From 2017 to 2021, the City of Charlotte recorded 93 bicycle crashes involving children ages 0 to 17. This number is higher than that of any other city in the state. To protect our children and their right to ride safely, the Clean Cities Energy and Environmental Justice Initiative (CCEEJI), an extension of the Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition, successfully applied for an NCDOT grant that awarded Centralina Regional Council with 50 helmets to distribute to local youth in underserved communities.  

Read on to see how CCEEJI is putting these helmets to use in the community.

The Centralina region is susceptible to a wide range of natural and man-made hazards with cascading impacts across the globe. The region supports many economic industries across the United States and is growing at a rapid rate. Due to these factors, we must ensure planning efforts support consideration of what happens after a disaster. Learn how Centralina has helped local governments prepare for disaster.

In 2015, the CONNECT Our Future regional growth plan identified transportation choice as a key priority for the region and in 2021, CONNECT Beyond, our region’s first mobility plan, was adopted. Transportation continues to remain a top need for older adults and people with disabilities across the region. In response, the Centralina planning and aging departments partnered together on mobility management to address transportation needs for older adults and people with disabilities. This effort included the development of a rideshare study and rideshare resources for older adults and people with disabilities.

In today’s world, 92% of jobs require digital literacy skills. Unfortunately, in North Carolina, many lack internet access or cannot afford the required subscription or equipment. Many also lack digital literacy skills and are unable to benefit from services like telehealth, online educational courses or online job boards. Creating digital access is an essential first step in tackling digital barriers to support economic mobility and prosperity for all. Digital skills result in greater access to employment and higher wages, which leads to greater economic vitality for our region. Continue reading to learn how Centralina plans to help.

Jose’ Villa Gomez came into the NCWorks Career Center-Cabarrus in Concord looking for employment and needed assistance with his resume. At the time he was employed with a temporary agency working 3rd shift as a welder making $16.50 per hour, which was not enough to be self-sufficient. He had the desire to find permanent employment and an ultimate career goal of becoming a general contractor. Keep reading to learn how NCWorks helped.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented organizations with a challenge when it came to holding meetings. As a convener, much of Centralina Regional Council’s work involves bringing people together. During the nearly two years that we were unable to hold in-person meetings and events, Zoom and other virtual platforms provided a suitable alternative for engaging with our members, partners, and other stakeholders. Keep reading to learn what’s changed, how to choose a meeting format and the impact of different approaches.

In 2020, Centralina helped the City of Albemarle administer a community survey to gather public feedback on the current state of the community and a vision for the future to help them development the FY23-26 strategic plan. With year two of Albemarle’s strategic plan implementation process under way, city officials were interested in gaining further input from the community to help measure the progress of strategic plan implementation. In need of guidance, city officials again reach out to Centralina to assist with administering a 2023 community survey.

Child care is one of the biggest expenses families face, spending nearly $11,467 on infant care yearly in North Carolina. Not only do families with young children encounter higher costs, but they also face them when they are in their earliest income-earning years. These obstacles create limitations on our workforce and in turn, negatively impact the economy. Recognizing this challenge confronting many families in our region, the Centralina EDD decided to host a moderated discussion to develop actionable solutions.

Did you know that more than 12% of adults in the United States have a mobility disability including serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs? And, closer to home, based on the 2022 state aging profile, 21% of North Carolinians who are 65 and over live with a disability that affects their ability to ambulate. In response, Centralina Area Agency on Aging (AAA) used ARPA funding to develop the Housing & Home Improvement program, which provides a variety of home modifications to older adults, including wheelchair-accessible ramps.

For most people, falls aren’t something they think about preventing until they themselves or someone they know experiences a fall. For some older adults, making necessary modifications to increase accessibility in the home are great ways to prevent falls and promote mobility, but are often financially inaccessible. Centralina Area Agency on Aging (AAA) recently participated as a pilot provider for the NC Fall Prevention Program, which helped to provide applicable participants in the greater Charlotte area with low-level fall prevention home modifications and education.