By creating four citizen-led committees, Commissioner Schivette Hill expanded services in Ranlo without increasing demands on town resources.

The Town of Spencer turned a former shopping center parking lot into the heart of community life, with help from residents, donors and partners.

Free all-terrain wheelchairs are opening Mecklenburg County’s trails and nature preserves to residents with mobility disabilities.

A partnership between the City of Locust and Stanly County is bringing fitness, recreation, gathering space and Meals on Wheels under one roof for older adults in western Stanly County.

The Town of Davidson is turning its Climate Action Plan into rooftop reality, with solar at Town Hall and a battery-backed system on the way at Fire Station 2.

With more than 25 years of public service, Brian Matthews has prepared one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing counties for the future while investing in the people who serve it.

For more than two decades, Bob Cook has brought the Charlotte region’s communities together around a shared vision for mobility. He is this year’s Nance Award winner.

Centralina Regional Council has been honored with the 2026 Marvin Collins Outstanding Planning Award from the American Planning Association–North Carolina Chapter for its CONNECT Beyond Mobility Hub initiative

Centralina’s 2027 advocacy survey highlights regional priorities including protecting local authority, securing sustainable infrastructure funding, and strengthening engagement with state and federal policymakers to advance solutions that reflect local needs and support long-term community success.

Congress has extended the 2018 Farm Bill through December 2026, but uncertainty remains as House and Senate proposals diverge, making it important for local governments to monitor potential changes to agricultural, nutrition, conservation, and rural development programs that could affect funding, planning, and service delivery.