Light the sparklers – it’s time to celebrate, North Carolina!

A lot has happened over the last few months – and during the 2017 session - in North Carolina worth celebrating!

Our advocates tirelessly invest their time and their energy with us through the You’re the Cure network, taking action online and offline on important policies.  The work that goes into each policy campaign can be extended, sometimes it takes several years to watch a bill become a law – and we owe our success to advocates like you.

We are happy to report on some big victories we have achieved in North Carolina – and we want you to feel as celebratory as we do! 

1. The state budget, finalized earlier this week, included $250,000 to the Department of Agriculture to continue the Healthy Corner Store Initiative. We will continue to work with the Department to ensure success of the program that will increase access to healthy foods in communities that need them most.
2. The state budget also included $500,000 nonrecurring included for each year of the biennium for youth tobacco prevention programs. The budget also included $500,000 each year recurring for cessation programs.
3. We made significant progress at the local level in moving toward Complete Streets through bike and pedestrian funding wins: In the fall, bonds were passed in Charlotte and Greensboro for bike, pedestrian infrastructure funding. This spring, the city of Raleigh, Durham, and Mecklenburg county included funding for bike and pedestrian projects. We are encouraged by this positive movement and anticipate there will be more work in the space in the coming years.

We are excited to continue our policy work at the Statehouse, government agencies, and municipalities for the remainder of this year and moving into 2018.  We can’t wait to work with you and continue to improve lives of all residents in the great Tar Heel state!