On Monday, Aug. 18, 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 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 on economic development initiatives across the City and County.

• President and CEO of the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation Robert Van Geons shared an overview of the organization’s work. He reported that 2024 was the most active year to date for regional economic development and highlighted ongoing investments in workforce and innovation strategies. Future priorities include advancing the I-685 corridor expansion. Van Geons also noted key challenges to recruiting new development, including the availability of large, construction-ready sites (150–250+ acres), water and sewer infrastructure and workforce recruitment and development.
• City of Fayetteville Director of Economic and Community Development Chris Cauley provided an update on the City’s efforts. He emphasized partnerships with state and local agencies, colleges and universities to support workforce development. Real estate and small business development remain major areas of focus, with grant programs launched to support growth. The City also offers small businesses access to experts for guidance, and community workshops on topics such as digital safety and financial readiness. Additionally, the City received an ICMA grant to fund a new senior economic mobility position.
• Cumberland County Chief of Staff and Interim Community Development Director Tye Vaught gave an overview of the County’s Consolidated Plan, which identifies priority areas to support long-term economic growth. He highlighted housing challenges, including cost, overcrowding, housing standards and ADA accessibility. Vaught also provided updates on the work of the County’s Community Development Department.

To watch the recording of the full meeting click here. 

The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2025.

For more information about Cumberland County and upcoming meetings, visit 

cumberlandcountync.gov or follow the County on social media at CCNCGov.