On Monday January 27,  the Charlotte Area Chamber kicked off its first Public Policy Meeting of 2025 with special guest Mark Jerrell. Since 2018, Mark has been a dedicated Mecklenburg County Commissioner District 4 Representative and this year he was appointed as the Commission Chair. Our Public Policy Chair Bryan Holladay, with CLT Public Relations, facilitated an insightful conversation with the Commissioner.  Commissioner Jerrell took the time to explain what’s in store for Mecklenburg County and the residents this year. Here is a recap of the conversation.

• Affordable Housing: With over 200 new residents migrating to Charlotte every day, county surveys suggest that housing affordability is still a top issue among locals, and was the leading topic of Monday night’s discussion. 

Those in attendance inquired how the County is addressing the affordable housing crisis. Commissioner Jerrell revealed the County's strategy to leverage publicly owned land to build more affordable housing units. It was acknowledged that the best way to provide fair housing opportunities would likely require a combination of incentives and subsidies. 

• Workforce Development: The conversation addressed workforce shortages and the barriers that make job training programs inaccessible for many. Lack of childcare prevents parents from participating in skills training or re-entering the workforce. Commissioner Jerrell and community members emphasized the need for reliable childcare services and employer-supported solutions to ensure that training programs are truly accessible to all.
  
  

• Transportation: The county is adopting a people-first approach to transportation infrastructure and putting vulnerable groups' needs first in planning. Toll lanes are believed to contribute to economic inequality, which is why county officials are pushing for more accessible, equitable transit solutions that benefit all residents. However, Jerrell did indicate that the region is limited on how new transportation infrastructure will be built.  
  
  

• Emergency Preparedness: With recent natural disasters, including Western NC floods and wildfires in California, concerns about the county’s disaster response plans were raised. While concrete plans are still in development, county officials are actively evaluating solutions.
  
  

• County Leadership & Priorities: As part of its upcoming budget retreat, the County Commission will assess its progress on key issues spanning environmental stewardship, childhood education, and economic development. Additionally, the board is hosting a nationwide search for County Manager Dena R. Diorio’s successor once she retires in June. Interested parties can apply here before February 7, 2025.

Next Meeting 

We encourage you to attend the next Public Policy Meeting on Thursday, February 27th at 5pm. These meetings are free and open to the public - with registration. If you have a recommendation for a public policy topic or speaker, please contact us.