FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - On Monday, June 16, 2025, Cumberland County hosted a Joint City-County Liaison Committee Meeting in Room 564 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse, welcoming leaders from the City of Fayetteville and others to discuss key issues affecting the two jurisdictions. The theme for this month’s meeting was food insecurities, summer food services and assistance for Cumberland County.
The Joint City-County Liaison Committee convenes monthly to provide an opportunity for leaders from the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and Fayetteville City Council to provide updates, share insights, and discuss topics of mutual interest.
The committee includes three elected officials from each governing body, including the Board of Commissioners chair and vice-chair, and the Fayetteville mayor and mayor pro tem. Committee members for 2025 include Board of Commissioners Vice Chairwoman Veronica Jones (Committee Chair), Chairman Kirk deViere and Commissioner Pavan Patel, Fayetteville Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen (Committee Co-Chair), Mayor Mitch Colvin, and Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin.
Committee members received several important updates.
- Food Insecurity & Community Support: Director of Action Pathways Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeastern NC David Griffin briefed the Committee on the organization’s efforts to combat food insecurity. Second Harvest distributes approximately 5.2 million pounds of food annually in Cumberland County, where an estimated 27.5% of residents, including 60,000 children, experience food insecurity. The food bank partners with Cumberland County Schools to help feed local students.
Griffin noted that federal budget cuts have impacted local food assistance programs, with the Emergency Food Assistance Program seeing a 40% reduction. He encouraged residents to participate in upcoming food distribution events.
Chairman Kirk deViere highlighted the County’s new $1 million Agricultural Business Assistance Program, aimed at supporting family farms, preserving jobs, and helping agricultural operations recover from disasters and market changes. The initiative will be considered for approval at the June 16, 2025 Board of Commissioners meeting.
Vice Chairwoman Veronica Jones emphasized the County’s commitment to ensuring rural communities are included in food security initiatives.
- Youth Services & Juvenile Prevention: Director of Cumberland County Justice Services Courtney McCollum provided an update on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) and its youth-focused programs. These include family skill-building, vocational training, psychological assessments, and Teen Court.
McCollum also announced an open house at Maggie’s Outreach Community Development Center, which offers occupational skills training. The event will be held on June 27, 2025 at 10 a.m.. The center is located at 814 Hope Mills Rd., Fayetteville.
- Workforce Development & Youth Employment: Jennifer McArthur of the Mid-Carolina Regional Council’s Workforce Division shared updates on programs connecting students and businesses through training and internships. The NCWorks Career Center, located at 490 N. McPherson Church Rd., Fayetteville, partners with all 16 local high schools to help students earn a Career Readiness Certificate (CRC).
Programs such as Future Is So Bright and Cumberland County Schools’ ICON Internship Program match students with employers based on career interests and business needs. Financial literacy for teens is also a key focus of the programs.
City of Fayetteville Council Member Mario Benavente expressed support for expanding these efforts to middle school students. Chairman Kirk deViere requested an action item to explore further collaboration with Mid-Carolina Council and NCWorks, including alignment with the Cumberland County Ignite Internship Program.
The meeting adjourned at 1:03 p.m.
The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2025, and will be focused on housing.
For more information about Cumberland County and upcoming meetings, visit cumberlandcountync.gov or follow the County on social media at CCNCGov.