LRCOG News and Updates

LRCOG News & Updates

Our Mission

"In its dedication to regional excellence, the Lumber River Council of Governments is

proactive in identifying local and regional needs and the resources to address

those needs in an effective and fair manner."

Visit our Website

Upcoming

March 10, 2020- Transportation Coordinating Committee (TCC) Meeting

10:30 am at the LRCOG Office

March 11, 2020- WIOA Youth TA Session

8:30 am at the LRCOG Office

March 13, 2020- DEQ-DWI Training

9:00 am at the LRCOG Office

March 18, 2020- Robeson County Census Meeting

10:00 am at the LRCOG Office

March 19, 2020- COG Board Meeting

7:00 pm at the LRCOG Office

March 20, 2020- WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker TA Session

8:30 am at the LRCOG Office

March 23, 2020- Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Meeting

12:00 pm at the LRCOG Office

March 24, 2020- Regionalization in Water & Sewer Infrastructure

10:00 am at the LRCOG Office

March 24, 2020 - Workshop- Caring for Those Living with Dementia and Managing Opioid Dependence with Older Adults

9:15 am at Cape Fear Valley Hoke Hospital- Conference Room A

April 7, 2020- Caregiver Support Group

6:00 pm at the LRCOG Office

April 8, 2020- Civilian Active Shooter Awareness Training

9:00 am at the LRCOG Office

April 9, 2020- LRWDB Youth Committee Meeting

9:00 am at the LRCOG Office

April 9, 2020- Robeson County Clean and Green

6:00 pm at the LRCOG Office

April15, 2020- LRWDB Evaluation Committee Meeting

9:00 am at the LRCOG Office

April 16, 2020- Senior Games Opening Ceremony

9:00 am at the Bill Sapp Center

April 16, 2020- COG Board Meeting

7:00 pm at the LRCOG Office

April 17, 2020- COG University- 160D Updates

10:00 am at the LRCOG Office

April 21, 2020- Broadband 101

10:00 am at the LRCOG Office

April 23, 2020- LRWD Board Meeting

8:30 am at the LRCOG Office

See More News & Events

Resources

Census Day 2020

April 1 is Census Day, a key reference date for the 2020 Census. When completing the census, you will include everyone living in your home on April 1, 2020.

Learn more about Census 2020

Funding Opportunities

North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency Notice of Funds Available:

State Grants for Financially Distressed Local and Tribal Governments

The North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency is pleased to announce new funding to assist local governments and tribal governments adversely affected by recent natural disasters through the State Grants for Financially Distressed Local Governments program established last year.

View Grants & Loans

DHS Announces Notices of Funding Opportunity for FY 2020 Preparedness Grant Programs

These grants support our grantees develop and sustain capabilities at the state and local, tribal and territorial levels and in our nation’s highest-risk transit systems, ports and along our borders to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate terrorism and other high-consequence disasters and emergencies.

View Grants

Funding Opportunity: Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Implementation

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) is a multi-year initiative by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) aimed at reducing the morbidity and mortality of substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in high risk rural communities.

View Grant Opportunity

The 2020 AARP Community Challenge is On!

The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund "quick-action" projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Applications are being accepted for projects to improve housing, transportation, public space, technology ("smart cities"), civic engagement and more.

Learn More

Coronavirus Resources

Plan and Prepare Now Before It Hits Your Community

International City/County Management Association (ICMA) has prepared resources and information for local governments regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019, otherwise known as COVID-19. This guidance should be paired with the frequent updates provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) , the Executive Office of the President of the United States , the World Health Organization (WHO) , and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), among others.

Visit ICMA's Website

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)

NCDHHS, in coordination with federal, state and local partners, is responding to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

Learn More About NC's Response

Interesting Article!

Road work unearths early-1800s wooden

water pipe in York- from The York Daily Record

In 1816, when pedestrians, mules and horses traveled the streets, the newly founded York Water Company installed a wooden water pipe around the Colonial Courthouse, at that time located in the center of the city square.

Two weeks ago, construction crews uncovered that 204-year-old wooden water main in Continental Square while replacing the current water main along George Street in York .

It was a find that no one expected.

Read Article

Services Spotlight

Community & Economic Services

NC General Statutes – Revision of Planning Statutes Will Affect All Jurisdictions

In the recently completed 2019 Session, the NC General Assembly passed a new law updating all of the statutes existing on development regulation for both cities and counties. These development regulations include those related to zoning, subdivision and any other regulation of development.

These regulations are captured in Chapter 160D of the NC General Statutes and were introduced in a bill authored by the N.C. Bar Association. Representatives of the NC League of Municipalities, the NC County Association, and the UNC School of Government, among others, have worked with the N.C. Bar Association and the Legislative leadership to make these revisions. The primary purpose of this new law was to bring better organization and clarification on planning and zoning to the statutes.

