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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT

Connect NC Bond Passes by More Than 30%, Narrower Margins in the Cape Fear Region

Voters across North Carolina approved the Connect NC Bond by more than a 30% margin. 

In southeastern North Carolina, however, the margins were narrower.  In New Hanover County, the bond passed by nearly 11%.  Brunswick County voters approved it by 13%, and Pender County voters approved by not quite 10%.

Connect NC is a two-billion dollar general obligation bond that started as a plan to improve the state’s transportation infrastructure.  It turned into a funding mechanism for improvements to University of North Carolina system campuses and community colleges – as well as parks, water and sewer, and the National Guard.  Senator Michael Lee of New Hanover County supports the bond:

"I think it’s great that we were, number one, able to really put the issue to the voters. I think it is a real testament to the fact that the voters as well as the the legislature supports higher education.  I think it’s a great thing."

Locally, the bond will provide sixty-six million dollars to UNCW for a Health & Human Services/Nursing Building.  It also gives nearly 6 million dollars to Cape Fear Community College and two-point-eight million to Brunswick Community College.  It also will fund improvements at Fort Fisher and Carolina Beach State Parks.

Rachel hosts and produces CoastLine, an award-winning hourlong conversation featuring artists, humanitarians, scholars, and innovators in North Carolina. The show airs Wednesdays at noon and Sundays at 4 pm on 91.3 FM WHQR Public Media. It's also available as a podcast; just search CoastLine WHQR. You can reach her at rachellh@whqr.org.