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OUR REGION TOMORROW What i~ the OUR REGION TOMORROW Study? The study will be s strategic planning effort representing local governments from as many as eighteen counties. Centralina's eight counties (Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union) will be participating in the Study. Efforts to solicit participation from ten other counties including Alexander, Anson, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, and Cleveland in North Carolina and Chester, Lancaster, Union, and York in South Carolina, the local governments in these counties, and from four other regional Councils (Catawba Regional Planning Council, Isothermal Plan- ning and Economic Development Commission, Pee Dee COG and Western Piedmont COG) ere nearly complete. Why Is the Study needed? The eighteen counties have a total population in excess of 1.5 million persons and together form one of the fastest growing regions not only in North Carolina, but in the Southeast United States. Fueling much of this growth is the economic development boom occurring in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Growth, however, has not been confined to the boundaries of Mecklenburg County. A considerable amount of spillover growth has taken place and will likely continue in the future. Given the diverse nature of this region, the various municipal jurisdictions have accommodated and addressed the ramifica- tions of growth in different ways. Whereas some localities actively solicit commercial and industrial growth, others prefer to be "bedroom communities" composed primarily of Iow-density resi- dential development. Still other communities which have not yet experienced significant growth, but are likely to in the future, are only now beginning to grapple with these issues. Growth-related issues do not necessarily recognize political bound- aries. Given the complex nature of this region, it is important that communities come together and jointly assess present and future /f