In this Chapel Hill Insider Issue…

⛅Chapel Hill Local Weather- High 77^o and Cloudy on Saturday; Cooler and Good Chance of Rain in the early afternoon on Sunday

📰VinFast Resubmits Assembly Building Blueprint in Chatham County

🏆Chapel Hill High’s Automotive Program Named Best in Nation; Celebrates with $10K Award

🛣️Reminder: Traffic Alert: Road Closures for Tar Heel 10 Miler Today

📰Civic Engagement in Full Display at Chapel Hill’s Policy Slam on Local Issues

❎Continued Poll: What Do You Like to Do on The Weekend?

📢 We Want to Spotlight Local Businesses! Want Your Business to Be in Focus? Apply Here! Want to nominate a business? Email us at [email protected]

🗓️Upcoming Events (updated!)

VinFast Resubmits Assembly Building Blueprint in Chatham County

VinFast, the Vietnamese automaker, has recently resubmitted architectural plans for a key assembly building at its developing electric vehicle factory in Chatham County, North Carolina. This development comes after an initial ceremonial start nearly nine months ago on the $4 billion project—North Carolina's most substantial economic endeavor expected to generate 7,500 jobs. Originally set to construct a 995,000-square-foot facility, revised plans in December reduced this to 782,255 square feet. However, the latest submission proposes an 810,100-square-foot structure to better meet technological needs and cost efficiencies, explained by county spokesperson Kara Lusk. This resubmission, emerging after reports of delays by The News & Observer, is currently pending approval.

Chatham County awaits final consent to resume construction, which stalled as VinFast finalized technical details with its design and technology teams. Van Anh Nguyen, CEO of VinFast US Manufacturing, noted that intricate collaborations delayed the update. VinFast plans to establish nearly 3 million square feet of facilities at the site, with additional building plans like an 850,000-square-foot body shop also under evaluation. Meanwhile, initial construction tasks like erecting retaining walls have begun. Supported by $1.25 billion in local incentives, the company aims to meet hiring and investment benchmarks, although delays have put their end-of-year job creation target of 1,997 positions at risk. Company officials on a recent investor call projected a plant opening by end of 2025, though specific timelines remain uncertain.

Chapel Hill High’s Automotive Program Named Best in Nation; Celebrates with $10K Award

Robert Ballard, Chapel Hill High School's automotive teacher and CHCCS 2023 Teacher of the Year, led his program to national recognition as it was named the 2023 School of the Year by WIX Filters, O'Reilly Auto Parts, and Tomorrow's Technician. Celebrated at a school event with national sponsors and local leaders, the program has grown significantly under Ballard's stewardship, expanding from 35 to over 100 students. The $10,000 prize will support further development of the program, including new tools and a racing program. Ballard's gratitude extended to all contributors, emphasizing the collaborative nature of this achievement.

Traffic Alert: Road Closures for Tar Heel 10 Miler Today

This Saturday morning, downtown and nearby roads will be closed to accommodate the Tar Heel 10 Miler Road Race. Those planning to travel through the area should expect temporary roadblocks and may need to seek alternative routes. Commuters are advised to check the race organizer's traffic webpage for updates and plan their trips accordingly.

Civic Engagement in Full Display at Chapel Hill’s Policy Slam on Local Issues

The Policy Slam "Lighting Talk" Competition, held at Speakeasy Carrboro last week and organized by NEXT in partnership with UNC’s Community, Equity, and Sustainability workgroup, provided a dynamic platform for discussing crucial civic issues. Addressing topics like gender discrimination in public transport and the socio-economic impacts of historic districts, the event featured a diverse panel including local leaders and UNC sophomore Sawyer Husain, as well as competition winner Whitney Hall. The presence of town council members underscored a significant interaction between current and future policymakers, emphasizing community development as a collaborative and inclusive effort.

Continued Poll: What Do You Like to Do on The Weekend?

Early Poll Results are showing us that most of you like to hang out OUTSIDE! So we will consider that when letting you know what events are happening around town.

Don’t see your favorite pastime? We love comments and write-ins! Email us at [email protected]!

Come out to the Tiki Bar for an evening of FUN & Frolic with the Nomads Band!  No cover!

Location of the Event Capt. John’s Dockside Tiki Bar in Cole Park Plaza

Street Address: 11550 US 15 501 Hwy N, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516 (click to navigate in Google Maps on mobile)

Orange County residents will have multiple opportunities to safely dispose of unused or expired medications at several drive-thru events scheduled for this April. On April 18th, from 1 to 4 pm, the Passmore Center in Hillsborough will host one such event, providing a convenient way for locals to rid their homes of unnecessary medications. Following this, on April 27th, there will be two additional opportunities: Wegman’s Grocery Store in Chapel Hill will offer this service from 10 am to 2 pm, and the Walmart in Hillsborough will host a morning session from 9 am to 12 pm.

For those unable to attend these events, Orange County provides a year-round solution through several permanent drop boxes located throughout the area. Residents can find the nearest drop box location by visiting the Orange County website at www.orangecountync.gov/dropboxes. These initiatives are part of the county's commitment to public health and safety by ensuring medications are disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.

Town Council Meeting

Date and Time: April 24, 2024, at 6:00 PM

Cat’s Cradle

This Weekend @ The Cave

What’s Krakening @ The Kraken