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.

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

Accessibility for Parks Grant Program 

Application Period Now Open

The program is administered through the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

The Accessibility for Parks grant program provides $10 million for parks and recreation grants to benefit children and/or veterans with disabilities in North Carolina. Municipalities and counties are eligible to apply for the matching grants. The application period closes November 1.

The matching grants can be used to build special facilities or adapt existing facilities that meet the unique needs of children and/or veterans with physical and developmental disabilities. 

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.  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making available $759 million in grants and loans to enable rural communities to access high-speed internet, part of the broader $65 billion push for high-speed connectivity from last year's infrastructure law. One is North Carolina's AccessOn Networks in Halifax and Warren Counties.

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.

Did you know that 41 of North Carolina's counties are collaborating on digital inclusion plan? As BAND NC makes our way across the state ensuring each North Carolinian can access and adopt quality broadband, we invite you to join us virtually on November 15th at 10 a.m. to learn how to bring digital inclusion to your community. 

We'll walk through a sample "digital inclusion 101" presentation, share county-specific resources, and hear from Durham and Chatham counties' partners on their own planning processes- what worked and what didn't. 

Presenting Digital Inclusion: Getting Your County Started on a Digital Inclusion Plan

Nov 15, 2022 10:00- 11:00 a.m.



Registration

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 Office Hours



If you’ve got questions about ARPA, every week there is an opportunity to ask the experts at the UNC School of Government. Log on to their “Office Hour” zoom and ask your questions directly. You can also hear questions and answers from other localities about their ARPA funds. 

ARPA office hours are hosted by ARPA expert 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:

·        Tuesday, November 1, at 8:30am

·        Wednesday, November 9, at 8:30am

·        Thursday, November 17, at 12:00pm

·        Tuesday, November 22, at 8:30am

·        Friday, December 2, at 12:00pm

·        Friday, December 9, at 8:30am

·        Monday, December 19, at 8:30am

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 Questions” 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

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

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.

For the past 9 months, the Aging team has engaged with Cohort 2 of the Resilient Leaders Initiative, powered by Rural Opportunity Institute (ROI). We have been working very hard to connect with our community to listen, understand, and address needs. We’d love to show you what we’ve been up to in the program! 

Please join us virtually for Cohort 2 Public Presentations on Wednesday November 16th at 2 pm. Each team will share presentations on their pilots and how these pilots will support their communities. Hope to see you there!  To register, see the flyer for instructions!  

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 

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.

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.  

The UNC School of Government is pleased to announce that registration for the Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Finance workshop is now open. This is a one-day in-person course that will take place on December 6^th at the NC Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill. The following includes instructions on the registration process and a link to access the registration page.

To register, click the registration link below and scroll down to “Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Finance,” then click “Register Now.” After registering, you should receive a confirmation email. Once registration has closed, complete information regarding Canvas login instructions, materials, and details about the course will be provided via email. Please see the Stormwater Finance course page for more information about the course itself.

Registration Link:

Click Here to Register

REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE UNTIL TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29^th AT 5:00 PM.

If you are unable to automatically link, copy and paste the actual URL into your browser. Please contact the School of Government registrar if any other issues arise with accessing the information. 

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.