Pleased to share my conversation with George Willoughby who is a reporter for the North Brunswick News.

By clicking on the following link you can sign up for updates from North Brunswick News either by email or by text message. You can reach George at the following email address: georgewilloughby@northbrunswicknews.com.

We spoke about a number of issues including.

• Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Replacement

• Hospital Certificate of Need Hearing

• Leland Citizens Academy, Transparency Portal and proposed new Town Park

• New School Year

You can also view this interview on our YouTube channel.

About the North Brunswick News

North Brunswick News is a local reporting initiative from the team behind The News Reporter, a family-owned community newspaper that has served Columbus County since 1896.

Leland area residents have recently started the Leland Area Garden Club. The organization was incorporated on February 26 and received 501(c) 3 Non-profit status April 2.

Their mission:

• To inspire a love of gardening, conservation and environmental stewardship.

• To enhance community beauty through education, volunteerism and partnerships.

• To promote native plants, pollinators, bluebirds and healthy public landscapes.

Upcoming educational topics include:

• Soil 101 and soil testing

• Pollinator gardens

• Native plants of southeastern North Carolina

• Sensory gardening

• Build-a-Bluebird Box workshops

The organization presented to the Leland Town Council at its July 16, 2026 meeting. You can find the Club on Facebook by clicking on the button. They are working on building a website.

Garden Club Facebook Page

Leland Area Garden Club Presentation

1.51MB ∙ PDF file

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Presentation made to the Town Council in July.

Download

It was my pleasure to speak with Bess Blackburn one of the leaders in the community that helped form the organization. Previously Ms. Blackburn was 12 year member of the Cape Fear Garden Club.

The video can also be viewed on our YouTube channel.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services held a public hearing Thursday, August 20, to gather testimony on three Certificate of Need (CON) applications proposing additional hospital beds for the region. The state has identified a need for 225 new hospital beds to serve New Hanover County and surrounding localities.

The hearing opened with each of the three applicants given the opportunity to make a 15-minute presentation, followed by public comments. As of 4 p.m., 36 people had spoken on the applications.

Here are the requests by the various applicants:

• Atrium Health Coastal Inc and Advocate Health Inc propose to develop a new hospital in Wilmington — Atrium Health Wilmington Medical Center — with 42 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $395.7 million and would be completed in January 2032.

• Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center LLC and Novant Health Inc propose to develop 225 additional acute care beds at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center for a total of 954 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $236.7 million and would be completed in January 2030.

• UNC Health Wilmington Medical Center Inc proposes to develop a new hospital in Wilmington — UNC Health Wilmington Medical Center — with 150 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $852.6 million and would be completed in July 2031.

As a refresher, here is link to previous blog post and podcasts on the CON process and the interviews with the applicants.

Next Steps

It is anticipated that the State will make a decision on the applications by late Fall or early Winter.

Was pleased to re-connect with Mike Kozlosky the Executive Director of the Wilmington Urban Area Planning Organization to catch up on a number of subject matters.

We spent a good deal of time talking about the replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and the challenge of obtaining federal and state funding for transportation projects in the region.

You can also view this video on our YouTube channel.

About the MPO

The Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) was created in 1973 when our region reached a population density threshold of 50,000 people to constitute the federally-mandated creation of a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

As a federally-mandated and federally-funded entity, the Wilmington MPO is tasked with providing a regional and cooperative transportation planning process that serves as the basis for the expenditure of all federal transportation funds in the greater Wilmington area. The WMPO is required to prepare long range transportation plans for the planning area with a minimum of a 20-year horizon. Additionally, the WMPO prepares an annual planning work program and assists with the prioritization of projects for inclusion in the State Transportation Improvement Program (outlines NCDOT’s funding for a 10-year period).

It was my pleasure to re-connect with Deb Mansir, the President of the North Brunswick Newcomers Club, to talk about their plans for the Fall into the Spring months ahead. The Club takes off for the months of July and August.

You can also view this interview on our YouTube channel.

About the Club

The North Brunswick Newcomers Club (NBNC) is a social club for adults living in Brunswick County. Meetings typically are the second Friday of each month from September through May. There is a special event that is held in June with no meeting in July or August.

