Carrboro Celebrates Minority Enterprise Development Week
“Minority Enterprise Development Week” is recognized Sept. 19-25 in the Town of Carrboro, as proclaimed by Mayor Lydia Lavelle.
“I encourage all residents to honor the achievements of minority business owners and to commit ourselves to creating a truly equitable economic system so all people can share equally in the promise of our community and our nation,” Mayor Lavelle said.
Despite systemic institutional racism that restricted access to capital, property, markets, advertising, and all other aspects of commerce, minorities have used their talents, ideas, passions, hard work, and tenacity to build successful businesses enterprises throughout our nation’s history; according to the Minority Business Development Agency, the number of minority-owned businesses in the United States grew from approximately 300,000 in 1969 to over 11 million in 2020.
Buy MBE Day
The Minority Business Development Agency has announced that Buy MBE Day will take place on Saturday, Sept. 25.
The Town of #Carrboro values the contributions that local BIPOC Businesses provide to our community. We encourage visitors and residents alike to join us in supporting these businesses! #2021BuyMBEDay
➡️ https://ecs.page.link/sBbt6
Carrboro Recognizes Diaper Need Awareness Week
The week of Sept. 27 to Oct. 3 is “Diaper Need Awareness Week” in the Town of Carrboro, as proclaimed by Mayor Lydia Lavelle.
Carrboro is proud to be home to trusted community-based organizations including Diaper Bank of North Carolina that recognize the importance of diapers in ensuring health and providing economic stability for families and thus distribute diapers to families through various channels.
“I’d like to thank the aforementioned diaper bank, their staff, volunteers and donors, for their service during the COVID-19 crisis, and encourage the residents of Carrboro to donate generously to diaper banks, diaper drives, and those organizations that collect and distribute diapers to those struggling with diaper need, so that all of Carrboro’s children and families can thrive and reach their full potential,” Mayor Lavelle said.
Advisory Board Recruitment
Get Involved!
The Town of Carrboro is recruiting for Town Advisory Boards and Commissions. Serving on a board or committee is a great opportunity to connect with community and participate in local government!
We have openings on the following:
- Affordable Housing Advisory Board
- Appearance Commission
- Arts Committee
- Board of Adjustment
- Carrboro Tourism Development Authority
- Climate Action Team
- Community Safety Task Force
- Economic Sustainability Commission
- Environmental Advisory Board
- Human Services Commission
- OWASA Board of Directors
- Recreation and Parks Commission
To apply, please visit townofcarrboro.org/advisoryboards
The Town Council is making it a priority to put Black/African-American voices on all advisory boards and commissions that address aspects of Carrboro’s quality of life.
BIPOC Business Roundtable Discussion Scheduled
CARRBORO, N.C. -- The Carrboro Department of Economic Development has announced a BIPOC Business Roundtable Discussion scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30.
The Town of Carrboro seeks to hear the needs and challenges of Black, Indigenous, Latinx and People of Color businesses in Carrboro, and the role the Town needs to play to help businesses start and grow. Additionally, the roundtable discussions serve as an opportunity for BIPOC Business Owners to get to know and support each other. Special guests include representatives from Durham Tech’s Small Business Center and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber’s Black Business Alliance.
The meeting expands upon the Town’s efforts over the past year and a half to listen to the needs of its BIPOC populations and find ways to systemically improve their lives from the Town’s perspective. The Town held four previous Minority Business Roundtables in July 2020, November 2020, February 2021, and May 2021.
Businesses interested in participating in the roundtable discussions are asked to pre-register. Register and find more information at http://www.townofcarrboro.org/152/Economic-Development.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Town of Carrboro
Jon Hartman-Brown
919-391-7846
JHartman-Brown@TownofCarrboro.org
Town Council Update
Meeting agendas and updates are issued from the Town Clerk’s Office. To receive these by email or text, sign up for Carrboro Town News at townofcarrboro.org/signup
Civic involvement is a valued tradition in our community. Reach the Town Council with your ideas, views and questions at council@townofcarrboro.org
Coming Up
The Town Council will meet virtually at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, to consider the agenda at https://bit.ly/3CMZ5cS that also will be posted at carrboro.legistar.com
Past Meeting
The Carrboro Town Council met virtually Tuesday Sept. 21, and took the following actions on the agenda posted at https://bit.ly/3hK31mH
- Conditional Use Permit Minor Modification Request for Harris Distribution Facility at 308 Highway 54 – The Council approved the request for a change-in-use to Wholesale Sales.
