Insights

Federal lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill on September 9 for a three-week session before breaking again on September 27, 2024, until after Election Day. In those three weeks, the House and Senate are expected to draft and vote on a stopgap spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, to avoid a full or partial government shutdown when the new fiscal year begins October 1, 2024. 

Centralina Regional Council is proud to welcome the Town of Rockwell, North Carolina, as our newest member of the organization! Rockwell is in the southeast corner of Rowan County, within an easy drive of High Rock Lake and Uwharrie National Forest, and is situated directly on U.S. Route 52. This unique community is scenic, historical and worth a visit. 

Accommodating growth, growing economic competitiveness and achieving goals of sustainability and equity are reliant upon our ability to create livable communities that support a variety of mobility options. Mobility-friendly land use and development patterns need clear intent through land use plans and development codes, both of which occur at the local level. Read on to see our mobility-friendly communities playbook.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Loper Bright Enterprises, Inc. v. Raimondo significantly changes the balance of interpretive authority between the federal judiciary and executive agencies. This ruling ended 40 years of precedent, set by a doctrine known as “Chevron deference,” and will impact federal agencies and the regulations they enforce, eventually extending to the work of local governments in North Carolina. 

Read on to see how this may affect local communities.

In NC, individuals who are “Hispanic or of Latino Origin” comprise roughly 3% of the state’s 65+ age group and are the third-largest ethnic population. In order to meet the needs of this often underserved group, Centralina Area Agency on Aging spearheaded a variety of new collaborations to reach out to the region’s Hispanic older adult population. This included hiring consultant Myra Green, a community health worker who is not only bi-lingual but is also an expert in services for older adults.

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.

Mobility is a challenge for each of our counties, cities, towns and communities. New developments are approved every day that drive increased interest in local businesses and attractions, and on top of that, our region is home to the fifth hottest real estate market in the country. This growth can be a good thing, but it can also present many challenges for transportation infrastructure and our overall ability to get around.  

To meet these challenges, Centralina has formed the Integrated Mobility Center (IMC). Read on to learn more and get in touch.

It’s hard to believe, but we’re at our last stop on the Regional Road Trip: Iredell County! We asked our community members for tips on what to see and do – here’s what they had to say:  

The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) presented their Achievement and Leadership Awards on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, during an awards ceremony held at its 58th Annual Conference & Exhibition in Atlanta, Georgia. Ten projects received 2024 Achievement Awards including Centralina Regional Council for its Small Towns Thrive initiative.

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.