They meet at the Leland Cultural Arts Center (LCAC) located at 1212 Magnolia Village Way in Leland. Meetings typically feature 2 speakers who focus on familiarizing members with area culture, history, lifestyle, volunteer opportunities, special local programs, and topics of general interest.

Annual dues are $40 per household for up to two persons. Membership eligibility is indefinite (with paid dues); rejoining after a lapse is allowed.

The Club was featured in the Brunswick Forest Living Magazine in August 2024.

2024 Brunswick Forest Living Article

1.07MB ∙ PDF file

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Download

You can learn more about the Club and upcoming events by clicking on the button.

Newcomers Club

The Environmental Assessment (EA) for the replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge has been published on NCDOT’s project website. The Environmental Assessment can be found in the project documents section.

CFMB Project

Public Hearings Scheduled

Public hearings for the project will be held on September 14 and September 15.

Monday, September 14
Doors Open at 4:30 p.m.
Formal Hearing begins at 6:00 p.m.
Cape Fear Community College (Daniels Hall)
502 N. Front Street
Wilmington, N.C. 28401

Tuesday, September 15
Doors Open at 4:30 p.m.
Formal Hearing begins at 6:00 p.m.
Leland Cultural Arts Center
1212 Magnolia Village Way
Leland, N.C. 28451

You can read the press release from the North Carolina Department of Transportation by clicking on the button.

NC DOT Press Release

Comments can also be submitted on NC DOT’s public input portal which can be assessed by clicking on this link: https://publicinput.com/capefearmemorialbridge

Many of us know Bill McHugh as a husband, dad, community advocate and former member of the Leland Town Council, but we can now add author to his list of titles.

As a four-year member of the Leland Town Council he realized it was a topic not frequently discussed at a young age. As such he as created something that helps children understand the people and processes that keep their communities running and plant the seed for a potential important and rewarding career path.

For those interested in the book click on the picture or the link in the callout box above.

Pleased to share this conversation with you.

You can view this interview on our YouTube channel.

The Town of Leland has announced new events for Founders Park after the successful grand reopening of the park on July 31. More than 2,000 residents enjoyed the live music, playground, splash pad and numerous vendors that ringed the park for the event.

Performances will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Founders Park, located at 113 Town Hall Drive.

New Live in Leland events announced include:

• Aug. 13: Departure: The Journey Tribute Band

• Aug. 21: Aesop’s Fables presented by Brunswick Arts Council

• Aug. 27: The British Invaders

• Sept. 3: Dear MariBella and the Pig Kickers

More about the groups can be found on the Town web site by clicking on the button.

Live In Leland Events

For some fun, here is a snippet of the concert from this past Friday evening.

Pleased to share my conversation with George Willoughby who is a reporter for the North Brunswick News.

By clicking on the following link you can sign up for updates from North Brunswick News either by email or by text message. You can reach George at the following email address: georgewilloughby@northbrunswicknews.com.

Was pleased to talk about a number of local items including:

1. Cape Fear Memorial Bridge

2. Opening of Founders Park

3. E-Bike Rules

4. Leland Annexation Authority

5. Ask North Brunswick News Topics

You can also view this conversation on our YouTube channel.

About the North Brunswick News

North Brunswick News is a local reporting initiative from the team behind The News Reporter, a family-owned community newspaper that has served Columbus County since 1896.

Guest Post

Few public projects have generated as much discussion in southeastern North Carolina as the proposed replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. Citizens have raised thoughtful questions about the bridge’s cost, the possibility of tolls, impacts on surrounding neighborhoods, and perhaps most notably, one simple question:

Why does the replacement bridge need to be 135 feet high? It is an entirely reasonable question.

Recent public discussions, including a white paper published by the Brunswick Forest Residents Civic Association (BFRCA), have suggested that the bridge could be substantially lower if Congress simply eliminated the federally authorized navigation channel north of the existing bridge. Some have argued that doing so could reduce project costs and perhaps even eliminate the need for tolls.

Those ideas deserve thoughtful consideration. Public participation has always been one of the strengths of our democratic system, and citizens should never hesitate to ask difficult questions about major public investments.

As someone who spent more than four decades with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers working in navigation planning, environmental review, and water resources development, I welcome that conversation.

At the same time, I believe an important piece of information has been largely missing from the public discussion.

A Federal Determination That Changes the Conversation

Recently, the Wilmington District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed its review of the proposed bridge replacement under Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, commonly known as Section 408.

