[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6471761,"mediaKeyId","5777447-71c0d93e75c4c39b0fe9a68b3febe6b8","parentId",5777447,"title","Partnership for Children seeks nearly $800,000 from county to expand early childhood access; commissioners ask for sustainability plan","audioSeconds",3303,"startMs",3303000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777447-71c0d93e75c4c39b0fe9a68b3febe6b8&start=3303&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777447-71c0d93e75c4c39b0fe9a68b3febe6b8/thumbnail_3303000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6471761/Chatham-County/North-Carolina/Partnership-for-Children-seeks-nearly-800000-from-county-to-expand-early-childhood-access-commissioners-ask-for-sustainability-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471761-b66a5a64a07a514c104e4735ef917fef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175202&Signature=B7EzESHah2uPNP-K9wl4EWbqVsHqoQ14CRee6nJJV87nHmxEoEMd26dgzD5kZGpq5on87QuID6~CSB9xCNnLJjmEybvh5yAMQpqbn6JqLtfHNk-1u0doG9E4rKrlbdD0N-krJ4Mjh5ieMdrFFV0upG6Wd-oT8UwC9fcR7zOJ0wCwtknaFqXAJqqw9dmvnntIx-lKFW7MzhS2hj85LGd8fFS76Ys5Z1QwE-xsgEYe17SIZB20QAEMSUrQ5prCD7npoxZkGY1GJid6MwQ6t1aMlJ4MiP2w6Um0Wehb~iVJDhhsLBZB-0NkOsgCtg5DrWaT1llgQQ6QQqhOM93vQUgjHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Chatham County","date","2025-09-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Chatham County Partnership for Children asked commissioners on Monday for $799,002 to begin implementing the early childhood action plan adopted in 2023, proposing a mix of direct services, compensation pilots for educators, provider supports and family-centered programs.

Daryl Butts, county staff presenting the request, said the Partnership's April submission totaled $799,002: $600,000 for direct services and approximately $199,002 for programmatic and administrative costs. Butts and Partnership representatives said the request largely maps to the action plan's top-priority items and to the fiscal analysis the Partnership produced after a county-funded needs assessment.

What the request would fund: Partnership staff described four priority program areas underpinning the request: increasing high-quality early learning and NC Pre-K slots with wraparound services (transportation and after-school care); piloting wage supplements and a tiered salary scale to improve educator compensation and retention; supporting child care providers with grants, technical assistance and incentives for taking subsidy-eligible children; and strengthening family supports (a family resource hub, health screenings and parent engagement workshops). The Partnership proposed sustainability strategies for each line, including pursuing increased state NC Pre-K funding, philanthropic partnerships, and local recurring support.

Commissioners' concerns and staff follow-up: Commissioners praised the strategy but repeatedly pressed for long-term funding plans. Commissioner Kate Robertson, who said she had worked in early childhood education for two decades, called the request \"a big ask\" but urged action and asked staff to work on multi-year funding options. County staff noted the request was not included in the FY26 budget and that a board-authorized budget amendment would be needed to fund it. The county manager's office and Partnership were asked to draft a contract with deliverables and metrics if the board desired to move forward.

Legal and procurement notes: Butts said parts of the request could encounter limits because many providers are privately owned: county funds generally cannot be used to pay for private capital improvements at for-profit facilities. Butts said the county and Partnership had discussed using North Carolina General Statute 160D-1311 (authorizing assistance programs for low- and moderate-income residents) as a compliance pathway where appropriate, with additional documentation requirements. He also noted some proposals would be recurring costs for which one-time ARPA funds would not be sustainable.

Funding source and timing: The county's available ARPA-enabled balance was discussed: staff reported an estimated $697,000 of ARPA-enabled funds remaining, an estimate that depends on current program trends and contract obligations. Butts said the Partnership's requested funds would be prorated if awarded mid-year; the Partnership and staff discussed possibly beginning a contract with a partial-year budget if the board directed staff to negotiate a contract for fall implementation. Butts recommended that, if the board opted to proceed, staff should be authorized to work with Partnership to prepare a contract for future board approval and that deliverables and sustainability expectations be written into that agreement.

Board action and next steps: Commissioners signaled general support for further negotiation. Several commissioners asked staff to work with Partnership to craft a contract and to return with the agreement, budget amendment needs and sustainability options. The board did not immediately appropriate the full request on Monday; instead the board directed staff to negotiate contract language and to return to the board for any appropriation and final approval.

