New Hanover County has had a great 2022, with new initiatives and a keen focus on improving our core services. 

We won 10 national awards and one state award for innovation, New Hanover County Fire Rescue received international accreditation, we continued our proactive pandemic response efforts, created Port City United to provide connections, promote healing and help prevent violence, began an even more strategic focus to invest in housing opportunities that are affordable for our community, and helped bring hundreds of new jobs and economic opportunities to our county through strategic incentives and investments. 

And that’s just to name a few of our accomplishments.

We couldn’t serve the community and make the difference we do without our dedicated employees who are compassionate, innovative, responsive, and effective in all that they do. I am grateful to each member of our team and the hard work they do each and every day.

I am also thankful to serve a Board of Commissioners that recognizes and supports our great employees, cares deeply about our community, and leads this county with a strategic vision. 

I believe we are in a really strong position with our commissioners, under the leadership of Chair Bill Rivenbark and Vice-Chair LeAnn Pierce, as we head into 2023.

The coming year will be an important time as we develop and then implement a new 5-year strategic plan for the county. We will report out on our current strategic plan in January, which will then begin our process of reflecting, planning, and creating the county’s overall strategy and goals that will guide us in the years to come. 

I look forward to working with our commissioners, staff, and community on this new strategic plan, with a continued focus on our mission to ensure New Hanover County is a safe, healthy, secure, and thriving community for all. That is at the crux of all that we do, and it will continue to be. 

So as new opportunities and challenges come our way in 2023, New Hanover County will be there – poised as a leader for the community and continuing our important work in this place we all love. 

Thank you for being a part of New Hanover County and I hope you have a wonderful and joyous holiday season.

Click here to view our Holiday Greetings video.