Here’s what we found...
Centralina EDD Observes Progress on EDA Tech Hub
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.
Americans with Disabilities Act Celebrates 30 Years
This year marks the 30th anniversary of a major milestone in our nation’s history, the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Director Spotlight: Christina Danis, Ph.D, AICP
Christina was promoted to Director of Community Economic Development at the start of the fiscal year. To celebrate her successes with Centralina, we sat down with her to pick her brain and learn more about Christina and her goals as Director of Centralina CED.
Centralina’s Housing Case Study Recognized by NADO
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.”
CONNECT Beyond: A Regional Mobility Initiative | Summer 2020 Update
CONNECT Beyond, our region’s first transit vision and implementation plan, has continued to ramp up since kicking off in February of this year.
AICP Initiates New Requirements for Certification Maintenance Program
AICP has announced new mandatory educational requirements for the Certification Maintenance (CM) program. The update aims to ensure AICP’s certification remains relevant to the dynamic and ever-changing needs of today’s planners and communities. Under the previous iteration of the CM program, planners were required to obtain 32 CM credits during each two-year reporting period, with at least one and a half credits each in the areas of Law and Ethics. While the 32-credit requirement remains in place, the CM program update will require credits in two new topics, Equity and Sustainability and Resilience, which were identified by the AICP Commission as essential knowledge areas for planners.
Leading the Region for 55 Years: The History of Centralina
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the founding of Centralina Regional Council, formerly known as Centralina Council of Governments. Over the last five and a half decades, our organization has helped support the growth and prosperity of our region through various projects and initiatives. In honor of this historic year, we’re looking back at how our organization has evolved to where it is today.
LGBT Cultural Competency Training
Centralina Area Agency on Aging (AAA) has developed a LGBT cultural competency training program called Pride in Care NC thanks to a Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services Civil Money Penalty grant.
New Tool to Identify EV Infrastructure Funding Opportunities
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and other federal and state funding programs are bringing unprecedented transportation and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure funding to North Carolina. As a result, EV infrastructure planning is top of mind for many Centralina communities. To assist our member communities in tracking the variety of funding programs available and capitalizing on these historic opportunities, the Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition has developed resources that support these planning and funding activities on a regional level.
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program: What Does it Mean for the Centralina Region?
As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. EPA is providing funding through a new initiative called the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program. CPRG provides funding to assist state, local and tribal governments in the development of initiatives, plans and programs to reduce the release of greenhouse gases and related co-pollutants. This article details the two phases of the program’s process and how Centralina is working to meet necessary deadlines for grant implementation.