December 2022

Regional News

Save the Date - ECC Regional Legislative Breakfast - January 23, 2023

ECC is planning on hosting a Legislative Breakfast in our region on Monday, January 23, 2023. More details will be shared once plans are confirmed.

Newport hires William Shanahan, Jr. as Town Manager; ECC Assisted the Town with Recruitment

The Newport Town Council has hired former Surfside Beach, S.C. Town Administrator William P. Shanahan Jr. as the town’s new manager. His first day on the job is scheduled for Dec. 19^th.

Shanahan is a native of Liverpool, England. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he has over two decades of local government experience in both municipal and county management. He comes to Newport from Surfside Beach, S.C., where he has served as town administrator for the past two years. Prior jobs include serving as city manager in Palatka, Fla., as well as St. Mary’s, Ga., deputy administrator in Augusta, Ga., and county manager for Habersham County, Ga. Prior to his most recent job in Surfside Beach, he served as York County, S.C. manager.

ECC assisted Newport with its manager search, and we welcome him to our region!

For more information on Newport’s hiring of Mr. Shanahan, visit https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_559d23a4-7004-11ed-9e2d-1b750b656617.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share.

R.I.S.E. Eastern Carolina Draft Portfolio Comment Period Open until December 5^th

The Eastern Carolina Council has been working with the NC Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) on the Regions Innovating for Strong Economies and Environment (RISE) program to develop a portfolio of priority projects that strengthen our regional resilience. This multi-phase effort includes a forward-looking vulnerability assessment, the identification of 5 high-priority projects, and a list of actions needed to implement each project.

We held two RISE Eastern Carolina public workshops on October 18^th and 19^th at Lenoir Community College and had wonderful participation and feedback! Thanks to all who participated! The Eastern Carolina RISE Stakeholders Group met on October 31^st to review feedback from the public meetings and potential project priorities. A final stakeholders meeting was held on December 5th at 10:00 a.m.

A Regional Resilience Portfolio has been drafted, and the comment period is officially open until December 5th, but project managers will take additional feedback through December 7th. Each region’s portfolio identifies five priority resilience projects with regional resilience benefits. For those projects that have already identified potential implementing partners, that information will be included as well. Implementation strategies will be included in the final draft.

· Draft Regional Resilience Portfolio

· Email feedback

· Please be specific with comments and specify a page and/ or paragraph when possible.

At the end of the Regions Innovating for Strong Economies and Environment (RISE) Regional Resilience Portfolio Program, each of the participating regions will have a final portfolio of priority projects based on the area’s specific needs, which can be used when seeking funding from federal and other sources.

ECC RECRUITING FOR A SECOND COMMUNITY PLANNER

ECC continues to recruit for a second community planner. The advertisement is online at ECC Community Planner Advertisement.

Craven Community College Student Training

Eastern Carolina Council Area Agency on Aging staff members January Brown, Angelia Pridgen, and Anita Douglas provided training to 27 Craven Community College RN students on November 22, 2022. Students participated in the Dementia Live simulation and received training focused on individuals with Dementia, elder abuse, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, and the Family Caregiver Support Program. The Dementia Live simulation is a high impact, dementia simulation experience that immerses participants into what life might be like living with cognitive impairment and sensory changes. To schedule a Dementia Live simulation or Dementia training in your county, please contact January Brown at 252-638-3185, ext. 3011 or via email: jbrown@eccog.org.

The Town of Wallace is Hiring a Town Manager

The Town of Wallace (pop. 3,880), located in southeastern North Carolina is seeking a strong and experienced leader for the position of Town Manager. The Train Depot and Boney Mill Pond point to the town’s history while numerous opportunities for recreation and growing commercial development make Wallace an advancing community. Having 3 exits on I-40, it’s a 40 min. drive to Wilmington, 45 min. to the beaches and an hour and a half to Raleigh. With 64 full-time employees this full-service municipality has an operating budget of approximately $10 million for FY 2022-23.

Click here to view ad.

ECC Now Developing Proposals for Communities that Need 160D Compliance Reviews

Chapter 160D of the North Carolina General Statutes requires that if a local government wants to enforce zoning the local government must have and reasonably maintain a comprehensive plan or land use plan. When Chapter 160D was first adopted under Session Law 2019-111, Section 2.9(c) of that law set a deadline for local governments to get a plan in place: July 1, 2022. The effect of not having a comprehensive plan or land use plan is that, after July 1, the local government will not be able to enforce zoning.

