Governor Josh Stein visited West Henderson High School to meet with students participating in the Healthcare Fellows program. This initiative, which is a collaboration between Henderson County Public Schools, Blue Ridge Community College, AdventHealth Hendersonville, and UNC Health Pardee, aims to support students pursuing health care careers at Blue Ridge Community College by providing full financial assistance.
“North Carolina has the eighth-worst nursing shortage in the nation, and rural communities don’t have enough access to primary care, behavioral health, and dental services,” said Governor Josh Stein. “After Hurricane Helene, it is inspiring to see how public schools, community colleges, and employers are coming together to innovate and create new opportunities for students. Their success shows that we must do more, and I am calling on the General Assembly to pass a full budget that invests in our next generation of nurses to address our state’s health care workforce shortage.”
The state legislature has not yet approved a complete budget for 2025-2027. Governor Stein’s proposed budget would allocate funds to colleges and universities with the goal of increasing positions in high-demand health care fields. The proposal also calls for additional resources for North Carolina Area Health Education Centers to expand the number of instructors in the health workforce and improve accessibility for those entering nursing.
Later in the day, Governor Stein attended an event hosted by the Land of Sky Regional Council where he joined local officials and community leaders in recognizing residents from western North Carolina.
“In the wake of Hurricane Helene, local governments and community members sprang into action to rescue those in danger and support homeowners and small business owners to get their lives back on track,” said Governor Josh Stein. “As we continue the ongoing work of rebuilding, Congress and the administration need to get to work to deliver much needed dollars to western North Carolina.”
Governor Stein continues his efforts urging both state lawmakers and federal officials to provide greater investment for recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. Earlier this year, he traveled to Washington, D.C., seeking an additional $11.5 billion from Congress aimed at home rebuilding, infrastructure restoration, business continuity measures, local government support, and disaster mitigation. He also participated in VisitNC’s “Rediscover the Unforgettable” campaign designed to promote local businesses and encourage tourism in western North Carolina.
