Partnerships Promote Local Government Success

NC League of Municipalities, NCACC, and Councils of Government help towns make the most of their American Rescue Plan funds

Author: Jessie Holmes

COVID-19 presented towns, cities, and counties with a historic challenge: continue to deliver vital government services while responding to an evolving public health crisis. Costs rose as local governments took measures to protect their employees and their communities, while tax revenue fell for some. 

Congress provided a lifeline in March 2021 with the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). It included $350 billion in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to help governments address the economic effects of COVID-19 and build more resilient, equitable communities. 

But this opportunity also came with a complex landscape of U.S. Treasury rules and time-consuming reporting requirements – often with fewer employees to handle them due to a public-sector labor shortage. To support local governments, North Carolina legislators provided a total of $30 million in grants from the State’s ARPA funds to the North Carolina League of Municipalities, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, and the North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Government, which represents sixteen individual Councils of Government (COGs).

These long-time organizations had the experience and relationships needed to partner with local governments to strategically plan for and spend COVID-19 relief funds, leading to better outcomes for communities and the people who live there.

Regional Councils of Government Provide Technical Support 

Similar experiences are playing out across North Carolina, saving communities time and money. For example, while some local governments such as Biscoe already had a vision for spending ARPA funds, others turned to their local COG for the best strategy. 

“We have created over 200 spending plans for local governments to roadmap how they want to spend those funds,” says Robert Hiett, who serves as both Chairman of the North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Government, and Executive Director of the Upper Coastal Plain COG based in Wilson.

Hiett says they’ve also helped local governments to secure an additional $83.5 million in grants from other sources to maximize the number and scope of projects communities can tackle, and COGs promote information sharing through meetings, newsletters, and resource databases. 

While COGs have served local governments for decades, the ARPA funds they received from the State have allowed them to expand that assistance at a time of historically heightened demand, and tailor it to each region.

“We’d like to thank our state and federal elected officials for allowing us to be an assisting organization with our state’s pandemic response, and to be part of the statewide solution,” says Hiett.

Golden Leaf Rural Internship Initiative

This summer, Golden LEAF hosted its second cohort of Rural Internship Initiative Participants. This program supports Golden LEAF Scholars with professional work experience related to their career field in a rural North Carolina community.

In its two years, more than 60 Golden LEAF Scholars have worked 17,000 hours in various sectors throughout 31 rural counties in the state. Scholars intern in a wide range of settings, including businesses, governmental entities, and nonprofits. Common fields of interest are health care, human services, government/public administration, engineering, education, and journalism/communication.

Golden LEAF Scholars are responsible for identifying a site to complete their internship. In preparation for the upcoming summer 2024 internship season, Golden LEAF is gathering information from entities interested in hosting an intern next summer. There is no commitment to host. Interested sites can complete the form here.

This list will be shared with Scholars in the fall of 2023 as a resource to locate internship sites. Students will be responsible for reaching out to sites from this list. 

If you have any questions, please contact Arlena Ratliff, Golden LEAF Scholarship Program Manager, at rii@goldenleaf.org.

CGP Names New President/CEO

Bob Pike to Succeed Norris Tolson

Rocky Mount, N.C. – The Carolinas Gateway Partnership’s Board of Directors named Robert B. Pike (Bob) as its new President/CEO, effective September 1, 2023. Pike succeeds E. Norris Tolson, who has led the Partnership for the past seven years. Tolson will remain with the organization for an interim period as he assists with the transitioning of leadership and the overseeing of special ongoing projects.

“Norris Tolson has done a tremendous job serving the Carolinas Gateway Partnership over the past seven years. Under his leadership, we have attracted many new industries into our region and have seen a lot of existing industry expansion and job creation. He was instrumental in bringing the CSX Carolina Connector Intermodal Terminal to our region, and it serves as a building block that will lead to much success in the future,” said Michael Bryant, chairman of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership Board of Directors.

He continued, “The Carolina Connector enhances our ability to recruit businesses and create jobs within the Twin Counties. We thank Norris for his great leadership and are very excited he will be staying with us during this transition.”

