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Blog: The LatestRegion of Excellence Award Winners

Locust and Stanly County Team Up on the West Stanly Senior Center

November 2, 2026

When a growing community of older adults needs a permanent home, it takes more than one government to build it. The City of Locust and Stanly County partnered to create the new West Stanly Senior Center, winner of the 2026 Region of Excellence Aging in Action Award. The award recognizes programs that help older and disabled adults age with choice, dignity and independence.

One Roof, Many Services

The approximately 6,700-square-foot center, located in Locust Town Center, will bring fitness, recreation, gathering and nutrition services together in one place. The City of Locust will own and maintain the building, while Stanly County will staff it and run programming. The nutrition site, including Meals on Wheels, will operate from the same facility to serve seniors across western Stanly County. Participants will be able to take fitness classes, socialize with friends, enjoy recreational activities and attend informational sessions. The building is ADA accessible, including for those with mobility difficulties. [VERIFY: the nomination listed an anticipated opening of October 2026. Update with the current status.]

Meeting a Growing Need

Seniors are the fastest-growing demographic in Stanly County. The project was funded through a $500,000 contribution from the NC General Assembly, $750,000 from Stanly County Government (in addition to staffing and programming) and $950,000 from the City of Locust.

Advocacy That Got It Built

The center began with advocacy. The West Stanly Senior Center Foundation made the case for a permanent facility at a Locust City Council meeting. City staff then advocated to the NC General Assembly for funding, secured with the help of former Rep. Wayne Sasser and current Rep. Cody Huneycutt, and championed a partnership with Stanly County’s Senior Services department. Construction began with a groundbreaking in July 2025.

Congratulations to the City of Locust, Stanly County and the West Stanly Senior Center Foundation. Learn more about the Region of Excellence Awards.

Nominated by Cesar Correa, City of Locust.

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When a construction or repair contract over $300,000 involves a building, the procurement and contract are subject to additional requirements under N.C.G.S. 143-128. Therefore, this question must be answered to determine whether the additional statutory requirements apply to this procurement scenario.

The micro-purchase threshold is a federal procurement threshold under which competitive procurement is not required. The default micro-purchase threshold is $15,000, but local governments may increase the micro-purchase threshold up to $50,000. An explanation of increasing the micro-purchase threshold and a template for the required annual self-certification is available here.