[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 189 (Friday, November 30, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1589-E1590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF THE CENTRALINA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD HUDSON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 30, 2018

  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
the Centralina Council of Governments (CCOG) on their 50th anniversary.
  Originally established in 1968, the Centralina Council of Governments 
is one of 16 such councils in the State of North Carolina, and one of 
several hundred regional planning organizations across the country. 
Formally named Central Piedmont Regional Council of Local Governments, 
Centralina was created by and for local governments to allow members to 
partner on projects impacting our entire region.
  Today, Centralina Council of Governments serves local communities 
covering nine counties and 74 municipalities, representing nearly two 
million people in the greater Charlotte region, which includes 
Cabarrus, Rowan and Stanly Counties in my district. They are experts at 
balancing the needs of smaller rural towns, growing suburban areas and 
Charlotte itself--quite a feat when you consider the different 
challenges each type of community faces.
  CCOG assists local governments in coordinating sound regional 
development plans and provides a forum to address issues best handled 
through regional cooperation, planning and action. CCOG also provides a 
variety of services for our region including the administration of 
state and federal grants in the areas

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of aging, workforce development, economic development and planning. The 
council also provides technical assistance services to local government 
members and other organizations in the areas of regional planning, 
transportation, energy and environment, local government assistance, 
and business resources.
  In short, Centralina COG is dedicated to helping one of the fastest-
growing regions in the nation find innovative solutions to both 
existing and future challenges and to unifying the region's collective 
resources to help grow the economy and jobs, improve the quality of 
life and control the cost of government.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in wishing a happy 50th anniversary to 
the Centralina Council of Governments and congratulations on decades of 
a job well done.

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