Pike, a native of Maryland, is already familiar with the Twin County region as he lived in Nashville and was employed by Braswell Foods for 17 years. A graduate of the University of Maryland with training in Agricultural Business and Engineering, Pike is married with four children and six grandchildren. He and his wife, Cindy, will be moving to Rocky Mount from his current home in Statesville.

“I am very pleased to welcome Bob Pike as the third President and CEO of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership. I, personally, have known Bob for many years. He is a great leader who cares about our region and will lead us well as we enter the next chapter of economic growth in our community,” said Bryant. “We welcome Bob and his wife, Cindy, back to our community. The Board of Directors is excited and confident we will continue to see job growth and economic investment in our region under Bob’s leadership.” 

Pike has a strong background in sales, marketing, and most recently, executive recruiting. Throughout his career in agriculture, he held numerous executive positions in the fields of poultry and food marketing. As part of his sales and marketing assignments, Pike served as a member and national officer in numerous professional organizations within the agriculture and poultry industry.

“This is an opportunity for us to come back and serve a community that has meant so much to me and my family over the last 30 years. The potential is immense to make a difference in people’s lives by helping to bring well-paying jobs to our community,” said Pike.

Established in 1997, the Carolinas Gateway Partnership is a public-private partnership dedicated to the creation of community wealth through the retention, creation, and expansion of business opportunities in Edgecombe County, the City of Rocky Mount, and the Town of Tarboro.

Carolinas Gateway Partnership

386 SW Main Street

Rocky Mount, NC 27804

252-904-4498

Application | CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization Grant Program Guidance and Application

Applicants can apply for Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) funds for 2023 by using this application and guidance document.

The 2023 key points are: 

• Deadline is 4:00 pm on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.
• All applications must be sent by way of United States Postal Service or an overnight delivery service.
• The available amount is approximately$12.48 million. Of this amount, $4.8 million is set aside for the Rural Community Development funds to assist Tier 1 counties with stand-alone, non-housing-focused projects. 
• Contacts are Angela Williams, Grants Management Representative, at awilliams@commerce.nc.gov or the new CDBG Section Chief, John F. Brooks at john.brooks@commerce.nc.gov. 

Documents

• Application | CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization Program with Guidelines
• Pre-Application | CDBG Notice of Funding Availability, Neighborhood Revitalization

If you need local UCPCOG assistance, please contact Tirence Horne at THorne@ucpcog.org.

NC Homeowner Assistance Fund Still Accepting Applications

Do you know someone who is past due on a mortgage and housing-related payments? The North Carolina Homeowner Assistance Fund may be able to help. The Fund, which was established through the American Rescue Plan of 2021, is designed to help prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults, displacements, and foreclosures due to COVID-19. The program is still accepting applications and providing financial assistance.

For qualified homeowners who are past due on mortgage and housing-related payments by at least 30 days, the fund offers:

• Housing payment assistance for primary residence in North Carolina
• Assistance for mortgage reinstatement to catch up on late payments (first and second mortgages) or other housing-related costs due to a period of forbearance, delinquency, or default
• Assistance covering other housing-related costs such as homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, mortgage insurance, homeowner’s association dues/fees or delinquent property taxes to prevent foreclosure.



Visit the program website for more information, to determine eligibility, and to apply for assistance: www.nchaf.gov. 

USDOT Grants and Technical Assistance Navigator Tool 

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently launched the DOT Navigator, a new online resource designed to help communities identify federal grant and technical assistance opportunities. The DOT Navigator tool includes a searchable database of technical assistance opportunities as well as a variety of grant application resources. 

Upcoming Environmental Justice Funding Opportunities

Environmental Justice Funding Opportunities

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to invest 40 million dollars into Environmental Justice (EJ) grants across the country. The EPA’s funding opportunities are expected to award non-profits with grants ranging from $100,000-$500,000 and US Territories, local governments, and federally recognized tribal government with access to $20 million in funding through the State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement (SEJCA) Program. $50 million is dedicated to the creation of Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTAC), one-stop-shops dedicated to supporting environmental justice initiatives in under-served communities.

