The Greater Fayetteville Chamber held its 2026 State of the Community earlier today, Tuesday, Aug. 25,  at the Crown Complex Expo Center, bringing together business and community leaders to hear directly from leaders shaping the future of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the surrounding region. The event featured a diverse group of leaders representing education, healthcare, government and the business community. 

“What an amazing sight it is to look across the room and see nearly 500 of our region's business, military, and community leaders getting together here today,” shared Greater Fayetteville Chamber Chair Samantha Inczauskis. “On behalf of the board of directors, our volunteers and our incredible chamber staff, thank you for believing in the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Together, we’re not simply responding to change; we’re creating it. We’re building stronger businesses. We’re developing stronger leaders, and together, we’re building a stronger economic base for Fayetteville in Cumberland County.”

Several of the area's greatest economic engines were present at the event today, including Fayetteville State University. FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison took to the podium to share a historic announcement. 

“We have officially received the largest research funding grant in our school's history, and that is the Department of War has awarded funding for a pilot program…in the amount of $10 million,” shared Allison. 

This collaborative research program calls for applied artificial intelligence for defense systems, including contested logistics, technologies and biomanufacturing.

Additionally, Cape Fear Valley Health provided updates on several developments and announced new initiatives. 

“We currently have two transformative construction projects underway that will completely redefine how people experience care at Cape Fear Valley. First, we're expanding our patient services tower…we're adding three floors to that area. The bottom floor is a brand new pediatric emergency department, and then on top of that, we're adding a new operating room area, which will have two new operating rooms,” shared newly appointed CEO of Cape Fear Valley Health and President of the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Daniel Weatherly. 

Additionally, Weatherly announced the Emergency Department (ED) will undergo a 10,000-square-foot expansion to better accommodate patients and visitors. The new ED waiting room will be ready in the spring of 2027.

The health system is also preparing to build a six-story, 150,000-square-foot medical office building, and through its continued partnership with Methodist University, they plan to open a certified registered nurse school, with the first class expected in 2028. 

City of Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin offered his outlook on the city’s economic well-being. 

“We can be a community that will plan and determine its future. Cities that react wait for crisis to happen during this scramble. Cities that determine their future, plan ahead, create workforce and jobs, they lay sidewalks before schools are crowded. they build housing before families are priced out. Fayetteville will be a city that creates,” shared Mayor Colvin. 

Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kirk deViere offered insights as well, emphasizing the rapid growth the county has seen in recent years. 

“For a long time, the word people use when they describe Cumberland County was potential, but potential is the word we use for a place that is not moving. What we see now is momentum,” remarked deViere.

Here at the Journal, we’re proud to provide you with firsthand accounts of the leaders and changemakers catalyzing this momentum in our region. We are committed to remaining an indispensable part of telling Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s story.