Governor Cooper Signs 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation

Governor Proclaims Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 2022

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Governor Cooper Presents Coach Mike Krzyzewski with The Order of The Long Leaf Pine 

On September 1st, Governor Roy Cooper presented Coach Mike Krzyzewski with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the State’s Highest Honorary Society, for his significant impact on the State of North Carolina during his tenure as Men’s Basketball Coach at Duke University and in for his significant work in communities across North Carolina.

“Thank you for your dedication to the young people you’ve served on and off the court, and congratulations on joining the company of so many outstanding North Carolinians,” Governor Cooper said. “No matter what shade of blue you wear on game day, it’s impossible to deny the essential role that Coach K has played in uplifting education, preparation for life, Duke University and, of course, the greatest rivalry in sports history.”

“I’m a North Carolinian. It’s been an honor to be part of Durham and see Durham grow into the magnificent city it has become,” Coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “It’s an amazing honor for me to accept the award, not only for me, but for my family and for Duke, because it’s a team award.”

“It means so much for us gathered here to honor the great Coach Krzyzewski,” Duke President Vincent E. Price said. “His name is not only on our court, it’s also on buildings across Durham, it’s in the minds of everyone who loves college basketball, and it’s in the hearts of loyal Duke fans around the world.”

During his 42 seasons as a coach, Coach Krzyzewski’s teams won 5 NCAA tournament championships, 15 ACC tournament championships, and 6 Olympic gold medal. He has had 1,202 career wins, the most in the North Carolina Athletic Association (NCAA) history, 535 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) wins, the most in league history, has led his team to 13 Final Four appearances, the most in NCAA history, and has won 15 ACC Tournament championships, the most in league history.

In addition to his successes on the court, Krzyzewski has been recognized nationally for his philanthropic efforts, and is known for his efforts to mentor students. He is an honorary chairman of the Duke Children’s Hospital and on the board of the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. He also started his own charity, the Emily K Center, a non-profit organization in Durham that provides quality educational experiences to young students in the community.

Prior to his career at Duke, Krzyzewski served in the Army, directing service teams for three years and served as Head Coach at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. 

Governor Cooper Announces $206M in GREAT Grants to Expand Internet Access in 69 Counties Across the State

Grants to connect thousands more families to high-speed internet are part of Governor Cooper’s plan to close the digital divide.

On August 31st, Governor Roy Cooper announced that nearly 85,000 households and more than 2,400 businesses in 69 counties are set to receive access to high-speed internet thanks to more than $206 million of Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants. This is the state’s largest round of GREAT grant awards to date. With this announcement, over $260 million in GREAT grants have been awarded to providers since July 2022. Additional grants are expected to be announced this fall.

“High-speed internet access is critical for people to work, learn, access telehealth and connect with one another,” said Governor Cooper. “Thanks to this significant GREAT grant award funding, many more North Carolina families and small business owners will have the tools they need to succeed in today’s digital world.”

“We are excited to be awarding this unprecedented amount of funding to bring high-speed internet access to such a large number of residents and businesses across the state,” said NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Jim Weaver. “These funds will go a long way in closing the digital divide by bringing equitable access to both rural and urban communities.”

The GREAT grant program provides matching grants to internet service providers and electric membership cooperatives that may partner with individual counties to compete for funding to expand high-speed internet service to unserved and underserved areas of the state. The GREAT grant awards are in addition to the $23.4 million awarded on July 18 and the $30.8 million awarded on August 1 of the $350 million total funding for this round.

As part of the GREAT grant eligibility requirements, all internet service provider applicants must be participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible low-income households a $30 per month discount on high-speed internet service or provide access to a comparable low-cost program.

For more information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Equity, visit https://www.ncbroadband.gov/. 

Learn more about the ACP and $30 per month reliable, high-speed internet packages offered by internet service providers at getinternet.gov. 

Governor Cooper Tours Winston-Salem State University and Highlights University’s STEM Programs

On Thursday, September 8, Governor Roy Cooper toured Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and met with students in various STEM-related programs, including the Next Generation Black STEM Teacher Network program and WSSU’s Astrobotany Lab.

“North Carolina has the greatest array of public and private universities in the country, including Winston-Salem State University,” said Governor Cooper. “Innovative STEM programs like these are helping to strengthen and diversify our workforce, so our students can take on the jobs of the future.”

“We are thrilled to present to Governor Cooper the landmark work we are doing here at Winston-Salem State University,” said Chancellor Elwood L. Robinson. “It is vitally important to us that we move the needle in STEM education. In recent years many of these fields have seen a significant drop in their qualified workforce. Our work is filling the gap and positively impacting the lives of students that may have never considered a career in STEM.”