Most citizens have never heard of Section 408.

Yet it may be one of the most important laws affecting the future of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

Section 408 requires the Corps to determine whether a proposed alteration would impair the usefulness of a congressionally authorized federal Civil Works project. In this case, the authorized project is the Wilmington Harbor Federal Navigation Project.

After completing its technical review, the Corps reached a clear conclusion.

A replacement bridge providing less than 135 feet of vertical clearance above Mean Higher High Water would negatively affect the usefulness of the federally authorized navigation project.

Under the Corps’ own regulations, once that determination was made, evaluation of lower clearance alternatives had to stop.

Whether one agrees with that determination or not is almost beside the point. It is now part of the official administrative record.

That changes the discussion.

The debate is no longer simply about whether a lower bridge might cost less or appear more practical. Before that question can even be answered, another question must first be addressed:

Should Congress change the federally authorized navigation project itself? That is a much broader public policy question than bridge height alone.

It involves navigation, interstate commerce, transportation planning, environmental review, economic development, emergency preparedness, and federal law.

Understanding that broader framework is essential if we hope to make informed decisions.

Why This Matters

Many residents have moved to southeastern North Carolina only within the past decade. They understandably may not be familiar with the many decades of congressional authorizations, navigation studies, environmental reviews, transportation planning, and public investments that have shaped the Cape Fear River and the Port of Wilmington.

That history matters.

The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge was never simply a highway crossing.

It has always been part of a larger transportation system connecting maritime commerce, regional highways, railroads, emergency evacuation routes, military facilities, and the communities on both sides of the river.

Looking at the bridge by itself is a little like trying to understand an airport by examining only the terminal building.

The bridge, the harbor, the port, and the transportation network all function together.

That is why replacing the bridge is considerably more complicated than choosing a preferred height.

Understanding the Federal Navigation Project

One of the most common misunderstandings in the current discussion involves the nature of the federal navigation project itself.

Many people understandably assume that because relatively few large commercial vessels travel north of the bridge today, the federal navigation channel above the bridge is no longer necessary.

On the surface, that seems like common sense.

If the ships are not using the channel, why preserve it?

The answer lies in understanding what Congress actually authorizes.

Federal navigation projects are not created by the Corps of Engineers.

They are established by Congress to serve long-term national interests, including interstate commerce, navigation, economic development, and, in some cases, national defense.

The Corps is responsible for administering those projects within the authority granted by Congress.

It does not possess unilateral authority to redefine or eliminate them simply because navigation patterns change.

That distinction is critical.

Changes in vessel traffic may certainly justify future studies.

They may even support recommendations for congressional action.

But they do not automatically change the existing federal authorization. Transportation infrastructure has always been planned with a long-term perspective. We do not widen highways only after congestion becomes unbearable. Nor do we abandon airports because air traffic temporarily declines.

Similarly, federal navigation projects are intended to accommodate both present and future needs.

That does not mean existing authorizations should never be revisited. It simply means that changing them requires careful analysis rather than assumption.

The Relationship Between the Bridge and the Harbor

The recent Section 408 determination illustrates something that planners have understood for decades.

The bridge and the navigation project cannot be evaluated independently.

The navigation project establishes engineering requirements that directly influence the bridge.

Likewise, the bridge affects navigation, freight movement, emergency response, regional mobility, and economic development.

This relationship is not unique to Wilmington.

Throughout the country, ports depend upon highways.

Highways depend upon bridges.

Bridges support freight movement.

Freight movement supports regional economies.

Each component influences the others.

That is why transportation planning increasingly views infrastructure as interconnected systems rather than isolated projects.

When citizens ask whether a lower bridge is possible, they are really asking whether the entire transportation and navigation system should operate differently.

That is an important discussion.

But it should be recognized for what it is.

It is not simply a bridge design question.

It is a regional planning question.

Where the Current Discussion Raises Important Questions

One reason the current public discussion has been valuable is that it has encouraged citizens to look more closely at decisions that will shape our region for generations.

Those questions deserve thoughtful answers.

The cost of replacing the bridge is substantial.

Taxpayers have every right to understand why a particular alternative has been selected and whether it represents the best long-term value.

Questions about tolls are equally understandable.

Thousands of Brunswick County residents depend upon this crossing every day.