A 14 minute presentation from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality covering these funding opportunities can be found here.

Other Resources

·    EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice

    Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center

·    EPA Grants

SITE PROGRAM

Golden LEAF recognizes that rural and economically distressed communities must have sites available for development to attract new businesses and create opportunities for existing businesses to expand. To address this need, Golden LEAF created the SITE Program. Through this program, Golden LEAF will provide support to communities to identify potential sites for economic development, enable completion of due diligence on sites already identified, or extend public utilities to or conduct grading and clearing of sites for which due diligence has been completed. Golden LEAF will accept applications from organizations in all counties, but will prioritize awards within counties that have been persistently economically distressed (as demonstrated by County Tier status determined by the N.C. Department of Commerce) and in economically distressed, rural, and tobacco-dependent communities.

The SITE Program consists of the three phases described below. Communities will be able to participate in the program in any of the three phases, and a site may progress from Identification through to Development over time.

• SITE Program – Identification provides support to identify potential industrial sites in communities that do not currently have quality industrial sites to market.
• SITE Program – Due Diligence provides funding to complete eligible due diligence activities such as environmental assessments, archaeological analyses, and mapping.
• SITE Program – Development provides funding for public infrastructure and, for publicly owned sites, clearing and grading, to benefit sites that have completed the due diligence necessary to demonstrate that the site is suitable for development.

If you’re not sure which phase is right for your project, we have a few questions to help guide you.

Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) NOFO Release

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has released the Fiscal Year 2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program, with up to $3.16 billion available for planning and construction projects.

This RCN NOFO is a combination of two major discretionary grant opportunities: The Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) and Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Programs. 

USDOT has combined these two programs into a single NOFO to provide a more efficient application process for project sponsors. While they remain separate programs for the purposes of award, the programs share many common characteristics, including: 

• Prioritizing disadvantaged communities,
• Aiming to improve access to daily destinations such as jobs, education, healthcare, food, and recreation, 
• Fostering equitable development and restoration, and
• Reconnecting communities by removing, retrofitting, mitigating, or replacing highways or other transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity, including to mobility, access, or economic development

Because of these shared characteristics, it is possible for many projects to be eligible and considered for both programs using a single application. The chart below illustrates the similarities and differences between the RCP and NAE opportunities. 

The RCN NOFO is now soliciting grant applications for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot discretionary grant program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and for the newly created Neighborhood Access and Equity discretionary grant program, established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).  

Under the combined RCN Program, USDOT is offering three grant types: Community Planning Grants, Capital Construction Grants, and Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants. 

• Community Planning Grants will award RCP and/or NAE funding for planning activities for future construction projects and allow for innovative community planning to address localized transportation challenges. In FY 2023, DOT may award up to $50 million of RCP funds and $135 million of NAE funds for eligible public engagement, feasibility studies, and other planning activities.
• Capital Construction Grants will award RCP and/or NAE funding to carry out a project to remove, retrofit, mitigate, or replace an existing eligible dividing transportation facility with a new facility that reconnects communities; mitigates a burdening transportation facility that is a source of air pollution, noise, stormwater, heat, or other burdens; or implements a strategy to reduce environmental harm and/or improve access through transportation improvements. In FY 2023, DOT may award up to $148 million of RCP funds and $2.57 billion of NAE funds for eligible construction activities. 
• Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants will award NAE funding to a project led by two or more eligible applicants to address a persistent regional challenge related to equitable access and mobility. Eligible activities for Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants are the same as those listed under Capital Construction and Community Planning Grants but must have a regional focus, and clearly demonstrate regional coordination and leveraging of local, State, and Federal resources and policies.  In FY 2023, DOT may award up to $450 million of NAE funds to support regional collaboration and innovation on the eligible activities under Community Planning or Capital Construction Grants.

