Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston will deliver his 2025 State of the County address on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 4 p.m. in the commissioners’ meeting room at the Old Guilford County Court House.

The theme this year is “One Guilford: Measuring Our Success, Planning Our Future” – a data-and-results focus that highlights how the county says it’s using metrics, targeted investments and community partnerships to build a stronger, more resilient Guilford County.

“Our annual State of the County address is a chance to reflect on the work we’ve accomplished together and to set a course for the future,” Alston said of the upcoming speech. “As your Board of Commissioners, we are committed to working together as One Guilford to build a stronger, more vibrant community, find innovative solutions and strengthen county services for our residents.”

The county, which has taken on over $3 billion in school bond debt when interest is counted in, will need a lot of help in efficiency in the coming years.

The address will take place on the second floor of the Old Guilford County Court House at 301 W. Market St. in downtown Greensboro. The chairman’s remarks are scheduled to begin at exactly 4 p.m.

For those who won’t be in the room, the county invites the public to watch on Guilford County’s Facebook page, stream it live at Guilford.Legistar.com or tune in to Greensboro Television Network (GTN) on Spectrum Channel 13, Lumos Channel 31, AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 – or on Roku and the Cablecast App.

If past years are any guide, the chairman’s speech will serve as a yearly check-in – a look at what’s been done, what’s worked and what the board says it wants to prioritize next.

 With “One Guilford” as the banner, expect plenty of talk about collaboration across departments and with community partners, towns and cities –and how the county is tracking outcomes to decide where to put time and money.

Parking around the Old Court House usually isn’t bad for late-afternoon meetings, but construction and early voting means it will be a good idea to arrive early – especially if you want a seat in the chamber.

Last year Alston’s remarks focused on the theme of “Ready, Set, Go!,” and highlighted “the county’s commitment and proactive efforts in enhancing service delivery, addressing community needs, and moving forward with renewed energy and purpose.”

Alston also reflected on the county’s successes and outlined key initiatives for 2025 – some of which have been successful and some of which have not. For instance, homelessness is still a huge problem in the county that no one seems to have a handle on.

Last year, he stated, “Guilford County has made remarkable strides over the past year,” and he added that the county had an “unwavering commitment to building a stronger, more vibrant community,”

“As One Guilford,” he said in 2024, “we are preparing for the future, advancing strategic initiatives, and taking meaningful action to serve our residents. Guilford County is on the move—united, focused, and committed to creating a brighter future together.”

The State of the County address, which is usually extremely well attended by community leaders, will, the day before Halloween this year, once again bring together members of the Board of County Commissioners, county leadership, elected officials and other community leaders.

The tradition of an annual State of the County address began in 2017 when former Republican Commissioner Jeff Phillips, then chairman of the Board of Commissioners, delivered the county’s first-ever such address.

Phillips also held a press conference immediately after his State of the County speech, but that apparently is a practice that’s fallen by the wayside over the years.

Mecklenburg County has had a State of the County address for years, as has Wake County. The decision eight years ago to start having a similar address in Guilford County seems to have been a part of an effort by county staff and commissioners to create a more professional and polished image for Guilford County government.  That’s also why the county has hired a slew of PR people in recent years.

Alston said in 2023 that he was worried about using a teleprompter since he’d never used one before, however, he said, the county’s Public Relations staff convinced him to try. He decided he really liked using the device, so he’s likely to keep doing so.

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