and economic development. Craven Community College, led by Staats, provides essential workforce development through its Volt Center. This center, a partnership between the college and the city, offers entry-level skills training in trades, hospitality, and more. Staats shared the impact of this initiative: “We’ve generated 846 new job opportunities for folks, and 20 percent of our students are walking into that center and getting their very first jobs.” This partnership has transformed a derelict building into a thriving educational facility, demonstrating the power of local collaboration. ATTRACTING VISITORS New Bern hosts numerous events that draw visitors and foster community spirit. One of the most notable is the annual MumFest, a street festival that spans nearly ten blocks and brings thousands of visitors to the city. Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, a short 15-minute drive south of the city, also hosts an air show, adding to the vibrant local events calendar. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, New Bern’s holiday events, such as Beary Merry Christmas, ice skating in the park, the Coastal Christmas Flotilla, live window displays, holiday lights, the annual Christmas Parade and the New Year’s Eve Block Party, also attract high traffic and visitor numbers. Colleen Roberts shares “The flotilla, which will be forty years old this year, brings generations of families and visitors to the waterfront. This parade of lighted boats along the Trent and Neuse rivers is a cherished event that, over the years, has helped grow New Bern’s appeal during the holidays.” 6 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 09
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