Robert Hiett
Executive Director
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Creating Regional Solutions Since 1971

December, 2022

News

Read the Full Annual Report Here

UPPER COASTAL PLAIN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS RECEIVES THREE NATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS


Each year, the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) recognizes member organizations that demonstrate valuable and effective approaches to regional economic and community development through our awards program. The Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Awards (formerly known as the Innovation Awards), have recognized nearly 2,000 NADO member projects since 1986 for their creative efforts in advancing regional economic development and improved quality of life. The breadth and scope of the winning projects is impressive and far-reaching and illustrates the important role NADO members have in supporting regional development, initiatives, emergency planning, brownfields, sustainability, technology, transportation, workforce development, and many others.  


Aging - Resilient Leaders Initiative


This program has supported our region's vision for economic development and improved quality-of-life by teaching us to implement human-centered designed little bets that can improve the resilience of individuals and communities and help to leverage additional funding to continue the healing of ACES and trauma endured by so many within our region; thereby, positioning individuals to lead their most healthy and productive lives. By facilitating healing, reconciliation and collaboration across diverse organizations and communities, we can continue to "develop assets, skills, and technologies from local to regional levels, creating value greater than the sum of individual parts."


PDS - Broadband Task Force


The grassroots nature of the Broadband Task Force, the partnerships it has created, and the results it has shown make it impactful and deserving of an award. The task force is grassroots because it is truly regionally led. The partnership RFIs that resulted from the task force’s EDA-funded broadband initiative are the best examples of this. The first, which was initiated by UCPCOG with task force oversight as a planned deliverable for the broadband initiative, was a partnership between the Towns of Lasker, Woodland, and Rich Square and Northampton County government. The three towns decided to work together on a broadband RFI and established a triangle-like boundary around their three jurisdictions, including the unincorporated portions of Northampton County in between (67 square miles total). The three towns are close by but have not partnered together in recent memory other than through county-wide planning efforts. The RFI steering committee, which consisted of each Mayor and the county economic development office, were happy to work together, were thrilled with the RFI responses, and plan to work together in the future on similar efforts. The county government decided to release another broadband RFI on the other side of the county with UCPCOG’s technical assistance in partnership with the Town of Gaston, which also garnered responses from ISPs. Each of the task force deliverables have been similarly impactful and have ultimately led to improved connectivity across this traditionally underserved region.


Workforce - New Start Glow


This program has supported our region’s vision for economic development and improved quality-of-life by assisting regional citizens with second chances to employment opportunities through local re-entry programs and partner agencies. In addition, this program provides safe awareness for incumbent workers in search of resources to combat recidivism, thereby increasing employee retention and building the workforce talent pipeline needed for a vibrant economy. The project matches business demands for qualified jobseekers that improves their quality of life while enhancing the local economy.

Funding/Grants

This Simple Strategy Can Help You Win Grants

 

Do you need help winning grants? The first question to ask yourself is: how much time does it take to compile a grant proposal? Do you find yourself usually rushing through the grant process? If so, this could be your problem. Strong applications take time and effort to get right. It can be difficult to write a clear and compelling proposal when you feel rushed. So my advice is to start the process as early as you can. 


The amount of time required to compile, write, and submit an application can vary between grants. This may take time away from other important business activities, so you should first establish if the effort is worth the return. Before you start, it is important to make sure you have the time to commit to the grant process.

The simple strategy you need to know to help you win grants.


Here are two tips that help applicants to prepare and submit strong grant proposals.

Read the Tips Here

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. Please visit the program’s website at Trails.NC.Gov for more information.

Final applications are due February 17, 2023.

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

Planning and Development

NOW HIRING:  PDS REGIONAL PLANNER


The Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments (Wilson, NC) is seeking qualified applicants to join the Planning and Development Services Department (PDS) and assist with the operations of the Council. Serving as the lead regional organization for a five-county region, PDS works in partnership with federal, state, and local member governments, allied organizations, and community leadership. With diverse sources of funding, we comprehensively identify and address local and regional priorities and needs in the interrelated areas of community and economic development, infrastructure, workforce, and more.  

Read the Full Job Description Here

Please share this opportunity with anyone who may be interested.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the expansion of the Rural Partners Network (RPN) to several communities in North Carolina. RPN is an all-of-government program that partners with rural people to access resources and funding to create local jobs, build infrastructure and support long-term economic stability on their own terms. All five UCPCOG counties are involved. 

 

Learn more here:



Biden-Harris Administration Expands Rural Partners Network to North Carolina | USDA

Resource: New Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation Portal


Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) jointly launched the Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) Portal to help communities across the nation understand the real-time climate-related hazards in their area, analyze projected long-term exposure to those hazards, and identify federal funds to support climate resilience projects for their communities. 

