GOLDSBORO, N.C. — Two significant developments are providing new opportunities for Wayne County residents and business owners this fall, as Habitat for Humanity prepares to break ground on a transformative housing project while local retailers gain access to expanded healthcare coverage options.

McNair Heights Project Set for Groundbreaking

Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the McNair Heights development on September 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. on Dr. H.E. McNair Street in Goldsboro. The organization has invited community members to join what organizers describe as “a meaningful morning of community, vision, and celebration” for the transformative housing project.

The ceremony marks the official start of construction on the McNair Heights development, though specific details about the number of homes planned or the project timeline were not immediately available.

New Healthcare Plan Available for NC Retailers

Meanwhile, North Carolina retail business owners have gained access to a new healthcare option through the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA). The association now offers members access to their Association Health Plan, which includes medical, vision, and dental coverage designed to reduce cost burdens for the retail community.

The initiative recognizes that offering health benefits has become an important employee retention tool for retailers. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina 2026 plans and rates for the NCRMA Plan are expected to be announced soon, with enrollment beginning in early November.

According to the association, the plan offers several advantages including the choice to offer more medical plans to employees, potential cost reductions for better benefits, increased stability and predictability over time, and no minimum employee participation requirements — even businesses with just one employee can enroll.

Joe Kimray, owner of B&W Hardware in Wake Forest, was among the first business owners to join the NCRMA health plan in 2025. “The process was very easy. Rates were much better than what I had already selected through the Health Insurance Marketplace,” Kimray said. “I am really pleased to have a new option for medical coverage.”

The timing of the new healthcare option comes as insurance rates are expected to rise for the 2026 plan year, making alternative coverage options particularly relevant for small retail businesses.

Retailers interested in learning more about the NCRMA Association Health Plan can contact Amanda McCabe at 919-522-6571 or by email through the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association.

Both developments reflect ongoing efforts to support Wayne County’s residential and business communities through expanded housing opportunities and improved access to essential services like healthcare coverage.