Local Government Support

In our role as connector, collaborator and convener, Centralina provides specialized and technical services, professional development and networking opportunities for local governments and their staff. This work is coordinated through the Centralina Government Affairs and Member Engagement (GAME) department, but all departments contribute their unique expertise to our work in supporting local governments.

Our goal is to ensure that our members have the resources and information they need to best serve their constituents. It also benefits our region when local governments are highly functioning, employing best practice and collaborating with other communities. From delivering specific technical services to developing talent and supporting crisis response during COVID-19, we focus on cost-effective, high-quality offerings. Visit our Services page to request information or a proposal.

OUR WORK

Professional Development and Training

Centralina offers a variety of training and networking opportunities for elected officials and local government staff. Working with recognized experts and leveraging the unique expertise of our team members, we seek to provide local, high-quality professional development. Some of our training content is recorded and available on-demand in the Member Portal.

Centralina Learns

Centralina Learns, formerly CCOG University, was created to serve as a regional professional development resource for local government staff, elected officials, managers and professional planners. There are two training tracks – one for general government and one for professional planners. Both provide opportunities to learn about topics that support our region’s communities and improve the overall health, vibrancy and resilience of the greater Charlotte region.

See upcoming classes on our events page.

CLT Aviation Academy

The CLT Aviation Academy provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for community members and public and private sector leaders from across the region to better understand the inner workings of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and its contributions and impacts on our economy, transportation system and community. Aviation Academy participants gain behind-the-scenes access to current operations and future CLT planning efforts that impact our local economy.

Planning Board/Board of Adjustment Training

Centralina offers planning board and quasi-judicial training to local government-appointed board members. Members of planning boards and boards of adjustment make important decisions in their jurisdictions which can affect the function and appearance of communities for decades to come. It is imperative that appointed board members understand their role and responsibilities in performing their duty for their jurisdiction and community.

Grant Development

Centralina produces a monthly grants compilation featuring available federal competitive grants that is distributed to our member governments and available in the Member Portal. We also offer grants development assistance to member governments and other organizations. Our goal is to enhance our region’s capacity to attract funding for local and regional strategic priorities. Grants development services include:

Grants research, to identify possible funding sources and assess “fit”
Grant writing, to prepare competitive grant applications
Grant submittal, to act as lead applicant and formally submit completed applications to funders
Grants fiscal management, to act as fiscal agent in receiving, disbursing and reporting on awarded grant funds

Centralina provides these services on collaborative projects with partner organizations and may also provide them on a simple fee-for-service basis to organizations seeking some or all of these services. Centralina is an eligible lead applicant for most grant programs open to government entities, and the Centralina Foundation is eligible to apply for most grant programs that are open to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.

Technical Contracted Services

Centralina focuses on a specific set of technical assistance and contracted services that leverage in-house expertise to provide low-cost solutions for local government members. See our Services page to learn more.

Local Government Strategic Planning

Centralina assists local governments with developing strategic plans that outline a multiyear blueprint for the future to guide local government activity and budget decisions. Centralina experts collaborate with government boards and staff to build the foundation of a strong strategic plan, including a vision, mission, core values and strategic goals. Detailed work to develop action steps and to identify the resources necessary to implement those strategies is also available.

Code Enforcement

Centralina provides minimum housing and commercial code services for its member governments, including:

Inspection of residential and commercial structures
Issuing violation notices to the owners of properties
Follow-up with violators to check for compliance
Facilitation of condemnation hearings
Demolition coordination
Zoning ordinance and nuisance ordinance enforcement
Inspection for environmental regulatory compliance
Writing and developing local ordinances

Financial Strategy and Budget Development

We are available to support local governments in developing effective budgeting processes and financial strategies. Using a Key Financial Strategies (KFS) tool, we can analyze financial statements, capital plans and budgets to produce a 10-year outlook that provides a data-driven lens for financial planning.

Meeting Design and Facilitation

Centralina helps communities design and implement effective group meetings, strategic planning sessions and budget retreats. We use neutral facilitation techniques, develop outcome-oriented agendas and design interactive exercises to get participants engaged in the meeting.

Planning Services

Centralina provides a variety of planning services to communities related to land use planning, code development, mobility, park and recreational planning, GIS mapping and assessment, research and policy analysis.

Human Resources and Interim Staffing

As a component of our technical assistance portfolio, Centralina offers local governments HR services and temporary staffing in the following areas.

Leadership Transition and Search Services

We offer executive recruitment and hiring services for manager and department director level positions. We manage the entire process, including the receiving and evaluation of applications, arranging and preparing for local interviews and providing specialized personality and management assessments for top candidates. For smaller member governments, Centralina can provide pro-bono town manager search services based on a set scope of work.

Human Resources Services

Centralina can act as an extension to a city or town’s human resources department by reviewing existing HR policies and making recommendations for enhancements based on industry best practice. Our human resources experts also work with local governments on employee engagement surveys and focus groups, hiring/promotional assessment centers and classification and compensation studies.

Planning and Development Staffing

Centralina provides short-term community planning support and can also help communities find more permanent solutions.

Development Review Process Improvement

Centralina staff is trained in LEAN techniques, allowing us to review development processes and make recommendations to support efficiencies and save time for the development community.

Success Story

County Support:

Concord Historic District Commission Facilitation

The City of Concord commissioned a reconnaissance-level historic architectural resource survey to create a preservation plan and survey update for the City. Approximately 60 projects were identified by city staff from the Historic Architectural Survey and other sources. Centralina developed a process to prioritize these projects and facilitated a meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission Steering Committee to help city staff create a strategy and a timeline for undertaking those projects.