Clarifying details: The Partnership described the living-wage target for early educators as about $15–$55/hour depending on calculation and credentialing; the presentation suggested a living-wage-aligned pilot but relied on TEACH scholarships and other state resources as part of sustainability. The fiscal analysis that informed the request prioritized items as \"priority 1\" (shorter-term/high-impact) through long-term items; the Partnership focused the board request on the priority-1 components with refinements. Butts said $50,000 of one proposed provider infrastructure line (facility improvement grants) would not be permissible for county funds if those grants went to private for-profit facilities and would have to be funded by other sources.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Chatham County - 9-15-2025 Chatham County BOC Meeting Video Final","oneSentenceSummary","The Chatham County Partnership for Children asked the Board of Commissioners for $799,002 to begin implementing priority early-childhood initiatives, including expanding Pre-K slots, piloting wage supplements for educators and funding family supports.","taxTitle","Chatham County, North Carolina","taxId",72775,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471765,"United Way unveils Chatham Housing Collective dashboard as county housing efforts expand",580,1940000,2520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777447-71c0d93e75c4c39b0fe9a68b3febe6b8&start=1940&end=2520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777447-71c0d93e75c4c39b0fe9a68b3febe6b8/thumbnail_1940000.jpg","/articles/6471765/Chatham-County/North-Carolina/United-Way-unveils-Chatham-Housing-Collective-dashboard-as-county-housing-efforts-expand","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471765-b25cd8ce3c65276dfcba3fb09b532349/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175202&Signature=CWOjkHzEPfh~9WdkGIZ1jl8KIM9itM9yppssdQNKtd1P58B7jVenfL4GVL8RyNRgNRwlM7IGsqVc2ZX7CWxc-S95TXxyfDerqPF1zv9KK-Zy~IK5jM5XqSGypGcORoPs5Ir3P-9IQxToSbR3rEYRj~b9QZO2xE-Vq6f1KjjcsleJL9GWrw0g0Nk21tDTssTT477kyCYtFzPoXuaeu9Hb6xJMZNCeGTkaA-jAI4vyzbuubvlsK62evtwnvlTqTJ-rmJEHv-FSa0bn1uo6i3nqnOOcRUVu2CE~JiZgI2lT8Xqbin7vaGNAh9C1aLfbvEWak6KkrUWKrUuSELIaOLF3bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","United Way of Chatham County on Monday presented a progress report on the county's 2023 housing strategic plan and demonstrated a new public dashboard designed to track shared housing and homelessness metrics across local service providers.

The dashboard compiles monthly, aggregate data from nonprofit and public providers to show supply, demand and program outcomes, United Way impact manager Daisy Butser told the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. Service providers began reporting metrics in December 2024; United Way contracted consultants to create a sustained, low-cost platform and held stakeholder input sessions to design the dashboard's functionality.

The dashboard, Butser said, includes: an overview of the county's housing supply; rent, mortgage and utility assistance program data; information on street outreach and case management; and metrics on positive exits from street outreach and case management. United Way maintains an English-and-Spanish resource directory that links users to services and McKinney-Vento liaisons; the directory and dashboard are available from United Way's website.

Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said a shared, public data tool should let policymakers, funders and providers track progress and identify gaps as Chatham develops. \"At least we now have a starting point,\" Commissioner Kate Robertson said, noting the dashboard has only been public about 10 days and will require time to show trendlines. Butser told commissioners she expects the dashboard to be refreshed monthly with roughly a two-month lag in published figures.

What United Way described: The Chatham Housing Collective meets quarterly and maintains a weekly provider subcommittee for case-level coordination and referrals. United Way said it receives aggregate data from providers monthly, cleans it and posts it to the dashboard. The site also includes a seeded personal narrative, \"Jane's story,\" to give readers context on who services reach.

United Way outlined recent capacity-building: the county created a Housing and Community Development department and three staff positions; Love Chatham opened a second transitional house; Salvation Army Chatham hired a full-time case manager; and United Way launched the Chatham Success Network pilot to strengthen cross-provider capacity and referrals.

Board response and next steps: Commissioners praised the dashboard and urged United Way and county staff to promote the tool to people who need it most. Commissioner Jonathan Delaney said the dashboard could help avoid \"siloed\" service delivery by making client progress visible to providers. Butser asked for suggestions on outreach and said United Way will continue to refine metrics and increase stakeholder use. Jason Smith, Chatham County housing director, said staff will determine what additional data the county needs and schedule follow-up briefings as trends become clearer.

