It’s important for local governments to use their money wisely and plan for the future. But as communities grow and change, it can be hard to meet all their needs with limited resources. That’s where Centralina Regional Council comes in. Our facilitation services, like helping with strategic planning and budget retreats, support local governments in making smart decisions and staying focused on their goals.
What We Offer
Whether a local government needs to create a new strategic plan through a series of meetings or just wants to hold a one-day retreat to help plan the next budget, Centralina can help. When we lead these sessions, it gives staff the chance to fully take part instead of having to organize and run the event themselves. We also use different methods to encourage participation so everyone’s voice is heard and incorporated into the process. As an outside facilitator, we don’t take sides; our goal is simply to help things run smoothly and successfully.
How We Work
We work closely with each local government to design a process that meets their specific needs. Our sessions usually include a mix of presentations, hands-on activities and group discussions so participants stay focused and engaged. We know that staff and elected leaders are busy, so we aim to make their time with us worthwhile. After each session or project, we provide a detailed summary with highlights, main takeaways and suggestions for next steps.
Who We’ve Helped
We’ve supported many local governments over the years, including some with long-term projects:
City of Albemarle – Helped develop the city’s 2023–2026 strategic plan, supported its implementation each year and led yearly retreats for the City Council and staff leaders.
City of Bessemer City – Led four yearly Council retreats to update the City’s vision, mission, values and goals. These efforts laid the foundation for strategic planning.
Town of Harrisburg – Helped the Town Council refine its strategic goals and make budget decisions at retreats in 2022 and 2025.
Town of East Spencer – Guided the Board of Aldermen through discussions about spending priorities during their 2024 and 2025 budget retreats.
More recently, we’ve worked with the Town of Wadesboro, Gaston County, Cabarrus Health Alliance and the City of Gastonia.
Want to Learn More?
If your community could use help setting long-term goals and matching resources to meet them, contact Michelle Nance, Deputy Executive Director, at mnance@centralina.org.