Any recurring toll would affect commuters, businesses, retirees, and working families throughout the region.

Neighborhood impacts also deserve careful consideration.

Transportation projects influence homes, businesses, churches, historic districts, and community character.

Every reasonable effort should be made to minimize unnecessary impacts while meeting legitimate transportation needs.

These are not obstacles to progress.

They are exactly the kinds of questions responsible citizens should ask.

Public involvement has improved countless infrastructure projects throughout this country.

Engineers identify technical issues.

Environmental scientists evaluate ecological consequences.

Transportation planners assess mobility.

Residents contribute local knowledge that professionals may overlook. Good public policy benefits from all of these perspectives.

The goal should never be to determine which side wins the argument.

The goal should be to make the final decision better because every important question has been asked — and every answer has been grounded in evidence rather than assumption.

That is the standard our community should expect as this discussion continues.

Where I Reach Different Conclusions

While I believe the recent public discussion has been healthy, I reach different conclusions on several important issues.

The first concerns the assumption that eliminating the federally authorized navigation channel north of the bridge would naturally result in a lower bridge and substantially lower project costs.

Perhaps it would.

But no one can responsibly make that claim without first completing the technical, environmental, legal, and economic analyses necessary to support it.

Changing a congressionally authorized Federal Navigation Project is not simply a matter of drawing a new line on a map.

Congress certainly possesses the authority to modify or even deauthorize portions of an existing navigation project. However, exercising that authority has historically required far more than a legislative amendment. It would require detailed engineering studies, navigation analyses, environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), economic evaluation, consultation with affected federal and state agencies, and careful consideration of the long-term interests of interstate commerce, military readiness, and the Port of Wilmington.

That process exists for good reason.

Federal infrastructure projects are intended to serve not only today’s needs but also those of future generations.

The Corps’ recent Section 408 determination illustrates precisely why that process matters. Unless and until Congress changes the authorized navigation project, the Corps has concluded that a bridge with less than 135 feet of vertical clearance would impair the usefulness of the existing federally authorized navigation project. That determination does not prevent Congress from changing the project in the future, but it does establish the legal and engineering framework within which today’s bridge replacement must be evaluated.

The idea of ending the federally authorized navigation project at the bridge — or eliminating the authorized navigation channel north of the bridge — has become part of the public discussion. Congress unquestionably has the authority to modify or even deauthorize portions of a federal navigation project. The more important question, however, is not whether Congress can do so, but whether Congress should.

Such a decision deserves far more than a simple legislative amendment or a reaction to current navigation patterns. It would require comprehensive engineering, navigation, environmental, and economic analyses, together with consultation among federal and state agencies, the maritime industry, local governments, and the public. It would also require careful consideration of the long-term interests of the Port of Wilmington, regional transportation, interstate commerce, military readiness, and public safety.

That is not an argument against changing the navigation project if future studies ultimately demonstrate that such a change serves the public interest. Rather, it is an argument that decisions of this magnitude should be based upon a complete technical and public policy record — not upon a single objective such as reducing bridge height or construction costs.

The discussion should therefore begin not with the question, “Can we build a lower bridge?” but rather with the question, “Should the Nation modify a congressionally authorized navigation project that has served the Cape Fear River for decades?”

Those are fundamentally different questions.

The Question of Tolls

One issue on which my position is unequivocal is tolling.

I do not support tolling the replacement Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

My opposition, however, is not based solely on the financial burden tolls would place on local residents. It is based on a broader principle of fairness.

The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is not simply a local bridge.

It is one of southeastern North Carolina’s most important transportation assets.

Every day it carries commuters between Brunswick and New Hanover Counties. It serves as a principal hurricane evacuation route for thousands of residents and visitors. It supports military readiness through its connection to Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point. It carries a substantial share of the freight traffic serving the Port of Wilmington, one of North Carolina’s most important economic engines.

The replacement bridge will also provide something the existing bridge has never offered: a safe, dedicated pedestrian and bicycle connection across the Cape Fear River. That addition will reconnect the two counties in ways that encourage walking, cycling, recreation, tourism to our fledgling Eagles Island Park, and healthier transportation choices, while creating new opportunities for residents and visitors to experience both communities. It is an investment in quality of life as much as in transportation.