The General Assembly extended the deadline for towns with a population under 1,500. Those towns have until July 1, 2023, to adopt a plan.

ECC is now working with communities who are not 160D compliant to review their ordinances and make recommendations to help these communities come into compliance. Each community’s ordinances are different and will take varying amounts of time to review. ECC is developing technical assistance proposals for conduct these reviews based on each community’s ordinances and needs.

Communities that are not 160D compliant are strongly encouraged to contact ECC Executive Director David Bone at 252-638-3185, ext. 3005 or at executivedirector@eccog.org.

UNC Environmental Finance Center seeking conversations with communities that have water and wastewater access issues

The UNC Environmental Finance Center is conducting a study about “Donut hole” communities – communities that are in close proximity to safe water and wastewater service but face significant structural, social, economic, and political challenges accessing them. Because they are often surrounded by these systems but remain separate from them, they are popularly called “Donut Holes.” Federal and state policy encouraging equitable access to safe water and wastewater service is raising awareness about the issue of “Donut Hole” communities across the United States.

As part of this study, the UNC Environmental Finance Center is seeking conversations with communities that have water and wastewater access issues. If you feel your community may be a “donut hole” in regard to water and wastewater service, please reach out to:

Andrew Waters

Project Director

UNC Environmental Finance Center

abwaters@unc.edu

https://efc.sog.unc.edu/

New RPO Web Pages

Have you checked out our new RPO web pages? There is a wealth of information and links about transportation plans, projects, and resources. We now have some of the best RPO pages in the state! Check them out by clicking the logo below.

myFutureNC Releases 2022 County Attainment Profiles

The new, updated 2022 County Attainment Profiles produced by myFutureNC are now available online. The 2022 County Attainment Profiles highlight each of North Carolina’s 100 counties’ educational attainment levels and performance on key myFutureNC metrics in order to assist in the decision-making process regarding local priorities to increase educational attainment at the local level. There is also an overall 2022 attainment profile for the state.

National Family Caregivers Month 2022

During November, Eastern Carolina Council Area Agency on Aging staff members January Brown and Anita Douglas hand-delivered 500 caregiver gift bags to local providers throughout our region. These providers will distribute gift bags to the caregivers they serve. Family Caregiver Support Program providers received Joy for All robotic birds to provide an interactive solution for caregivers. National Family Caregivers month is celebrated each November to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. This November, Eastern Carolina Council Area Agency on Aging recognized and honored caregivers whose acts of love, commitment, and compassion enable their loved ones to receive the support they need to live a life with dignity.

Training

Ethics Training for Elected Officials

ECC is once again partnering with Attorney David Baxter of Sumrell Sugg to provide the required ethics training for newly-elected and re-elected local government officials. The training will be held on Wednesday, February 15^th from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the ECC Offices. A light dinner will be served. If you are interested in signing up for this training, please register here.

Grant Opportunities

Grant Opportunity Paved Trails and Sidewalks Feasibility Grant –The NCDOT Integrated Mobility Division will be awarding $2.5 million worth of grants ranging from $60,000-$120,000 for feasibility studies on paved trails/shared-use paths and sidewalks. The purpose of the Paved Trails and Sidewalk Feasibility Studies Grant Program is to improve the pipeline of bicycle and pedestrian projects accessing state and federal funding, resulting in successful implementation of projects led by communities prioritizing multimodal infrastructure.

There would be no local match, nor is this a reimbursement grant (NCDOT chooses and takes care of paying the consultant). For more information, visit https://connect.ncdot.gov/municipalities/PlanningGrants/Pages/IMD-Feasibility-Studies-Program.aspx.

If you have a sidewalk or multi-use path that you’d like to study in your town, please contact RPO staff to help you develop an application.

EDA invites applications for job-creating projects

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is inviting applications under its Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs to support a range of construction and non-construction activities that 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.

