Local News

Library offers digital preservation services

The Cumberland County Headquarters Library in downtown Fayetteville is proud to offer a state-of-the-art Digital Preservation Lab, located in the Local & State History Room on the second floor. This innovative facility provides a modern solution for preserving cherished memories, making converting old media into digital formats easier than ever.
11The Digital Preservation Lab offers tools and expertise to help safeguard vintage VHS tapes, vinyl records, cassette tapes, photographs, negatives, or slides.
The Digital Preservation Lab provides a wide range of services designed to meet the diverse needs of the community. Users can convert VHS tapes to DVDs, scan photographs, digitize slides and negatives, and convert vinyl records and cassette tapes into digital formats. These services ensure treasured memories remain accessible and intact for years to come.
The best part? All these services are offered free of charge. The only requirement is that users bring their own storage devices, such as a USB drive or blank DVD/CD, to store the converted material.
The lab is equipped with the latest technology to provide the highest quality digital conversion. This includes a scanner, VHS-to-DVD converter, slide and negative converter, vinyl record converter, and cassette converter. This advanced equipment guarantees that the digital versions of media are as clear and accurate as possible.
The library staff are always on hand to provide training on using the equipment. First-time users are encouraged to schedule an appointment to receive a comprehensive overview of the digitization process.
To take full advantage of these free services, it's important to plan ahead. Because some processes, like VHS to DVD conversion, can be time-consuming, users should be prepared to invest some time into the digitization process.
Appointments can be made by calling 910-483-7727 ext. 1359. During the appointment, the friendly and knowledgeable staff will guide users through the process, helping them to know how to use the digitization software effectively. This hands-on support helps make the preservation of records a smooth and efficient experience.
In addition to the Digital Preservation Lab, the Local & State History Room houses a wealth of resources for those interested in exploring the history of Cumberland County and North Carolina. The department’s extensive collections include yearbooks, maps, pamphlets, newspapers, city directories, census records, indexes of vital records, and photographs.
These resources are invaluable for anyone conducting family research or delving into the rich history of the area. Seasoned genealogists or curious newcomers can visit the Local & State History Room, which offers a treasure trove of information to help uncover and preserve heritage.

Fayetteville researches "village" to combat homelessness

Homelessness is a multi-dimensional, complex experience, social issue and human concern.
Homelessness exists in dimensions. People experience homelessness by natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and tornadoes. Others are homeless by virtue of being farm laborers with the reality of perpetual migration. Others are homeless for economic reasons.
The common perception of homelessness is based on the lifestyle characterized by the absence of conventional, permanent housing. Literal homelessness generally means those who sleep in shelters provided in places-private and public-not intended as a dwelling. Homeless street people are often perceived as homeless by their imperfection, moral failing, and personal bad decisions.
The status of funding for community-based facilities is facing challenges such as insufficient funding, workplace shortages, financial barriers with insurance, and low reimbursement rates during the current fiscal year of 2025.
9Another trend of residential dislocation is the decline of low-income housing. Since the 1970’s the United States has seen a significant decline in affordable housing. Housing costs consumed 31 percent of median renters’ income in 2022, compared to less than a fifth in the 1960s.
Gentrification, the process of urban renewal and development that attracts higher-income residents and businesses, is linked to homelessness. This is due to the displacement of lower-income residents, particularly renters who could no longer afford the rising housing costs, and increased competition for limited affordable housing. These factors can lead to homelessness for those unable to adapt to the changing economic landscapes.
Homelessness is an issue across the US, but in Fayetteville, steps are being taken to help mitigate the unhoused population.
The Fayetteville City Council has reviewed a Pallet Shelter Village to address the needs of the homeless population in Fayetteville. Councilperson Brenda McNair sponsored the concept of the Pallet Shelter Village. The Pallet program consists of dignified shelters, a laundry room, a social service area, a community room and bathrooms. The dignity standards of the Pallet Shelter Village are supportive services, hygiene facilities, transportation, safety, and access to food and water. These villages are addressing homelessness in California, Washington State, Oregon, Georgia, and Hawaii and Canada.
The shelter sizes are 70 square feet for accommodation of one to two persons, and 120 square feet to house up to four persons. There is the option of a 120 square feet model with a non-ADA accessible bathroom that can house two people. Each shelter features overhead lights, carbon dioxide and fire alarms, USB ports, heat, air-conditioning and emergency access windows. The shelter is sustainable for 20 years. The cost, inclusive of shipping and assembly, is $24,000 per unit. Non-profits, local government, and private groups have the responsibility to manage and maintain the shelter village.
The Fayetteville City Council voted 6 to 3 not to have the city staff develop a full-scale plan on the Pallet Shelter Village. Brenda McNair, Mario Benavente, and Courtney Banks–McLaughlin voted in favor of the city exploring implementation steps for the Pallet Shelter Village. The Council voted unanimously in a second motion to present the Pallet Shelter proposal at the next City-County Liaison Committee meeting in August 2025.
“Housing initiatives must be paired with comprehensive support services that address mental health and substance abuse challenges. This can involve partnering with local mental health providers and substance abuse treatment centers to ensure that individuals have access to the care and resources they need to transition into stable housing,” said Councilperson McNair.
“It is essential to humanize homelessness by sharing stories that highlight the diverse experiences of individuals affected. Utilizing media campaigns and community outreach to highlight the systemic issues at play can shift the narrative from blame to understanding. Fostering empathy and understanding can be accomplished by education and awareness campaigns can play a crucial role in fostering empathy. By organizing community forums, workshops, and engaging storytelling initiatives, we can help the public see people experiencing homelessness as members of our community with unique experiences and challenges,” she said.
McNair continued, “Evaluating the effectiveness of shelters, social services, and healthcare requires a multifaceted approach, including feedback from the individuals using the services. Continuous data collection and assessment can inform necessary reforms that prioritize client outcomes and support.
"The costs of homelessness is beyond immediate shelter needs and encompasses healthcare costs, emergency services, and criminal justice expenses. Studies suggest investing in prevention and supportive housing is more cost-effective overall compared to the costs incurred by public systems. National estimates are $30,000 to over $100,000 per homeless person with the intersection of healthcare costs, social services, and criminal justice. The illustration using Fayetteville using estimated numbers of 200 homeless people, the estimated range is $55,000 to $11 million on an annual basis,” McNair said.
According to Deborah Brown, Chair of the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Continuum of Care, the approximate count of homeless individuals in Fayetteville is 383.
The economic costs are supportive of the social and public policy of reducing the homelessness population in Fayetteville.
“Transitioning emergency responses to long-term solutions can be implemented by short-term solutions, and should be integrated into broader strategies that address systemic issues such as affordable housing. This policy can include support for mixed-income housing development. Develop stronger partnerships, collaborations, and joint ventures between healthcare providers, social services, housing organizations and community groups. The joint initiatives of these groups will create an integrated approach to the aspects of homelessness. Stakeholders can work together and form coalitions. The coalition can address the local, county, and state levels to influence policy concerning homelessness and integrated services,” McNair said.
McNair’s passion inspires her vision for homelessness within social and public policy.
“As a Council person, I am deeply enthusiastic about addressing homelessness because everyone deserves a safe place to call home. My goal is to create policies that prioritize human dignity and ensure that our local government is responsive to the needs of our most vulnerable citizens,” she said. “My vision to reduce homelessness has short- and long-term objectives. I will implement, within 2 years, more supportive housing initiatives such as Pallet Village to help families in desperate circumstances.
"My five-year objective is an increase in affordable housing units in Fayetteville. The ten-year objective is for Fayetteville to reflect social and public policies as the model city for comprehensive homelessness solutions, experiencing a reduced homeless population through sustained efforts and community engagement.”

