MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Mecklenburg County spent almost $65 million on the new Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center, but in the eight months since opening the taxpayer-funded building off of Eastway Drive, fewer than 150 people a day on average have visited, according to the latest numbers.
In fact, since September, county records show half as many people have visited the facility compared to its companion center, the Valerie C. Woodard Community Resource Center on Freedom Drive, which opened in 2018.
WCNC Charlotte started asking questions after a viewer tip about limited activity at the new one-stop-shop for county services.
"I am sure that there is more that we can do to make sure that people are aware that this facility exists," Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Chairman George Dunlap said.
Chairman Dunlap represents District 3, which is home to the new community resource center. He said many people in northeast Charlotte rely on county services and knows, over time, the numbers will increase.
"In a way, it's going to market itself, because when people have needs, they're going to figure out where they need to go and so, there are people in this community who may not have a need today, but may have a need tomorrow," the chairman said. "The hope is, when they realize there's a place in close proximity to where they live, then they will use this facility."
Evons Martin is one of the latest county residents to use the new center. She visited as part of her job search, so that she could work with an employment counselor.
"I think it's real convenient," Martin said. "I'm new to the state. I haven't been here a year yet, so I'm trying to utilize all of my resources."
Employment services are just some of the many resources available under one roof.
The center offers everything from health care to food assistance to veterans and child support services and housing and pre-K help. Martin heard about the center through NCWorks.
"I'm very impressed," Martin said. "It's easy for people to get to."
Mecklenburg County eventually plans on spending an additional $400 million to build two more larger centers on the east and southwest parts of town in the coming years. Those centers will offer even more services and will eventually replace the county's older health clinics.
"The goal is to make Mecklenburg County services easily accessible and in close proximity to all residents," Dunlap said.
Dunlap said, while the county can do "a little bit more" to market its new center, some still feel more comfortable continuing to use the Valerie C. Woodard Community Resource Center in west Charlotte.
"They're familiar with it," he said. "They've used that facility for an extended period of time. They feel comfortable there, so as people learn about this facility, we expect the numbers to grow … I think we should celebrate the fact that the facility exists and that it exists in this location and when we talk to people, we need to talk about the services that they can get at this facility."
Despite the relatively low initial numbers, the January and February numbers suggest the word is slowly getting out. Those months tallied the most visits so far.
"The Department of Community Resources is proud of the service offerings and delivery at both of our community resource centers," a county spokesperson told WCNC Charlotte. "The Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center has been open for less than a year. We look forward to seeing our customer base continue to grow."
Contact Nate Morabito at nmorabito@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.