Centralina Board Approves FY22 Workplan

On June 9th, the Centralina Executive Board approved the organization’s workplan for the upcoming fiscal year. The FY22 Workplan, organized by the seven regional goals that are part of Centralina’s current strategic plan, includes the regional projects and services that you’ve come to expect from our organization, as well as new initiatives.

As part of the workplan development process, staff engaged with the Board of Delegates, the Regional Managers Group and regional planners. Key local government priorities, that Centralina can assist with, include: managing growth and pandemic recovery, unlocking resources through competitive grants, navigating Census 2020 redistricting and discussing new opportunities for regional coordination on broadband, water infrastructure and affordable housing. The following items have been incorporated into the workplan along with new initiatives that respond to our priorities:

• Update the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for 2022-2027;
• Coordinate the implementation of CONNECT Beyond, regional mobility plan;
• Lead disaster recovery planning through the Regional Resilience Collaborative;
• Create a framework for a “Regional Livable Communities” program;
• Support local government COVID-19 recovery through competitive grants and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding;
• Implement Centralina Learns programming and expand resources on the Member Portal;
• Lead federal advocacy plan implementation and state advocacy strategy development;
• Create a COVID-19 vaccine strategic plan and advisory council to support older adults receiving vaccinations;
• Increase outreach, engagement and direct services to minority, low-income, rural and marginalized older and disabled adults;
• Expand Centralina Virtual Career Marketplace to eight regional events;
• Upgrade and modernize NCWorks Career Center facilities, including expanding access to remote/virtual services; and
• Lead a regional engagement series to establish new regional priorities for the next Centralina strategic plan, including the establishment of a new subcommittee of the Board.

These items are only a sampling of the services, programs and initiatives that Centralina will focus its efforts on in the coming year. We look forward to collaborating with our member governments, partner organizations and stakeholders across the region. Interested in learning more? Reach out to us at info@centralina.org.