Top Stories for Sept. 7, 2023

straight row of voting booths at polling station during American election. US flag in background.

Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and from the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board met on Wednesday, Sept. 6. The agenda is available here and you can view the meeting at Watch.MeckNC.gov. The Board’s next budget and public policy meeting is scheduled for Sept. 12 at 2:30 p.m. 

1. TTX Jobs: The Board approved a Business Investment Program grant to TTX for up to $231,927. TTX, a railcar pooling company owned by the country’s leading rail carriers, selected Mecklenburg County for its new headquarters location. The company is expected to invest at least $13.8 million in and bring 150 new jobs to Charlotte. TTX was founded as Trailer Train in 1955 by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It manages a fleet of more than 170,000 railcars serving North America’s railroads and is a recognized innovator in the technical design and engineering of railcar components. 

2. Last Week to Vote Early: This is the last week the Board of Elections will host early voting for the City of Charlotte primary. Ten sites are open across Mecklenburg County through Saturday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. Don’t forget—voters need a photo ID to vote in North Carolina elections. Most voters can use their driver licenses, but there are many types of accepted photo IDs. Voters without an ID can still vote with a provisional ballot. Here are 10 facts about photo ID from the N.C. Board of Elections. Learn more about the 2023 election at Vote.MeckNC.gov. 

3. National Kinship Care Month: More than 2.7 million children across the nation live with their grandparents or other relatives in “kinship care,” when their parents can no longer care for them. In Mecklenburg County, just more than 150 children are typically in kin placements. At its Sept. 6 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners proclaimed September 2023 as "National Kinship Care Month” in Mecklenburg County. If it is necessary for a child to come into Mecklenburg County's foster care system, the first goal is to work toward reunifying the child with birth or biological family members. Anyone who would like to learn more about foster care or adoption can call 704-336-KIDS. 

4. Affordable Neighborhoods: As part of its priority to address housing insecurity, the Board has taken action to maintain affordability in the Hoskins neighborhood, which is in a period of transition. In a partnership with the West Side Community Land Trust (West Side CLT), the Board approved $6 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to secure 32 homes. A neighborhood celebration this week marked the new and important chapter in improving and expanding housing affordability. 

5. Welcome Week at the Library: The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library recognizes the important role newcomers play in the vibrancy of the community. The Library’s Welcome CLT initiative provides new residents (with an emphasis on international newcomers) with information and resources about navigating their new community. The Library will celebrate Welcoming Week Sept. 8-17, 2023. Through Welcoming Week, organizations and communities bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places. Everyone can get involved by participating in the Welcome CLT Beanstack Challenge that will help residents contribute to making Charlotte a welcoming place for all.