Centralina Regional Council is proud to share that our City of Albemarle Staffing Study has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 NADO Impact Award in the Local Government category. This recognition from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) honors creative and impactful projects that enhance quality of life, promote economic resilience and support regional planning efforts.
Completed between September 2024 and March 2025, the staffing study was a collaborative effort between the City of Albemarle and Centralina’s technical services team. The project focused on assessing current staffing levels, analyzing future workforce needs based on anticipated community growth and creating a five-year staffing plan rooted in data and strategic planning.
The result was a customized position request evaluation tool that enabled city leaders to make informed, transparent decisions about staffing priorities. For the first time, Albemarle’s FY26 budget development process included financial modeling to project the impact of staffing changes; an important step in aligning resources with the City’s strategic goals and building public trust in the budgeting process.
“This award reflects the City of Albemarle’s commitment to proactive planning and organizational excellence,” said Kelly Weston, Centralina’s Strategic Engagement & Technical Services Manager. “The study not only helps the City prepare for growth but also provides a scalable model for other communities across the region.”
The project aligns with the goals outlined in the Greater Charlotte Region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, particularly in strengthening internal workforce systems and enhancing the capacity of anchor institutions to support inclusive economic growth.
As a pilot initiative, the Albemarle Staffing Study has demonstrated how local governments can take a forward-thinking, data-driven approach to workforce planning, ensuring they have the right talent, in the right roles, to meet evolving community needs. For more information about Centralina’s local government services, contact Strategic Engagement & Technical Services Director Kasia Thompson.
