Dear Friends, 

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

The Office of the Governor hopes that you, your family, and your community are recovering from Hurricane Ian. North Carolina mourns alongside the friends and family of those who died from treacherous conditions brought to our state by Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane season lasts from June 1st to November 30th. The Governor and state officials advise to preemptively gather some emergency supplies or refresh your emergency kit. The Governor and state officials advise these additional tips to make sure people are personally prepared:

• Have multiple ways to receive emergency information, including watches and warnings. Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on a cell phone and download a weather app.
• Have an emergency plan. Know where to go if there’s a need to evacuate. Make a plan to stay with family, friends or at a hotel. Public shelters should be a last resort.
• If people live at the coast, be aware if you live in a coastal evacuation zone. Visit KnowYourZone.nc.gov to see if you are located in a pre-determined evacuation zone. Learn your zone and listen for it if evacuations are ordered by local governments.

If you are willing and able, consider donating to benefit those in Florida who are still in the recovery process of Hurricane Ian. Two verified organizations accepting donations are the Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Fund or the United Way Hurricane Ian Relief Fund. 

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. 

Emma Hubacher

Office of the Governor

Governor Cooper Responds Following East Raleigh Shooting, Flags Lowered to Half-Staff to Mourn Victims

Five people were killed and two others injured, during a shooting Thursday, October 13th near the Hedingham neighborhood in Raleigh. Local and state law enforcement responded to stop the suspect.

Governor Cooper stated on Friday, October 14th that a “well-coordinated and courageous law enforcement response stopped the shooter. No neighborhood, no parent, no child, no one should feel this fear in their communities. We’re standing with the victims and their families in this moment of unspeakable agony. We’re sad, furious and have many questions that’ll soon be answered. But we already know the core truth. No community should feel the pain of gun violence, and as policy makers, we cannot turn away from what has happened here and across the country".

Gov. Cooper ordered all U.S. and North Carolina flags at state facilities to half-staff in honor of the victims. The names and ages of the victims are as follows:

James Thompson, 16

Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres, 29

Nicole Connors, 52

Susan Karnatz, 49

Mary Marshall, 34

Governor Cooper and the Cooper Administration mourns with the victims’ families and loved ones as Raleigh comes to grips with the nightmare that became a reality. 

Governor Cooper Hosts Hispanic Heritage Month Reception for NC Educators 

On Friday, October 7^th, 2022, Governor Cooper hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month reception to honor and acknowledge North Carolina educators, community advocates, and Latinx elected officials within the Hispanic/Latinx communities. Each member of the community that was invited is striving towards the goal of 2 million North Carolinians have a postsecondary degree or credential, especially in the Latinx community, by 2030.

Thank you, educators, for your efforts in engaging and inspiring our communities! 

“Thanks to the countless contributions from generations of Hispanic, Latino and Latinx people, our state is a stronger place to live and work,” Governor Cooper said. “As we celebrate their achievements, we must continue working to make North Carolina more just and equitable for all.” Join the Office of Governor Cooper as we celebrate the Hispanic and Latinx Communities and strive towards a more inclusive state.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In the United States, breast cancer is the second most common cancer found in women, and the fifth leading cause of death in women between the ages of 20 and 59. Each year, a new group of survivors is created by the breast cancer awareness movement. Their stories inspire others and remind us that we can all make a difference. Find breast cancer resources below.

October 11th was National Coming Out Day

National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is an annual awareness day observed on October 11, to support people within the LBGTQ+ community in openly expressing their sexual identity. First celebrated in the United States in 1988, the initial idea was grounded in the feminist and gay liberation movements. There was an emphasis on the most basic form of activism being coming out to family, friends and colleagues, and living life as an openly lesbian or gay person. 

Founders Robert Eichberg and Jean O’Leary held a belief that homophobia thrives in an atmosphere of silence and ignorance and that once people were confronted with the reality that they have loved ones who are lesbian or gay, they would be far less likely to maintain homophobic or oppressive views. 

Governor Cooper stated on his Facebook, “On this #NationalComingOutDay, we celebrate our LGBTQ+ community and recommit to building on the progress we have made in becoming a safer and more inclusive state for all. To those who have come out and those who may need more time, know you are accepted and loved”.

Governor Cooper Proclaims Indigenous Peoples' Day

“Indigenous tribes continue to play a vital role in the development of our communities, state and nation. Gov. Cooper has proclaimed today as Indigenous Peoples' Day to honor the original inhabitants of the land now known as North Carolina.” - Governor Cooper via Twitter

NC American Indian Heritage Commission Held Its Inaugural Meeting

On Friday, October 14^th, the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources held its first meeting for the North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission in the Archives and History/State Library Building in Raleigh, NC. Created by the 2021 State Budget Act, the commission is intended to “advise and assist the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources in the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of American Indian history, arts, customs, and culture.” Earlier this year, Kerry Bird was appointed Director and Quinn Godwin was appointed Associate Director of the commission.

