NEW HANOVER COUNTY — The New Hanover Community Endowment is investing $5,240,934 through four grants, with Coastal Horizons taking the lion’s share of the money for its behavioral health urgent care facility.
The $4,039,073 grant to Coastal Horizons Center will fund the launch and operation of a Tier IV Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center. Port City Daily first reported the nonprofit, which specializes in substance use crisis intervention, was awarded $6 million in the state budget earlier this summer.
Behavioral health urgent cares are designed for adults and children suffering from a crisis involving a substance use disorder, mental health disorder, or intellectual or developmental disability. The goal is to stabilize the patient within 24 hours of arrival and then refer them to a long-term care option, whether that be outpatient or inpatient.
Though Coastal Horizons is planning on beginning the urgent care’s operations by the end of the year using its current facility, The Endowment and the state’s money will go toward a permanent, 16-bed facility. The facility will provide clinical staff who will be able to diagnose, create treatment plans and in cases where it’s needed, prescribe medication, including medication-assisted treatment for substance abuse. They will be able to collaborate with the patient’s regular care team as well, or if they don’t have one, get them started on treatment without having to wait for an appointment date
According to The Endowment’s press release, the grant will also cover integration of the Trauma Institute into Coastal Horizon’s operations. The institute provides therapy, training and research geared toward trauma-exposed children, adolescents, and adults.
“The center will serve residents regardless of insurance status and give hospitals, first responders, law enforcement and community partners another option for connecting people with the right level of care,” The Endowment’s Senior Network Officer of Social and Health Equity Leigh Quarles said in a press release. “People experiencing a behavioral health crisis need timely assessment, stabilization and a clear connection to ongoing care. This investment adds an important resource to New Hanover County’s crisis response system and helps ensure residents receive the support they need when they need it.”
In addition to the Coastal Horizons grant, The Endowment is awarding $850,000 to Cape Fear Clinic, building on a three-year grant awarded by The Endowment in 2023. This investment will bolster the clinic’s ability to sustain its range of health care and pharmacy services, including preventive care, and operate a satellite clinic. The grant also supports strategic planning.
The Endowment’s latest tranche of grants includes $226,861 to The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope to help provide intensive social work case management and connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to employment and training opportunities, physical and behavioral health services, substance use recovery resources, and stable housing.
In addition, grant to the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington was awarded $125,000 to will fund three initiatives that help entrepreneurs test ideas, receive mentorship and connect with Wilmington’s startup community: the Idea Test Lab, the CIE Mentor Program and 1 Million Cups Wilmington.
The Idea Test Lab is a cohort-based, five-week program designed to build a pipeline of high-growth entrepreneurs and startups.
The CIE Mentor Program brings together 140 mentors, including founders, C-suite executives, and professionals with deep expertise in fields such as business, law, and technology. Mentors volunteer in teams to advise early-stage startups, while the program gives students opportunities to observe and participate in entrepreneurial problem-solving and build professional networks.
1 Million Cups Wilmington provides a free, accessible entry point into the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Open to the public, the program meets at 9 a.m. each Wednesday and gives local entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their businesses and receive feedback, connections and guidance from the community.
“When local entrepreneurs have access to coaching, experienced mentors and a strong network, they are better positioned to build durable businesses that create jobs and strengthen our local economy,” Terri Burhans, senior network officer of community development, said in a press release.
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