Top Stories for Jan. 23, 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 met on Jan. 22. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board will next meet for its annual budget retreat Jan. 29-31.
1. Affordable Housing and a Mixed-use Community: The Board of County Commissioners approved an agreement with the City of Charlotte to help fund infrastructure surrounding Providence Square, a private initiative to redevelop 60-year-old apartments in south Charlotte. The project will create a mixed-use community with residential, retail, office and recreation spaces, and multimodal transportation. The agreement calls for Mecklenburg County to contribute up to $12,130,000 of future property taxes created by the project (Tax Increment Grant), which will grow the tax base and fund improvements such as streets, access, and greenway connections. In exchange, the developers are expected to reserve a portion of the units for workforce and affordable housing, donate parkland, construct a greenway bridge, contribute to trails, and level up the participation of diverse businesses as contractors on the project. The project supports the Board’s priorities of addressing housing insecurity, racial disparities, and environmental stewardship.
2. Share Your View. Shape Our Future. Forty-six people addressed the Board during its first FY2025-2026 budget public hearing, on topics ranging from school funding, libraries, parks, housing, senior services, and more. The next step in building the budget is the annual retreat to be held Jan. 29-31, where Board members will receive an update on the County’s financial status, address fiscal policies, and review priorities. County Manager Dena R. Diorio is scheduled to present her budget recommendation on May 15, with the Board adopting the FY2025-2026 budget on June 3. The retreat agenda and other materials will be available by Monday, Jan. 27, at Budget.MeckNC.gov.
3. Recognizing Commissioner Dunlap: Commissioner George Dunlap was twice recognized during the Jan. 22 meeting for his leadership as Board chair. Charlotte Works, an umbrella organization that unites multiple workforce development entities and strategies, awarded Commissioner Dunlap with a Workforce Development Champion Award. The award recognizes the exceptional leadership and dedication of a leader in fostering economic growth and workforce development. Plus, County Manager Dena Diorio presented Commissioner Dunlap with a ceremonial gavel for his leadership and commitment to County priorities during his terms as Chair. Commissioner Dunlap has served on the Board since 2008, representing District Three, and served as Chair between 2018 and 2024. He is the first district representative to chair the Board of County Commissioners.
4. GEAR Up: Mecklenburg County has launched an innovative pilot program to support young adults ages 18 to 21 who have aged out of the foster care program and will now transition to self-sufficiency. GEAR Up, or Getting Every Adolescent Ready, will allow 68 young adults to access $763 monthly to spend on products and services related to childcare, healthcare, substance use treatment, groceries, education, or general household needs. The funds will not be given to the participant at any time. Purchases or payments for services will be made by the County through the participant’s assigned LINKS coordinator. The Board set aside $500,000 for the GEAR Up program, intending to address inequity in the community, which is a Board priority.
5. RAMP Up: A supplemental income program is helping Mecklenburg County residents who are reentering the community after incarceration. The program, known as RAMP Up, launched July 1. Sixty formerly incarcerated residents were chosen to receive a monthly stipend of $600 for one year for use on housing, education, healthcare, workforce development, and other qualifying general expenses.
Watch: Six months into the program, participants are describing how RAMP Up has given them a leg up and already changed the course of their lives.
6. Growing the Dream: County Manager Dena Diorio was presented with the prestigious 2025 Root Award at the annual Growing the Dream Award luncheon, part of the 2025 Charlotte-Mecklenburg celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Diorio was recognized for her collective work in supporting the African American community. She was noted for going above and beyond in her work and her leadership was deemed a “root” in the collective efforts. The annual event also honors unsung heroes and community members who work to promote unity, diversity and multiculturalism within our community, continuing the legacy of Dr. King.