The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Affordability Strategy data estimated that in 2022, 33% of households in Statesville have at least one of four housing problems: incomplete kitchen facilities, incomplete plumbing facilities, more than one person per room and are considered housing cost burdened. After hearing from residents, Darbah Skaf, CEO of Statesville Housing Authority (SHA) and its nonprofit affiliate, Iredell/Statesville Community Enrichment Corporation (ISCEC) began brainstorming ideas for an event that could gather community members and service providers to address these issues. With collaboration among SHA, ISCEC, the City of Statesville and Centralina, Darbah’s ideas were brought to life in the form of Statesville Thrives on June 29th, 2023.

Local government staff across the Centralina region and beyond have more on their plates today than ever before. Between staffing shortages, communities that are still reeling from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and wave after wave of unprecedented federal and state funding opportunities, many jurisdictions are stretched thin. As a council of governments, Centralina provides critical services and support to communities across the region, helping local staff stay abreast of new developments in the field and take advantage of unique opportunities.

Centralina Regional Council is a regional organization focused on addressing the needs of member communities in our nine-county area and working collaboratively on issues that impact our region. We examine national, state and local trends impacting our member governments and identify their potential impacts to determine best practices for meeting needs and addressing challenges. This brief dives into current regional trends and how they are currently being addressed by Centralina, as well as how they will continue to be addressed in upcoming years.

Across the country, the regulatory environment for medical and recreational marijuana is changing rapidly. Based on the history of legalization nationwide, once a state legalizes cannabis for medical purposes, the legalization of recreational usage often follows within several years. Both medical and recreational legalization, especially recreational, have implications on land use regulation, permitting processes, law enforcement operations, administrative procedures at the local and state levels, equity considerations and more. The North Carolina General Assembly is currently considering the Compassionate Care Act, which would establish the statutory and organizational framework for legally using cannabis products to treat debilitating medical conditions. What would these new laws mean for NC local governments, and how can communities best prepare for the future of medical and recreational cannabis?

Access to affordable housing is essential to cultivating healthy, equitable and prosperous communities. The lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in the national economy, population growth and other factors have increased housing prices and rental rates and decreased the supply of housing units that are affordable for low- and middle-income households. A recent Centralina Learns session’s panel shared insights and identified opportunities for addressing the affordable housing crisis and the missing middle.

The December 2022 Centralina Regional Managers’ meeting focused on fair and affordable housing needs in the region. Learn more about how this complex issue connects to others in your community and what Centralina is doing to help.

Michelle was recently promoted to Senior Director, a new position at Centralina. In this role she manages regional planning and community economic development services in the nine-county greater Charlotte region. To celebrate her successes, we sat down with her to learn more about Michelle, and her goals as Senior Director and her “secret sauce” that drives her in her personal and professional life.

Land use planning provides an opportunity to integrate land use practices with other local priorities, such as transportation connectivity, healthy living, infrastructure investment and economic development. However, developing a land use plan is a significant undertaking that requires extensive research, data analysis, community engagement and plan design to provide the community with an effective tool to guide future decisions.

On March 31, 2002, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) Aviation Academy graduated its fifth class comprised of public sector, private sector and community leaders from across the greater Charlotte region. The Academy provides a unique opportunity to better understand the inner workings of CLT and its contributions and impacts on our region’s economy, transportation system and community.