The NOFO can be found on Grants.gov.  Applications must be submitted through Valid Eval (links below). To apply, the three grant programs have been split into two application sites:  



1. Community Planning Grants and Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants with Planning Activities 
2. Capital Construction Grants and Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants with Construction Activities  

USDOT will evaluate applications for the programs using common merit criteria and considerations to provide a more streamlined and efficient application process for project sponsors. The common set of criteria include:  

• Equity and Environmental Justice   
• Access   
• Facility Suitability   
• Community Engagement   
• Community-based Stewardship, Management, and Partnership   
• Equitable Development   
• Climate and Environment   
• Workforce Development and Economic Opportunity

Additional considerations include cost effectiveness, demonstrated project readiness (including technical assessment, financial completeness, and environmental review), permitting risk, and geographic diversity among recipients – including a balance between the needs of urban and rural applicants.

USDOT has created a joint RCN website with additional information and will be hosting several informational webinars for prospective grant applicants in the following weeks. Please visit Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant Program | US Department of Transportation to subscribe and receive updates, plus review additional information on upcoming webinars, how to apply, frequently asked questions, and the Department’s Benefit Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant programs. 

The NCDOT Integrated Mobility Division (IMD) and the Transportation Planning Division​ created an annual matching grant program – the Multimodal Planning Grant Program (MMPG) – to encourage municipalities to develop comprehensive bicycle plans and pedestrian plans. This program was initiated in January 2004 and is currently administered through NCDOT-IMD.



The Multimodal Planning Program has been successful in its 20 grant cycles - since 2004, 254 planning grants have been awarded. To date, a total of approximately $8 million has been allocated to 248 municipalities and 6 counties through this grant program.​​

EDA accepting applications to support public planning and construction/renovation projects that advance job creation and economic development

The Economic Development Administration is a federal agency that provides grant funds to support a range of construction and non-construction activities which will advance economic development and enhance the competitive environment in which jobs can be created and private investment leveraged. Public entities, or nonprofit entities working in collaboration with local governments, looking for support to construct or renovate public assets, or to conduct analysis or regional technical assistance programs with clear economic development outcomes should consider EDA’s grant programs. EDA currently has a range of programs available. For further information, please go to https://eda.gov/funding-opportunities/.  



North Carolina applicants are also encouraged to reach out to the NC EDA representative, Hillary Sherman at hsherman@eda.gov to discuss program requirements and processes and alignment with potential projects. 

PROTECT

Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity

Summary 

The vision of the PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program is to fund projects that address the climate crisis by improving the resilience of the surface transportation system, including highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. Projects selected under this program should be grounded in the best available scientific understanding of climate change risks, impacts, and vulnerabilities. They should support the continued operation or rapid recovery of crucial local, regional, or national surface transportation facilities. Furthermore, selected projects should utilize innovative and collaborative approaches to risk reduction, including the use of natural infrastructure, which is explicitly eligible under the program. 

The NOFO can be found on grants.gov at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=347585.

More information on this NOFO and the PROTECT Program can be found at: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/protect/discretionary.

Applicant questions should be directed to: PROTECTdiscretionary@dot.gov

Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program

Notice of Funding Opportunity

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) created the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, which makes $10 million available over five years to provide states, local governments, and tribal governments with grants to support project development leading to future applications to DOT credit or grant programs. The grants can support legal, technical, and financial advisors to help them advance infrastructure projects. The first notice of funding opportunity will include two fiscal years and will make $3.4 million available to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible project sponsors may receive grant funds to select advisors to assist with pre- development-phase activities, including: 

•   feasibility studies

•   project planning

•   revenue forecasting and funding and financing options analyses 

•   preliminary engineering and design work

•   environmental review

•   economic assessments and cost-benefit analyses

•   public benefits studies

•   statutory and regulatory framework analyses

•   value-for-money (VFM) studies 

•   evaluations of costs to sustain the project

•   evaluation opportunities for private financing and project bundling 

The online application window will open from August 14 until September 27, 2023. For more information click on the following link:



https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/RuralandTribalGrants

Governor Roy Cooper has developed a comprehensive strategy to build digital equity

across North Carolina, and the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Equity is

executing that strategy to ensure that all North Carolinians have access to an affordable,

high-speed internet connection and have the devices and skills necessary to participate in

the modern digital economy.

