The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro

CARRBORO, NC -- The Town of Carrboro continues to seek public input on a proposed ordinance change aimed at improving parking availability and turnover in public parking locations. The proposed change would establish a paid parking program in various public parking lots and on-street spaces throughout the town. The primary goal of this initiative is to enhance parking accessibility for customers and residents by encouraging turnover in public parking areas. The Town conducted comprehensive parking studies in 2017 and 2022, which highlighted the need to increase turnover and suggested the implementation of paid parking as a solution. Under the proposed ordinance change, parking fees would be implemented in 14 public parking lots and parking space areas with the first 30 minutes of parking being free of charge. A proposed hourly parking rate of $1.50 with discounted rates for qualifying low-income residents is also included. If the ordinance change is approved, a parking enforcement officer will be hired to oversee compliance. Initially, a period of warnings will be issued to inform the public about the new parking requirements. The Town Council will be considering feedback collected and the proposed ordinance change at the beginning of its fall session in September 2024. Residents and businesses are encouraged to provide their input on the proposed ordinance change. To facilitate community engagement, a dedicated website has been set up where people can review the proposed changes and submit their feedback. Survey feedback will be collected through Friday, July 19, 2024. (The survey has been open since June 13, 2024.) 🅿  The draft ordinance can be viewed at https://lnkd.in/exc4hv-n 🅿  The Town welcomes comments and suggestions from all interested parties via the online comment form, email at EconDev@CarrboroNC.gov, or mail to Economic Development, 301 West Main Street, Carrboro NC 27510. Comments and suggestions will be accepted through July 19, 2024. 🅿 View more Town of Carrboro community engagement topics at Engage Carrboro - https://lnkd.in/ey2T-_6n

Honored to Receive the 2024 Black Business Alliance Businessperson of the Year Award! I am happy to be recognized by The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro with this award. This acknowledgment celebrates my dedication to fostering diversity, community engagement, and leadership within our community. Beyond my day job, I initiated community-wide events, established the first African Heritage community at St. Thomas More, and volunteered at schools and Food Banks. My small business, Eke Foods, has also supported my community. Navigating personal challenges, including being a single mom and an immigrant while pursuing higher education and career goals, has been a dogged road, one I'm committed to see through by God's grace. Today, I thrive as a professional, a small business owner, and a PhD candidate at Carolina. #ChapelHill is not just where I live with my three kids, work, and study; it's the heart of my journey. The support from this community has been second to none, and I am committed to giving back and leveraging my skills for its betterment. My thank you speech: "As an immigrant and single mom of three first-generation American kids, I always knew I had to embody the values and ethics I hoped to instill in my children. Grit, dedication, and pride in identity are some of these values, and they guided me in my role at UNC's African Studies Center and in starting and running our West African food product business. So this award means so much! While running a profitable business is important, I'm driven by more than just that. I care about people. I care about my community. And yes, I can do all that and still be profitable. We currently have one product (Jollof Rice sauce) in the market and hope to launch the following two (a hibiscus drink and an ancient grain (fonio) waffle pancake mix) by the end of August 2024. I want to thank whoever nominated me, everyone who voted for me, and the Chamber and their incredible staff. Thank you to my mom for her relentless support! And to my kids, whom I've promised to take on multiple trips once Eke Foods makes it big, I love you, and thank you for your support. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. #Leadership #Diversity #CommunityEngagement #BlackBusinessAlliance #ChapelHill #UNC #Mentorship #OvercomingAdversity #Award #Gratitude