
FOCUS Broadband recently awarded $4,362 in grant funds to educators supporting programs that expand educational opportunities for students in Robeson County. The funds are part of the cooperative’s grant program, which has awarded $1.085 million in community and education grants to more than 550 programs since its inception in 2006.

FOCUS Broadband’s Board Liaison for the 2024 Grant Committee Gene Ward stated in a press release, “We are proud to award these grants, and we look forward to seeing the positive impacts they will have on students and teachers within our local communities.”
This year’s grant recipients included:
FOCUS Broadband will be accepting applications for the 2025 Community Connect Grants and

Education Grants program beginning early this December. For more information regarding the grant programs, visit www.focusbroadband.com/giving-back or call 910-755-1885.
This is the first year of the Veteran Business Expo, and it grew out of Fayetteville PWC’s Economic Impact Program, which focuses on expanding access and opportunity in public-sector contracting while strengthening the local economy. It builds off th
Lynlene Apiary and Crafts is owned and operated by mother-daughter duo Carolyn Kleinert and Jolene Kleinert. They are certified apiarists and sell honey, candles made with beeswax, soaps and other crafts at local farmers markets. Photos by GFBJ.Lynle
Big T’s has been a local favorite of Hope Mills since 2000 when Timmy (Big T) and Donna Gray first opened right on Hope Mills Lake. It is a seasonal restaurant, so many of Big T’s loyal customers were happy to hear they would now be open year-round, seven days a week.