Governor Cooper Leads Supports Florida in Hurricane Ian Response and Recovery

North Carolina is supporting the State of Florida after Hurricane Ian.

“Although we mourn five deaths and incurred some damage, it’s clear North Carolina missed the worst of this storm,” said Governor Roy Cooper. "Now that some of our emergency resources are no longer needed at home, we are sending additional assistance to our Florida neighbors, who have a long road of recovery ahead.”

In response to requests Florida placed through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, North Carolina is providing 16 personnel on two incident management teams, which will help Lee County, Florida coordinate response and recovery operations. Lee County is home to Fort Myers and Cape Coral, some of the locations hardest hit by Hurricane Ian and where about half of the deaths from the storm have occurred.

The team of state and local emergency managers and first responders will be in Florida for two weeks to support Lee County emergency managers in coordinating ongoing response operations including search, distribution of relief supplies, damage assessment and beginning the recovery process.  The team is traveling with all the supplies and equipment they need to set up a basecamp and be self-sufficient while working, as most of the infrastructure in the area is destroyed and services are unavailable. 

North Carolina also provided experts in emergency communications who have supported the Florida State Emergency Operations Center since before the storm made landfall. Personnel are from the FirstTech Office in the NC Department of Information Technology and from North Carolina Emergency Management and have covered a two-week deployment period.

North Carolina is also filling a Florida request for a public information officer to assist at the state EOC for a two-week period.

“We will remain ready to deploy other resources as needed and continue to look for ways to support our partners in Florida and the ongoing response and recovery efforts in the impacted communities.” said NC Emergency Management Director William Ray.

Governor Cooper joined U.S. Department of Agriculture officials at Bethesda Elementary School in Durham, NC to announce new cooperative agreements between state and federal government for new local food program

On October 11^th, Governor Cooper toured Bethesda Elementary School and ate with students to highlight new local food program for schools in NC. 

Governor Cooper was joined by U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Mae Wu and NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Chief Deputy Commissioner David Smith in Durham, on October 11^th to announce the signing of cooperative agreements between USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and state under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program. The funding provided by these programs will enable the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to purchase locally and regionally grown, produced and processed food from underserved farmers and producers and distribute the food to local communities and schools.

“USDA is excited to partner with North Carolina to promote economic opportunities for farmers and producers and to increase access to locally sourced, fresh, healthy, and nutritious food in underserved communities and in schools,” said Deputy Under Secretary Wu. “The Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program will improve food and agricultural supply-chain resiliency and increase local food consumption around the country.”

“We have the best agriculture industry in the world right here in North Carolina,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “It’s great to see this collaboration between state and federal government connecting farmers with schools to get students the healthy meals they need.”

Writer and Poet Jaki Shelton Greene Featured on the Forbes 50 over 50 List

“This is a well-deserved honor. Congratulations to North Carolina's own Jaki Shelton Green for being recognized on the Forbes 50 Over 50 Lifestyle List.” – Governor Cooper’s Twitter 

BE IN THE KNOW

Governor Cooper Proclaims October Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Warns of Hurricane-Related Scams

On October 4^th, Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Following the damage and destruction Hurricane Ian left across North Carolina and the Southeast last week, state officials are warning all North Carolinians to be on higher alert for online scams and threats. 

“This is a timely reminder that cybercriminals are out there waiting to take advantage of people in crisis and those who want to help them,” Governor Cooper said Tuesday, just days after the storm brought heavy rainfall, strong winds and power outages across the state. 

Posing as official representatives of disaster aid organizations or charities, scammers frequently use social engineering techniques, like phishing emails, texts, and phone calls, to solicit personal and financial information and to gain access to devices and networks that can often hold sensitive data. 

“From health care and work to recreation and education, the internet is a critical tool for almost everything we do,” Governor Cooper said. “That’s why it’s so important that North Carolinians educate ourselves about cyberthreats and learn how to stay safe and avoid problems online.”

As part of this year’s campaign theme, See Yourself in Cyber, the N.C. Department of Information Technology will offer cybersecurity tips and best practices on social media using #BeCyberSmart and #CyberSecureNC throughout the month. Information is also posted at it.nc.gov/CyberSecureNC. 

For help finding legitimate ways to support charities or contribute to disaster relief, check out tips from the Attorney General’s Office at ncdoj.gov/protecting-consumers/charity/.

Read the proclamation. 

Governor Cooper Tours Rowland’s Wastewater Plant, Highlights $10.3 Million Investment to Repair and Replace Sewer System

North Carolina is investing $2.3 billion in water infrastructure.

On October 6^th, Governor Roy Cooper toured the Town of Rowland’s wastewater plant and highlighted the $10.3 million clean water infrastructure grant that the town is receiving to replace and rehabilitate sanitary sewer infrastructure.

