Many seniors face barriers to accessing nutritious food, which can impact physical strength, cognitive health and overall well‑being. By ensuring dependable access to healthy foods and providing opportunities for shared meals and community connection, Centralina is helping older adults thrive.
Executive Director Geraldine Gardner traveled to Washington, DC to participate in the annual National Conference of Regions hosted where she participated in discussions that provided critical insights into the legislative calendar and the evolving priorities of the administration.
Centralina Regional Council recognizes Director of Regional Planning Jason Wager as he retires following 28 years of service to the organization and the region. His last day with Centralina is March 31, 2026.
Centralina Regional Council recognizes Linda Miller, aging director, as she retires after 30 years of dedicated service advocating for older adults and their families across the region. Her last day is March 31, 2026.
Presentations addressed federal cost shifts affecting local governments, potential structural approaches to property tax reform, and nonprofit hospital property tax exemptions. The committee’s work remains exploratory, and no legislation was introduced.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) permanently extends and significantly reforms the Opportunity Zone (OZ) program. For local governments, these changes offer a long-term tool to attract private capital for housing, infrastructure, and economic development, but with narrowed eligibility, heightened accountability requirements, and new strategic considerations.
For employers and colleges across the Centralina region, commuting remains a real and growing challenge. Many employees and students travel across county lines, often from areas with limited or inconsistent transit service options. Long distances, rising fuel costs and unreliable commute options continue to affect attendance, retention and overall access — particularly shift workers, nontraditional students and rural commuters.
Social isolation and loneliness are more than emotional challenges. They pose serious threats to both mental and physical health, especially for older adults. According to the CDC, older adults who experience isolation face a higher risk of depression, heart disease, and suicidal thoughts.
The North Carolina House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform convened its first meeting on December 17, 2025, marking the start of a legislative study that could have significant implications for homeowners, counties, municipalities, and regional organizations across the state.
The Charlotte region is among the fastest growing in the nation and is projected to add more than 1.6 million people between 2018 and 2050. Across Centralina’s nine-county region, this growth brings increasing commute distances, limited transit connectivity outside Mecklenburg County, and rising pressure on infrastructure.
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.