Pender County Government announced on May 18 that it will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Pender County Health and Human Services building on Thursday, May 28 at 10 a.m. The event will take place at 298 Progress Drive in Burgaw, with the public invited to attend and tour the facility after the program.
The new multi-story, 89,000-square-foot building will bring together the Pender County Health Department and Department of Social Services under one roof. This consolidation is intended to make it easier for residents to access health and social services in a single location.
“This facility represents a major investment in the people of Pender County and reflects the Board of Commissioners’ commitment to providing spaces that better support county services, staff, and the community we serve,” said County Manager Colby W. Sawyer.
Bobbitt led Pender County’s first design-build project for this facility, working closely with county officials to address staff and resident needs. The building includes office space, training rooms, areas designed for public service delivery, collaboration spaces, and room for future growth.
“By bringing health and social services together in one location, this facility allows our team to better coordinate care, support families, and serve the community more efficiently,” said Carolyn Moser, Health and Human Services director.
The event details include guided tours following the ceremony. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, recent data shows that among senior students taking ACT tests in Pender County school districts during the 2022-23 school year: about 26.9% were considered ready for college in science; around 40.7% were ready in reading; while approximately 25.6% met readiness benchmarks in math. For junior students tested during that period: about 28.1% reached college readiness standards in science; roughly 39.2% did so in reading; while close to 26.4% achieved math readiness benchmarks.
Pender County Health and Human Services provides programs supporting health, safety, dental care, immunizations, emergency assistance such as Medicaid or child support services as well as outreach education efforts within its community.