These combined benefits demonstrate that the bridge serves far more than motorists. It serves commerce, public safety, emergency preparedness, military logistics, recreation, tourism, and community connectivity throughout the Lower Cape Fear region.

The economic benefits generated by the Port extend far beyond Wilmington and Brunswick County. They benefit manufacturers, agricultural producers, retailers, businesses, and consumers across North Carolina.

When infrastructure supports statewide commerce and statewide economic prosperity, it should be viewed as a statewide responsibility.

That is why I believe the Town of Leland acted wisely in adopting Resolution R-26–032, encouraging equitable participation by the North Carolina State Ports Authority in funding the replacement bridge.

The resolution does not suggest that the Ports Authority should finance the entire bridge. Nor do I.

Rather, it recognizes a principle of sound public policy: when major public infrastructure produces broad statewide benefits, the costs should be shared equitably among those who benefit.

The Port depends upon the transportation system.

The transportation system depends upon the bridge.

The bridge, in turn, supports statewide commerce, local communities, military readiness, emergency preparedness, and regional mobility.

Those relationships are inseparable.

Accordingly, I believe discussions regarding project financing should include the State of North Carolina, the North Carolina State Ports Authority, and other beneficiaries of statewide commerce — not simply the commuters who happen to cross the bridge each day.

A bridge that serves the economic interests of an entire state should not be financed primarily on the backs of local motorists.

Planning for the Next Century

Another issue often overlooked in public discussions is time.

The replacement Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is not being designed solely for today’s traffic. It is expected to serve southeastern North Carolina for the next 75 to 100 years.

No one can predict exactly how the Port of Wilmington, regional population, freight movement, military requirements, or transportation technology will evolve during that period.

History teaches us that infrastructure frequently shapes economic growth rather than simply responding to it.

The interstate highway system transformed American commerce.

Container shipping transformed global trade.

Ports expanded because transportation systems were built with future opportunities in mind.

Likewise, the pedestrian and bicycle facilities planned for the new bridge recognize that transportation needs evolve. Communities increasingly value safe, multimodal connections that improve mobility, encourage recreation, reduce reliance on automobiles for short trips, and strengthen relationships between neighboring communities.

Current navigation patterns are certainly relevant.

But they are only one part of a much longer planning horizon.

Responsible infrastructure planning requires us to think not only about today’s conditions, but about the needs and opportunities of future generations.

What Every Citizen Should Expect

Whether one supports the current bridge proposal, favors a different design, opposes tolls, or believes Congress should revisit the navigation project, every citizen should expect the same thing from government.

Transparency.

Citizens deserve to understand why particular decisions are being made. They deserve to see alternatives evaluated objectively.

They deserve to understand the assumptions underlying cost estimates, traffic forecasts, environmental analyses, and funding proposals.

They deserve clear explanations — not slogans.

Likewise, public agencies should welcome informed questions.

Some of the best improvements to public infrastructure projects have come from citizens asking questions that professionals had not fully considered.

Public involvement strengthens projects.

It should never be viewed as an obstacle.

At the same time, informed public discussion carries its own responsibility. Questions should be answered with documented evidence.

Engineering judgments should be supported by technical analysis.

Legal conclusions should be grounded in applicable law.

Public policy decisions should reflect long-term public interests rather than short-term political pressures.

When those principles guide the discussion, everyone benefits — even when reasonable people ultimately disagree.

Building the Future Together

The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge debate is about far more than bridge height. It is about how southeastern North Carolina prepares for the future.

Reasonable people will continue to disagree about navigation requirements, project costs, neighborhood impacts, and funding mechanisms.

Those disagreements are healthy.

What should unite us is a commitment to making decisions based upon evidence rather than assumption, thoughtful analysis rather than speculation, and long-term public benefit rather than short-term convenience.

The recent Section 408 determination does not end this discussion.

It does, however, remind us that major infrastructure decisions are shaped by decades of congressional authorizations, engineering analysis, environmental review, and transportation planning.

Understanding that framework allows us to ask better questions and make better decisions.

If North Carolina recognizes the Port of Wilmington as a statewide economic engine — and I believe it should — then the transportation infrastructure that allows that port to function should likewise be recognized as a statewide responsibility.

The replacement Cape Fear Memorial Bridge will connect neighborhoods, counties, businesses, cyclists, pedestrians, emergency responders, military installations, and one of North Carolina’s most important seaports. It will serve the people of this region for generations.

