Robert Hiett
Executive Director
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Creating Regional Solutions Since 1971 |
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Following New CDC Guidance on Face Coverings, Governor Cooper Lifts Many
COVID-19 Restrictions
Following updated guidance from the CDC that fully vaccinated individuals can safely do most activities without wearing a mask or the need to social distance from others, the state removed its indoor mask mandate for most settings. Additionally, the state lifted all mass gathering limits and social distancing requirements.
Masks will still be required in child care, schools and camps as most children are either not yet vaccinated or are not yet eligible to be vaccinated. Everyone, including people who are fully vaccinated, will still be required to wear a mask in certain settings such as public transportation, health care settings like hospitals, doctor’s offices and long-term care settings like nursing homes, and certain congregate settings like correctional facilities and homeless shelters.
People who are not vaccinated should wear a mask and maintain distance in all indoor public settings and in outdoor settings when they can't maintain 6 feet of distance. Masks are strongly recommended for everyone at large crowded indoor events like sporting events and live performances.
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N.C. Treasurer Publishes Reporting, Auditing Guidance
One of the most frequently asked questions from our local governments — and one of the most frequently stressed issues of importance by many experts — is related to accounting and reporting of American Rescue Plan funds. To assist in this matter, the N.C. Department of Treasury issued a note of guidance on May 28 covering several of the most central points of interest. These include:
- Receiving and Holding Funds
- Accounting Points
- Auditing Points
- Budgeting Points
- General Guidance
The League encourages all local governments to review this note, which can be read in full here. We have also published this note in our State of N.C. Guidance page on NCLM's ARP hub.
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People in North Carolina ages 12 and up are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA and CDC have authorized the use of the Pfizer vaccine for younger teens – those between 12 and 15 – based on a review of safety and effectiveness data from clinical trials in the United States.
Young people are vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus, just like everyone else. In North Carolina, close to 123,000 children 0 to 17 years old have tested positive for COVID-19 and the percent of COVID-19 cases that are in children 17 and under has been increasing.
You can find participating vaccine providers at MySpot.nc.gov. Filter for Pfizer to find locations that have vaccines for people under 18. The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine available to those between the ages of 12-17.
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NCLM Launches DIRECT, a Racial Equity Program for Cities, Towns
The N.C. League introduced this week DIRECT, standing for “Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity for Cities and Towns.” The goal of this program is to strengthen our communities by identifying and addressing racial disparities at the local level. DIRECT works alongside municipal leaders to acknowledge existing inequalities, identify local history and data and examine municipal policies and procedures that contribute to structural and systemic racism in local communities. Through this shared understanding and knowledge, DIRECT empowers local officials to develop strategies that work toward stronger, more equitable communities.
Municipalities can get started in two ways: DIRECT Conversations, an interactive and engaging six-month training program; and DIRECT consulting, a one-on-one consultation service between League experts and municipal leadership.
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New Funding Opportunity for the Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center
ACL's Administration on Disabilities (AoD) seeks to fund one cooperative agreement for a Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center. This award will be made as a Project of National Significance as described in the Developmental Disabilities Act of 2000.
The Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center will:
- compile resources, best practices, training curriculum, and success stories for an online clearinghouse accessible to the public;
- provide training and technical assistance to self-advocacy organizations across the nation;
- operate a fellowship program that offers leadership development and employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
- and collaborate with a diverse range of organizations including self-advocacy organizations, disability-related nonprofits, universities, state government agencies, and others to achieve the goals of the project.
The Center will expand work around an ‘Easy Read Language’ initiative by working with state and regional self-advocacy organizations to help them build relationships and secure contracts with state and local agencies to develop easily read documents. Finally, the Center will develop procedures and tools to evaluate the usability, frequency of use, and impact of tools and other materials on the stated outputs and outcomes.
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Funding Opportunity for the National Technical Assistance Center on Kinship and Grandfamilies
The purpose of the National Technical Assistance Center (NTAC) on Kinship and Grandfamilies is to provide training, technical assistance, and resources for government programs, nonprofit and other community-based organizations, and Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations, that serve grandfamilies and kinship families to support the health and well-being of members of grandfamilies and kinship families, including caregivers, children, and their parents. The NTAC shall focus primarily on serving grandfamilies and kinship families in which the primary caregiver is an adult age 55 or older, or the child has one or more disabilities.
This grant opportunity closes on July 26, 2021.
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Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant
Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants will be available in North Carolina in 2021 for local park and recreation projects. Municipalities, counties, and federally recognized Native American tribes are eligible to apply for the matching grants. LWCF grants can be used to acquire new park properties and renovate or replace outdoor recreation facilities.
Local governments can request a maximum of $500,000 with each application and must match the grant dollar for dollar. About $3.5 million will be available for local government projects.
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The North Carolina Community Foundation is seeking proposals to the NC Healing Communities Fund from nonprofit organizations in the state that have been impacted severely by COVID‐19 through revenue loss and increased demand.
