[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6667839,"mediaKeyId","2254315-34ea9f5500aff3514876c7e3a7847aa1","parentId",2254315,"title","Wake Invest in Women program to move into county Office of DEI; staff to formalize MOU with Wake Tech","audioSeconds",1,"startMs",1613,"endMs",2946,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2254315-34ea9f5500aff3514876c7e3a7847aa1&start=1&end=2","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2254315-34ea9f5500aff3514876c7e3a7847aa1/thumbnail_1613.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6667839/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Wake-Invest-in-Women-program-to-move-into-county-Office-of-DEI-staff-to-formalize-MOU-with-Wake-Tech","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667839-018fed690c7c06e794ecfdad828f0c18/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190419&Signature=cUe-AvPnJ0eDyvIAX5FIN2OWyFOMRPye04RS9mIDGFhz7CWe5pELwIsLUMOa7lWYgFKQELcCspJYHNmHrHVHxmWBX8oReKg7kVeXO4R25c4dyiM1H3wJie1SPeTaQnuRkQIKkX4sNhmKzLC823eV2Iplb2utWZdRZOXCv1dM91H3AdHB37tZDDhYsL5eOPm495H7AUTjDo5jrAVru7IQ~OyO948O7LCJP-hJOLP3bLwwXDonvS2WT2U4L4FZZ50kJy1DC5T2liiw-vqO0LprUeQIjWP4M4aFBQKbh3~KYEegZ0tnDPmZAUg2w~lcPtdjEHNnPQsub50oDU~1Oy3KXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wake County","date","2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","article","Wake County officials on Feb. 10 heard an update on Wake Invest in Women and were told the county plans to transition the initiative from Wake Tech to the county’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and to formalize roles in a memorandum of understanding with Wake Tech.

The program was launched after a 2017 task force identified a gender wage gap; Wake Invest in Women was set up as a collective-impact initiative to increase women’s representation in high-demand, high-wage fields, expand management pipelines and close occupational wage gaps, Wake Tech and county staff said.

County staff said the move to the Office of DEI is intended to sustain the initiative, align it with existing DEI programming and expand employer partnerships. Donya Perry of the Office of DEI and Wake Tech staff briefed the Wake County Board of Commissioners during a work session.

Wake Tech’s executive director, Carrie, told commissioners that Wake Tech served as the program backbone beginning in 2018 after the commission funded the initiative. “We built awareness through venues like the Women’s Leadership Conference. And we launched the Wake Invest in Women Challenge,” Carrie said, recounting the program’s history. She said Wake Tech later expanded employer partnerships and a mentoring program to recruit Wake Tech students into the STEM pipeline.

Why it matters: Commissioners were told the initiative addresses a local gender wage gap and workforce pipeline issues for Black and Brown women in STEM and other high-demand fields. County officials framed the transition as a step to embed the work in county operations and sustain program funding and partnerships over time.

Key details and metrics

- Wake Invest in Women began after a 2017 task force report recommending county funding and a collective-impact approach; Wake Tech was designated the backbone organization in 2018.
- Staff said employer partnerships grew from about 15 last year to more than 30; the career-guides mentoring program now includes nearly 200 Wake Tech students and roughly 100 employer mentors.
- Commissioners were told Wake County women’s earnings are about 75% of men’s earnings, compared with about 85% in nearby Mecklenburg County, figures staff used to show remaining gaps.

Tracking, data partners and analysis

Commissioner Stallings asked how the county tracks progress. Carrie said the program uses a common measurement system based on labor market data, tracking occupation-level changes and process measures such as number of employers and students engaged. “We really did rely on the labor market data in Wake County,” she said.

Commissioner Thomas asked about RTI International’s role. Staff said RTI remains on the steering committee and helped with a research study where local data could not be disaggregated; Wake Tech handled most labor-market analysis for the program. “They did one portion of data analysis,” staff said.

Program changes and next steps

County staff said next steps include:
- Transitioning Wake Invest in Women into the Office of DEI and drafting a formal MOU with Wake Tech that spells out responsibilities and scope of work;
- Recruiting a new director to lead the initiative and embed it into DEI operations; and
- Continuing the mentoring program with Wake Tech while expanding employer partnerships and pursuing strategic planning.

Commissioners’ concerns and topics raised

Commissioners asked how the program addresses barriers such as childcare and workplace flexibility. Staff said research shows workplace flexibility is a major factor in retention and advancement, and that collective-impact partners share examples of strategies they use; childcare is discussed among partners but the initiative does not mandate specific employer policies.

Commissioner Jackson asked about supports for mothers entering high-demand fields; staff reiterated the role of employer flexibility and mentoring. Commissioner Waters and others asked for clarity on partner engagement and barriers to reaching higher-level executives in employer organizations; staff said the new director role would focus on that outreach.

No formal vote or budget action was taken at the meeting. Staff said they will return with a draft MOU and continue coordinating with Wake Tech and steering-committee members.