Solid Waste Infrastructure For Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Political Subdivisions

The Solid Waste for Infrastructure (SWIFR) grant program funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is a historic investment in the health, equity, and resilience of American communities. The unprecedented funding provided by the BIL through the SWIFR grants will assist local waste management authorities by supporting improvements to local post-consumer materials management, including municipal recycling programs, and assisting local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems. The SWIFR grant provides a critical opportunity to fund a range of high-impact projects to increase recycling, reduce contamination, and promote a circular economy for sustainable materials management by making much-needed investments in solid waste management infrastructure.

Letters of Intent (optional) due December 15, 2022. Applications are due January 16, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET.

For more information and to apply, click here.

T Mobile Hometown Grant Program is Available to Help Build Small Towns

The T Mobile Hometown Grant Program is accepting applications from small towns with populations of fewer than 50,000 to help build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections in the community. Applications are due December 31, 2022. To learn more, please go to: https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants.

NC Recreational Trails Grant Program

North Carolina’s Recreational Trails Program is now accepting grant applications for the 2023 cycle. The program values trail projects that are legal, safe, managed, provide connectivity, public access, and reasonable parking. Grant candidates should be shovel-ready trail projects that enhance sustainability and provide low-infrastructure economic development opportunities through natural resource tourism. The Trails Program staff are also available to assist applicants with conceptual projects, in order to meet the technical requirements of an RTP Grant before applying. Please visit Trails.NC.Gov for more information.

Final applications are due February 17, 2023.

NC Recreational Trail Grant Program

The North Carolina Recreational Trails Program is accepting applications to support shovel-ready trail projects that are ready for construction. Applications are due February 17, 2023. To learn more, please go to https://trails.nc.gov/trail-grants/apply-grant.

Grant Opportunity - NCDOT Carbon Reduction Program

NCDOTs Transportation Planning Division has issued a call for projects in the Carbon Reduction Program. There is approximately $19 million to spend on these projects across rural communities in the state for the first two years of the program. While many of the details are being worked out, we can provide the following summary:

Projects will be locally administered, meaning whichever community receives the funds is responsible for the delivery of the project.
RPO staff is discussing with NCDOT Divisions in the region to understand their willingness to administer these projects. It should be noted that if the Division agrees to administer the project, there is a 10% cost increase for that service. If the Division contracts that service, it is safe to assume a 25% cost increase.
These are federal funds, so once the funding is received and signed by the local entity, that entity is on the hook for the local match.
Communities interested in these funds should be cautious about inaccurate cost estimates. They will only receive the 80% reimbursement for the funds allocated in their application, any spending at any capacity over the initial amount is the responsibility of the locality (at 100%).
Communities should send project ideas to their RPO staff ASAP so we can send it up the chain for pre-approval. Even if you believe your project may not qualify, go ahead and send it to your RPO staff to see if it will be approved. Staff will send the project concept to TPD, who will clear it with FHWA, at which time the RPO staff will notify the applicant if the project is eligible.
Each RPO has 4 submittal slots for communities between 5,000 and 49,999 in population, and 8 submittal slots for communities under 4,999 in population.
Formal applications are due for this program on March 17^th of 2023, HOWEVER, RPO staff asks that you send project ideas to us by the end of the calendar year so we can get them pre-approved.

ARPA Resources

ARP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO ECC MEMBERS

Eastern Carolina Council is now able to provide American Rescue Plan (ARP) technical assistance to its members, at no cost to our members, through grant funding support. Carlton Gideon is now the Senior Community Planner for ECC, and his primary focus at this time is to provide American Rescue Plan / Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARP/CSLFRF) program technical assistance. If you have a question about ARPA compliance, policies, or reporting, please contact Carlton at cgideon@eccog.org or at 252-638-3185, ext. 3018.

ARPA Office Hours Schedule for Local Governments

The UNC School of Government (SOG) hosts virtual ARPA Office Hours for local governments to discuss issues related to the American Rescue Plan Act Fiscal Recovery Fund program. NCACC participates in these sessions and provides timely updates for counties on ARPA-related matters. Click here for the UNC School of Government ARPA webpage and see below for upcoming ARPA Office Hours.

Friday, December 2, at 12:00 p.m.
Friday, December 9, at 8:30 a.m.
Monday, December 19, at 8:30 a.m.

Click here for the Zoom sessions.

Meeting ID: 919 0699 8701

Passcode: 912104