We're 21 days away from a March 15 primary. We hope you've taken advantage of our programs to meet the candidates, but urge you to stay connected to the Chamber as new congressional maps and a new primary date are being debated. When the primary polls do open on March 15, we do want to ensure you #VoteYEStoInvest and support the $2 billion bond referendum that makes much needed investments in higher education and infrastructure. Want to ensure you know the rules? Check out this primer from Orange County.  See you at the polls!

The Town of Carrboro hosted a meeting to discuss parking in downtown Carrboro (see more at Storify). They've hired a consultant and now are asking for your input. Visit parkcarrboro.org to learn more about the study and take the survey at  http://surveymonkey.com/r/parkcarrboro. We know it's important to ensure adequate parking infrastructure and improve access to parking for downtown businesses, so be sure to take a moment to answer the survey!

At the March Economic Development & Public Policy Committee meeting, we'll hear an update about the progress made in the Ephesus Fordham district and about proposed improvements to stormwater infrastructure (take the Lower Booker Creek watershed study survey in the interim). Recently, Council approved street improvements in the district to improve traffic flow (read more at the Town's website and at The Chapel Hill News). Additionally, mark the date for March 7 as Council will hear another progress report on the area.

On Feb. 20, the Chamber co-sponsored a forum along with the NAACP on educational equity in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) system. Read the Storify from the forum and check out the entire report compiled by the Campaign for Racial Equity in Our Schools, "Excellence with Equity: The Schools Our Children Deserve." One of the authors of the report, Joal Hall Broun, was recently appointed to the CHCCS Board of Education. Stay tuned as the school board will hear a report back from CHCCS staff in May.