Centralina Membership
Centralina is an independent, public organization that all local governments in our nine-county region are welcome to voluntarily join. This includes rural villages, towns, cities and counties. Membership is an important aspect of regionalism and vital to achieving Centralina’s mission. When governments become members, they receive numerous opportunities to shape regional and local outcomes. Their membership, in turn, supports our organization and our work.
Membership Benefits
Serve on the Board of Delegates
Members can join our Board of Delegates, which sets Centralina’s regional policies and goals. Having an active and diverse board ensures that our planning reflects the collective interests and needs of all communities, big and small, urban and rural. As a board member you can:
- Set the strategic direction for how Centralina fulfills its mission
- Shape our annual workplan
- Set our federal and state advocacy agenda
- Discuss shared issues and lead collaborative problem-solving
Build Relationships with Federal and State Leaders
Centralina acts as a bridge that connects different levels of government. Members can leverage Centralina’s network to advocate for important issues at the state and federal levels.
- Join annual meetings with congressional representatives
- Build relationships with state and federal elected leaders and their staff
- Access Centralina’s federal lobbyist to advocate for our region and troubleshoot your local issues with federal liaisons
Join Training & Leadership Development Programming
We believe in the value of equipping our local government partners with cutting edge best practices on a range of topics. Our training and leadership development programming helps drive action at the local and regional levels. Our members have access to:
- Policy-specific workshops on topics like the census, affordable housing, healthy communities and disaster recovery
- Webinars and an online library of training resources
- Monthly workshops and peer group meetings to share best practices
- Annual elected officials training
Receive Grant Assistance
To support economic, workforce, housing, transportation and planning development throughout the region, we help members more effectively compete for state and federal resources. We offer a range of grant assistance services, including:
- Technical support and feedback on grant applications and letters of support
- Sharing grant alerts about new federal, state and other agency opportunities
- Formal training on grant writing and administration
Access Information & Technical Assistance
Members experiencing gaps in capacity can lean on Centralina to provide the needed expertise, training and tools to complete projects or deliver solutions. Our technical support includes:
- Assistance with federal and state collaboration
- Access to a comprehensive demographic and economic data portal, custom reports and datasets
- Geographic Information System mapping services
- Monthly newsletter with policy information, legislative updates and resources for local government staff
Procure Strategic Support Services
In addition to the technical, project-based services listed above, member governments also have access to ongoing consultative services at a discounted rate. Some of those services include:
- Strategic planning
- Meeting facilitation for Boards and Councils
- Hiring and promotional assessment centers
- Community land use plans and studies
- Community surveys and engagement
- Redevelopment and revitalization planning for downtowns
- Code enforcement
- Age-friendly assessments and planning
- Age sensitivity training and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance
For more information, see our Services page.
Network with Leaders and Peers
Centralina hosts numerous networking opportunities to convene the region’s elected officials, managers, staff and peers. These events offer members a common ground to:
- Build new partnerships over shared goals and needs
- Create alliances with regional stakeholders in the private and institutional sectors
- Celebrate regional innovation and share best practices at our Region of Excellence Awards