 

CMRA integrates decision-relevant information from across the U.S. government, including climate maps and data; non-climate data such as building code standards, economic justice, and social vulnerability information; and federal grant funding opportunities. The website’s new CMRA Assessment Tool offers information on past, present, and projected future climate conditions to support planners and managers in assessing their exposure to climate-related hazards. The site also helps users create their own custom climate exposure assessment for specific locations and customize statistics and visual representations of the hazards in their particular area.

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.

On November 21st, the Institute for Emerging Issues hosted Congressman David Price, along with leaders from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the N.C. Department of Information Technology to announce $6.4 million in federal funding for broadband expansion and digital inclusion efforts in North Carolina from the Internet for All Initiative. Following the announcement, BAND-NC Director Samantha Graham joined NTIA and NCDIT leadership, along with other leaders, for a stakeholder roundtable. For a full press release of the event, visit here.

USDA and EDA Launch Resource Guide to Boost Economic Development in Rural Communities


The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development just released a joint resource guide to help community organizations access USDA and EDA resources to build strategies to boost economic development in rural America.


VIEW THE JOINT PLANNING RESOURCE GUIDE FOR RURAL AMERICA


This joint planning resource guide for rural America will better equip our communities with an easy to access and easy to use tools to maximize the work of providing greater and inclusive economic prosperity across our country.

WHAT'S INSIDE

The resource guide outlines programs and services that can be used to advance community and economic development in rural communities through four key focus areas:

  • Planning and technical assistance
  • Infrastructure and broadband expansion
  • Entrepreneurship and business assistance
  • Workforce development and livability

The guide also features information and links to USDA Rural Development and U.S. Economic Development Administration key priorities and resources.


ARPA Corner

ARPA Office Hours



New to ARPA? Need just the basics?


The UNC School of Government will offer “Office Hours for ARPA Newbies” online in January. These free zoom meetings are designed just for those grappling with management of ARPA local funds for the first time. 


Log on to the “Office Hour” zoom, ask questions, and hear from other localities on their questions and answers.


Check https://arpa.sog.unc.edu/arp-training-videos/  to watch for the dates and times of the January sessions. 


ARPA office hours are hosted by ARPA expert and UNC professor, Kara Millonzi, to help answer eligibility, compliance, and reporting questions related to the ARP/CSLFRF award.

Email Rebecca Badgett to get the Zoom link for all Office Hours: rbadgett@sog.unc.edu

Upcoming sessions are scheduled on:

·        Friday, December 9, at 8:30am

·        Monday, December 19, at 8:30am


Check https://arpa.sog.unc.edu/arp-training-videos/ for the January sessions that are geared toward local government people who are new to the ARPA process

Scam Alert! 


Some local governments are receiving marketing pitches or even scams about their federal SAM registration or DUNS / UEI number.


Marketers or scammers reach out in an email "reminding" you that your SAM registration must be updated every year. These companies offer their help for a price. 

They will often try to make their email message sound “official.”  It may say something like “NOTICE OF EXPIRING REGISTRATION.” It will include a link where you may think you are going to the federal government website, but it actually sends you to a place where you can get “assistance” for a large fee. 


Be aware that they do not work for the government. Renewing your SAM information is always a FREE process.


You do not need to pay a go-between to submit a SAM renewal or update a DUNS registration to a UEI number.


These marketers may use a website name or verbiage that sounds official and governmental.


Remember: The genuine U.S. governmental site for SAM registration is SAM.GOV.


There is NO COST to use the SAM.GOV site.

 

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As of April 4, 2022, the federal government switched from the DUNS number to the UEI (Unique Entity Identification) number. If you have an existing registered entity but do not know your UEI number, you will find your UEI number on SAM.gov. New entities will receive their UEI number when registering on SAM.gov. Go to this shortcut to find your UEI number: tinyurl.com/2p936kkz.

Did your local government receive your second remittal of ARPA funds? 

Did you select the “Revenue Replacement” option?


If you answered “Yes” to these questions, you may be ready to take the next steps towards spending your ARPA funds!  