The Digital Equity Survey focuses on the accessibility and affordability of digital devices

and the internet as well as digital skills needed to safely access online resources. Your

response will help ensure that we create an effective and comprehensive state digital

equity plan that addresses the digital equity needs of all North Carolinians.

The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. All responses will be

automatically captured as you work through the survey. No data will be released or used

that can identify participants. Participation is voluntary; you may choose not to answer any

or all questions and may stop at any time.

DISASTER RESILIENCY, RESPONSE, RECOVERY:

Upper Coastal Plain Council of Government (UCP) is providing planning and project management services in support of a statewide effort to expand the capacity of local governments susceptible to natural disasters so they can effectively plan for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from declared disaster events as well as restore and improve their communities.

To date, UCPCOG and partners worked with the NC Office of Recovery & resiliency’s RISE Program to develop a regional vulnerability assessment and portfolio of priority projects that strengthen regional resilience. This includes high-priority projects and a list of the actions needed to implement each proposed project. 

Additionally, PDS staff have hired contractors to aid with:

• Disaster Recovery Financial Administration Training;
• Regional and local resilience priority planning;
• Water/sewer/stormwater project identification needs
• Food system resilience and response;
• Energy needs preparedness focused on microgrids for emergency services and shelters and electric vehicle charging infrastructure;
• Mapping, data, and GIS information storage;
• And funding source identification for project needs related to the items above.

Thirty-one (31) participants from across the 5 counties recently responded to our local government survey. Early analysis highlights include:

• The climate/disaster hazard that was recognized to be of the most concern for the region is severe storms;
• The infrastructures identified as the most at risk are stormwater, telecommunications/internet, and wastewater;
• The vast majority (90%) of respondents are interested in receiving further assistance on issues related to disaster resilience. 

In the coming months we will be hosting finance, resiliency project priority planning, and topical workshops. We will also be offering one-on-one technical assistance, helping to facilitate peer-to-peer connectivity, and working with targeted community partners to address specific local needs including funding source identification. For more information or to stay engaged: Ron Townley, rtownley@ucpcog.org.  

NC Climate Action Corps Resilience Project Coordinator

WILSON, NC

$30,000 Annually

Apply for this position (2 positions available)

This position is with the Upper Coastal Plains Council of Governments, based in Wilson, North Carolina. The UCPCOG, which consists of the municipal and county governments of Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton, and Wilson Counties, is committed to successful regionalization; therefore, we plan, administer, and deliver quality state and federal programs and services for the benefit of our citizens.  

This 2023-2024 AmeriCorps position will have a start date (for new full-time 11 month members) of October 16th 2023 and an end date of September 16th 2024.

**Please make sure you upload all of the required documents - Resume, Cover Letter, State or Federal ID, College Transcripts, Birth Certificate (if US Passport not uploaded).** If required documents are not uploaded at time of application, any offer for employment will be withheld until they are provided. All AmeriCorps Members must submit to having a National Sex Offender, State of Residence (if state is different than NC), State of NC, and Federal FBI Background check conducted. Any applicant denying to submit to these checks will be automatically disqualified as per federal regulations.

For the 2023-2024 service year, the NC Climate Action Corps through Resilience Corps NC offers a living stipend of $30,000 for 11 months, health insurance reimbursement for premiums, childcare assistance, and professional development opportunities (individual trainings, enrollment in NC Environmental Education Certificate Program, and conferences in conjunction with VolunteerNC). Members are also eligible to sign up for SNAP benefits. Participants who complete the program will receive a Segal Education Award of $6,895 from the National Service Trust.

CTNC is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate because of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual preference or familial status.

CTNC seeks to engage applicants from underrepresented communities, particularly of Asian, Black, Hispanic, Multi-Racial, and Native American background, in conservation careers. Connecting more diverse applicants to an employment pathway has led to greater equity, diversity and inclusion of all people in conservation.