It should unite our communities — not divide them over who should bear the cost. That is not simply a transportation policy.

It is a matter of sound planning, regional partnership, and fairness.

About the Author

Brayton Willis is a retired Senior Project Manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program. During a career spanning more than four decades, he worked on federal navigation studies, environmental impact statements, water resources planning, and intergovernmental coordination involving federal, state, and local agencies. He is a resident of Leland, North Carolina, and writes in his personal capacity. The views expressed in this article are his own and do not represent the official positions of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Army, or any other governmental agency.

There are three applications to increase hospital beds in New Hanover County to serve the region. According to a news release from the NC Department of Health and Human Services the applications are as follows:

• Atrium Health Coastal Inc and Advocate Health Inc propose to develop a new hospital in Wilmington — Atrium Health Wilmington Medical Center — with 42 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $395.7 million and would be completed in January 2032.

• Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center LLC and Novant Health Inc propose to develop 225 additional acute care beds at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center for a total of 954 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $236.7 million and would be completed in January 2030.

• UNC Health Wilmington Medical Center Inc proposes to develop a new hospital in Wilmington — UNC Health Wilmington Medical Center — with 150 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $852.6 million and would be completed in July 2031.

North Carolina’s Certificate of Need

To be able to provide these services, the health care organizations must apply to the State of North Carolina for approval through the Certificate of Need (CON) process. The CON process is not unique to North Carolina, more than 30 states have some level of CON process. For an overview of North Carolina’s process please click on the button for the official State website.

NC Health and Human Services

Certificate Of Need Applications For July 1 2026 Review

139KB ∙ PDF file

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Statewide applications log submitted for review to the State.

Download

Previous Conversations

I am pleased to share the podcasts I have had with the three healthcare organizations regarding their applications.

Atrium Health

Novant Health

UNC Health

The grand opening for Founders Park is scheduled for July 31 from 5 to 8PM. The event will have live music, family activities, food, and beverages. You can read the Town press release by clicking here.

Wanted to share some photos we took at the park. In addition to the amphitheater there is a Veterans Memorial, picnic pavilion, playground, splash pad, walking paths, bike repair station and bike racks.

Other Summer Concerts

There are a number of FREE summer concerts throughout the region. You can find them on this blog by clicking on the button.

FREE Summer Concerts

Atrium Health has submitted a proposal to the State of North Carolina to construct 42 new acute care beds in New Hanover County to serve the region. I am pleased to share their press release on the proposal.

We were pleased to interview Steve Smoot, EVP and president of the North Carolina and Georgia division at Advocate Health about the application. Atrium Health is a part of Advocate Health.

You can also find this interview on our YouTube channel.

As per a previous blog post and conversation, I wanted to share with you Novant Health’s press release regarding their Certificate of Need application with the State for 225 new acute care beds in New Hanover County to serve the region.

I was pleased to speak with Ms. Laurie Whalin, President, Novant Health Coastal Region regarding their application.

You can also find this conversation on our YouTube channel.

Novant Health seeks state approval for 225 new hospital beds in new patient tower as part of plans to expand advanced heart and vascular care

Investments in nationally recognized heart and vascular care reflect growing community need; proposed beds open needed capacity and expand access to care at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Novant Health has applied for state approval to add 225 inpatient hospital beds as part of a new patient tower designed to expand access to high-acuity care in southeastern North Carolina, under the state’s certificate of need process.

“Our plans are years in the making, and we fully believe patients benefit from a comprehensive care experience,” said Laurie Whalin, president of Novant Health’s Coastal Region. “We are the only health system with the ability to deliver seamlessly integrated care because we have the infrastructure, including operating rooms and catheterization labs, which are not available for expansion under the current state plans. Without those vital services, other systems could only offer a fragmented care experience and would be unable to fully deliver on promises of specialty care. Thanks to the strength and expertise of Novant Health’s clinicians, we are the strongest positioned to care for the rapidly growing region.”

Novant Health’s filing supports the previously announced master facility plan for New Hanover Regional Medical Center — an investment of upwards of $1 billion focused on rapidly scaling capacity to meet the region’s surging population growth and rising demand for complex care.

Once approved, the expansion will position Novant Health to bring new hospital beds online expeditiously while ensuring those beds are equipped to care for the most complex, highest-acuity patients in the region.