Winston-Salem State University is one of 10 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in North Carolina. It ranks as one of the top 50 producers of bachelor’s degrees in the nation for African Americans in physical science. The university received a $28.2 million Gear Up grant from the U.S. Department of Education to create and activate a program that will help students prepare for post-secondary education.

During the visit, Governor Cooper toured the WSSU New Sciences Building, which was completed in 2019. It is a $53.3 million services building that was first funded through the NC Connect Bond approved by voters and houses many of the school's STEM programs.

The Next Generation Black STEM Teacher Network program is working to increase the number of highly trained and certified Black STEM teachers for both rural and urban school districts by providing tuition assistance, scholarships and stipends for participation in professional development and STEM research programs. In December 2021, WSSU was awarded over $1.9 million from the U.S. Department of Education to facilitate this program.

The goals of the Next General Black STEM Teacher Network are aligned with the recommendations of the Governor’s DRIVE Task Force, which was created by executive order in December 2019. In June, the Task Force released its Action Plan to increase the diversity of the educator workforce in North Carolina.

Winston-Salem State University’s Astrobotany Lab provides undergraduates with opportunities to work with NASA and shadow scientists and researchers at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. The partnership helped to create the lab on the WSSU campus in 2018, part of a Space Act agreement with NASA to research crop production in space. The plants will go on spaceships at some point.

Several state agencies have HBCU internship and outreach programs to build our public workforce pipeline, including the NC Department of Transportation, NC Department of Health and Human Services and NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Governor Cooper Tours Allenbrook Elementary School in Charlotte and Delivers Supplies Collected from Governor’s School Supply Drive

On September 12, Governor Roy Cooper toured Allenbrook Elementary School in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and delivered supplies collected from the Governor’s School Supply Drive. Supplies, including paper, pens, pencils, notebooks and sanitizing wipes, are being delivered to schools across the state as part of the annual drive. The Governor was also joined by United States Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten.

“Allenbrook Elementary School has made tremendous improvement since 2019, and it’s a testament to our outstanding educators, faculty and support staff,” said Governor Cooper. “Having the right supplies is critical to a successful school year, and teachers must have all the tools they need.”

“We are grateful to Governor Cooper for donating supplies critical to the success of our students,” said Kimberly Vaught, Allenbrook Elementary School Principal. “We believe, and know, our students are worthy, they are ready, and they are poised for greatness; and we must ensure that our actions align to those beliefs."

“It was an honor to visit Allenbrook Elementary today with Governor Cooper and see first-hand the positive impact these supplies will have,” said Deputy Secretary Marten. “As we enter the new school year, I am hopeful that with the American Rescue Plan resources all schools can have a successful school year.”

The Governor visited several Allenbrook Elementary classrooms to meet with students, teachers and faculty. He thanked educators and support staff for their work to keep students safe and healthy.

The Governor’s Annual School Supply Drive was created to provide school supplies to help support families, schools and communities across the state. The drive is in partnership with the State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU), Communities In Schools of North Carolina, and TeachNC. Volunteers with Communities In Schools of North Carolina and VolunteerNC and Governor Cooper’s cabinet members are helping to distribute the supplies to public schools across North Carolina.

On average, teachers spend over $500 of their own money on supplies for their classrooms each year. The Governor’s past budget proposals have included funding to ensure that all students have the opportunity for a sound basic education, including teacher raises to attract and retain more teachers in the system. Governor Cooper is also pushing the state legislature to provide more funding for schools and teachers, including school supplies.

Allenbrook Elementary School is an elementary school in Charlotte. The school has shown significant progress and improvement, from an F-performance grade during the 2018-2019 school year to a C-performance grade during the 2021-2022 school year.

Governor Cooper Announces Battery Manufacturer Will Create More Than 130 Jobs in Alamance County

Sunlight Batteries USA Inc., a manufacturer of lithium-ion and other high-performance batteries, will invest $40 million to expand its North Carolina operations into Alamance County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will create more than 130 jobs in its new facility in Mebane.

"Demand is growing for clean energy components like batteries, and North Carolina is at the forefront of this industry of the future,” said Governor Cooper. “Companies like Sunlight Batteries are bringing new jobs and new investment to Alamance County, thanks to North Carolina’s commitment to clean energy and innovation.”

Sunlight Batteries USA is a subsidiary of the Sunlight Group, a world-leading technology company headquartered in Athens, Greece. Sunlight develops innovative energy storage solutions focusing on developing and producing lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries for industrial applications. Sunlight Batteries operates a production facility in Greensboro with the forthcoming facility in Mebane to manufacture and assemble lithium-ion batteries using robot-assisted systems, along with product storage and distribution space.

