Savvy Citizen: A Gaston County Podcast

World Breastfeeding Week runs August 1-7, and we have some experts from the Gaston County Public Health Department stop by to talk about resources that are available to any new moms in our community. 

Axios Charlotte reporter McKenzie Rankin talks about growing up in Gaston County, reporting on the business and entertainment scene in the Charlotte metro area and her time interning for NBC News in New York. 

MWBE Coordinator Dr. David Williams talks about the event coming up on August 10 that will help minority and women business owners learn more about how to apply for government contracts. 

Gaston County Cooperative Extension Agent Payton Flowers talks about the best ways to keep your garden and yards from being overrun by pests.

In the midst of a revaluation year, Gaston County Budget & Strategy staff talk about the FY24 budget approved by the Gaston County Board of Commissioners, which featured a new county property tax rate that went below revenue neutral. 

Chat GPT and Artificial Intelligence is changing the game not only for the private sector, but for government as well. Neil Harrington from the NC Department of Commerce joins Savvy Citizen to discuss what's already happening with AI and what might be on the horizon.

Three years ago, Gaston County leadership developed the county's first strategic plan. Now, it's ready for an update. We go inside the process with the team that is helping county government map out its next five years of service to its residents.

After 20 years at the helm of the Gaston County Cooperative Extension, David Fogarty is set to retire at the end of this week. We sit down with David to discuss what he's most proud of and why those in Gaston County can expect to still see him taking an active role in helping the county grow. 

Summer is here, and with it comes berry season. We talk with experts at Gaston County's Cooperative Extension about the best berries to grow locally and when you should expect to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Juneteenth is right around the corner, and in 2023, the Ebonyfest Juneteenth celebration is spreading across multiple locations and days in Gastonia. Tasha White stops by to talk about how this event has grown in such a short amount of time.