North Carolina is an ideal case study for settlement fund allocation due to its diverse characteristics: 100 counties that include both urban and rural areas, unique geographic features such as mountains and oceanfront, and a wide range of demographics and cultures. With 85% of settlement funds directed to local governments and supported by a robust Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and comprehensive fund tracking resources, North Carolina can offer valuable insights that may be applicable to other states and communities with similar features.
In 2024, our teams at the Center for the Business of Health and NCGrowth actively engaged with communities across North Carolina to better understand how local governments are utilizing settlement funds during this early distribution phase, we held in-person meetings with local government employees, health professionals and service providers, concerned citizens, small business owners, and more.
Our goal was to identify challenges, best practices, ideas, and resource needs for effective community decision-making regarding the settlement funds, all informed through community dialogue.