“Sunlight’s expansion in Mebane is yet another milestone in our growth plan for the U.S. market,” said Todd Sechrist, CEO of Sunlight Batteries USA. “The 134,000-square-feet facility will create over 130 new jobs in Alamance County and will serve the region by bringing lithium-ion batteries and battery charging solutions to the Americas market. We appreciate the confidence the state of North Carolina and the community has in Sunlight as a partner in the green economy and decarbonized energy.”

Sunlight’s new Mebane facility will create jobs for high-tech and highly trained staff including sales, marketing, operations, assembly, warehousing, engineering, and customer service. Wages for the new jobs will vary depending on the position. The average salary will be $67,589 – well above the current average wage in Alamance County of $46,999. The state and local areas will see an additional impact of more than $8.5 million each year from the new payroll.

"The clean energy economy offers great opportunities for all North Carolinians,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “Our First in Talent strategic plan recognizes the importance of training our workers for these 21st Century jobs. Companies like Sunlight Batteries know they can depend on the strength and ingenuity of the North Carolina workforce.”

In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C., other key partners on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, and the Alamance Chamber.

About Sunlight Group Energy Storage Systems

Sunlight Group, with 30+ years of experience in energy storage, is one of the leading companies in the global production of lead-acid and lithium-ion industrial batteries and energy storage systems. Sunlight supplies the international market with innovative products manufactured and assembled in its state-of-the-art facilities in Greece, Italy, and the USA and distributed to more than 115 countries via its sales & support offices and authorized partners’ network.

With a specialized team of scientists, two R&D centers, and years of experience in lithium-ion innovation, Sunlight Group invests in the sustainable development of the global energy storage sector. The company combines the circular economy business model with its technology-agnostic approach and data-driven insights to develop more environmentally friendly storage solutions for the industrial mobility, leisure mobility, and ESS sectors. Solutions that will render sustainable energy more accessible and reliable.

Live Oak Bank to Add 200 New Jobs in New Hanover County with a $25 Million Expansion in Wilmington

Live Oak Bank, a digitally-focused bank, will create 204 new jobs in New Hanover County, Governor Roy Cooper announced September 7, 2022. The company will invest $25 million in Wilmington to expand its campus and workforce to support the financial needs of American small business owners.

“The best recruiters for our state are North Carolina companies,” said Governor Cooper. “Live Oak Bank is expanding here because its leaders know how much our talented workforce and quality of life mean to their success and North Carolina’s.”

Headquartered in Wilmington, Live Oak Bank, a subsidiary of Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. [NASDAQ: LOB], is a cloud-based, FDIC-insured bank serving customers in all 50 states. As a leading SBA and USDA lender, Live Oak partners with business owners to build and expand their companies and offers banking products to grow their hard-earned money. The company’s expansion includes construction of a new office building to support additional lending and technology personnel for new products and services.

“Live Oak Bank is proud to call Wilmington home. With more than 900 employees working toward our mission to be America’s small business bank, we are grateful for the support of city, county and state officials for powerful capital investments that will help grow fintech jobs in our community and bring hundreds of dedicated Live Oakers to our campus,” said Live Oak Chairman and CEO James S. (Chip) Mahan, III.

“North Carolina is home to a thriving fintech industry,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “With the second largest banking center in the nation and a leading state for women in technology, Live Oak has access to a diverse pipeline of talent that will help the company live out its mission to be the bank for small businesses.”

“This is phenomenal news for New Hanover County and for the state of North Carolina,” said N.C. Representative Charles Miller. “The $25 million investment made by Live Oak Bank will continue to support our local communities by creating more jobs and stimulating additional economic prosperity in our region.”

Governor Cooper Joins Speedway Motorsports and NASCAR Officials to Announce that North Wilkesboro Speedway will host the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race

The NASCAR All-Star Race will be held at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 21, 2023.

During the 75th season of NASCAR, the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race will be held at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, Governor Roy Cooper, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and other officials from NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports announced on Thursday, September 8.

“Motorsports are critical to North Carolina’s history, culture and economy, and our investments have helped to get the engines running again in places that needed revival,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “North Wilkesboro Speedway is back and better than ever, and the All-Star Race will take it to new heights.”

“The NASCAR All-Star Race has always been the fans’ race, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the fans during NASCAR’s 75th anniversary than returning to North Wilkesboro Speedway,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “We couldn’t have made this happen without tremendous support from so many people including Gov. Cooper, our state legislature, NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and of course, the people of Wilkes County. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’ve got the will to create something special alongside a community and hard-working staff that will get it done.”

