Guilford state of the county address highlights investments in schools, new Medicaid division

This year's Guilford state of the county address highlighted major investment in schools and job growth, with officials also announcing a new Medicaid division on Wednesday.

County Commission Chair Skip Alston says around 33,000 residents are expected to benefit from Medicaid expansion. Alston says a new director will lead the county's division, which will be under the Department of Health and Human Services.

"I'm pleased to share we've already hired more than half of the staff needed to support this important expansion," he says.

Alston outlined a range of investments, including $2 billion worth of voter-approved funds to improve county schools.

More than $100 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds have also gone toward infrastructure, access to health services, and assisting the unhoused.

Alston says the pandemic tested the community over the last two years, but everyone rose to the occasion.

He says the state of the county is more potent than it's ever been.