Michelle was recently promoted to Senior Director, a new position at Centralina. In this role she manages regional planning and community economic development services in the nine-county greater Charlotte region. To celebrate her successes, we sat down with her to learn more about Michelle, and her goals as Senior Director and her “secret sauce” that drives her in her personal and professional life.
In March 2022, Centralina awarded the Neighborhood C.A.R.E. Center (NCC) the Improving Quality of Life award at our annual Region of Excellence Awards. The NCC is a non-profit organization headquartered in Cornelius that aims to provide immediate and long-term aid to neighbors through relational and faith-based programs in a hope-filled environment. We interviewed Executive Director Manny Rosado and Communications Manager MaeLynn Joyner to learn more about challenges the organization faced and how they overcame obstacles.
October is Community Economic Development month! The Centralina Community Economic Development department is celebrating this month by reflecting upon the ongoing economic development projects. This year Centralina supported Mecklenburg and Union County with their Community Development Block Grant Entitlement programs.
With the Congressional appropriations process under way, the National Association of Counties (NACo), National League of Cities (NLC), and others are directing local governments and key stakeholders to ask their Members of Congress to support adding an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) flexibility bill to the year-end omnibus appropriations package or to the next must-pass legislation. The bipartisan bill is titled the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act (S. 3011/H.R. 5735).
Over the last year, we developed a three-year strategic plan that will serve as a roadmap for organizational growth and fiscal stability in service of our mission. The plan was informed by robust engagement with our staff, Board and regional stakeholders, including the 2021 Regional Dialogue Series that aimed to understand changes in Centralina communities since the pandemic and explore opportunities for regional collaboration.
Fall risks impact everyone from infancy into older age. From the moment babies take their first steps to running errands as an older adult, fall risks exist. However, older and disabled adults are affected more by the potential effects of falls. A fall can be a gateway to other problems, leading to a decline in health. BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) recognized this risk and is piloting a program that focuses on fall prevention education and home modifications.
As individuals age and develop chronic medical conditions, they are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature, and they may also be taking medications that can worsen the impact of extreme heat. Operation Fan Heat Relief helps vulnerable adults at risk for heat-related illnesses stay safe during the summer. Individuals who are 60 and older, as well as adults with disabilities, are eligible to sign up for assistance.
Land use planning provides an opportunity to integrate land use practices with other local priorities, such as transportation connectivity, healthy living, infrastructure investment and economic development. However, developing a land use plan is a significant undertaking that requires extensive research, data analysis, community engagement and plan design to provide the community with an effective tool to guide future decisions.
From 2020 to 2022, Centralina Regional Council supported the City of Albemarleâs Council, Administration and staff in developing a three-year Strategic Plan. The Strategic Planning process was a natural next step in the City of Albemarle’s organizational growth and development. City Manager Michael Ferris commented that, âThe City of Albemarle is a complex operation and like any governmental unit we have more needs than we can address at once.â
Earlier this summer, the Inflation Reduction Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden. The legislation provides federal action in three main areas: taxes, healthcare and climate. To deliver approximately $370 billion in climate and clean energy funding, the Act makes reforms to the tax and healthcare systems, including a new minimum corporate tax, an extension of ACA health insurance subsidies and authorizing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.