Volume I; issue v | November, 2019
Eastern Carolina Council of Governments (ECCOG) would love to share your news with the Region. Email your stories to eccadmin@eccog.org

Quote for the Month-
"To stay ahead, you must have your next idea waiting in the wings.' - Rosabeth Moss Kanter, professor of business at Harvard Business School
Upcoming Training Opportunities
November 1 - Social Media Strategies II-Beyond the Basics
If you are a local government professional who is actively managing your town/county social media accounts, this program is for you! This course will show you how can you use Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms to inform and engage your community. Bring your devices to class and get all the tips you need for increasing reach and engagement through various social media platforms! The course will be held on November 1 in Chapel Hill. Please use this link to register.
November 15 - C apital Budgeting & Infrastructure for Elected Officials - In this unique workshop, you will learn best practices for financing local government capital investments. Joining in this class will be representatives of Moody’s Investments, Fitch Ratings, and Standard & Poor Global Ratings, who will discuss their roles and the factors they consider in evaluating NC local governments’ credit and debt capacity. In the years since the recession, these agencies have changed their financial assessment strategies, so it is important for the elected officials and professional staff to understand the factors that affect your ability to issue debt. You will also learn the legal framework for a capital budget, how it relates to your overall budget, and how priority needs are generated. This program will help you understand the various models of debt financing, as well as the value of collaboration, strategic planning, consensus-building, and goal setting.

NCDOR Finance Workshops
  • The local government division of the N.C. Department of Revenue (DOR) will be hosting various workshops for county and city finance staff and property tax staff. The workshops will be split between morning and afternoon sessions, with morning workshops focusing on forms submitted to the NCDOR Information Unit and afternoon workshops focusing on Refunds and Distributions. The workshops are free but please use this link to register.
  • Nov 12 | Albemarle | Both Workshops
  • Nov 13 | Morganton | Both Workshops
  • Nov 14 | Sylva | Both Workshops
  • Dec 9 | Smithfield | Both Workshops
  • Dec 10 | Carthage | Both Workshops

December 13 - NCDHHS conference Using Medication-Assisted Treatment in Jails - click here for more information
Febuary 2-7 - Advanced Leadship Corps - A week-long residential personal leadership course for 12 municipal/12 county elected officials. The target audience is local leaders who are looking for more skill development in the principles of personal advanced leadership in the public arena. The course fee includes lodging and meals, administration and analysis two leadership assessments, and post-event personal coaching. Applications will be received until the end of November.   click here for more information
February 10-13 - N ational Flood Insurance Program/Community Rating System Advanced Course - click here for more information
March 5-6, April 2-3, May 7-8, June 4-5. Leading the Way to Board Excellence , Western Carolina University, Cullowhee –  The target audience is county, municipal and school board members. This 4-part leadership course incorporates personal leadership skill development with leadership in working across boundaries. It also includes a special segment on working with the media. The four day-and-a-half segments are designed to allow commuting (start late-end early) for those in the western region and only one night away for those who need lodging. Two personal leadership assessments are included, with post-event coaching also available. Applications are open until the end of December.    Click here for more information  

Spotlight
Staff Meeting on October 31, 2019
Some of our staff dressed up for our Monthly Staff Meeting. Pictured here is January Brown, Family Caregiver Specialist, David Rosado, AAA Director, Andi Reese, Aging Program Consultant, Angelia Pridgen, Lead Regional Ombudsman, Jenny Miller, Finance Director and Sam Burdick, Community Planner.

Angelia Pridgen was voted for the October ECC Employee Bear Award by her colleges for her positive, upbeat and friendly personality. Angelia is a dedicated to the residents of Region P and works diligently to protect their rights in the facilities.
 
Grants
America Walks Opens 2019 Community Change Grant Applications
America Walks, partners of the Every Body Walk! Collaborative, Lyft, WalkBoston, and other generous sponsors, are excited to announce another round of our popular Community Change Grant program. This program will award grantees $1,500.00 in community stipends for projects related to creating healthy, active, and engaged places to live, work, and play.

America Walks has seen firsthand that the passion, innovation and hard work of advocates and local organizations to advance safe, equitable, accessible, and enjoyable places to walk and move are what create the foundation for walkable communities across the US. This grant program will work to provide support to the growing network of advocates, organizations, and agencies using innovative, engaging, and inclusive programs and projects to create change at the community level.

