Catawba County News

Catawba County Civic Leadership Academy Now Accepting Applications

Published: January 31, 2025

Applications are now being accepted for the Catawba County Civic Leadership Academy (CLA), a program providing residents with insight into county government services and operations through a series of interactive and engaging learning sessions with County staff. Participants will come away with first-hand knowledge of how Catawba County government works to serve the community.

Held annually each spring, this year’s CLA takes place from March 4 through May 5. The program consists of six Tuesday evening sessions from 6:00-8:00 p.m., a Saturday field trip from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., and a final graduation reception and presentation from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in conjunction with the May 5 Catawba County Board of Commissioners meeting.

CLA sessions feature an orientation to county government with the County’s management team and deeper dives into Emergency Services, Elections, Public Health, Social Services, the Sheriff’s Office, the Library System, Parks, Planning and more. Each session is hosted at a different Catawba County facility.

Applications are available online at www.catawbacountync.gov through February 21. The program is open to Catawba County residents and will be capped at 20 participants. Participants are required to provide their own transportation to each session. There is no cost to participate.

The complete Catawba County CLA 2024 schedule follows:

Session 1: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Catawba County Government 101: County Management, Tax and Budget

Session 2: Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Land Use & Infrastructure: Planning & Zoning and Utilities & Engineering

Session 3: Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Voting & Recording: Elections, Deeds and GIS Mapping

Session 4: Saturday, March 29, 2025 (field trip), 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Parks & Recycling (locations provided to program participants)

Session 5: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Public Safety: Emergency Services and Sheriff's Office

Session 6: Tuesday, April 15, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Human Services: Public Health and Social Services

Break Week
No sessions will take place from April 21 -25 to accommodate local spring break schedules.

Session 7: Saturday, April 29, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Nature & Culture: Library System, Cooperative Extension and Soil & Water

Session 8: Monday, May 5, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Reception with Board of Commissioners and recognition during public board meeting.