In 2011, the Town of Huntersville offered its first ever Huntersville 101 class, offering 18 residents the chance to learn first-hand about the Town of Huntersville, the services it provides and its governmental processes.

This April, we concluded our third Huntersville 101 class. Huntersville 101 participants receive a detailed snapshot of the Town, its staff and major projects that are underway.  Each class or session focused on a different department or area of town government, including: town history, administration, finance and budget, planning, transportation, engineering & public works, police, fire, parks & recreation and Huntersville Family Fitness & Aquatics.

Huntersville has been one of the fastest growing communities in North Carolina over the past decade and many of Huntersville’s residents have moved here from other parts of the country. In fact, Forbes Magazine identified the Town of Huntersville ranked second in their 2009 look at America’s Best Places to Move. Because services the Town provides and levels of service are likely different than where many of our residents moved from, this program offers a unique opportunity for the Town to engage local residents already interested in the Town about the services and programs provided and where the lines between town and county services exist.  It also gives a brief snapshot of how local government operates in the context of the state and federal government for funding transportation and other items.

The Town has regular openings for appointed boards and committees and a program like this gives prospective applicants a head start on the learning curve that comes with such appointments.  Several residents who completed the 2011 Huntersville 101 have successfully applied and been appointed to town advisory boards like the Parks & Recreation Commission, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment.  Participants are also encouraged to share the knowledge they receive from the program with their neighbors and businesses.

Program Details

Huntersville 101 is open to Huntersville residents and space is limited to 20 participants. If needed, a selection process will be used to balance the class. There is no cost.

The 2013 class kicks off Wednesday, February 6th and continued for eight (8) consecutive Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  The last class was Wednesday, April 3rd with a graduation event to take place at the pre-meeting of the April 15th Board of Commissioners meeting.  Most classes are at Town Hall, though several will be held in other town facilities.  Each Huntersville 101 class concludes with a tour of the town.  The tentative 2013 schedule is as follows:

1 - Introduction and History
2 - Administration, Finance & Economic Development
3 - Planning
4 - Transportation
5 - Public Works & Engineering
6 – Parks & Recreation
7 – HFFA (class at HFFA)
8 - Police, Crime Prevention & Crime Analysis (class at new Police Station)
9 - Fire (class at HFD Station No. 1)

Each participant was asked to commit to this schedule to be considered for the class.

The application period for this year's Huntersville 101 is now closed.  Contact Bobby Williams at bwilliams@huntersville.org or 704-766-2207 for more information about the program and/or to get on the notification list for the 2014 class.