(Photo: Workers build shelters in a Pallet Shelter Village. Pallet, a company that creates shelters for homeless individuals, works to provide safe, clean spaces for people to stay. Photo courtesy of Pallet)

Government Watch: Cumberland County, Fayetteville, approve budgets

The budgets for the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County have been adopted as mandated by the North Carolina Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act. Each municipality must operate under an annual balanced budget ordinance within the fiscal year from July 1 to June 30.
Cumberland County
7On June 19, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a $406,207,579 budget, which “lowered the property tax rate to 49.9 cents, down from 79.9 cents, easing the burden on taxpayers while advancing essential services and strategic investments,” according to Board of Commissioner Chairman Kirk deViere.
The budget included the following highlights:
• Addressing education needs from Cumberland County Schools, Fayetteville Technical Community College and the new Cape Fear Valley Medical School
• $103 million for Cumberland County Schools
• $300 million capital investment in school facility maintenance and $160 million for new school construction
• $16.25 million in operating support and $11.5 million in capital funding for Fayetteville Technical Community College
• $10 million investment in the Cape Fear Valley Medical School
• Ensuring a safe community for all residents by strengthening recruitment and retention of Sheriff’s Deputies and Detention Officers, investing in public health staffing to enhance service delivery, funding for Legal Aid and supporting volunteer fire departments
• Working through strategic investments in economic development partnerships to attract new industries, expanding access to clean and regulated water throughout the county and enhancing technology
• Enhancing health and wellness by supporting health and community-based services as well as newborn health and early-life wellness
• $30 million investment in a mental health diversion facility offering 24/7 inpatient care
• Increased resources for Veterans Services to better serve those who served
• Supporting local nonprofits and supplementing transportation services for senior and disabled residents
• Reducing property tax rate to 49.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, providing significant tax relief following the 2025 revaluation, and investing in the County’s professional workforce, including a cost-of-living adjustment
• Expansion of Parks and Recreation access, particularly in rural areas, promoting equitable access to leisure and wellness opportunities
• $500,000 allocated for planning and scoping a regional aquatics center
City of Fayetteville
On June 9, the City of Fayetteville adopted an operating budget for FY2026 of $315.2 million and a Capital Improvement Plan of $91.8 million with a 9-1 vote. The budget passed with the lowest property tax rate in 30 years at $0.4495 per $100 value and did not increase stormwater or solid waste fees or FAST transit fares.
The budget included the following highlights:
• $30.7 million for stormwater improvements
• $20.6 million for public safety and technology
• $9.5 million for parks and recreation
• $6.2 million for additional community needs such as public safety cameras, neighborhood enhancements and sidewalk expansions
• $4.6 million in employee compensation, offering a 4% merit increase and a 1% increase to 401(k) contributions
• $1.5 million was included in the budget to address pay compression in public safety
“This budget is a win for Fayetteville,” said City Manager Doug Hewett. “It reflects our commitment to safety, neighborhoods and economic development while also being sensitive to household affordability.”
In other news, the Fayetteville Area System of Transportation (FAST) has summer fun bus passes for Fayetteville area youth ages 18 and under for unlimited rides across FAST routes for just $15 through Aug. 15. Fun passes can be purchased at the FAST Transit Center at 505 Franklin Street. FAST services 30 fixed-route buses on 18 routes.
Joint City of Fayetteville — Cumberland County Liaison Committee
Members of the Fayetteville City Council and Cumberland County Board of Commissioners met on June 16 to hear presentations from Action Pathways Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeastern NC on food insecurity and community support, Cumberland County Justice Services on youth services and juvenile prevention and Mid-Carolina Regional Council on workforce development and youth employment including the Future is So Bright and ICON internship programs.
The city and county meet jointly to discuss ways they can further collaborate and communicate effectively. The next meeting will be held on Aug. 18 in the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse.
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.