Clarifying details: United Way said the dashboard includes data beginning in December 2024; one publicly reported metric, \"positive exits\" from outreach and case management, was cited as 21 (data still being refreshed). United Way said some program metrics are collected at the provider level to avoid duplicating individuals served across multiple services; the collective is exploring methods to report unique people served while maintaining privacy and security.

Looking ahead: United Way plans ongoing outreach to funders, providers and residents to increase dashboard use and to use its Chatham Success Network pilot to improve wraparound services. Commissioners asked staff and United Way to return with updates once several months of data are available so the board can assess gaps and potential investments.

","United Way of Chatham County presented a progress report on the 2023 housing strategic plan and launched a public-facing data dashboard tracking local housing supply, assistance programs and shared service metrics.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471752,"Commissioners approve Meadow Point subdivision first plat for 40 large rural lots",0,3090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777447-71c0d93e75c4c39b0fe9a68b3febe6b8&start=3090&end=3090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777447-71c0d93e75c4c39b0fe9a68b3febe6b8/thumbnail_3090000.jpg","/articles/6471752/Chatham-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-approve-Meadow-Point-subdivision-first-plat-for-40-large-rural-lots","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471752-53374db4c485462bc6bfb77bb7bbb3c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175202&Signature=fU-laWL1z1UgCrd2eoWadXUyIh0FO9Udcc3zH66OA2CHLYKVjTDBoLC7Ia0PlzTZ-Cmh4cfcvhoSridD187-b4MNUgHKJjNx2Jdg5TjsDBg4T3VE2C~BV06KA6gWqErj-b1mXTdCjMSto81k1dcxSj0sMpEBhBAj-90XR-VBmRzf5PPJZ5IcYoFpUpPKUUAsRiy4js2wwRZracVJKJjkOL5MWhWdEWS3B~th2W9hSSU~UbhKOfYePtTPUU3oAar16iEB3JWgt3ulU51-GRCmSX2kFS1G-zFZzOvVXjaolWoJhBqUUZwZX9fiAimUwT36tKC6VOy24~meb4WoZ8Xxdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chatham County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the Meadow Point subdivision first-plat review, clearing the way for a private-road, well-and-septic residential subdivision of about 201.9 acres into 40 lots.

Project details: The applicant proposes private roads and an average lot size that meets the county's private-road subdivision rule (a 5-acre average with no lot smaller than 3 acres). Dry Creek forms the southern boundary; where the special flood-hazard area extends beyond the standard 100-foot creek buffer, the floodplain area becomes the project's effective buffer as required by watershed and floodplain rules. The proposed development will abandon an existing access point on T.C. Justice Road and take primary access from Old Graham Road (SR-87).

Planning board review: Meadow Point was discussed at two planning-board meetings and a site visit earlier in the summer. Planning commissioners raised questions about road improvements, NCDOT intersection and sight-distance requirements, school-bus stop plans, and whether existing gravel roads can safely carry additional residential traffic. Developers and the county agreed to coordinate with NCDOT and the county school system on operational issues (bus stops) and to respect the county's buffer and floodplain requirements.

Why it matters: The project is a rural subdivision with large lots and private roads in an R-1 zone portion of the county. County regulations governing private-road subdivisions impose minimum lot sizes to reflect the roads'rural character and to meet sanitation, access and emergency-service standards. Approval of a first plat means the applicant may move forward with constructing private roads and selling lots subject to later compliance checks and building permits.

Clarifying details: Planning staff confirmed the parcel totals about 201.9 acres and showed mapping for the required 100-foot stream buffer and where the regulatory 100-year floodplain widens the effective buffer area. The planning board's prior discussions focused on required road improvements and coordination with NCDOT and the school system; commissioners approved the first-plat application at Monday's meeting.