Purpose of the Position

The Resilience Project Coordinators will serve as the Upper Coastal Plain region’s resource for community and climate resilience. All 46 local governments across the five counties (Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton, and Wilson), will be invited to engage with these members to conduct various resilience focused activities. Staying true to UCPCOG’s mission and the purpose of COGs, the members will be encouraged to develop new partnerships that can promote resilience on a larger scale or in a more efficient manner.

Position Responsibilities and Duties

Resilience Project Specific Duties:

• Create of a database of regionally significant critical facilities that are vulnerable to flooding and roadways prone to flooding
• Develop a heat wave response protocol template for emergency managers and local governments
• Assist UCPCOG’s Food Systems Planner with local/healthy food system projects by promoting and integrating sustainable agricultural practices
• Assist in integrating hazard mitigation plan strategies into regional plans
• Assist with grant applications for resilience focused projects related to flooding or heat
• Develop and implement storm-water or stream restoration plans that alleviates flooding of homes, businesses, and local communities.
• Arrange volunteer days for stream clean-ups, accompanied by educational outreach to communities members about extreme heat health concerns.
• Attend community events, gatherings, and meetings to develop relationships between the community and the host organization.
• Educate local government leaders on community/climate resiliency (and their non-profit partners, residents, businesses)
• Work directly with local governments (or groups of local governments) to carry out hosting events, educational workshops, or community resilience town halls (these may be done at the regional level as well).
• Work with community organizations and individuals to share stories and impact of environmental action activities.

Communication:

• Practice inclusive and thoughtful behavior in building rapport with program participants, site stakeholders and program staff.
• Communicate regularly and effectively with program staff, and site personnel.
• Report data in online systems in a timely and accurate manner.

Program Requirements:

• Demonstrate regular, timely attendance and adherence to hours as scheduled.
• Commit to service for the service term of 11 months, serving the minimum number of 1700 hours.
• Participate in all required AmeriCorps sponsored training sessions, meetings, and travel as necessary. Community Stewardship Coordinators will receive training on best practices for community engagement, group facilitation, and communicating about climate change with a focus on pursuing climate justice.
• Actively participate in service projects and commemorating days such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (as applicable). These may include evening and/or weekend hours.

Qualifications 

• Must be 18 years of age or older prior to your start date.
• Must have at least a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent by your start date.
• Must be either a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
• Must pass mandatory National Service Criminal History Checks.
• Speak, read, and write English fluently.
• Experience with professional computer skills and confidence using computers. Comfort and experience using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel), completing internet searches, and navigating resources online, completing data entry, using e-mail regularly including sending attachments, using databases and software, using videoconferencing software, and attending training online.
• A valid driver’s license and the ability to pass a driving record check. Access to a personal vehicle for transportation.

Essential Functions / Physical Demands

• Some working hours are primarily based in an office setting and require sitting, standing, and operating a computer and telephone. 
• Some working hours may require light to moderate lifting, bending, stooping, pulling, kneeling, carrying, and use of hand tools up to 30 lbs.

Preferred Schedule

The typical work week will range from 36-40 hours spanning certain designated business hours. The schedule is flexible with supervisor approval. Some remote work will be possible while in person work will also be required. Generally, the service member will serve Monday-Friday between 8:00AM and 5:00PM. The member will have flexibility to adjust workday length based on programs facilitated and time served throughout the week, as long as required hours to complete service term are met. 



JOB CODE: UCPCOG

Solarfest 2023 - All for Solar!

Get ready to immerse yourself in the captivating world of solar energy and its potential to revolutionize our communities at the much-awaited Solarfest: All for Solar! This exceptional event is set to take place on Thursday, October 5, from 10 am to 2 pm. Best of all, it's free and open to everyone! Join us for a day of celebration, enlightenment, and exploration.

Event Highlights:



• Enlightening Discussions: Engage in insightful discussions about vital topics, including equitable access to clean energy, renewable energy education, and the economic prospects of rural areas. Gain valuable insights from experts and thought leaders shaping the future of sustainability.
• Interactive Learning Stations: Experience the thrill of hands-on activities suitable for all ages. Dive into interactive learning stations that showcase the wonders of solar energy and its impact on our lives.

