Robert Hiett
Executive Director
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Creating Regional Solutions Since 1971 |
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Read the Newest Issue of Southern City!
In the newest issue of Southern City, we look at the American Rescue Plan and two questions that surround this generational opportunity: How can we spend the money? How should we spend the money?
This issue also includes a profile of the tireless Kinston Mayor Don Hardy, a Q&A with Sen. Sydney Batch, a look at the recurring legislative issue of land use, a new photo essay feature, and explainers on some valuable NCLM offerings.
We also remember the late Mayor Chuck Allen - a devoted public servant whose impact will be felt throughout the League, Goldsboro and the state of North Carolina for years to come.
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ARP Reporting Deadlines Extended into 2022
The U.S. Treasury announced Thursday that the previous Oct. 31 deadlines for cities to file their reports on expenditures of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds will be extended into next year.
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For the state’s 26 metropolitan cities, the Project and Expenditure Report is now due on Jan. 31, 2022.
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For the state’s 525 cities designated as non-entitlement units (NEUs) – which covers virtually all cities with a population under 50,000 – their first report to the U.S. Treasury is now due on April 30, 2022.
The extension of these deadlines provides cities with much-needed time to work through the details for reporting to the federal government. Additional reporting info is expected from the U.S. Treasury in the months ahead. Deadlines for spending have not changed with this announcement, and ARP funds are still not required to be obligated until Dec. 31, 2024, and spent by Dec. 31, 2026. With the state still deciding on the appropriation of its ARP funds, and the U.S. Treasury expected to update its current interim spending guidance in the coming months, there remains ample time for cities to plan for the expenditure of their funds.
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2022 NC DEACS Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant
Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant (CWRAR) Program. This recurring annual grant program provides funding to public recycling programs for projects that help communities build lasting capacity to divert materials from the waste stream and/or increase public awareness of recycling. This grant cycle is timed to correspond with local government budget cycles. Applications are due by 5:00 pm on Thursday, February 17, 2022. Instructions and guidelines are provided in the following request for proposals: PDF or Word. Grant winners are typically notified in April and funds become available on July 1st. For more information or assistance please contact Sandy Skolochenko at (919) 707-8147.
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Ag Grant Program
All counties of the COG/TP Region are eligible to apply for this Ag Grant.
NC AgVentures provides grants to North Carolina family farms, and community organizations such farmer associations and farm co-ops to develop new and innovative agricultural projects which will increase farm profits. This is a great opportunity for any producer who is thinking of diversifying, improving, or expanding their operation.
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New Comprehensive Study & Asset Map on Healthy Food Access in North Carolina's Upper Coastal Plain
Croatan Institute in collaboration with the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments (UCPCOG), Working Landscapes, ABC2, the Just Foods Collaborative and many other regional and state partners, released a series of resources detailing healthy food access in the Upper Coastal Plain of North Carolina.
This work culminated in an analysis of the region’s local healthy food system including an interactive map of existing assets and resources, identification of food system gaps and opportunities, and recommendations on how to improve healthy food access for low-resourced and minority communities. It also identifies opportunities to increase economic opportunities and food system resilience through greater inclusion of small and minority food farms, value chain businesses, and community residents.
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The US Census Bureau released a Federal Register Notice with details of the 2020 Census Count Question Resolution (CQR) program. CQR allows the highest elected tribal or local leader to challenge 2020 Census counts based on boundary or housing count issues. The free program will run from January 2022 to June 2023.
The CQR website will be updated with details of the program and participation process and requirements, but in the meantime, these details are listed in the notice. Please browse the following link:
The comment period for this Notice ends on November 29, 2021.
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2021 North Carolina Local Government Stormwater Management Survey
Published with support from the N.C. League
The survey includes questions related to fee setting and capital planning, how utilities anticipate using debt, strategies for inventorying stormwater assets and infrastructure, local stormwater ordinances and codes, and methods of public outreach. The results serve as a tremendous resource for our municipalities.
Perhaps most notably, the Needs Assessment estimates $2.76 billion in stormwater needs in the state in the next 15 years.
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Invitation to Contribute to
Regional Disaster Resilience
The Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments and the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency invite local government staff, other professionals, and residents interested in learning more about the RISE Regional Resilience Portfolio Program’s Stakeholder Partnership to attend an interest meeting. Attendees should live or work in Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton, and Wilson Counties in North Carolina.
