The Greater Fayetteville Chamber kicked off its first Chamber Coffee Club on Jan. 15 with former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory discussing North Carolina’s economic competitiveness and workforce development trends through a Q&A session with Chamber President and CEO Nat Robertson. McCrory and Robertson met when Robertson was the mayor of Fayetteville, and Robertson partnered to get bridges repaired after Hurricane Matthew.
The Government Relations committee of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber also held a reception on Jan. 13 for the Fayetteville City Council, Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and the Cumberland County state delegation.

City of Fayetteville
On Jan. 12, the Fayetteville City Council authorized up to $40 million in bonds for infrastructure and public safety projects and the acceptance of a $354,000 grant from the International City/County Management Association for economic opportunity initiatives. Amendments for the Aubrey Hills Apartments loan were approved, and a site on Distribution Drive was rezoned to Light Industrial. Three new subdivision streets were added to the city system for Powell Bill eligibility.
On Jan. 5, the Fayetteville City Council received a presentation from the Economic and Community Development regarding the redevelopment of the Blount and Gillespie Street site. They were presented with three distinct concepts for the city-owned property, which varied in their mix of public green space, retail and multifamily housing density. Outreach efforts indicated that 61% of residents preferred dense, mixed-use buildings (3–6 stories) while 40% prioritized shaded lounge areas and ADA-accessible natural play spaces. The consensus was to proceed with drafting a Request for Qualifications to vet potential vendors.
The council will hold its Strategic Planning Retreat on Feb. 3-4.

Cumberland County
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners reviewed a proposed interlocal agreement for Parks and Recreation with the City of Fayetteville. This agreement aims to address financial transparency, fee structures and cost redistribution for shared parks. A formal proposal is expected at their Feb. 12 meeting.
Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Director Michael Gibson presented a funding request for regional trail expansion to extend the Cape Fear River Trail from the current Fayetteville city limits to Arnette Park. He informed the board that a $1,096,000 FAMPO grant had been awarded for the design of this extension. The project requires a 20% local match of $274,000, bringing the total project cost to $1.37 million. The board unanimously approved the support request.
Preliminary survey results were also shared regarding a potential joint 911 center with Fayetteville. The joint 911 operations center is one of several options being discussed to address emergency call handling and coordination across the county. The community survey is designed to gather resident feedback on experiences, priorities and considerations related to emergency response and 911 communications, according to county officials. The public comment period remains open through Jan. 25. Residents are encouraged to participate by visiting: www.surveymonkey.com/r/joint911communityinput.
The board will hold its Strategic Planning Retreat on Jan. 23.

National Civics Bee®
The National Civics Bee®, a nationwide initiative led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, will allow middle school students (6th, 7th, and 8th grades) to participate in North Carolina for the first time this year. Through the Greater Fayetteville Chamber, Fayetteville has been chosen as a regional site. Applications for students are officially open, and students have until Feb. 3 to submit.
For more information about the program, including educator resources and how to participate in the 2026 competition, visit www.faybiz.com/civicsbee.

About the Greater Fayetteville Chamber
Advocacy is a cornerstone of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Every week, the Chamber dedicates staff to attend City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County meetings as well as monitoring updates on the state and federal levels. We monitor legislation locally, statewide and federally to protect our community’s business interests. With 91% of U.S. adults recognizing a Chamber of Commerce's impact on growth, membership ensures a strong voice shaping policies, driving economic success and building a thriving business community—together. To learn more, visit www.faybiz.com or email jmclaughlin@faybiz.com.