- The Council received monthly reports from the Economic Development Department, Police Department, Fire-Rescue Department, and the Stormwater Utility.
- Street Closing Permits for the Annual Carrboro 10K Road Race, and the Gallop and Gorge 8K Road Race – The Council approved street closing permits for these local road races, sponsored by the Cardinal Track Club and which date back nearly 20 years.
- Police Department Quarterly Equity Report – The Council received information for the quarter on traffic stops, searches, citations, arrests, use of force and citizen complaints.
- Update on Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan Process and Request to Set a Public Hearing – The Council received an update and preliminary draft plan, and set a public hearing for Nov. 16. View the draft plan at https://www.carrboroconnects.org/prelim-draft-plan
About the Town Council
The Town Council is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, consisting of seven elected members: Mayor Lydia Lavelle, Mayor Pro Tempore Barbara Foushee, Council Member Jacquelyn Gist, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Council Member Susan Romaine, Council Member Damon Seils, and Council Member Sammy Slade. More information is available at http://townofcarrboro.org/248/Town-Council
Carrboro 10K Scheduled Saturday, Oct. 2
A Carrboro 10K road race is scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2.
Expect traffic delays around this time on N. Greensboro Street and Hillsborough Road. The race begins in front of McDougle Middle School, winds through downtown Carrboro and its neighborhoods, and finishes on the McDougle track. Feel free to cheer on the runners!
The Carrboro 10K is the second race in the 17th annual Le Tour de Carrboro race series, sponsored by the Cardinal Track Club.
Learn more at https://www.cardinaltrackclub.com/
West End Poetry Festival
Join us for online and outdoor events for our 2021 Festival. The West End Poetry Festival has changed formats to help keep both poetry alive and our poets safe.
Keeping Carrboro Clean
Our thanks to (l-r) Arthur Dow, Oliver Dow, Sabrina Zadrozny, and other residents for picking up litter around town in this Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources event held last Saturday.
Carrboro Connects Preliminary Draft Plan Released
The show must go on! Inclement weather forced the Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan team to switch to a virtual format for the Community Open House on Wednesday night. While originally scheduled to gather with the community at the Town Commons, the change didn’t stop a group of 60 individuals from joining together on Zoom for discussion and feedback on the recently released Preliminary Draft Plan that lays out a vision and a set of goals, strategies and projects for the next 20 years in Carrboro.
The Plan is centered on and overarching foundational framework of racial equity and climate action. It outlines seven topics (Affordable Housing; Climate Action & Environment; Transportation, Green Infrastructure, Energy & Water; Economic Sustainability; Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources; Land Use; and Public Services).
The Town is seeking input on the Plan from the entire community so please take a look at carrboroconnects.org/prelim-draft-plan and and provide your feedback at carrboroconnects.org. The plan will undergo a round of revisions in October and has a Town Council public hearing set for Nov. 16.
New Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations Coming Soon
CARRBORO, N.C. -- This fall – and just in time for National Drive Electric Week -- the Town of Carrboro is installing two Level 2 EV charging stations in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park at 1120 Hillsborough Road and in the municipal lot at 604 W. Rosemary St.
Each station has two charging ports (and each port has a corresponding parking spot). There will be two spots for charging at MLK Park and two spots in the Rosemary lot. They will be free for use. Project work is scheduled to be completed this fall. There are also existing charging stations located at Carrboro Town Hall.
The new EV charging stations are funded through a NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Division of Air Quality (DAQ) grant through the Volkswagen Settlement Level 2 Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program.
National Drive Electric Week is Sep 25-Oct 3, 2021. It’s a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more.
Walk/Bike to School
Carrboro schools will be joining schools from around the triangle and world to celebrate Walk/Bike to School Day on Oct. 6, 2021.
Carrboro Fire & Rescue Accepting Applications
Summer in Carrboro
Carrboro, this summer we did so many fun things together, including Juneteenth, Small Town Pride, and the Frederick Douglass Community Reading on July Fourth! We made some great memories along the way! We also welcomed Town Manager Richard J. White III and enjoyed a visit from NC Governor Roy Cooper. All this, and especially the simple pleasures like bikes rides, picnics, and baseball games, make a community great! Looking forward to fall 2021 in Carrboro, NC!
