In 1991, the National Association of Counties established April as National County Government Month. This annual observance celebrates the successes of county initiatives and allows for an opportunity to provide information to communities about how their county serves and advocates for their residents. Since 1968, through regional collaboration and local action, we have seen our counties grow and expand their efforts to focus on challenging and top-of-mind issues involving workforce, housing, education, transportation and more. This month, we’re highlighting previous county success stories as well as exciting projects they have currently underway with Centralina.

On February 28th and March 1st, the North Carolina Association of Workforce Boards and it’s Executive Directors Council, in partnership with the NCWorks Training Center and NC Commerce Division of Workforce Solutions, hosted the very first NC Youth Forum in Greensboro, NC. This first-of-its-kind training event allowed over 150 youth leads and youth service providers the opportunity to network and learn best practices from others working in the field. Our very own Centralina Workforce Development Board NextGen Program Leader, Solomon McAuley, presented a workshop on youth engagement. His presentation dove deep into what the term means, how it’s evolving and how leaders can consistently empower and encourage youth and young adults across our state.

The City of Gastonia and Gaston County received the 2022 Region of Excellence Award for Local Government Innovation for their partnership in building inspection services. Their teamwork is a positive example of the success that comes from cities and counties working together towards a common goal. This project provides an effective solution to address a challenge in the community, delivering a measurable impact at the local government level.

Across the country, the regulatory environment for medical and recreational marijuana is changing rapidly. Based on the history of legalization nationwide, once a state legalizes cannabis for medical purposes, the legalization of recreational usage often follows within several years. Both medical and recreational legalization, especially recreational, have implications on land use regulation, permitting processes, law enforcement operations, administrative procedures at the local and state levels, equity considerations and more. The North Carolina General Assembly is currently considering the Compassionate Care Act, which would establish the statutory and organizational framework for legally using cannabis products to treat debilitating medical conditions. What would these new laws mean for NC local governments, and how can communities best prepare for the future of medical and recreational cannabis?

Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB) pursues volunteerism all year round through their annual “Centralina Year of Giving” initiative. As we celebrate National Volunteer Month, we’re highlighting several of the volunteer efforts WDB provided throughout the region this past year.

In addition to the “on the ground” work they do in the region, the Centralina Area Agency on Aging team utilizes volunteers to help support individuals and their families and champion important aging issues. In honor of National Volunteer Month, we want to inform members of the community how they can get involved in bolstering and advocating for the rights of those we serve every day.  

When municipalities and counties join Centralina as a member, they are given a variety of opportunities to shape regional and local action, which in turn helps to shape and support our organization’s work. We are proud to work alongside more than 60+ member governments and value the unique perspectives they provide. This month, we’re highlighting the Town of Norwood, one of our newest member governments.

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Administration for Community Living and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response are partnering to provide at-home COVID-19 tests at no charge to aging and disability networks. Through this partnership, Centralina Area Agency on Aging can order test kits at no charge directly from the Strategic National Stockpile to help distribute to older adults and people with disabilities within the region.  

Access to affordable housing is essential to cultivating healthy, equitable and prosperous communities. The lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in the national economy, population growth and other factors have increased housing prices and rental rates and decreased the supply of housing units that are affordable for low- and middle-income households. A recent Centralina Learns session’s panel shared insights and identified opportunities for addressing the affordable housing crisis and the missing middle.

Upon identifying a significant gap in disaster recovery processes, the Centralina Economic Development District (EDD) embarked in a collaborative process that connects the region in developing long-term disaster recovery plans. In April 2021, the EDD partnered with Centralina Regional Council and the nine-county emergency management (EM) directors to launch the Regional Resilience Collaborative (RCC) program.