Your Upper Coastal Plain COG stands ready to help you. On our ARPA Technical Assistance page, you’ll find Frequently Asked Questions, where you will find out the two next steps that will enable “Revenue Replacement” communities to start expending ARPA funds. https://www.ucpcog.org/planning_and_development/arp.php


You can also use this Roadmap developed by the UNC School of Government to guide you through ARPA next steps:


https://canons.sog.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1175/2022/09/Roadmap-for-Revenue-Replacement-Expenditures-Fillable-PDF-FINAL51.pdf

FREE course from the UNC School of Government


From A to Z: Using ARPA Fiscal Recovery Funds to Directly Fund a Capital Project


Is your local government carrying out a capital project (water, sewer, stormwater, or broadband) with its ARPA funds? This FREE, conveniently pre-recorded training course shows you exactly how to implement a capital project with your ARPA funds, from start to finish!  


Go to https://arpa.sog.unc.edu/arp-training-videos/ and scroll down to “From A to Z: Using American Rescue Plan Act Fiscal Recovery Funds for a Capital Project”. The link goes to pre-recorded videos that you can watch at your convenience. 

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You’ve got ARPA questions -- Your Upper Coastal Plain COG has answers!


Newly updated Frequently Asked Question” on the UCPCOG website can help you.

 

·       How do we get started with spending our ARPA funds? 

·       When is the next Treasury report due? 

·       What can we spend our ARPA funds on?

·       How must we track and keep records of our ARPA projects spending? 


The most popular queries from our member governments are posted on our website with answers and resources to help you!  Check it out at:


https://www.ucpcog.org/planning_and_development/arp.php

Podcast: The American Rescue Plan and Local Infrastructure

Got 19 minutes? Take that time to check out our newest episode of Municipal Equation, where we cover the most pressing issues facing our cities and towns.
Learn the basics of the American Rescue Plan.
How it is a generational opportunity—to both recover from the pandemic and to prosper well into the future.

How it's a chance to address critical areas of need, like water utilities and infrastructure.
And how our towns' leaders are making it count. Be sure to search & follow Municipal Equation on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcast streaming service to always have the latest episode.
Listen to the Podcast Here
The UNC School of Government Releases it's new American Rescue Plan Website
Visit the website here

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

WorkForce Development

Congratulations to the Turning Point Workforce Development Board under the leadership of the Executive Director Michael Williams for being recognized at the November 9 NCWorks Commission meeting for obtaining Career Center Certification. Congratulations again to the Turning Point Workforce Development Board.

Are You Posting Jobs to NCWorks.gov?


Is your business posting job openings to NCWorks? If not, you should be! It’s completely free to use the NCWorks.gov website, which offers you the chance to connect daily with jobseekers across North Carolina. Plus, you can find resumes of candidates with the skills and qualifications you’re looking for, as well as up-to-date labor market information.

 

Your next employee could be just a few clicks away! If you need assistance, the professionals at your local NCWorks Career Center are here to help.

In the Turning Point Region:

Very good turnout at the NCDMV hiring event. The first hour was dedicated to employees impacted by the loss of QVC-Rocky Mount, in which their jobs were lost. Our team has been dedicated to sharing information and resources from many partners, working closely with QVC HQ, Employers, County officials and NCWorks. Thank you NCWorks Career Center-RMT for being onsite: Veterans Representative, Career Advisor and Center Manager. The first 2 hours yielded a turnout of 250 jobseekers!

AGING

North Carolina Influenza Rates Among

Highest in Country


North Carolina is one of seven states with a "very high" rate of influenza-like illnesses, according to the latest CDC data.



Context: Flu season begins in October, and illnesses usually peak between December and February.


Why it matters: The data suggests this year's flu season is hitting the U.S. earlier than in previous years, especially in the South, Axios' Jacob Knutson reports.


  • Flu activity levels haven't been this high this early since the 2009 swine flu pandemic.


  • The spike also coincides with a higher rate in RSV cases compared to previous years and the continued spread of COVID-19.


What's happening: With multiple respiratory viruses swirling, some Triangle hospitals' intensive care units and emergency departments are operating at max capacity.

Read the Full Article Here
Take the Survey Here

*Please Note: You will need to print the survey and send to us (either electronically or by mail) so that we can submit.

Age-Friendly Insights Poll Shows Support for Policies to Help Family Caregivers


The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) asked adults living in the United States for their opinions on policies to help family caregivers, including those recommended in the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.


Key poll findings include (1) Caregiving is a common experience across every demographic group in America, yet many caregivers don't know where to find help. (2) Policies to support family caregivers are universally popular across political affiliation and other demographics. To learn more about the poll:




Explore graphics and social posts to spread the survey’s findings

Medicare Enrollees Warned about Deceptive Marketing Schemes


By AMANDA SEITZ

November 5, 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mailers designed to look like official government forms. Buses sporting scam pitches for Medicare websites. TV commercials featuring celebrities who encourage people to sign up for Medicare plans that do not always include their current doctors.


