Our Insights page offers original content developed by Centralina's experts, including commentary and analysis, reports and our Capitol Corner, which highlights the latest news from Washington D.C. and Raleigh. You'll also find links to resources and meeting materials.
Are you a visionary, collaborative leader ready to shape the future of one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation? Centralina Regional Council is seeking its next Executive Director to guide its high-performing team into a dynamic new era.
Centralina Regional Council, a dynamic regional planning organization serving the greater Charlotte region of North Carolina, seeks an experienced and collaborative planning professional to serve as its Assistant Planning Director.
Centralina Area Agency on Aging (AAA) has received a 2026 USAging Aging Achievement Award for its transportation initiative, “Driving Change: An Innovative, Scalable Approach to Promoting Safe Transportation Options for Older Adults.” The award was presented at USAging’s 51st Annual Conference and Tradeshow in San Diego, where 49 programs from across the country were recognized for improving the lives of older adults.
USAging, the national association representing Area Agencies on Aging, honored programs that demonstrate innovative, community-based solutions that help older adults age with health, dignity and independence. Award-winning programs were selected for their measurable impact and their ability to address critical local needs.
“The award-winning programs reflect the ingenuity, dedication and local leadership of Area Agencies on Aging across the country,” said Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging. “They show what is possible when communities invest in the innovative approaches that Area Agencies on Aging develop to respond to the real needs of older adults and caregivers.”
Centralina AAA’s recognition highlights its commitment to improving mobility and independence for older adults throughout the region. Through the Driving Change initiative, Centralina AAA provides education and resources that help older adults, caregivers and community partners identify safe, accessible transportation options and plan for future mobility needs.
Additional information on older adults and driving, mobility planning, transportation alternatives and transportation training resources is available on the Centralina AAA Transportation webpage: https://centralinaaging.org/transportation/.
This national award underscores Centralina AAA’s leadership in developing practical transportation solutions that help older adults remain connected, engaged and independent in their communities.
August 21, 2026 — Artificial intelligence (AI) and data center development are quickly becoming vital topics for local governments across the country. As these industries expand, municipalities and counties are evaluating how emerging technologies will affect workforce dynamics, infrastructure planning, economic development, energy demand, water resources, land use, and long-term local readiness.
At Centralina Regional Council’s August 12 Board of Delegates meeting, local elected officials from across the region gathered to discuss the evolving AI economy along with the specific opportunities and challenges it presents for member communities. The session focused on the critical intersection between federal policy discussions and local planning, particularly surrounding regional data center growth.
Lindsay Courtney, Regional Director for U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), joined the meeting to highlight Senator Budd’s policy initiatives on artificial intelligence and workforce readiness. The bipartisan Workforce Transparency Act of 2026 (S. 4476) introduced by Senator Budd with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), aims to help lawmakers and local leaders better evaluate how artificial intelligence is shaping the modern labor market.
The legislation would establish a clear federal framework for collecting timely data on AI adoption across both the public and private sectors. Under the bill, the U.S. Department of Labor, supported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau, would gather and publish aggregated workforce transparency metrics. Participating entities could submit data regarding task-level or activity-level AI integration, user geographic distributions, and shifting usage trends over time. To ensure robust privacy protections, all submitted data would be fully de-identified, anonymized, and aggregated.
For local governments, this data would serve as an essential tool when planning for workforce transitions, identifying economic development opportunities, and targeting future skills training. As AI tools become standard across industries, reliable data will empower federal, state, regional, and municipal leaders to make informed decisions regarding job roles, technical skills, worker productivity, and employer requirements.
With a limited number of legislative days remaining in the 119th Congress, the bill’s short-term path to passage remains tight. However, if final action is not completed before the session adjourns, lawmakers may reintroduce the measure in the 120th Congress.
Centralina extends its sincere thanks to Lindsay Courtney and Senator Budd’s office for collaborating with local leadership and sharing valuable updates on federal policy. When lawmakers are home for district work periods, Centralina encourages local officials to actively engage with our congressional delegation. Direct outreach ensures that local perspectives inform federal policy as Centralina continues tracking AI policy, workforce development, and data center planning across the region.
The 2026 North Carolina General Assembly session delivered new funding and opportunities for regional councils while introducing significant changes to land use, infrastructure, transportation, and local fiscal policy that will shape how Centralina communities plan, grow, and serve residents in the years ahead.
Medicare Open Enrollment can be confusing, but North Carolina’s Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) provides free, unbiased counseling to help beneficiaries compare coverage options, understand costs, and make informed decisions that support their health and financial well-being.
Centralina Regional Council has secured a second Regional Infrastructure Accelerator grant, strengthening regional efforts to reduce transportation disruptions and improve mobility during future construction along key travel corridors.
August 19, 2026 — Centralina Regional Council is soliciting proposals from qualified North Carolina-licensed general contractors to provide housing rehabilitation construction services for the North Mecklenburg County Housing Preservation Initiative.
The selected contractor will provide rehabilitation services for up to fifteen eligible owner-occupied homes located in Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville, North Carolina. Work may include health and safety repairs, accessibility improvements and other eligible residential rehabilitation activities.
Full RFP: Doc.
RFP Questions and Responses: Doc
RFP Issue Date: August 19, 2026
Proposal Deadline: September 21, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Selection and Notification of Contractor(s): Anticipated October 2026
Questions regarding the RFP should be directed Lovetta Walton at Centralina Regional Council via Email: lwalton@centralina.org or phone at 704-348-2702.
Centralina is seeking North Carolina-licensed General Contractors to respond to an upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide housing rehabilitation construction services for up to 15 owner-occupied homes in Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville. Respondents must hold an active North Carolina general contractor license appropriate to the work and contract value, maintain required insurance, be active in SAM.gov, and not be suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from federal contracting.
The anticipated release of the RFP is 8/17/2026.
Notice of Upcoming RFP: Document
July 28, 2026 —
Centralina and its Economic Development District (CEDD) are proud to announce a $400,000 federal grant for the Built to Last: Critical Infrastructure & Economic Readiness Investment Strategy. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Paul M. Dabbar announced the award on Monday as part of a $34.2 million effort to support recovery in NC through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s FY 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant program. Centralina has committed $100,000 in matching funds from a previously awarded state disaster recovery grant, bringing the total project investment to $500,000.
The investment supports the development of the Built to Last Blueprint, a holistic strategy to identify and address vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, critical economic assets, and advanced manufacturing supply chains to strengthen economic resilience across the Greater Charlotte, NC region. Through this project, the CEDD and its partners will develop actionable investment strategies that improve the reliability of energy, water, transportation, and communications systems, support business continuity and industry growth, and enhance the region’s ability to prepare for, recover from, and withstand future disasters.
“As we saw in Hurricane Helene, disasters cross jurisdictional boundaries and a regional approach to resilience is essential,” said Centralina Executive Director Geraldine Gardner. “The Built to Last Blueprint will help communities, utilities, and businesses better understand critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, prioritize investment opportunities, and work together to build a stronger and more resilient future for the Greater Charlotte region.”
For more information on the award announcement or to learn more about the project, contact Centralina’s Director of Community Economic Development Christina Danis, cdanis@centralina.org.
Federal funds are commonly passed through state agencies in North Carolina before being awarded to local governments, which can make the original funding source less obvious. Before proceeding with a procurement, local governments should verify whether an award originates from a federal source. This determination affects compliance obligations, including procurement standards, reporting, and audit requirements.
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.