153A-395. Powers and duties.

A regional planning commission may:

(1) Apply for, accept, receive, and disburse funds, grants, and services made available to it by the State of North Carolina or any agency thereof, the federal government or any agency thereof, any unit of local government or any agency thereof, or any private or civic agency;

(2) Employ personnel;

(3) Contract with consultants;

(4) Contract for services with the State of North Carolina, any other state, the United States, or any agency of those governments;

(5) Study and inventory regional goals, resources, and problems;

(6) Prepare and amend regional development plans, which may include recommendations for land use within the region, recommendations concerning the need for and general location of public works of regional concern, recommendations for economic development of the region, and any other relevant matters;

(7) Cooperate with and provide assistance to federal, State, other regional, and local planning activities within the region;

(8) Encourage local efforts toward economic development;

(9) Make recommendations for review and action to its member governments and other public agencies that perform functions within the region;

(9a) For the purpose of meeting its office space and program needs, acquire real property by purchase, gift, or otherwise, and improve that property. It may pledge real property as security for an indebtedness used to finance acquisition of that property or for improvements to that property, subject to approval by the Local Government Commission as required under G.S. 159-153. It may not exercise the power of eminent domain in exercising the powers granted by this subdivision.

(10) Exercise any other power necessary to the discharge of its duties.