Press Releases

A workforce recruitment campaign designed to fill post-pandemic vacancies at restaurants and hotels has now led to 687,084 total applications started through the Serving Careers website. Serving Careers was first launched by the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA) in October 2023. It was funded by a $5 million appropriation from the state’s American Rescue Plan funds, with oversight and administrative support from the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office (NCPRO).

The North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office (NCPRO) and the ncIMPACT Initiative at the UNC School of Government have released the findings from a statewide series of pandemic recovery focus groups. The new report includes regional feedback on the effectiveness of relief and recovery programs, remaining challenges or concerns, and recommendations for continuing to build more resilient communities.

Grandfather Mountain is welcoming more people to its Mile High Swinging Bridge thanks to the purchase of two vehicles that can accommodate visitors in wheelchairs, or those with other mobility challenges.

Applications have reopened for the NC Patriot Star Family Recovery Scholarship, which provides up to $6,500 per semester to help military and veteran families, and disabled veterans, afford higher education. The program is supported by $13 million from the state’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, an economic stimulus bill passed by Congress in 2021. The Patriot Foundation administers the scholarships with oversight from the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office.

Four years after the pandemic began, North Carolina businesses are feeling optimistic about the future, but many still face lingering COVID-era challenges such as supply chain issues and difficulty finding workers. The new data comes from a survey released Tuesday by the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office (NCPRO) and researchers at East Carolina University.

The North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office (NCPRO) and the UNC School of Government’s ncIMPACT Initiative have partnered to engage focus groups in 16 regions of the state spanning all 100 counties. Participants will help provide valuable insight on pandemic recovery efforts, including the impacts of state and federal programs aimed at addressing the effects of COVID-19, as well as remaining obstacles and opportunities.

A financial relief program that helps cover the cost of state-required teacher license exams has now helped more than 3,500 people on their path to the classroom. The initiative was first launched in June by the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction in partnership with TeachNC, and with oversight from the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) can now immediately track your call with GPS and pinpoint the nearest trooper, after an upgrade to the agency’s statewide computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system. The $11.1 million project began during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is nearly complete, thanks to funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and state legislation signed by Governor Roy Cooper. The grant is administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety with oversight from the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office.

Today the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office (NCPRO) released the first in a series of online surveys to over 10,000 businesses, seeking feedback on the unique challenges, opportunities, and economic conditions that business leaders experience at the local level. The NC Business Engagement Survey, which is conducted by researchers at East Carolina University, will continue to solicit responses quarterly to track changing conditions and identify regional trends.