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Friday, May 9, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 19
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State grant will help Union County expand internet access MONROE – Union County has been awarded a second state grant to expand broadband access to residents and businesses in unserved and underserved areas.
The N.C. Department of Information Technology selected Union County to receive additional funding through the Completing Access to Broadband program, which aims to close the digital divide across the state. Union County is one of 30 counties selected to receive the latest round of funding totaling $63 million. The grant will help bring highspeed internet to 1,189 homes and
businesses, covering nearly 29% of the 4,108 locations identified in the county as lacking reliable access. This is the second Completing Access to Broadband grant Union County has received. “This investment in broadband is a game-changer for our county," said Jon Amelio, information technology director. "With the continued support of state funding, it’s just not laying down fiber to 1,200 locations. It is laying the groundwork for economic growth, improved healthcare access and educational opportunities for Union County. This is about connecting
people and businesses to the future, no matter where they are located.” The Completing Access to Broadband program is designed to bring together counties, internet service providers and the state to fund projects that expand broadband infrastructure. These projects are funded by more than $44 million from the federal American Rescue Plan and nearly $19 million from selected broadband providers. The N.C. Department of Information Technology updates dashboards at ncbroadband.gov/dashboards that display details and progress on programs funded by the federal
American Rescue Plan. “This additional funding represents continued progress toward our goal of ensuring every household and business in Union County has access to high-speed internet,” Assistant County Manager Clayton Voignier said. “Access to broadband is essential for education, job opportunities, telehealth and economic development. We are grateful to the state for its investment in our community.” The Union County Board of Commissioners established a broadband committee to make recommendations on expanding
high-speed internet access to residents and businesses. “As chairman of the broadband committee, I am proud to see Union County included in this important step toward ensuring every resident and business has access to reliable, high-speed internet," Allan Baucom said. “Expanding broadband is vital for education, economic growth and quality of life across our communities, and the Union County Board of Commissioners and the Broadband Committee are committed to making this vision a reality for all of Union County.” On the web: ncbroadband.gov
WAXHAW OBSERVES NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH
WAXHAW – The Town of Waxhaw has proclaimed May as National Historic Preservation Month. The proclamation recognizes historic preservation's role in shaping Waxhaw’s identity and supporting the local economy, ensuring the town’s cultural heritage is passed down to future generations.
Throughout May, the town encourages residents and visitors to appreciate the history of Waxhaw by exploring local landmarks, participating in community events and learning more about the stories behind Waxhaw’s treasured historic sites. Dating back to the 1700s, Waxhaw is one of the oldest towns in Union County, boasting some of the most notable historic locations in North Carolina: • The Waxhaw Water Tank, an iconic symbol of the town’s skyline. • The Old Waxhaw Presbyterian Cemetery, the resting place of many early settlers. • The Duncan McDonald House, a 19th-century residence showcasing early Waxhaw life. • Museum of the Waxhaws, a memorial to early settlers and the Waxhaw Indians. Visitors are encouraged to explore other locations in the Waxhaw Historic District, where nearly 100 of the town’s historic buildings have been preserved. Visit https://www.waxhaw.com/our-town/history to learn more about the history of Waxhaw.
The Waxhaw Historic Preservation Commission has compiled an interactive map of historic places. Each place has a bio on the site.
Screenshot from waxhaw.com/our-town/history
Federal cuts hit Common Heart food pantries
Waxhaw wants public input on park master plan update
serious, it’s not the end of the story. We remain committed to our mission of bridging the gap for families facing food insecurity.” As of May 2, Common Heart only had three small boxes of one-pound tubes of ground beef provided by The Emergency Food Assistance Program in its freezer. Staff is “actively looking for other sources of food and support to help bridge this unexpected gap,” Kolbe said, “but we need help. This is the perfect opportunity for our amazing community to show, once again, that we care for our neighbors and don’t want anyone to go to bed hungry.” Common Heart encourages people wanting to help to reach out to federal representatives about this and donate to local pantries. Nonperishables can be dropped off at Common Heart, 116 Business Park Drive in Indian Trail, anytime using the boxes in the front of the building. Visit FoodDrives. CommonHeart.org for a list of dropoff locations. Common Heart also has an Amazon Wish List for easy online shopping: https://a.co/6xFpukW
WAXHAW – The Town of Waxhaw invites residents to a public input meeting to discuss updates to the Waxhaw Park Master Plan.
INDIAN TRAIL – Common Heart is feeling the effects of federal cuts to food assistance programs.
The nonprofit learned April 22 that due to a 50% cut in federal funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program, it would not receive any TEFAP food allocations for the remainder of the month. At this time, the federal distribution for May is unclear. The Emergency Food Assistance Program, which is administered through Second Harvest Food Bank, is a major source of nonperishables, meat and produce for Common Heart food pantries. This sudden reduction comes at a time when need in the community remains great. Common Heart serves a record 8,000 people each month in Union County. Its evening pantry location at Benton Heights Presbyterian Church in Monroe just set a record high, serving 154 families in one night. “This news was a gutpunch,” Pantry Director Ryan Kolbe said. “But we know the care and compassion of this community. So while this setback is
Common Heart only had three boxes of onepound tubes of meat from The Emergency Food Assistance Program left to distribute to the hungry on May 2.
Photo courtesy of Common Heart
This meeting will gather community feedback and insight on the future development of parkland, focusing on a 34-acre property along Waxhaw-Marvin Road. This site, classified as a potential community park or special use facility, offers potential to meet the growing recreational needs in Waxhaw. Community parks serve as vital public spaces, offering active and passive recreation opportunities across 30–50 acres. H.C. Nesbit Park is the only park fulfilling this role, but officials say it is under-equipped for the expanding population. During previous public engagement efforts, residents desired community recreation, emphasizing nature trails, gravel parking and portable restrooms rather than builtout recreation. The town seeks additional input to ensure the final master plan reflects a thoughtful balance between community desires and long-term recreational needs. The public input will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. May 13 at Waxhaw Town Hall, 4218 Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw. All Waxhaw residents are encouraged to attend, ask questions and share their vision for the future of local parks. Visit https://waxhaw.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingSchedule.aspx for details.