PWC recognized with Spirit of North Carolina Award

The United Way of North Carolina has recognized the Fayetteville Public Works Commission with a 2025 Spirit of North Carolina Award.
The Spirit of North Carolina Award offers United Ways in North Carolina an opportunity to honor organizations and individuals who exemplify the “spirit” of their community. Winners meet specific standards of achievement and are nominated by their local United Ways. This is the 19th time PWC employees have earned this distinction. Last year, PWC pledged $110,576 to the United Way of Cumberland County and had 40 Marquis givers (&1,000+). Since 1997, PWC employees have pledged over $2.6 million to fund vital non-profits in our community that actively serve residents who need it.
6“I’m incredibly proud of our team for earning this recognition. This award is a testament not just to our company’s values, but to the generosity and compassion of every employee who gives their time, talent, and treasure to support our community,” said Timothy Bryant, CEO/General Manager, Fayetteville PWC.
The 2025 Spirit Award specifically recognizes PWC as Leaders in Volunteering. The United Way of Cumberland County provided the following narrative when nominating PWC for this award: “We have the privilege of working alongside many community-minded partners. However, few demonstrate the consistency, innovation, and heart for service that PWC brings to our community daily. PWC sets the bar for public service. Their commitment to sustainability, reliability, and community engagement doesn’t just power homes—it powers hope, opportunity, and progress. And it doesn’t stop there. PWC’s leadership utilizes a Community Advisory Group to ensure the voices of our neighbors are heard in shaping the services we all depend on. They don’t just serve our city—they listen, they innovate, and they invest in a stronger future for all of us.”
“PWC exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose, to serve with integrity, and to uplift our community every step of the way,” said Scott Embry, Executive Director/CEO of the United Way of Cumberland County. “For decades, they have remained one of our top-giving organizations, and this award is a well-deserved reflection of their generosity, dedication, and the faith they have placed in us to serve those in need.”
The United Way of North Carolina recognized 62 Spirit of North Carolina Award winners for the year 2024, representing 17 local United Ways. These companies and organizations not only demonstrated excellence in their United Way campaign but are building a philanthropic culture community-wide.
The United Way of Cumberland County’s mission is to improve lives across Cumberland County by strategically raising and investing resources that successfully impact prioritized human service and health needs while working in effective and innovative partnerships with direct provider agencies.

Colvin announces he will not run for mayor in 2025

8bMitch Colvin announced June 12 that he will not seek reelection for mayor in November.
Colvin was first elected in 2017, and said serving was "the honor of his life." He said he plans on spending more time with his family.
"As I look to the future, I plan to continue working to make Fayetteville a better place by contributing to the community, but I’m also looking forward to spending time with my family and working in my business," Colvin said.
Colvin served on the Fayetteville City Council from 2013-2017. In 2017, he was elected as mayor, and has been the longest serving Black mayor in Fayetteville history.
During his tenure, Colvin focused on job creation and economic development, advocating for an Amazon distribution center to be brought to the area. He helped to establish the Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur and Business Hub.
“Fayetteville has undergone remarkable transformation in recent years, and now is the time to boldly shape the next chapter of our city’s future,” said Mayor Colvin at a speech on June 10.
“By working together, we can harness our momentum, build on our unique strengths, and seize the opportunities that will define the future of our growing, dynamic community.”
Filing for municipal elections officially begins July 7. Currently, four people have announced their intention to run for the mayor position: Businessman and veteran Freddie de la Cruz; former City Council member Paul Williams; current City Council member representing District 3 Mario Benavente; and current Mayor Pro Tem and five time City Council member representing District 1 Kathy Jensen.
Up & Coming Weekly will be updating our readers regarding the Fayetteville Mayoral race, as well as other municipal elections, in the coming months.

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