The new patient tower will centralize inpatient and surgical heart and vascular care, including advanced operating rooms, cardiac catheterization labs, and electrophysiology labs — allowing care teams to manage the full spectrum of cases, from routine procedures to the most critically ill patients, within a single, highly specialized environment.

Dr. Bill Smith, chief physician executive of the Heart & Vascular Institute in the Coastal Region, emphasized the clinical advantage: “By fully integrating advanced cardiac services, we will support interdisciplinary collaboration while enhancing our ability to deliver complex, high-acuity care, improving both outcomes and patient experience. This investment ensures our community will have timely access to the highest level of heart and vascular care close to home for decades to come.”

Demand for cardiovascular services is already significant and growing, and heart disease and stroke both remain leading causes of death in North Carolina. The Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute team sees approximately 18,000 new patients annually in the Coastal Region and performs more than 12,500 surgeries and procedures each year. With the 65+ population increasing, demand for advanced, inpatient care is expected to rise sharply.

While the majority of the expansion is dedicated to heart and vascular expertise, the additional resources will benefit the entire hospital by increasing overall inpatient capacity, improving patient experience and reducing wait times.

This project is part of Novant Health’s regional plan to meet the healthcare needs of growing southeastern North Carolina for years to come. The plans include:

• Novant Health Scotts Hill Medical Center, opening in late June

• A future Wilmington rehabilitation hospital nearly doubled in size to meet growing need

• The future 20-bed Novant Health Leland Medical Center to provide hospital care to growing northern Brunswick County

• A future free-standing emergency department in Carolina Shores

For more information on Vision 2030, these plans and how Novant Health is advancing high-quality, accessible care in the Coastal Region, please visit: NovantHealth.org/CoastalNC.

As someone who has had family members successfully participate in future teacher programs in another locality, I was pleased to have a conversation with Ms. Jennie Bryan who leads the Brunswick County Schools’ Teacher Scholar Academy to increase the number of homegrown teachers. The four High Schools in the County send students to the Academy.

The program has also recently launched an Early Childhood Education I course. Students who successfully complete 120 internship hours in a local childcare or PreK program qualify for the NC Early Childhood Credential, which is required for all lead teachers in childcare centers.

By way of background, Ms. Bryan started her career as a High School social studies teacher. She was named Brunswick County Teacher of the Year in 2020, Southeastern Regional Teacher of the Year in 2021 and COAST Teacher of the Year in 2026.

We are happy to share our conversation with Jennie about this innovative program.

You can also find this interview on our YouTube channel.

The mission of the Brunswick County Literacy Council is to advance social and economic opportunities for underserved adults 16 and older by identifying, developing, promoting, and delivering literacy and other academic programming.

A study released in 2020 by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and Gallup examined the impact of adult literacy on the U.S. economy, finding that the nation could be losing up to $2.2 trillion annually due to low adult literacy rates.

We were pleased to interview Melissa Warren, Executive Director, regarding the wide range of programs offered by the Council. Such programs include:

• Basic Adult Literacy

• GED Assistance

• English for Speakers of Other Languages

• Work Skills

• Financial Literacy

• Citizenship

You can also view this interview on our YouTube channel.

As a follow up to our interview with UNC Health, I wanted to share their official press release on submitting their Certificate of Need to build their proposed hospital in New Hanover County to serve the region. Additionally, I have reached out to interview Atrium Health on their proposal to build a new hospital as well. To date, I have not heard back from them.

UNC Health Files Certificate of Need Application for Proposed Wilmington Community Hospital

Marks a key step in expanding care access in one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing regions

• UNC Health has formally submitted its Certificate of Need (CON) application to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for a proposed new community hospital to bring care closer to home for patients across New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties.

• The proposed hospital, planned for the southeast corner of South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard in Wilmington, with a planned 150-bed hospital spanning approximately 543,790 square feet across seven floors on a 62-acre site designed to allow for future growth.

• The application is supported by Wilmington Health, the largest independent, physician-owned practice in Southeastern North Carolina, and reflects community input from residents, business leaders, and civic partners.

WILMINGTON, N.C. – June 18, 2026 – UNC Health filed its Certificate of Need (CON) application with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for a proposed new community hospital in Wilmington this week.

