North Carolina Forever recently held a virtual budget briefing on North Carolina conservation funding. The presentation featured NC Forever Chair and North Carolina Recreation and Park Association Executive Director Michelle Wells, NC Budget Director Kristin Walker, NC Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Elizabeth Biser, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Reid Wilson, and NC Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler.
NC Forever is an unconventional partnership of businesses and non-profits that work together to advocate for the funding needed to conserve NC’s lands and waters. Brooks Pierce helped stand the organization up in 2017 and serves as staff to it. While advocacy is the central focus of the organization, NC Forever also seeks to educate both decision makers and the public on conservation needs and current funding levels in the state.
The budget briefing highlighted significant progress on funding for the conservation of the state's lands and waters. NC Forever played an active role in the legislative process related to conservation funding. Members of Brooks Pierce’s Government Relations & Public Policy team including Katy Kingsbury and Drew Moretz worked closely with legislators and other interested parties during the process.
Kingsbury advocates for clients before the executive and legislative branches of North Carolina state government. A former campaign manager and legislative assistant, she is experienced in navigating the landscape of the North Carolina General Assembly and uses that experience to assist the firm's Government Affairs team in implementing legislative strategies. She monitors and researches legislative actions that affect clients, and assists in designing strategies on a myriad of issues. She is not licensed to practice law and does not provide legal advice.*
Moretz brings over two decades of experience in various advocacy and business roles to bear for clients, developing legislative strategies and advising on public policy. He appears before state regulatory agencies, legislators, and the governor’s office to lobby for clients’ specific interests. He is not licensed to practice law and does not provide legal advice.*
A recording of the budget briefing, which took place on November 1, 2022 can be viewed here.