Insights

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.

In mid-February, Executive Director Geraldine Gardner traveled to Washington, DC to participate in the annual National Conference of Regions hosted by the National Association of Regional Councils. While in DC, she participated in numerous advocacy meetings, with the assistance of Centralina’s federal government relations expert Leslie Mozingo, to discuss Centralina’s federal priorities as listed on the approved Federal Action Plan.

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. 

In October of 2023, UNC Charlotte was awarded a Strategy Development Grant from the EDA. The funding, provided as part of a federal inaugural tech hubs initiative, will be put towards launching the Carolinas Innovation Center for Optics and Metrology Consortium. As part of the EDA Tech Hub launch, UNC Charlotte recently hosted Centralina EDD’s Board Members on campus for a discussion on the importance of optics and metrology and a tour of the metrology lab.

As job seekers enter the workforce for the first time, or re-enter after losing an opportunity, they often find it can be tough to navigate the steps of the job search process and find the right position for their needs and skillsets. Veterans in particular may struggle transitioning from service or deployment into a different field in the workforce. Learn how one local NCWorks Career Center helped a local veteran who lost his job get his name in front of reputable employers for competitive opportunities in his preferred field.

Centralina got 2024 off to a great start by hosting a breakfast on January 5th for the region’s newly elected local officials. The event featured an open, fireside style of conversation with North Carolina’s senior U.S. Senator, Thom Tillis, who encouraged local elected officials “to think about regional connectivity” when approaching the federal government for resources and to think creatively.

Ever wondered what the friendliest town in North Carolina is? It might just be right here in the Centralina region! The Town of Stanfield, located in Stanly County, is described on the community website as a “safe, peaceful town tucked away from the fast-paced hectic world.” You won’t find any fancy shops or stop lights, but you will encounter buildings with rich history and gracious locals who will be happy to show you around and make you feel right at home.

he National Association of Development Organization’s (NADO) Research Foundation’s Economic Development District Community of Practice (EDD CoP) recently launched an online resource called “Solving the Housing Puzzle: EDDs as Regional Housing Changemakers.” The report, which outlines the critical housing work carried out by development organizations to best meet various community needs across the country, includes various case studies, and we’re honored to say that Centralina’s work was highlighted as apart of a best practice case study, titled “Turning Voices into Action in the Centralina Region.”