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Cohort 4

Jurisdiction: Hickory

University: UNC-Asheville

Hometown: Roxboro, NC

Layne Cole served his fellowship in the City of Hickory. He expanded capacity in the City’s Budget Office, introduced Hickory’s first Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) to enhance public accessibility to financial data, and effectively managed over $100 million in bond project revenues and expenditures. Cole’s contributions in crafting the majority of the City’s proposed budget book and handling all departmental budget transfers and revisions were instrumental in ensuring efficient financial management and transparency.

Cole is a graduate of UNC-Asheville. During his time at UNCA, he published works advocating for sustainable agriculture, racial equity in housing, and equitable finance and lending practices.

June 11, 2025

Written by: Skye Allan (Lead for North Carolina Cohort 3 Alum) In small towns held together by close ties and limited resources, projects and initiatives succeed or fail based on…

April 14, 2025

After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill and NC State University in 2024, Kristy Nguyen and Anu Mishra were selected to be part of a unique local government fellowship program based…

February 12, 2025

When Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, leaving destruction and uncertainty in its wake, Elias Henderson didn’t hesitate to find a way to lend a hand.

AmeriCorps