WFAE leaves Uptown amid funding cuts
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Courtesy of WFAE
WFAE is leaving its Uptown location next to First Ward Park in spring 2026 as it tries to close a nearly $1 million funding gap.
Why it matters: The move reflects the financial toll that federal funding cuts and shrinking corporate support have had on Charlotte's NPR affiliate. It's also costing the region one of its central hubs for civic engagement.
Catch up quick: The Trump administration has reduced federal funds for public radio stations, accusing them of left-leaning bias. The defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting cost WFAE roughly 10% of the budget, the station previously shared.
- In July, WFAE laid off six employees after the cuts went into effect.
What they're saying: WFAE president and CEO Ju-Don Marshall called the decision to close the station's Uptown offices "a necessary step to safeguard the organization's long-term sustainability."
The other side: Many communities, especially in rural news deserts, rely on stations like WFAE and WUNC in the Triangle for local news and information, from election coverage to where seniors can get free box fans on dangerously hot days.
Flashback: WFAE sublet the 12,000-square-foot, 1900s Philip Carey Building from Google Fiber in 2022. In the nearly three years since, more than 5,000 community members have visited the space for various live broadcasts and public events.
What's next: WFAE plans to move all its operations back to its broadcast facility in University City, according to a press release.
- The news organization will continue hosting events and forums across the region, with an emphasis on maintaining a presence in Uptown at venues like Carolina Theatre, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and UNC Charlotte.