Community Connection: Connect with local resources and discover how you can contribute to a greener future right in your own community.

Need technical assistance? UNC Environmental Finance Center is here to help!



The UNC Environmental Finance Center offers free one-on-one technical assistance for small water systems. If you have an interest in our support, fill out our interest form here.

American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund: Preparing for the Audit

Published: 06/21/23

Author Name: Kara Millonzi

As detailed in previous posts, all NC counties and municipalities received federal grant funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recover Fund (ARP/CSLFRF). There are detailed expenditure guidelines, and compliance and reporting requirements for these grant funds. A local government’s auditor plays an important role in monitoring compliance with these requirements and flagging any issues during the annual audit process. Most NC local governments spent at least some of their ARP/CSLFRF funds this fiscal year, and it’s time to start preparing for the annual audit. The following is a summary of the ARP/CSLFRF grant and helpful resources for a local government and its auditor in preparing for this significant compliance check.

Brief Overview of ARP/CSLFRF

The ARP/CSLFRF is a federal grant program that provided funding to the state, counties, and municipalities for a mix of COVID-related and general government expenditures. Eligible projects are defined in four broad areas:

1. Responding to COVID-19 and Its Negative Economic Impact
2. Revenue Replacement
3. Premium Pay
4. Necessary Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, and Broadband Infrastructure

US Treasury has defined in detail what qualifies as lawful expenditures in each of these categories. And North Carolina local governments also must ensure that they have state law authority for the expenditures. (There are some expenditures authorized by the grant that are not authorized for NC local governments under state law.)

ARP OFFICE HOURS 

The School of Government just released new dates:

• Tuesday, September 5 – 8:30-9:30 a.m. (Focus on ARPA/CSLFRF Flex Provisions)
• Tuesday, September 12 – 8:30-9:30 a.m. (Focus on Opioid Settlement Funds)
• Thursday, September 21 – 12:00-2:00 p.m. (Focus on ARPA Basics)
• Tuesday, September 26 – 8:30-9:30 a.m. (Focus on Procurement)
• Tuesday, October 3 – 8:30-9:30 a.m.
• Thursday, October 12 – 12:00-1:00 p.m. (Focus on Subawards)
• Thursday, October 19 – 8:30-10:30 a.m. (Focus on ARPA Basics)
• Tuesday, October 24 – 12:00-1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 31 – 8:30-9:30 a.m.



ZOOM LOG IN

Here is the new Zoom Log in for all Office Hour Sessions:

https://zoom.us/j/95481909044?pwd=UlE2VHNhN2luS0JEYTJqeTZTMFRWdz09

Meeting ID: 954 8190 9044

Passcode: 779726

One tap mobile

+16469313860,,95481909044# US

Have you reviewed guidance and other resources and still have questions about getting started and administering your local ARPA funds? For technical assistance, please contact your Upper Coastal Plain Council Of Governments. We are here to help!

Betsy Kane, Senior Regional Planner, phone 252-234-5902

email: bkane@ucpcog.org

AGING

STATE AGING PLAN

The Division of Aging and Adult Services of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is required by federal and state laws to submit a State Aging Plan every four years as a guide for the aging and adult services population in North Carolina. 

What is a State Aging Plan?

• Highlights goals, objectives, and strategies aimed at assisting older adults, their families and caregivers, and persons with disabilities.
• Serves as a valuable tool for planning/tracking all efforts on behalf of older adults, particularly in optimizing the state's home and community-based service system.
• Reflects extensive input from the community, actively considering the needs of populations facing racial and ethnic disparities.
• Click here to access the 2023-2027 State Aging Plan.
• Click here to read more about the vision and priorities of the 2023-2027 plan and here for a overview of the plan process and goals. 