The NC Healing Communities Fund's focus is on marginalized communities that have been disproportionately affected by the virus and its economic impacts and have been underserved by other sources of financial assistance – specifically communities of lower wealth, communities of color, mostly rural communities and where English may not be the primary language.
Grants range from $25,000 to $55,000, with an average grant award of $40,000.
Funding is intended for applicant organizations’ operational support, not necessarily for program expenses or services related to COVID-19.
There is also an opportunity for grantees to receive capacity-building support from Rural Forward NC.
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Community Care Corps
Innovative Local Models to Provide Volunteer Non-Medical Assistance to Older Americans, Adults with Disabilities, and Family Caregivers
Community Care Corps, funded by ACL, has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for innovative local models in which volunteers assist family caregivers or directly care for older adults or adults with disabilities. The purpose of the project is to establish, enhance, or grow volunteer programs for family caregivers, older adults, and people with disabilities. Faith and community-based organizations, institutions of higher education, service organizations, and state, county, and local governments are encouraged to apply.
Proposals are due by Friday, July 9, 2021.
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HUD Publishes Operating Requirements for 70,000 Emergency Housing Vouchers and Announces Allocations
Operating Requirements
The Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published PIH Notice 2021-15: Emergency Housing Vouchers – Operating Requirements, which outlines the requirements for Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) who will be invited to administer approximately 70,000 vouchers nation-wide. These vouchers are a strategic investment of $5 billion funded as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which provides over $1.9 trillion in relief to address the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, public health, State and local governments, individuals, and businesses.
The eligible populations for the Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) are individuals and families who are:
- Homeless
- At-risk of Homelessness
- Fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking
- Recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability, including clients in rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing programs
These vouchers represent an exciting opportunity for collaboration between Continuums of Care (CoC) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) providers and local PHAs. PHAs must enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with their local partners to receive referrals for the Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) from local Coordinated Entry System. HUD expects local communities, including the CoC and PHA, to work together to ensure that these resources are targeted to those with the most need in the community and to work together to ensure that these voucher holders are successfully housed and receive needed supportive services to maintain their housing. These collaborations should be grounded in equity, ensuring that these resources help address the overrepresentation of people of color in the homeless system.
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JFF’s Guide to Disaster Resilience in the Rural South and Across the Country
As natural disasters increase in frequency and intensity, they often coincide with public health crises and economic downturns. That overlap exacerbates the impact they have on millions of Americans, particularly in rural areas of the American South. Local leaders must reevaluate how they protect their communities. Workforce resilience is the key to recovery.
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Bill Would Designate Broadband Funding
Legislation approved by the House Appropriations Committee would designate $750 million in state assistance from the federal American Rescue Plan toward broadband infrastructure. HB 947 The GREAT Broadband Expansion Act would expand the state’s existing broadband grant program by $350 million and create a county focused program with the additional $400 million, allowing county governments to solicit bids for internet service providers to expand service into unserved or underserved areas. The legislation does not include money or authority for cities and towns. It is also unclear, based on the eligibility criteria, how extensive or limited the qualifying areas of the state that would be, as state broadband officials are still mapping out eligible areas.
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DOE Launches Initiatives to Accelerate Solar Deployment in Underserved Communities
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a slate of new efforts, including $15.5 million in new funding, to support solar energy deployment in underserved communities and build a diverse, skilled workforce. These initiatives will help families and businesses that have been left behind in the clean energy transition to reap the benefits of cheaper power and access to highly skilled jobs. Together, these efforts reflect the Biden Administration’s commitment to launching every American worker and community into a greener future.
“Solar energy is one of the fastest, easiest, and cheapest paths to President Biden’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035—and now, it’s time to double down on our efforts to make those benefits available to communities in every pocket of the country,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “These new initiatives and funding will jumpstart a long-overdue conversation around how DOE can leverage solar energy’s explosive growth to create solutions and jobs that lift up Americans who have been left behind, and create a future filled with JEDI.”
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Electric Vehicles Are Paving the Way for Emission-Free Transportation
Electric vehicles are gaining popularity as the cost of batteries continues to decrease, and many are beginning to gravitate towards them to not only help save the environment but also to help them save money. Electric vehicles (EVs) are transforming the automotive industry worldwide, with global sales increasing by 43 percent in 2020.
"There are numerous purely automotive reasons to electrify, including noise, vibration, and harshness, driver feel, packaging flexibility, and acceleration performance," Dave Erb, a retired automotive engineer who has been driving an EV since 2016, noted.
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CLEAN CITIES PROGRAM
Clean Cities is a program of the US Department of Energy that works with states and communities across the country to promote the use of cleaner, alternative fuels and vehicles.
Cleaner/Alternative fuels include compressed natural gas, propane, ethanol, biodiesel, electricity, and hydrogen.
