At the recent Centralina Celebrates! event, a select group of towns and organizations within the greater Charlotte region have been honored with the 2025 Region of Excellence Awards. According to a publication from the City of Kannapolis, the awards highlight significant contributions to improving the quality of life and fostering regional collaboration across nine counties.
Among the awardees, Concord's own Randy Shue received the James D. Prosser Excellence in Government Leadership Award, marking nearly four decades of service. “These awardees embody the spirit of innovation, cooperation and service that make our region thrive,” Geraldine Gardner, the Executive Director of Centralina Regional Council, said in the statement. The Town of Harrisburg was recognized for its innovativeness with its Swiftwater Rescue Team and the City of Kannapolis was applauded for improving quality of life through its Gem Theatre Renovation project.
The accolades didn't stop there. The awards ceremony, held on October 8 at the Gastonia Conference Center, also recognized other initiatives. Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity received the Aging in Action award for their Critical Home Repair Program, while Town of Cornelius's Emerald Necklace gained acknowledgement for connecting communities. The City of Belmont was commended for its Vision Zero Belmont initiative aiming to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2030.
Innovative projects that engage citizens were also spotlighted, with City of Gastonia's Chronolog: Citizen Science Project turning heads, alongside the City of Mount Holly's Pump Station Project and Mecklenburg County's Social Media Summit, both winning the Nance Award for Regional Collaboration. The latter, led by Jameil Weldon, was noted for its role in enhancing regional communication and building public trust.
