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Message from Executive Director, Anthony W. Starr

The Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) is a voluntary association of local governments. Organized in 1968, the WPCOG is a regional agency with a rich history of providing long-range planning, delivery of services, and technical assistance. Our organization, one of 16 regional councils in North Carolina formed under NC General Statutes 160A 470-478, has been a stable and reliable partner for our local government members. Local governments eligible for WPCOG membership include Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties in Western NC and the 24 municipalities within those counties. Our mission is to serve all local government members with professional, cost-effective assistance on a variety of local, regional, state, and federal issues and provide excellent administration of programs on a regional basis.

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The WPCOG is organized into seven departments: Administration, Area Agency on Aging, Community and Economic Development, Community and Regional Planning, Finance, Regional Housing Authority, and Workforce Development.

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I invite you to click on the menu tabs to discover the wealth of knowledge and expertise our professional staff bring to the multitude of programs we work with on behalf of our local government members.

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We employ a hard-working group of dedicated professionals who provide knowledge and expertise in many subject areas and programs. We value collaboration with our local governments and partners as a means to achieve favorable results for our region and its communities. Please call on us if we can assist you. 

 

Anthony W. Starr, AICP

Mission Statement

The Western Piedmont Council of Governments shall serve all local government members in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties with professional, cost-effective assistance on a variety of local, regional, state and federal issues and programs.

Area Profile

The Greater Hickory Metro region is situated in the Midwestern area of North Carolina and includes the counties of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba and 24 municipalities. The region boasts the State’s maximum vertical relief of approximately one mile (from 6,000 ft. at Calloway Peak in the northwest to 760 ft. on the Catawba River at Lake Norman in the Southeast). The region contains prominent peaks, rolling foothills and reaches into the Carolina Piedmont. The Greater Hickory Metro is bordered by four beautiful Catawba River lakes and is a short drive to the quiet, majestic Blue Ridge Mountains or to Charlotte, the State's largest city. The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton MSA is home to more than 365,000 residents. Catawba County is the largest county in the region in terms of population (157,034), while Hickory is the region’s largest municipality (41,305). Close behind are Morganton (17,097) and Lenoir (18,461).

Our History

Legislation enacted by the 1969 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly authorized any two or more municipalities and counties to create a regional council of governments. In June 1970, then Governor Robert Scott, by Executive Order, divided North Carolina's 100 counties into 17 planning regions. The Western Piedmont Council of Governments petitioned the Governor to keep their four counties intact. The request was granted and Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties were reorganized as North Carolina Multi-County Planning Region E.

Our Goals

  • Promote cooperative and joint efforts in solving regional problems;

  • Provide an expert resource for information and in-the-field assistance in planning for a broad mix of local government services;

  • Help promote the full economic development potential of the region;

  • Help establish and meet regional development goals;

  • Develop and implement policy recommendations concerning local government matters having regional significance;

  • Represent the interests and needs of WPCOG member governments to state and federal agencies;

  • Be the umbrella agency for all policy and administrative coordination for area-wide multi-jurisdictional problems and agencies;

  • Retain enough flexibility in staff time and organizational structure to be able to respond to unforeseen local or regional needs;

  • Identify and respond to potential local or regional threats or opportunities; and

  • Be efficient with staff time and resources available to the WPCOG.

 

The WPCOG shall strive to promote harmony and cooperation among its members. It shall seek to deal with urban and rural problems in a manner which is mutually satisfactory and shall respect the autonomy of all local governments within the region.

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Directions

828-322-9191 | 828.322.5991

Mailing: P.O. Box 9026 | Hickory, NC 28603
Location: 1880 2nd Avenue NW | Hickory, NC 28601

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, familial status, sexual orientation, and reprisal. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).

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To file a complaint of discrimination, write to: USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410 Washington, DC 20250-9410

 

Or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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