This filing marks a significant step forward in UNC Health’s plan, announced in May, to expand access to primary and specialty care for patients across New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties, one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing regions.

UNC Health has engaged with hundreds of residents, providers, and community leaders across New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender County – many of whom have signed letters of support for the new community hospital.

“New Hanover County’s rapid growth has outpaced our healthcare resources, leaving too many families waiting for the care they deserve,” said Rob Zapple, New Hanover County Commissioner. “This proposed hospital is exactly the kind of bold step our community needs, and I am proud to support it. I urge state health officials to recognize the urgency and help us deliver the quality care our region’s residents expect and need.”

The proposed hospital, planned for a 62-acre site at South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard with 150 beds, is designed around the services residents from across the region have told UNC Health they need. If approved, the community hospital is set to deliver care for every chapter of life — from obstetrics and gynecology for growing families, to cardiology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, urology, and vascular care for aging well, to oncology, neurology, and emergency services for life’s hardest moments.

Wilmington’s population grew 8.5% between 2020 and 2024, with adults 65+ now making up nearly 1 in 5 residents – shifts that are driving complex, high-demand healthcare needs in the community. Wilmington Health, the largest independent, physician-owned practice in Southeastern North Carolina, supports the application.

“Every day, I see patients facing serious health challenges who need more than our community currently has the capacity to provide,” said David Schultz, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Wilmington Health.” A new hospital in Wilmington would change that – bringing more specialists, more capacity, and more options to the people of this region when it matters most. Wilmington Health is proud to support UNC Health’s application and the difference it will make for our patients and community.”

This filing initiates the state’s formal review. A public hearing is anticipated in August, and a decision from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is expected before the end of the year. UNC Health will continue to engage openly with state regulators, local elected officials, and residents throughout the process.

To learn more, visit YourCareRightHere.com.

It's been a long time since I delivered the Long Island Press as a kid, and the delivery of news has changed dramatically since then—24-hour news cycles, social media, the decline of long-standing newspaper outlets, and the rise of digital media.

I am pleased to be able to have a conversation with George Willoughby a reporter for the North Brunswick News. North Brunswick News is a local reporting initiative from the team behind The News Reporter, a family-owned community newspaper that has served Columbus County since 1896. You can reach George at the following email address: georgewilloughby@northbrunswicknews.com.

It is my hope to make this a weekly or bi-weekly feature to talk about the issues he is reporting on in the northern portion of the County. You can sign up for updates either by email or by text message.

You can also view this interview on our YouTube channel.

UNC Health announced plans to build a new community hospital (150 beds) on a 62-acre proposed site in New Hanover County, pending regulatory approvals. This proposed hospital will strengthen UNC Health’s statewide reach – connecting North Carolina communities from the mountains to the coast.

Planned for the southeast corner of South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard, the site was selected for its accessibility and its geographic infill capacity in serving a rapidly growing region. This project marks a significant step forward in UNC Health’s commitment to improving access to primary care and specialty care closer to home.

We were pleased to speak with Ernie Bovio, Regional President of the Southeast Coastal Market, about this project and the approval process.

You can also view this interview on our YouTube Channel.

To learn more about the project visit their dedicated website for this proposal.

About UNC Health

UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of 20 hospitals and more than 900 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine. It exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others they serve and to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina SOM.

UNC Health provided more than $800 million in Uncompensated Charity Care during the past five years. Their hospitals have received numerous awards and recognition for quality care, patient safety, and the overall patient experience.

Established in 1983 as a modest Soup Kitchen, Good Shepherd has grown to become the largest provider of homeless services in the region.

Current programs include the Soup Kitchen which serves over 89,000 meals a year; Second Helpings food salvage and distribution program; Sgt. Eugene Ashley Center providing transitional and permanent supportive housing for Veterans and men with disabilities; a Day Shelter providing the homeless with access to showers, clothing, transportation, and on-site mental health and health services; and a Night Shelter with 118 beds for homeless men, women, and families with children.

Good Shepherd recently opened SECU Lakeside Reserve, an affordable housing unit with 40 apartments for chronically homeless adults with disabilities, including seniors and Veterans.

We were pleased to have a conversation with the Executive Director of the Center, Katrina Knight, on the important work they do in our region.

You can also find the video on our YouTube channel: