In response to the North Carolina Helene Disaster Declaration, Centralina Regional Council has partnered with High Street Consulting to provide expert guidance on the intricate and challenging post-disaster Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance recovery process.
Hurricane Helene barreled through western North Carolina in September 2024, proving that unprecedented disasters can destroy communities, take lives and wipe out vital lifelines in a matter of hours while leaving long lasting impacts. Preparing for disasters like Hurricane Helene on “blue-sky” days, or days where no disaster is imminent or on the horizon, plays a critical role in disaster recovery and enhances resiliency in our region.
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.
Acknowledging the critical role regionalism plays in bolstering local resilience and recovery, Centralinaâs Regional Resilience Collaborative (RRC) aims to connect leaders and partners in the region to unite on innovative solutions. Continue reading for key topics the group discussed at its annual luncheon.
An important part of the Clean Cities Coalitions work includes collaboration with the Department of Energy and its national laboratories to work towards the goal established Justice40 Initiative., which aspires to put 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments towards disadvantaged communities. The Clean Cities Energy and Environmental Justice Initiative was created to provide Clean Cities Coalitions with training and resources on how to take a community-first approach to developing transportation projects that align with the goals of this initiative. Â
In January, many people establish goals for the year and according to Forbes, improving health is one of the top resolutions for 2024. This is true for the staff at Centralina who will focus on health by helping to build strong, sustainable communities as part of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program. This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program provides funding for local governments to support plans and programs that reduce the release of greenhouse gasses (GHG) and foster a low carbon economy.
On October 24, 2023, Centralina held a Centralina Learns session focused on the topic of Climate and Sustainability Planning. During this session, local government staff learned about strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting built environments to be more resilient and saw examples of what climate planning looks like in our 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.
September was National Preparedness Month, the perfect time for Centralina Community Economic Development (CED) staff to travel to Anson County to collaborate on pre-disaster recovery planning. Centralina CED, Anson County Emergency Management, staff from various departments within Anson County and subject matter experts from Innovative Emergency Management partnered with critical private-public entities to learn about how they may collaboratively inform economic resilience for their communities.
Centralina Regional Council received a $1 million planning grant through the U.S EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program, a two-stage grant program that includes funding for noncompetitive planning grants and competitive implementation grants. Our staff will serve as the lead entity for the 13-county, bi-state area and will prepare a series of plans designed to support local needs and priorities toward improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.