South Raleigh News

Today, Governor Roy Cooper delivered his farewell address at Nash County Community College, marking the end of his second term as North Carolina's 75th governor. Reflecting on his tenure, he highlighted achievements in education, healthcare, and economic growth.

Governor Cooper stated, “We’ve built a North Carolina that’s a healthier, better educated place where people have more money in their pockets. And we stand ready to welcome prosperity with open arms for generations to come.” He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the state and acknowledged the collective efforts that contributed to its progress.

During his time in office, Cooper expanded Medicaid and extended healthcare coverage to over 600,000 residents. This initiative included launching Medicaid expansion on December 1, 2023. The program has facilitated access to prescriptions and dental services for many North Carolinians.

The Governor also addressed medical debt relief by implementing a program that relieved $4 billion in existing debt for nearly two million residents. This effort involved collaboration with hospitals and stakeholders to offer enhanced Medicaid payments in exchange for debt relief.

In education, Cooper focused on raising teacher pay by 19% and investing $805 million in early childhood education programs. He emphasized the importance of community colleges through initiatives like the Longleaf Commitment program and Finish Line Grants, which support students facing financial emergencies.

Economically, North Carolina added over 640,000 jobs under Cooper's leadership. The state was named CNBC’s Top State for Business twice consecutively. Significant investments from companies such as Toyota and Apple contributed to this growth.

Cooper also advanced clean energy initiatives through Executive Order 80 in 2018, fostering job creation in this sector.