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Fuels Fix features stories about alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies successes in the United States. The site is powered by news from the US DOE Clean Cities Program as well as our working partners in the alternative fuels industry. |
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The report finds that 42 states, plus the District of Columbia, took some type of distributed solar policy action during Q1 2021, with the greatest number of actions continuing to address net metering policies, community solar policies and residential fixed charge or minimum bill increases. The states taking the greatest number of actions include South Carolina, New York, Maine and Kentucky. Read the executive summary here.
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The report finds that 47 states, as well as the District of Columbia, took actions related to grid modernization during Q1 2021, with the greatest number of actions relating to energy storage deployment, utility business model reforms, energy storage interconnection rules, smart grid deployment, data access policies and distribution system planning. Read the executive summary here.
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The report finds that 48 states plus the District of Columbia took a total of 519 actions related to electric vehicles. The most common actions were related to regulation, followed by financial incentives, and market development. Read the executive summary here.
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Numerous employers came out to fill positions and had on-the-spot interviews! Special thank you to Frince Williams and Duna Long of Turning Point WDB, the RV Chamber, Halifax CC, Employers, the Center for Energy, and NC Works staff and partners. Interviews were scheduled, potential candidates showed up and families were able to join in the festivities as we safely welcomed these groups in a beautiful outdoor space!
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New n4a BrainGuide Helpline Empowers People of All Ages to Take Action on Brain Health
As the number of older adults living in the United States grows, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia grows along with it. According to the 2020 AAA Survey Report, more than half of all AAAs provide care to individuals of all ages who are living with dementia. To address this growing need, n4a, in partnership with UsAgainstAlzheimer’s (UsA2), has launched the BrainGuide Helpline to support users of UsA2’s new BrainGuide.
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Visitation in Long-Term Care Facilities
Residents of long-term care have been subject to strict visitation policies for months since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. These policies have had a significant effect on the health and well-being of residents. Find information and resources below on the latest federal guidance on visitation, things to look for as visitors begin to be permitted into facilities, voting resources, and how to advocate for long-term care residents.
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Essentials for Social Services Governing Boards Webinar
August 5 – 6, 2021
Online – Zoom
We are pleased to announce the registration is opening for our Essentials for Social Services Governing Boards Webinar! This class will be offered virtually via Zoom, and will take place over two mornings. It will be held from Thursday, August 5th from 9:30 am – 12 pm and Friday, August 6th from 9:30 am – 12 pm. A recording of this class will be provided for free to all course registrants.
Registration: To register for this course, please visit the course webpage. The registration fee is $195.
Topics: Join the School of Government for the Essentials for Social Services Governing Boards Webinar, a five-hour program spread over two days that will serve as an orientation for social services governing boards.
Topics to be covered include: Where social services governing boards fit into the human services framework in North Carolina; partners at the state level; legal powers and duties of the social services governing board; liabilities of board members; the business of working as a board; how your board can best support your agency and community; and the professional associations, state agencies, and networks that work with county agencies. This webinar will be available on-demand after the live airing.
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From Vacant to Vibrant:
Building a Business Recruitment Strategy
JUNE 9 | 10 AM
Live Webinar
With the pandemic soon to be in our rearview mirror, the timing is right for community leaders to reassess their business recruitment strategies and adopt new tools that can support local businesses and attract new investment. Drawing upon years of experience working with communities across the country, Hilary Greenberg (Greenberg Development Services) will review a "go to" list of essential tools that your community can use to build a stronger commercial district.
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Inclusivity and Belonging in the Workplace for Municipal Officials
June 15 | 10 a.m.
Creating inclusive, diverse workplaces is more than a “nice” thing to do. Research shows that diverse teams are more creative, innovative, and higher performing. Diversity in the workplace is not only beneficial to employees, but also to the overall goals of your organization and municipality.
The North Carolina League of Municipalities is providing training that will help you understand and identify common biases and learn ways to foster a more inclusive workplace. Participants should expect to explore how microinequities impact workplace culture and increase cultural sensitivity.
Takeaways from Inclusivity and Belonging in the Workplace for Municipal Officials webinar include:
- Diversity and inclusion terms and definitions
- Assumptions and biases found in common workplace scenarios
- Identification of stereotypes in the workplace
- Practical tips and best practices for inclusively
We encourage all elected officials, appointed officials, department heads, and other municipal staff to attend this webinar.
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National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC)
Elder Abuse in People Living with Dementia: Considerations for Prevention, Detection, and Intervention
Join the NADRC for a webinar to discuss elder abuse in people living with dementia. The session will be led by a physician and an attorney with years of experience in the field. Presenters will discuss indicators that should raise concern, provide practical tips on when and how to intervene, and highlight the issue of capacity.
This webinar will be held on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Our Annual Banquet will be held on November 16, 2021, at the Rocky Mount Event Center. Join us as we celebrate our 50th anniversary!
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121 W. Nash St. Wilson, NC 27893
252-234-5952
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