Funded projects must demonstrate that they will show increased physical activity and active transportation in a specific community, work to engage people and organizations new to the efforts of walking and walkability, and demonstrate a culture of inclusive health. Projects will create healthy, active, and engaged communities that support walking as transportation, health, and recreation.
Awardees will be notified in December 2019. Funds must be used in the 2020 calendar year.

Please contact Heidi Simon at hsimon@americawalks.org with questions.

Safe Routes Partnership
The Safe Routes Partnership invites communities and organizations working to improve safe, equitable access to local parks to apply for the 2020 Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities program . The program provides tailored technical assistance for seven communities to develop Safe Routes to Parks action plans and awards $12,500 to each community to begin implementation of those plans

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Emergency Coastal Resilience Grant
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is requesting proposals for the Emergency Coastal Resilience Fund to support projects that increase the resilience of coastal communities impacted by hurricanes Florence and Michael, Typhoon Yutu and wildfires in 2018. Full proposals are due on November 12, 2019. To learn more, please go to: https://www.nfwf.org/coastalresilience/emergency/Pages/home.aspx

EDA Disaster Supplemental Funding Opportunity
Funds are available to eligible grantees in communities impacted by Presidentially-declared major natural disasters in 2018, including Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes, as well as those impacted by floods and tornadoes in 2019. For the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=319126
Regional Happenings
Transportation Planner
Eastern Carolina Council is looking for a Transportation Planner . This position performs responsible technical and specialized professional transportation planning duties for communities in the region or for region-wide projects.   click here for more information
Wastewater Plant Operator I
The Town of Wallace is currently seeking a qualified individual to fill a position for Wastewater Plant Operator I (rotating 12hour shifts). This position will serve as plant operator at the Town’s 5.42 million gallon per day wastewater treatment plant. The job tasks will include (but are not limited to): inspect/adjust/repair wastewater treatment facilities and equipment, collect samples, perform chemical analysis of wastewater and various tests as needed.  

Open Enrollment for Medicare
 Each year, Medicare beneficiaries have the opportunity to review their Medicare coverage. Open enrollment begins October 15th every year and ends December 7th. We strongly recommend that every Medicare beneficiary compare their current plan with the other plans that are available to be sure that they are getting the best deal.

To enroll in the best plan, you need to match the medications you are currently taking with the Medicare plan that offers the best formulary. This is different for every person. Please beware! This is not a "one size fits all" solution. Don't be tempted to get the same plan your bridge partner has just becuase it has the lowest premium. It may actually cost you more in co-pays and out of pocket expenses.

Mount Olive receives 5.5 million to repair Waste Water Treatment Plant - click here to read news article
NCDOT Sends Millions in Powell Bill Funding to Local Municipalities
More than $147.5 million will be distributed to 508 cities and towns across North Carolina for repair and maintenance of their transportation network as part of the Powell Bill fund.
Funds are to be used primarily for street resurfacing, but can also help pay for construction, improvements, repairs and maintenance of any street or public thoroughfare.
ECC-AAA Family Caregiver Support Program Providers Receive a Gift
ECC-AAA met with the Family Caregiver Specialists throughout the region in October to present them with a gift in honor of National Alzheimer's Awareness Month (November 2018). ECC-AAA provided each county provider with a "Joy for All Companion Pet" to assist caregivers to calm their loved one's anxiety, improve communition, increase social engagement, decrease loneliness, and provide a better quality of life!

North Carolinians Advised to Get Flu Vaccinations
Health officials are encouraging everyone to protect themselves, their families and people around them by getting vaccinated against influenza as the state enters flu season. North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D., got their flu shots together Tuesday to encourage all North Carolinians to get vaccinated this year.
Resolving Concerns through the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
This is a series coming out every newsletter. Last month the focus was on "Disregarding Resident Preferences" this month the problem is "Failing to Provide Necessary Services".
Next Scheduled Meetings
November 7th - Broadband 101
November 11th - Office Closed
November 14th - ECC Executive Committee Mtg
November 19th - DERPO TCC
November 21st - ECRPO
November 26th - DERPO TAC
November 28th & 29th - Office Closed