This new law will affect all jurisdictions with existing regulations on planning and zoning and those that might be planning to adopt a set of new regulations. Chapter 160D will be effective on January 1, 2021 which gives about a year to update your existing ordinances.

Community and Economic Services Staff at the LRCOG will be attending the workshop offered by the UNC School of Government so that we can be better prepared to answer your questions and assist with updates.

Additional information and resources

Memorandum from LRCOG Planners

Regionalization in Water & Sewer Infrastructure

The LRCOG has a 40-year history of helping its member governments understand the importance of working together to solve common challenges. Together, we have studied our region's groundwater resources and have participated in a number of studies to examine the potential for regional collaboration to provide drinking water and wastewater service. In this time of heightened interest in regional collaboration, we are offering an opportunity to walk back through time and understand more about where we have come from on this topic of regionalization and to learn what the State policymakers are thinking on the future of regional water and sewer in our State.

AREA AGENCY ON AGING

Congratulations!

Ursula Selles

On Friday, March 6th, the North Carolina Association on Aging (NCAOA) held its annual awards luncheon as part of their state aging conference in Wilmington, NC. Ursula Selles was the 2020 recipient of the Shining Star Award—one of five “Excellence in the Field of Aging” awards bestowed during this year’s conference. This award honors an employee that provides exceptional direct service to older adults in their community. Ursula was selected for her hard work and dedication to the Senior Nutrition Program. She has worked to expand home-delivered meals in rural areas of both Robeson and Scotland counties, as well as provide a much needed well-check to frail homebound seniors. She also strives to promote overall wellness by overseeing various health promotion classes throughout the region and by coordinating the Lumber River Senior Games. Ursula was also appointed as a new board member to Meals on Wheels of North Carolina. Please join the Lumber River Council of Governments and the Area Agency on Aging in congratulating Ursula Selles on being selected as a Shining Star.

From left, Kayla Lowry, Aging Specialist; Ursula Selles, Nutrition Director; Stephanie Powers, Family Caregiver Resource Specialist; Twilla C. Allen, Aging Administrator

Annette Eubanks (left), Incoming President of NCAOA and Ursula Selles, Nutrition Director

Senior Nutrition Program

Would you like to deliver meals to home bound seniors?

Call Ursula Selles at (910) 775-9762 or us@lrcog.org to sign up to deliver meals to home bound seniors in the Laurinburg, Lumberton, Maxton, or Pembroke areas.

Join Us

Caring for Those Living with Dementia and Managing Opioid Dependence with Older Adults

This educational activity is for both the Healthcare Professionals and the Caregivers who work with and care for older adults. This event will provide information on how to manage and care for the older population with dementia and opioid dependence.

27th Annual Lumber River Regional Senior Games

North Carolina Senior Games began in 1983 with a vision to create a year-round health promotion and wellness education program for adults 50 years of age and better.

Senior Games is a holistic approach to keeping the body, mind and spirit fit while enjoying the company of friends, family, spectators and volunteers.

For more information, contact Ursula Selles at (910) 775-9762 or at ursula.selles@lrcog.org .

Access Registration Form

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Annual Awards of Distinction Banquet

On Thursday, December 5, 2019, the Lumber River Workforce Development Board hosted the annual Awards of Distinction Banquet at the Lumber River Council of Governments. The banquet recognized our outstanding participants and employers throughout the Lumber River local area.

View Award Recipients

myFuture NC

The Lumber River workforce Development Board signed a resolution on Tuesday, December 12, 2019 in support of the myFuture NC initiative which will help bridge gaps in post-secondary attainment. The myFuture NC initiative has an educational attainment goal that 2 million North Carolinians will have a high quality post-secondary degree or credential by 2030.

Find out more

Finish Line Grant

The NC Department of Commerce Division of Workforce Solutions announced the continuation of Finish Line Grants (FLG) through the 2019/2020 academic school year. The Lumber River Council of Governments Workforce Development Board has established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bladen, Richmond, Robeson, and Sandhills Community Colleges for the 2019/2020 school year to continue providing FLG assistance.

Since its inception, Lumber River has provided 215 Finish Line Grant awards to community college students with unforeseen financial emergencies that may have prohibited their chance at completing their program of study. Students seeking assistance may contact the Financial Aid office at their local community college to apply.

Approved Finish Line Grant disbursements as of December 31, 2019

Bladen Community College

67 Awards

$37,770.35

Richmond Community College

36 Awards

$23,929.74

Robeson Community College

80 awards

$ 33,910.43

Sandhills Community College

32 awards

$20,943.75

TOTAL

215 awards

$116,554.27

Partners in Ministry WIOA Youth Program in Richmond and Scotland Counties participate in Fayetteville State College Tour.

Bladen Community College WIOA Youth Program participants attend a college tour at UNC-Pembroke.

Lumber River Council of Governments | Phone: 910-618-5533 | Fax: 910-521-7556