Ending

County staff framed the transition as a chance to sustain Wake Invest in Women within county operations while keeping Wake Tech’s student mentoring and employer partnerships intact. Commissioners expressed support and asked staff to return with the MOU and recruitment plan for a new director.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wake County - Regular - Feb 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Wake County officials on Feb. 10 heard an update on Wake Invest in Women and were told the county plans to transition the initiative from Wake Tech to the county’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and to formalize roles in a memorandum of understanding with Wake Tech.","taxTitle","Wake County, North Carolina","taxId",3336,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6667831,"Staff outlines steps to implement Wake County’s April 2024 strategic plan; 104 initiatives identified",2,5414,7827,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2254315-34ea9f5500aff3514876c7e3a7847aa1&start=5&end=7","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2254315-34ea9f5500aff3514876c7e3a7847aa1/thumbnail_5414.jpg","/articles/6667831/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Staff-outlines-steps-to-implement-Wake-Countys-April-2024-strategic-plan-104-initiatives-identified","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667831-7f3fd988abe2e10732e1eb81542a6488/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190419&Signature=TYjY58vdBV-ZBKWTiJiQRdkCjheg7RRIVYkN6kDyyDr4~ZDfRVzEtPHTIUO734Fidq3eiqDC5yUVeQHmyx7c8PRsu0q0UtHwr7gdYnwujGmH8NCUhkBtqUuKcZmNZIiAiOgT5Pq8QwUcCJyzY0AajcCkcCY24bSb0vPqPEq6DcLaIpnxIcNAILUiJXZhULO-cP6wDm5AhHr4YIpxEy4087FNLFx6VDyKmvjcpLj8Y66fm1xBngzsGzsdAl0R6m1RpKcUVwIjt4rCFLbkiw85wO-hLThzVhqy-oYoh8UMGXngZ-UiPLtFZtQZeamBEQqEKVSZegODyk3mAIvvhp9SKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wake County staff on Feb. 10 presented next steps for implementing the county’s strategic plan adopted in April 2024 and asked commissioners to identify gaps or partnership opportunities as staff prepares budget recommendations.

Jason (county staff leading the effort) told the Board of Commissioners that the adopted plan sets six focus areas and 24 goals, and that staff recommended 104 initiatives to carry those goals into action. He said the initiatives were developed by focus teams made up of more than 60 staff across departments during a five-month process and that next steps include aligning initiatives with departmental operational plans and budget priorities.

Why it matters

Staff said the strategic plan will guide county priorities during upcoming budget development and help the county shift from planning to implementation, tracking and reporting. Commissioners were asked to flag any “critical gaps” and to identify partnerships that could help advance the initiatives.

Example initiatives and cross-cutting items

As an example, staff reviewed the Growth, Land Use and Environment focus area (GLU). Staff proposed four initiatives under a goal to direct growth and development toward municipalities with access to municipal services: (1) review and update small-area plans, (2) advocate for high-density development in municipalities, (3) update the county transportation plan (technical document used in development review) and (4) develop integrated utility infrastructure plans to align broadband, water and other utilities with likely growth corridors.

Commissioner questions and topics raised

Commissioners asked how specific items are addressed in the initiatives:
- Commission Thomas asked whether infant and maternal health work is included; staff said maternal-health and infant-health initiatives are folded into the Community Health and Well-being goal and that an update of earlier plans is included as an initiative.
- Commissioners and staff discussed broadband and digital-inclusion initiatives; staff said digital literacy and low-cost broadband resources are included among the initiatives and that infrastructure planning will explicitly include broadband alongside water and sewer in utility coordination efforts.
- Commissioners asked about seniors and aging services; staff said recent demographic analysis showed strong growth in the 55+ population and that the plan is a living document — focus teams and community surveys will inform any additional initiatives for seniors and other populations.
- Discussion also covered public-transit amenities, service navigation to help residents find county services, and broader concerns such as benefits cliffs that affect low-income workers; staff said several initiatives address transit amenities and service navigation and that benefits-cliff policy is monitored through the county’s federal legislative agenda.

Next steps

Staff asked commissioners to review the proposed initiatives and report any omissions. Focus teams will continue meeting quarterly; the first quarterly meetings were scheduled to begin next week. Staff said they can present deeper dives on selected initiatives to committees and will incorporate commissioner feedback into implementation and the recommended budget.

No formal vote was required at the work session. Commissioners generally expressed support for moving to implementation and requested committee-level reviews of priority initiatives.

","County staff presented the next phase for Wake County’s strategic plan, highlighting 104 recommended initiatives across 24 goals and asking commissioners to review gaps and partnerships as the budget season approaches.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":78,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6667836,"County, airport in talks over Lake Crabtree lease as mountain-bike trail access could end June 30",2937,5425,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2254315-34ea9f5500aff3514876c7e3a7847aa1&start=2&end=5","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2254315-34ea9f5500aff3514876c7e3a7847aa1/thumbnail_2937.jpg","/articles/6667836/Wake-County/North-Carolina/County-airport-in-talks-over-Lake-Crabtree-lease-as-mountain-bike-trail-access-could-end-June-30","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667836-ee97a7afd0b431cc07c990afbbb401b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190419&Signature=gcKvUWCw2o8gAzlW3lZCHcmL9qN8qPy1YdPMhZQZ4hL~M~DUa9lNlFbd~ohgZ-csptJBm4xAAsd49jG4RPqPpzEDi4Es~dhp43JBuDNhFCLdHb8JCQbstJtCwNTG0iuT7J7cjlpuz3k9UvB7wkJnaqKfjpPT5dGSCRnqxVpL4mLbNHnoI8356F7Jj2rEJMbUl0eN2xRa0FGDK0bIcYgY~7uzQbmDdJpEGX~q50wRaK~WP-7CZeByAEysN3A3IttPGQXK0vUzexwzxVkH8pVnAZZcu-BTMoeBLYW5eDKX4-0phLktPEKfCEFPLwCwI0fBF4Ir5LR8uPAoMSVu1tjoyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wake County officials on Feb. 10 discussed a pending lease renewal with the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority (RDU) that could affect public access to parts of Lake Crabtree County Park and adjacent mountain-bike trails.

