Holly Springs Citizens Academy

Applications are
open for the 2026 academy! Click here to apply by Friday, Jan.
30.

About the Academy

This Town Council initiative helps community members better understand how
Holly Springs services work for them. The seven-week academy covers a wide
range of topics, including community safety, budgeting, and yard waste
collection. In-person, hands-on, interactive sessions will provide
participants with an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of what it takes
to serve the growing number of residents and businesses that call Holly
Springs home. Participants also have the opportunity to ask questions and get
to know Town leaders and staff.

During the academy, in-person sessions are held at various Town facilities,
with graduation at a Town Council meeting. Each session begins with an
introduction, followed by interactive and hands-on activities. Evenings will
conclude with a group Q&A session with the staff. Sessions also include an
informal meal where participants can enjoy friendly conversations and build
relationships.

Participants must be able to attend all seven sessions held on Thursday
nights, 5:30-8 p.m, Feb. 26-April 16. Space is limited. Last year, out of
nearly 60 applicants, 24 participants were selected for the academy

Sessions cover:

• Overview of Town Government & Managing Traffic

The
Holly Springs Citizens Academy begins with an exploration the government
structure of Holly Springs, and then it's on to an interactive discussion of
how Town staff work to manage traffic. Traffic management was identified as
one of residents' top priorities in the most recent Community Survey.
Participants will learn why solutions to traffic are so complex and take part
in a hands-on exercise that will demonstrate the roadblocks that can arise for
funded projects.

• Shaping Holly Springs: Planning for Residential and Business Growth

Holly Springs is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Wake County. In
this eye-opening evening, residents will learn about the tools the Town uses
to manage growth and receive a unique opportunity to hear about how we recruit
businesses to Holly Springs. Participants will learn about how growth has
occurred in Holly Springs, how the Town plans for growth, and the rules that
govern how the Town regulates development proposals. Participants will also
learn how economic development recruitment is attracting thousands of jobs,
increasing commercial investment to balance the tax base, and serving as a
major driver for the Town’s economy now and in the future.

• Community Safety

Holly Springs is recognized as one of the safest towns in North Carolina, and
its Fire Department holds an ISO #1 rating, ranking it among the best in the
nation. Get an inside look at why Holly Springs provides such a high level of
public safety for residents. Expect hands-on activities. Last year,
participants were shown what a traffic stop looks like from an officer’s
perspective and ran lidar and radar on passing vehicles to understand the
importance of traffic enforcement. Holly Springs firefighters helped
participants try on firefighting gear and experience what it's like to operate
a fire hose.

• An Evening in the Life of a Town Council Member

This session offers participants an opportunity to step into the shoes of
local decision-makers! Begin the night by engaging directly with your elected
Holly Springs Town Council members. Then participate in a dynamic, hands-on
mock Council meeting where you'll take on the roles of Council members and
engaged citizens, considering issues just as they do every month. The evening
will also feature a Q&A session with Town Council members and conclude with a
tour of Town Hall.

• Parks & Recreation

Academy participants will experience the behind-the-scenes operations of a
dynamic parks and recreation department by learning the benefits beyond the
fun and games, and through hands-on safety and planning exercises. As the Town
prepares to build the new Eagles Landing Park, learn how tough decisions are
made when choosing amenities for the community to enjoy. A VIP tour of the
stadium will also be included.

• Keeping the Town Running (Above & Below the Ground)

Citizens Academy participants get special access to the facilities where
unsung heroes quietly keep the Town running day in and day out. Evening
activities include a comprehensive tour of the Town’s wastewater treatment
facility and an explanation of the concept of “one water,” covering drinking
water, flushing toilets, and reclaimed water. Then on to the Public Works
facility to find out how a call to 311 leads to crews being dispatched to
respond to the request. Learn about yard waste carts, how to properly place
excessive yard waste loads, and more.

• Money Matters & Community Connections

Experience the process that goes into weighing the needs of a growing town and
building an annual operating budget. During the activity, participants will
learn the key elements of the Town’s finances, review realistic funding
requests, and gain an understanding of the decision-making process that goes
into building a Town budget. Then, dive into how the Town's Communications &
Marketing team and 311 staff are building connections with the community.