","The Board of Commissioners approved the first-plat review for Meadow Point, a proposed 40-lot, primarily five-acre-average subdivision off Old Graham Road. Planning staff and the planning board reviewed access, floodplain buffers, and private-road minimum lot-size rules.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471757,"Bear Creek Fabrication seeks to rezone adjacent parcel to heavy industrial; neighbors cite traffic and noise concerns",370,2480000,2850000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777447-71c0d93e75c4c39b0fe9a68b3febe6b8&start=2480&end=2850","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777447-71c0d93e75c4c39b0fe9a68b3febe6b8/thumbnail_2480000.jpg","/articles/6471757/Chatham-County/North-Carolina/Bear-Creek-Fabrication-seeks-to-rezone-adjacent-parcel-to-heavy-industrial-neighbors-cite-traffic-and-noise-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471757-50b87177c4972211b705113e3da41952/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175202&Signature=mXWAynxqMU82FRgmHfdfcE4nJ87tJDLBP6-2ivrHDp~QGZ7Q5oCMWNrfrTRFJQZXKzmoIeT6CyVyok4Ye2IfutGMc8Uu2ys1oCEq36w3UDh3f8BneZGI5gQNiFRHKHlC05Im31TDI-GR0kfK7x5qLDC-Lyhi2g0uIbpABsLlsvbdc72qlHpMO4xrQgvuC~crsd~3jFqi6vVZLc3N5OMDzQg-inNSYg-5ricfo8BQrHhxBvZDkF-oEt2TN7Zeh~ZH2mWD-sjtH6ltqFioaGRdimHDguAJNkTtgJREvvhT9VmNtn-WqoKzLqeakXt6xlbvsTomMqBb8OIb5ZmNMcfY-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lockley Holdings LLC, which operates Bear Creek Fabrication, asked the Chatham County Board of Commissioners for a general-use rezoning of a 10.04-acre parcel on Campbell Road from R-1 residential to heavy industrial. The applicant's attorney told commissioners the expansion is intended to support a family-owned metal fabrication business that currently employs about 24 local workers and which the owner said could add 10 to 15 full-time jobs within 12 to 24 months if it obtains the additional land.

Attorney Nick Robinson described the requested rezoning as an extension of an existing heavy-industrial use: the company's current property nearby was rezoned heavy industrial during a 2018 commissioner-initiated rezoning that regularized nonconforming businesses after the county's 2016 countywide zoning adoption. The applicant said no new public water or sewer would be required and that most fabrication occurs indoors at the current facility; the adjacent tract would provide additional gravel laydown and storage areas and potentially, over a longer timeline, additional structures.

Neighborhood concerns: Eight neighbors spoke at the hearing and opposed the rezoning. Residents described frequent heavy trucks and semi-tractor trailers on the narrow rural roads, regular loud steel-banging and forklift noise audible in homes, safety issues where the private drive and Campbell Road intersect, and accelerated damage to local roadways and bridges. Several speakers who live on Campbell Road said the existing business's laydown areas and employee traffic already affect their daily lives; one speaker flagged a recent emergency-response incident that had blocked the road.

Planning board referral and next steps: The board closed the hearing and referred the general-use rezoning request to the county planning board for further review. Planning staff said the item will go to the planning board for discussion, that the board's next meeting is Oct. 7, and that the planning board may hold additional outreach and study before the commission takes a final decision. The applicant and staff also noted that some heavy-industrial uses listed in the county's use table would still require a special-use permit or further special study.

Why it matters: A general-use heavy-industrial zoning would permit the parcel for the full set of heavy-industrial uses allowed in the county unless specific uses require a special permit; rezoning therefore changes long-term development options for the site. Neighbors urged commissioners to weigh the trade-offs between job growth and impacts on rural residential character, road safety and noise.

Clarifying details: The applicant said the existing facility is set roughly 700 feet from Campbell Road and that the requested parcel would initially be used for laydown and storage; any future building would be a longer-term possibility. Several residents said tractor-trailers use the road frequently and sometimes fail to stop at the stop sign where Campbell Road meets Bernie Phillips Road. Planning staff confirmed the next planning board public meeting is scheduled for Oct. 7 in the county's Old Agricultural Building; residents were told file materials and any exhibits will be posted and available prior to that meeting.

","Lockley Holdings (doing business as Bear Creek Fabrication) asked to rezone a 10.04-acre parcel on Campbell Road from R-1 to heavy industrial to allow expansion of an existing fabrication business. Commissioners heard neighbor objections and referred the general-use rezoning to the planning board for further study.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Partnership for Children seeks nearly $800,000 from county to expand early childhood access; commissioners ask for sustainability plan

United Way unveils Chatham Housing Collective dashboard as county housing efforts expand

Commissioners approve Meadow Point subdivision first plat for 40 large rural lots

Bear Creek Fabrication seeks to rezone adjacent parcel to heavy industrial; neighbors cite traffic and noise concerns