In response to the escalating risks and costs of extreme weather, Centralina Regional Council launched a strategic initiative in late 2024 to help local governments across the region better prepare for and recover from natural disasters. The effort began with a Centralina Learns webinar in February 2025, drawing attention to the urgent need for resilience-focused planning and the protection of taxpayer-funded assets.
This momentum led to a partnership with FEMA and North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM), culminating in a hands-on Public Assistance (PA) Financial Administration Training held in April 2025. This training gave local officials, emergency managers and public works staff the tools they need to successfully navigate disaster recovery grants and ensure the financial security of their communities.
The Challenge: Complex Recovery Funding Processes
Local governments often struggle with the intricate rules of FEMA’s PA program, including documentation, procurement compliance and financial reporting. Many also lack the capacity to align federal and state grant opportunities with their hazard mitigation plans and staffing resources, putting them at risk of delayed or forfeited funding after a disaster.
The Solution: Training, Partnership and Strategic Planning
Centralina stepped in to bridge these gaps by coordinating access to FEMA’s PA financial training across the region. Through in-person sessions hosted by Piedmont Triad Regional Council and Lumber River Council of Governments, local officials, emergency managers and public works staff received hands-on training on managing disaster recovery grants and protecting public investments.
Meanwhile, Centralina was already planning the next phase which includes securing funding to support a regional natural hazard mitigation strategy, focused on helping local governments implement the lessons learned and develop long-term resilience plans. This groundwork leads directly to the upcoming Built to Last: Defending Taxpayer Dollars from Disaster workshop on June 25, 2025, which will convene regional leaders, FEMA and NCEM officials and technical experts to kick off a regional hazard mitigation grant application effort.
The Result: A Clear Path from Knowledge to Funding
Centralina’s leadership through the Regional Resilience Collaborative has paved the way for local governments to be better equipped to access new mitigation funding and develop shovel-ready projects. The June 25th event will serve as a launchpad for submitting a regional application for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP DR-4827-NC), a no-match grant aimed at protecting critical community infrastructure from future disasters.
A key outcome will be the formation of a regional working group that will identify an eligible infrastructure project for HMGP funding and prepare a letter of interest by October 31, 2025, with Centralina coordinating the submission process and providing direct technical assistance.
By the Numbers:
- Over 20 local government representatives trained in FEMA Public Assistance processes.
- Regional coordination is underway with nine counties to align natural hazard mitigation grant funding priorities.
Best Practices and Next Steps
Centralina’s initiative shows how education, funding access and collaboration can drive meaningful progress in disaster resilience. The key takeaways? Start early, invest in training and build regional partnerships that position communities for long-term success.
