Services (DHHS), Judicial Branch, Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), Office of the Governor, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Public Safety (DPS), Revenue, State Budget Management (OSBM), Transportation (DOT).

LEARN MORE about our interns...

BE INVOLVED

Commemorate Juneteenth at the State Capitol

The North Carolina State Capitol will host a community art collaboration on historic Union Square, Saturday, June 19 in commemoration of Juneteenth. In 2020, the City of Raleigh designated Juneteenth as a city holiday celebrating the official end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed.

From 9 a.m.- noon, visitors are invited to visit the Capitol grounds while chalk artist Kiara Sanders creates line drawings on the sidewalks of the Juneteenth flag and portraits of freedmen and freedwomen whose lives intersected with the State Capitol. The public is encouraged to help color in the portraits and to write the names of other ancestors who lived in bondage to create a colorful visual celebration of the legacy of emancipation and Juneteenth. Historic interpreters from the Capitol will be present to share context and history about the holiday and the early history of Raleigh with visitors. This morning of art and reflection will precede the inaugural Capital City Juneteenth Celebration at Dix Park. There is no charge to attend this event, and all are welcome. The Capitol is located at 1 East Edenton Street, Raleigh.

For more information on the Capital City Juneteenth Celebration visit http://www.juneteenthraleigh.org/.

For more information on Juneteenth, including how the holiday is being marked at sites across the state, visit https://www.ncdcr.gov/juneteenth.

The State Capitol’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history and function of the 1840 building and Union Square. It is within the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and located at One Edenton Street, Raleigh. For additional information please call or visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/. 

What is Age My Way NC? It's a survey asking North Carolinians 45 and older to offer their thoughts on priorities for their communities, including safe and walkable streets, age-friendly housing, and transportation options; access to needed services; open spaces and parks; and opportunities for all residents whether they be in rural or urban areas to participate in community life.

Soon one in five North Carolinians will be over 65 - there will be more older adults than children for the first time ever. Thank you for taking the time to complete the Age My Way NC Survey, so that our policymakers will understand and focus on projects that can make North Carolina communities livable for people of all ages.

Age My Way NC is a collaborative effort between the State of North Carolina and AARP-NC.

Virtual Lunch and Learn Series Offers Leaders Opportunity to Enhance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs in Public and Private Sector

During the next three months, the NC Department of Administration is providing business and government leaders opportunities to join a virtual lunch and learn series that explore ways to enhance and develop diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within North Carolina’s public and private business sectors. Hosted by the Andrea Harris Task Force’s Business Engagement Group, each of the three free 90-minute webinars features a panel of business experts who will share their experiences, challenges, and successes with programs created to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Each webinar also features an audience question and answer session.

“The goal is to continue advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within our state,” said Andrea Harris Task Force Chair and Secretary of the NC Department of Administration Pamela B. Cashwell. “Our workforce, particularly leadership roles, should reflect the diversity of our state. It is my hope that businesses will take information from the lunch and learn series to improve upon disparities within the workplace including equal pay and gender segregated careers.”  

The learning series begins next week and includes topics such as recruiting, on-the-job training and employee business resource groups. Participants can elect to attend any or all three webinars.  

April 22, 2022 – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion External Mentor Programs & Supplier Diversity Programs  

• Moderator: Kevin Price, President & CEO, National Institute of Minority Economic Development  
• Panelists: Kate Weaver, Supplier Diversity Manager, Peapod Digital Labs (Food Lion sister company)  
• Andrew Grier, Supplier Engagement & Diversity Manager, Duke Energy 

May 20, 2022 – Internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training and Employee Business Resource Groups 

• Moderator: Evin L. Grant, Policy Director, NC Department of Administration  
• Panelists: Danielle Pavliv, Chief Diversity Officer, SAS  
• Brooke Cummings, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Curi 
• Niya Fonville, Director of Externships, Campbell Law School  

June 17, 2022 – Diversity Recruiting and Hiring and On the Job Training 

• TBA 

All participants must pre-register to attend each lunch and learn.

QUICK HELP LINKS

NC DHHS COVID GUIDANCE

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

VOLUNTEER NC

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

NC STUDENT CONNECT

HUB OFFICE INFORMATION

NC DMV ASSISTANCE