2023 Publication by USAging on the Role of AAA’s Nationwide

This brochure features an overview of the latest data gathered from AAAs nationwide to provide a snapshot of the evolving role these vital agencies play in the planning, development, coordination and delivery of a broad range of aging and other home and community-based services in every community in the United States.

https://www.usaging.org/Files/USAging_Local%20Leaders%2023_508.pdf

‘Resilience factors’ can help mitigate negative effects of loneliness in older adults

(Credit: SolStock / Getty Images)

Engaging in more activities, expanding social networks and increasing the use of technology are examples of “resilience factors” that can lower the risk of loneliness among older adults, according to a new study from Hebrew SeniorLife.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers from Hebrew SeniorLife, along with Brown University, the Connell School of Nursing at Boston College, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, set out to determine whether social isolation during the pandemic had adverse effects on health outcomes for older adults, and if so, whether resiliency factors could help mitigate those effects.

Their findings were published this month in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

The researchers said that their study confirmed that even in a highly educated, high-functioning cohort of older adults, loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly associated with poorer self-rated health and declines in mental health scores compared with pre-pandemic levels. 



Using the COvid Related Isolation AND Elders with Resilience (CORIANDER) study — designed to investigate loneliness through the Successful Aging after Elective Surgery, or SAGES, cohort — they found that 16.4% of participants reported loneliness. The SAGES study is a National Institutes of Health-supported ongoing cohort study of older adults who underwent elective surgery at Harvard-affiliated academic medical centers.

The United Health Foundation recently released the 2023 Senior Report, an annual review of the health of the nation’s older adults and a critical tool to help guide individuals, community leaders and policymakers to make decisions that are informed by reliable data. The report highlights successes and challenges older adults face in a broad range of health measures to help provide a portrait of the health and well-being of older adults throughout the United States. 

Surprise! The Happiest Workers Are Older Workers

Here’s what’s making employees 65 and above more fulfilled than younger colleagues

By Richard Eisenberg

August 18, 2023

The Pew Research Center frequently publishes fascinating studies about America and Americans, but its recent jobs survey was an eye-opener. Pew learned that employees aged 65 and older are the happiest.

Two-thirds of those 65+ are extremely or very satisfied with their jobs, compared with just 44% of employees 18 to 29.  |  Credit: Getty

Specifically, its survey of 5,188 U.S. workers who aren't self-employed found:

• Two-thirds of those 65+ are extremely or very satisfied with their jobs, compared with 55% of those 50 to 64 years old, 51% aged 30 to 49 and just 44% of employees 18 to 29.
• Older workers are the most likely to say they're satisfied with their relationship with their manager or supervisor (62% said so).
• Employees aged 65+ are the most likely to say they're satisfied with their day-to-day tasks (51%) and opportunities for promotions (33%).
• These workers are more likely than others to say they find their job enjoyable and fulfilling all or most of the time.

The Big Story: Older Workers

"We went into this study almost looking for a story about younger workers," said Juliana Horowitz, associate director of research at Pew. "But the ones who really stood out were 65 and older."

They're a significant part of the workforce, now topping 7%. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says Americans 65+ are also the fastest-growing group of workers and will number 13 million by next year.

To better understand what's making 65+ employees the happiest, I asked Horowitz to analyze her survey's results and spoke with several workforce experts.

School of Government FY 23-24 Course Catalog 

As the School of Government looks ahead to 2023-2024, we are pleased to release our updated course catalog.

The courses in this catalog focus on topics related to local government law, finance, management, administration, and leadership.

This catalog lists all scheduled courses at the time of its printing. Additional courses may be added throughout the year.

For up-to-date-information, view upcoming course opportunities online.

On-Demand Courses Available Now | Ethics and Newly Elected Leaders Bundle

Ethics for Elected Municipal Officials

The League's General Counsel Office has developed an online Ethics training for members that meets the state statutory requirements. This engaging, on-demand course offers insights into the laws and principles that govern conflicts of interest, ethical standards of conduct at the local government level, and provides enhanced issue-spotting analysis and reasoning skills.

Register Here

Want To Take Ethics As A Group?

The League is now offering the ability for members to take their Ethics training as a group. For example, if your full council would like to take the Ethics course together during a meeting, you can view it under one person's account, but each registered attendee present will receive credit. If you are interested, please email Grace Findley to make sure each participant receives full credit.