“Some of my best memories as a little boy were going to North Wilkesboro,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. “And it got even better when I raced there as a teenager. I never thought I’d see that place full again, and then I got to race there this summer in a late model before a full house. There’s just something special about it. I know the track, the fans, and the community will put on a show when we’re back with the Cup cars for the All-Star race.”

“North Wilkesboro Speedway boasts a winners list that features the true giants of our sport, and next year, another great will be added as the NASCAR Cup Series stars once again race at this historic facility,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s chief operating officer. “As part of our 75th anniversary season, we’re are excited to return to the roots of the sport for the NASCAR All-Star Race. This will be a can’t-miss event as we honor our past and look forward to the future.”

The NASCAR All-Star Race will be held at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 21, 2023. The NASCAR All-Star Race will bring an international spotlight and thousands of race fans to North Carolina. The tourism impact will carry through the following weekend with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In his budget proposal last year, Governor Cooper included funds to revitalize speedways across North Carolina. In November 2021, the Governor signed the state budget that included these funds. The budget allocates American Rescue Plan funding to speedways across the state, with North Wilkesboro Speedway receiving $18 million.

North Wilkesboro Speedway is one of the first NASCAR tracks. The final NASCAR Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro was held in 1996 and won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. The track sat largely abandoned, but in recent years, the community made significant efforts to revitalize the track. Racing returned to North Wilkesboro Speedway on August 31 for the Window World 125 race, where fans sold out the stadium.

In May 2022, Governor Cooper visited the North Wilkesboro Speedway to highlight the significant investments it is receiving for repairs from the state budget and celebrate the return of racing following the Racetrack Revival projects.

North Carolina is the birthplace of motorsports and NASCAR, an industry woven into the state’s history and identity. The state serves as the home to NASCAR’s headquarters and Hall of Fame, and 90% of the sanctioning body’s race teams are based in North Carolina.

Governor Cooper Announces Wolfspeed Selects North Carolina for 445 Acre Manufacturing Campus 

Semiconductor company will create 1,800 new jobs at the Chatham-Siler Advanced Manufacturing Site.

Wolfspeed, Inc., a leading manufacturer of Silicon Carbide semiconductors, will create more than 1,800 new jobs in Chatham County by 2030, Governor Roy Cooper announced on Friday, September 9. The company will construct a manufacturing campus for the production of Silicon Carbide materials with an investment of approximately $5 billion over the next eight years in the Town of Siler City.

“Wolfspeed’s decision further validates North Carolina as the epicenter of clean energy,” said Governor Cooper. “This is another milestone in our drive toward a clean energy economy as it will boost electric vehicle manufacturing and offshore wind while fighting climate change and putting money in the pockets of every day North Carolinians with great paying jobs.”

Founded and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, Wolfspeed is the global leader in the production of Silicon Carbide materials and devices which support sustainability through a more efficient use of energy than traditional semiconductor technology. This technology is used in a variety of applications including electric vehicles, 5G networks, and renewable energy and storage. The company’s expansion at the Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing Site will produce the Silicon Carbide materials to make semiconductor chips and devices that more efficiently power electric vehicle inverters and charging systems.

“We are particularly excited and proud to not only expand Wolfspeed’s footprint in our home state of North Carolina, but also our relationship with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to develop a workforce of the future,” said Gregg Lowe, President and CEO of Wolfspeed. “The Chatham County facility will enable the increasing adoption of Silicon Carbide and will drive the dramatic growth of the technology as the power semiconductor market transitions from silicon to the much more efficient Silicon Carbide technology.”

“Our clean energy supply chain continues to grow with advanced manufacturers like Wolfspeed and its record investment in our state,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “North Carolina’s economy has a rich manufacturing legacy that benefits from its homegrown companies and innovative research ecosystem to support their success. As a state, we are committed to providing more creative training systems to further develop the talented workforce to help our state maintain its cutting-edge leadership"

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North Carolina is Aging. Will We be Prepared?

Our population is aging. Approximately 1.7 million North Carolinians are age 65 or older and that number is growing. By 2030, fully one in five will be older than 65 and for the first time ever, North Carolina will be comprised more of older adults than children.

Our state’s aging population has become a cause for concern, as the nature of urban and rural development, daily living, work, leisure and retirement are expected to change in order to keep up.

In addition to our growing metro areas, North Carolina is a rural state, with 80 of our 100 counties being outside major metropolitan areas. Approximately 2.2 million people call rural North Carolina home.

What is Age My Way NC?

Age My Way NC is a collaborative effort between the State of North Carolina and AARP NC to help identify priorities for making our neighborhoods, towns, cities, and rural areas great places for people of all ages.

Age My Way NC is surveying people 45 plus all across the state to identify priorities such as safe and walkable streets; age-friendly housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life.

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