With Medicare’s open enrollment underway through Dec. 7, health experts are warning older adults about an uptick in misleading marketing tactics that might lead some to sign up for Medicare Advantage plans that do not cover their regular doctors or prescriptions and drive up out-of-pocket costs.


“It’s a very complicated environment where people are receiving information from companies that are also selling them plans,” said Gretchen Jacobson at the Commonwealth Fund, a health care think tank. “It’s important we find a way to protect and inform consumers.”


Business is booming in the Medicare Advantage plan marketplace, which offers privately run versions of the government’s Medicare program for people who are 65 and older or have disabilities. Competition for customers is fierce, with insurers turning to marketing agencies and brokers in an effort to help stick out among dozens of plans offered through the program.


Staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are on the trail. They are secretly shopping for plans by calling the numbers linked to some online, TV and newspaper ads placed by these marketing firms, according to an agency memo sent to insurers last month. Already, the operation has turned up insurance agents who were using inaccurate information to sell plans. In some cases, ads or agents have overstated the benefits that enrollees would get and the money they would save in the new plans.


The government agency, known as CMS, can issue warning letters and, in some cases, small civil fines for violations.



“CMS is concerned about the marketing practices of all entities, including Third-Party Marketing organizations,” Kathryn A. Coleman, director of the agency’s Medicare Drug and Health Plan Contract Administration Group, wrote in the letter.


The agency reported a spike in complaints last year around misleading Medicare Advantage ads, receiving nearly 40,000 compared to 15,000 in 2020. Data is not yet available for this year.

Changes to CMS’ Special Focus Facilities Program Will Improve Care for Residents 



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is increasing scrutiny and oversight over the country’s poorest-performing nursing facilities in an effort to immediately improve the care they deliver. In a series of revisions to the Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program, CMS will toughen requirements for completion of the program and increase enforcement actions for facilities that fail to demonstrate improvement. CMS is also calling on states to consider a facility’s staffing level in determining which facilities enter the SFF Program. The announcement is part of a series of new actions the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to increase accountability of bad actors in the nursing home industry, improve the quality of nursing homes and make them safer. Learn more.

Social Security Announces 8.7 Percent Benefit Increase for 2023


Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase 8.7 percent in 2023. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January. The 8.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 65 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2023. Increased payments to more than 7 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2022. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits). The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.



Press release   COLA message from Acting Commissioner Kijakazi 

 

Workshops/Webinars

Registration Now Open for 2023 NADO & DDAA Washington Conference


The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) and the Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA) invite you to register for the 2023 Washington Conference, held from March 12-15, 2023 in Arlington, VA. The conference will include sessions focused on regional development, the federal landscape, and the programs and policies that matter most to Regional Development Organizations and their stakeholders. Click here to learn more and to register.

Save the Date: 2023 Emerging Issues Forum

February 13, 2023

Raleigh, NC


For North Carolina to stay competitive in an increasingly global, mobile and diverse economy, we need more workers, of all backgrounds and skill sets, to get hired and thrive in the workplace. The 2023 Emerging Issues Forum will examine ways to overcome barriers and help workers find employment and stay engaged in the workplace. By putting talent first—increasing our understanding of what employees are looking for and how employers and systems can respond—we can better energize, equip and unleash North Carolina’s full abundance of talent.

Learn More

Registration is Now Open for the 2023 Winter Seminar

 

The winter seminar is February 1-3, 2023 in-person at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem. 


To register and to make hotel reservations, click HERE. 


Wednesday Keynote Speaker: Christopher Chung, CEO, Economic Partnership of North Carolina


Friday Workshop: Making Your Strategic Plans Work for You . Speakers: Obed Pasha, Associate Professor, School of Government; Mark Matthews, Assistant Manager, Town of Fuquay-Varina; John Hodges, Assistant Manager, Town of Garner (separate registration required $35)


Friday Mobile Tour: Tour of the Winston-Salem Police Department’s “Real Time Crime Center” 


Concurrent Sessions: Trends in Fire Service (First Responder Track); Keeping the Community Affordable; Recruitment & Retention Trends in NC (HR/Organization Track); Trends in Law Enforcement (First Responder Track); Innovative Approaches to Addressing Homelessness (Community Development Track); Employee Mental Health/Resiliency (HR/Organization Track); Cyber Security: What Managers Need to Know Now! (First Responder Track); Best Practices for High Performing Teams (HR/Organization Track); Civic Weaving Community Engagement into Your Civic Fabric (Community Development Track)


MPA Students and Directors Sessions: MPA Student Session: What Does it Take to be Successful in Local Government?; Speed Networking for MPA Students; MPA Directors Meeting.