Chris Snow, director of Parks, Recreation and Open Space for Wake County, briefed the Wake County Board of Commissioners on the park’s history, current lease terms and negotiations with the airport. Snow said the county is working to finalize a draft lease to return to the board for approval.

Background and scope

Lake Crabtree is one of 10 county flood-control sites and is identified in county records as Site 23. The county began acquiring land in the 1970s and 1980s; Snow said about 869 acres were purchased for the site overall. A 1979 memorandum of agreement between the county and the airport recognizes recreation on flood-control lands provided it does not impact airport operations.

In 1985 the county entered a lease with the airport for 33.19 acres to construct Lake Crabtree County Park; a 1994 amendment added Track 6 and enabled the county to develop mountain-bike trails. Lake Crabtree County Park opened in 1988 and is the county’s oldest and most visited park, Snow said; the park had about 330,000 visitors in the most recent fiscal year.

Current negotiations and parcels

Snow told commissioners the county has notified the airport of its intent to renew leases pursuant to the original lease terms, and that discussions cover tracts referenced as 1, 2, 3 and 4 (together roughly 73–74 acres, per staff). The airport put out a request for information (RFI) in 2024 seeking redevelopment proposals for approximately 36 acres of Track 6; the airport has also run a separate RFP/RFI process in recent years for property north of Interstate 40, commonly called the “286” parcels.

Commissioners’ concerns

Commissioners raised three recurring concerns: whether the county can or should buy airport-owned parcels, when public access to existing trails might end, and whether the county can shift trails and investments to the 286 parcels.

- Purchase question: Commissioner Adamson asked whether the county ever discussed purchase. Snow said Lake Crabtree has been leased since 1985 and, to his knowledge, the airport has not been willing to sell. Snow and other staff said the airport has been vocal in meetings that it does not wish to sell land.

- Trail access timing: Snow said the county’s reading of the prime lease and amendment is that public access to those trails would cease on June 30 (the transcript did not specify a year). He also said staff are preparing talking points and outreach, and that they want to preserve access where possible while negotiations proceed.

- Relocation/286 connection: County staff said there is an existing connection from Lake Crabtree across the Interstate 40 corridor to the 286 parcels and that the county and airport have discussed preserving or building connections between Crabtree and the 286 trail system and the Black Creek greenway. Commissioners asked about funding to develop 286; staff said a concept plan is being finalized but no funding has been identified to fully build out the trails.

Costs, appraisals and FAA requirements

Snow told commissioners the 1985 lease—historically for $1 per year—is unlikely to continue at that rate. He said the airport has signaled that FAA mandates require leases to reflect fair market value; county staff warned that a new lease could cost in the “couple hundred thousand dollars” range but that negotiations were ongoing. David (county staff) asked commissioners to allow negotiation with the airport to continue in public session with discretion on details.

Snow said the airport had an appraisal for Track 6 dated 02/2021 showing an appraised value of $24,000,000 for that tract, and commissioners noted the airport’s stated unwillingness to sell.

Community investments and accessibility

Commissioners and staff discussed that some Crabtree trail infrastructure is the result of private investments and grants—North Carolina Adaptive Sports, Triangle Off-Road Cyclists and other groups have invested time and money to build adaptive-access trails and facilities. Commissioners expressed concern about preserving accessible trails and community-built features.

Next steps

- County staff said they will finalize a draft lease for board consideration; that draft will return for approval if terms are agreed.
- Staff are preparing talking points for public outreach and said they would continue discussions with the airport and with state parks about potential trail expansions into Umstead State Park.

No formal lease approval or purchase motion was taken at the Feb. 10 work session. Commissioners asked staff to continue negotiations and analysis and to return with draft lease documents and additional information about maintenance obligations for flood-control structures.

","Wake County staff briefed commissioners on negotiations with RDU airport to renew leases covering Lake Crabtree County Park. Commissioners raised concerns about potential development of Track 6, the future of accessible mountain-bike trails and rising lease costs tied to FAA fair-market requirements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Wake Invest in Women program to move into county Office of DEI; staff to formalize MOU with Wake Tech

Staff outlines steps to implement Wake County’s April 2024 strategic plan; 104 initiatives identified

County, airport in talks over Lake Crabtree lease as mountain-bike trail access could end June 30