Top Stories for Aug. 20 2025
Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board next regular meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. The agenda will be available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV.
1. Northeast Neighbors: Residents are invited to a community meeting for Mecklenburg County District 3 and the northeast part of the county, hosted by Commissioner George Dunlap (District 3). It will be held Tuesday, Aug. 26, beginning at 6 p.m. at University City Regional Library. The community meeting will include remarks from new Mecklenburg County Manager Mike Bryant and presentations on County services and the FY2026 budget. Residents will have an opportunity to offer feedback and ask questions. Anyone interested in attending can RSVP online by Monday, Aug. 25.
2. $1 Million for HOMES: The HOMES program has awarded more than $1 million since applications opened July 1. Nearly 2,000 homeowners have been awarded economic assistance grants this year and funds are still available. Mecklenburg County homeowners may qualify for up to $650 and residents within the Town of Davidson may qualify for an additional grant up to $534. The application can be found at MeckNC.gov/4HOMES and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. The deadline to apply is Nov. 21.
3. A Story of Belonging: Every child deserves a story of belonging and anyone can help write that story. Whether single, partnered, married, LGBTQ+, or building your own version of family, everyone is welcome. In conjunction with this month’s Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade (view photos), Mecklenburg County Youth and Family Services encourages prospective parents from our many diverse communities to consider creating a loving home. One of those parents is Tim McElveen who shares his journey to parenthood in hopes others will follow in his footsteps. Read his story “in his own words” at Blog.MeckNC.gov.
4. It's a SNAP at the Farmers Market: As we near the end of summer and the closing of some seasonal farmers markets, Public Health reminds residents that they can use their SNAP benefits for fresh and healthy produce at local farmers markets. The SNAP Double Bucks program helps community members make the most of their SNAP benefits by providing a dollar-for-dollar match for purchases at participating farmers markets. This program is a partnership between Mecklenburg County Public Health, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council, and participating farmers markets. View this video to learn more about the program.
5. Splish, Splash: Residents have two more weekends to get their dog paddle on at a Park and Recreation outdoor swimming spot. After Aug. 22, Cordelia Pool, Double Oaks Family Aquatic Center, and Ramsey Creek Beach will operate weekends only until Labor Day. Spraygrounds remain open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily. But Labor Day, Sept. 1, will be the last day of the year for operations at all spraygrounds, outdoor pools, and Ramsey Creek Beach.
6. Blues on Eastway: Park and Recreation’s Sundown Sounds will wind down its 2025 family-friendly concert series on Thursday Aug. 21 at Eastway Regional Recreation Center. Blues musician D.K. Harrell is set to perform the final show of the season beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sundown Sounds has drawn thousands of residents all summer long for music, food, and fun under the stars. Last week’s performance at Ramsey Creek Beach drew hundreds of music lovers and was even more memorable after the band set up on a barge just offshore so attendees could enjoy the music facing the water. View photos from this summer’s concerts.