“Strong communities require strong infrastructure,” said Governor Cooper. “This investment will help make needed improvements to the town’s wastewater system, so Rowland and Robeson County can be an even stronger, healthier and more resilient place for all.”

The Town of Rowland owns and operates a wastewater collection system that serves a large majority of the Town’s population. This investment will replace gravity sewer lines, rehabilitate four pump stations and improve wastewater treatment plant infrastructure, all operating past their expected service life. The Town of Rowland is under a sewer line moratorium due to regularly exceeding flows at the treatment plant. The project will help eliminate large volumes of extraneous flow in the system and help end the sewer line moratorium.

On average, North Carolina invests about $200 million annually in the state’s water infrastructure. North Carolina will be investing $2.3 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure in communities across the state.

In July, the Governor announced $789.4 million in water and wastewater infrastructure funding to help pay for 385 projects statewide, including 140 construction projects. To date, 86 counties are receiving funds to upgrade their water infrastructure. The funding comes from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, state reserve funds and state budget allocations.

Governor Cooper Addresses Climate Change on “Meet the Press”

Governor Cooper stated North Carolina has a “front-row seat” to climate change, adding that he is working to build stronger and more resilient infrastructure to combat the effects of global warming.

“North Carolina has had a front-row seat when it comes to the effects of climate change,” Cooper told moderator Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on October 2^nd. “We are making sure that we become a clean energy safe haven and that we are paying attention to resiliency.” With hurricanes expected to get more intense because of climate change, Cooper on Sunday said coastal communities are “vulnerable.”

“So what we’re doing is making sure that we are using strategies like elevation and even buyouts,” Cooper said. “It has just become better to make sure that we create green space with the place where homes and businesses used to be to soak up water that may come from a river flood and then to relocate people.

“We also need to make sure our electric grid is more resilient,” the governor added. “We’re gonna be working on updating our grid, making sure that we are more resilient into the future.”

Governor Cooper Proclaims North Carolina Manufacturing Week

Governor Cooper proclaimed October 2-8 North Carolina Manufacturing Week. Boasting the fifth-largest manufacturing economy in the United States, which grew 14% last year, and the largest manufacturing workforce in the southeast, manufacturing remains essential to the success of every sector of North Carolina’s economy.

"North Carolina manufacturing is thriving and putting more money in the pockets of every day North Carolinians who make up the most talented and skilled workforce in the world," said Gov. Cooper. "With more than 10,700 businesses contributing more than $122 billion to our economy and still growing, we’re making computer chips, electric school buses, farm equipment, lifesaving medicines and so many more products that are being shipped here and around the world. We can be proud when we see the Made in North Carolina label."

In 2021, 95% of North Carolina exports consisted of $31.6 billion worth of manufactured products including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, non-ferrous metals, semiconductors, aerospace components, and textiles.

Of North Carolina’s record-breaking year for economic development announcements last year, manufacturing represents 67% of all new, relocation, and expansion projects with more than 14,690 new jobs and investments exceeding $8.6 billion.

Read the proclamation.

Read the full press release here.

NCDHHS to Extend Grant Program Supporting Early Care and Learning Teacher Pay

“These NC Child Care Stabilization Grants are supporting our state’s childcare programs and early childhood educators while providing parents with the time and flexibility to obtain good-paying jobs”

– Governor Cooper via official Twitter page

Grant support to boost compensation for North Carolina’s early care and learning teachers and staff will continue through December 2023, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced on September 13^th.

Since October 2021, the NCDHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education has distributed $655 million in Child Care Stabilization Grants to 4,247 child care centers and family child care homes across the state. Funded by the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, the grants have helped North Carolina’s long under-paid child care programs begin to rebound from pandemic-driven business losses and expenses and compete in the tight job market. With the funding running out and programs still struggling, DCDEE will use about $150 million in discretionary ARPA funding allocated for workforce initiatives to continue one component of the grants – compensation supports, which have helped to boost teacher pay and benefits. However, the compensation support grants will not be large enough to fully replace the stabilization grants funding.

"This extension of compensation grants is another important step toward recognizing the crucial work of early educators and helping child care programs stay open for the families who count on them," said Susan Gale Perry, NCDHHS Chief Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being. "At the same time, we can’t rely on temporary solutions; we need long-term investment to strengthen the early care and learning workforce and ensure access to high quality care. This workforce is fundamental to our economy and foundational to the well-being of children and families."

To learn more and apply for North Carolina Child Care Stabilization Grants, visit ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Stabilization-Grants.

To learn more about the value of the state’s early care and learning network, visit Raise North Carolina at RaiseNC.nc.gov.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

The NC Department of Health and Human Service's Climate and Health Program has opened applications for Climate Change Adaptation in the Sandhills. All applications must be received via email by 5:00 pm ET on October 31, 2022. 

Find out more information about this funding opportunity here.

BE INVOLVED

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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