Click HERE for the full Winter Seminar agenda.


Guidebook App: The agenda will be available on the NCCCMA Winter Seminar 2023 Guidebook app in January 2023. To download the app, go to the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store on your device, search for “Guidebook” and download. Once the app is downloaded, search for “NCCCMA Winter Seminar 2023.” 


The app contains the full schedule, speaker information, vendor information, parking map, Benton Convention Center map, Marriott Hotel map, downtown map, and a restaurant map! 

Intermediate Purchasing Seminar

February 13-15, 2023 | Chapel Hill

9:00am-5:00pm | Course Cost: $455

 

This three-day seminar offered once a year, will sharpen participants' purchasing skills and deepen their understanding of the legal and practical aspects of public purchasing. 

 

This course is intended for officials with two or more years of experience in local governmental purchasing.

 

What You'll Learn:

  • Bidding and property disposal
  • Capital leasing
  • Performance management and benchmarking
  • Insurance and risk management
  • Electronic bidding and contract management
  • Effective communications
  • Ethics and conflicts of interest
  • Practical skills training, including handling difficult bids

 

Click here to view the course page and register. 

LELA 301: Strategic Planning: Linking Strategies to Results 


January 19, 2023

ONLINE via Zoom

Registration: $225

 

Effective local government leaders not only deal with the challenges at hand each day,

but they also anticipate future challenges – a growing population that needs

another school; an aging population that needs a senior center; another farm

being subdivided that needs water and sewer line extensions—and seek to shape

the future intentionally. 

 

Think about what the future holds for your community: are you and your board or

council planning for the future you want?  Our research shows that

effective local government leaders have a vision for the future of their

communities, and they share that vision willingly and openly with their

constituents.  Learning how to plan for a different future requires

strategic thinking – the ability to imagine a different future and develop the

steps needed to get you there.   


In this class you will learn the principles and processes involved in strategic

planning. You will learn how to use your local government budget as a planning

tool to execute your vision over a multi-year period, and you will explore

the leadership behaviors that are important elements of success,

including:  

·        

 

o   Engaging people in your efforts who will be impacted by the changes you seek.  

o   Evaluating progress towards your goals over time. 

o   Adapting to changing circumstances when needed. 

o   Allocating resources to achieve your vision and goals. 

o   Holding yourself and others accountable for making progress.    

 

Click HERE to learn more and register.  

  

Please feel free to reach out to Ling Rudicil at lrudicil@sog.unc.edu with any questions.  

Essentials of County Government

 

The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and the School of Government are again partnering to offer newly elected commissioners a crash course on the essentials of county government. This program, designed to help county commissioners successfully transition from campaigning to governing, will introduce the basic functions of county government and the role of the governing board. It will also cover the 2-hour mandated ethics training for county commissioners. The program is targeted to newly elected commissioners, but incumbent commissioners, manager, clerks, attorneys, and others are welcome to attend, too.

Registration will soon be available for three offerings – two in-person and one online:

  • December 15-16, 2022, in Asheville, NC (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday)
  • January 12-13, 2023, in Durham, NC (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday)
  • January 18-20, 2023, online (8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Wednesday through Friday)


Click here for more information on the course and to sign up to receive notification when registration opens.


Please share this information with both newly elected and incumbent county commissioners!

Registration Open:

ON DEMAND Ethics for Local Elected Officials


Registration for Ethics for Local Elected Officials On-Demand is now open! For more information or to register click HERE. This is an on-demand or pre-recorded training.  

 

After you register, the course will appear on your Canvas dashboard.  


March 14-16, 2023

Statesville, NC


The NC Main Street Conference is open to ANYONE, not just NC Main Street program participants.  Anyone with interest in downtown revitalization and downtown sustainability will benefit from attending this sizable statewide conference. Mark your calendar to meet us BACK IN PERSON, in Statesville, NC.


Registration OPENS 1/9/23


Plan Ahead:


  • Add March 14-16, 2023, to your calendar.
  • Begin discussing conference attendance with your board members and volunteers.  The more people in attendance, from your community, the more they will understand downtown economic development through the context of historic preservation!
  • Discuss creative ways to cover the conference cost with your board.   Example, A training sponsorship could help cover the cost for your volunteers to attend the conference.  
  • Encourage town staff and town leadership to participate.  The most successful programs are ones that have a strong partnership with town leadership, town staff, and the private sector. Attending the conference together is a great way to develop stronger relationships AND for everyone to learn the latest trends in downtown economic development together!
121 W. Nash St. Wilson, NC 27893
252-234-5952
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