Apple made headlines this quarter with its announcement to create a major campus in Research Triangle Park, bringing at least 3,000 jobs with average annual wages of at least $187,000. The campus will span 1 million square feet, and Apple plans to invest $1 billion over 10 years. While the RTP campus will be several years out in terms of development, Apple is working toward leasing office space in Cary off Weston Parkway.

Several new businesses opened in downtown Cary this quarter. Hank’s Downtown Dive, a second concept from the owners of SideBar, opened offering a full-service restaurant and bar at the newly renovated 111 E. Chatham Street within The Center. Scratch Kitchen and Taproom, a popular restaurant started in downtown Apex, opened a second location in downtown Cary in the space of the former Postmaster Restaurant & Bar.

This quarter, the Cary Town Council adopted, and the organization observed, Juneteenth for the first time as an official paid holiday. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. 

As vaccine eligibility and availability geared up this spring, so did Cary’s internal communications to inform and incentivize employee vaccinations. Cary partnered with WakeMed to offer COVID-19 vaccine clinics with hundreds of slots reserved for employees. To further encourage and support staff vaccinations, Cary created a vaccine time-off incentive crediting fully vaccinated employees with time off or a cash reward. Full-time regular employees received paid time off while temporary employees received a cash reward. All fully vaccinated employees became eligible for random gift card drawings. By the end of the quarter, more than 900 employees were fully vaccinated. 

In support of May as Mental Health Month, Cary promoted resources to improve resiliency and overall well-being amid the pandemic’s challenges. Coupling with Bike Cary Month provided a great opportunity to encourage employees to get outdoors and create a mind-body health connection.