This Stakeholder Partnership will run from December 2021 until approximately June 2022. Members will provide input on the development of a regional-scale vulnerability assessment and portfolio of projects designed to increase resilience to hazardous events such as hurricanes, other extreme storms, flooding, heavy precipitation, heat waves, droughts, and wildfires. The commitment is estimated at three hours a month. Interested individuals should attend one of the following meetings:
RISE Stakeholder Partnership Interest Meeting – Open to the Upper Coastal Plain region
Monday, November 8th, 2021; 10:00 – 10:45 am
RISE Stakeholder Partnership Interest Meeting – Open to all Eastern North Carolina regions
Wednesday, November 10th, 2021; 10:00 – 11:00 am
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This virtual regional accelerator is designed for small businesses owned by minorities and women, located in underserved counties in eastern North Carolina. We are currently establishing Cohort II, and we are searching for business owners, as well as mentors. I’m reaching out to connect with you to see if there are members of your organizations that would like to participate in ENCEP Cohort II, or become a mentor. This is a great opportunity to give back to the community! ENCEP Cohort II, applications will open November 1st - November 30th. Our launch date is January 18th 2022. The deadline to apply to become a participant or mentor for this program is Tuesday, November 30th, at 5pm.
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“The NC Clean Energy Technology Center has been selected by the national SolSmart program as an Advisor organization that will help local governments in the UCPCOG region encourage the growth of solar energy. The Center will provide no-cost technical assistance to help local communities make it faster, easier, and more affordable to go solar by helping them remove unintentional barriers to solar installations. For more information, visit the SolSmart website. For an introduction to a technical advisor at NCCETC, contact Tirence at thorne@ucpcog.org”
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Certification of local implementation of the healthcare career pathways in Edgecombe County Public Schools. Turning Point staff along with Career Pathways facilitator and School Superintendent and staff. The Turning Point Local area has 4 certified career pathways, and has worked with TP staff Duna Long and career pathways facilitator Brandi Bragg to bring local pathways into NC Works Centers and K12 for students with career interests in Healthcare. The TPWDB Local Area continues to support pathways in the Region. |
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Business Pulse Survey
NC Commerce is now requesting businesses to participate in a survey that can measure changes in business, staffing, conditions, etc. during timeframes, taking the “pulse” of the business. Staff will review the data to determine how the conditions of businesses are changing. For more information visit: www.nccommerce.com and search business pulse survey and click Launch to complete this survey.
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November is National Family Caregivers Month
Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. It offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers. The national observance is spearheaded by Caregiver Action Network (CAN), a nonprofit that provides free education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers. CAN announced the 2021 Theme, #CaregiverAnd which encourages family caregivers to celebrate the passions and interests that enrich their lives. This is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country.
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Essential Jobs, Essential Care: Brown Bag Policy Lunch Series
Data-Driven Solutions to Strengthen the Direct Care Workforce
Friday, November 19, 2021
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Featured panelists:
- Emma Sandoe, NC Division of Health Benefits
- Sandi Lane, Appalachian State University
- Stephen Campbell, PHI
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Social Security Announces 5.9 Percent Benefit Increase for 2022
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 5.9 percent in 2022. The 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2022. Increased payments to approximately 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2021. (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. Read more here.
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Medicare Open Enrollment Starts October 15th
Every year, Medicare’s open enrollment period is October 15 - December 7. Remember the Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counsels Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers about Medicare, Medicare supplements, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and long-term care insurance. Counselors offer free and unbiased information regarding Medicare health care products. SHIIP counselors are not licensed insurance agents, and they do not sell or endorse any product, plan, or company. SHIIP has counselors in every county across the state who are trained to be the go-to people for seniors and Medicare beneficiaries in their local communities. Local counseling is done by appointment in each county. Call the SHIIP at 855-408-1212 Monday- Friday from 8:00 am to 5 pm or email ncdoi.ncshiip@ncdoi.gov.
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Rural COVID Vaccine Tool Kit
NRHA has developed a grassroots initiative to help rural health stakeholders build vaccine confidence at the local level. Vaccine hesitancy in rural communities means COVID-19 will linger in these communities for the foreseeable future – unless something more is done to increase vaccinations. The Rural Vaccine Confidence Initiative and the communication tools developed for it are available here.
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Data from North Carolina Long-Term Care Facilities Show Dramatic Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination
As COVID-19 cases surged this summer fueled by the Delta variant, hospitalizations and deaths among residents in North Carolina long-term care facilities were significantly lower than during the winter surge, as shown in data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The decrease in cases and severe illness can be attributed to vaccination for residents and staff of long-term care facilities and to the work done by long-term care providers to implement measures to protect staff and residents from COVID-19.
While reported COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities increased during July through September of 2021, average weekly cases decreased by 89%, hospitalizations decreased by 93% and deaths decreased by 95% when compared to November and December of 2020, when most long-term care residents were not vaccinated. As of last week, more than 80% of long-term care facility residents have been fully vaccinated.
Additional data on outbreaks further demonstrate the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Currently, outbreaks in long-term care facilities are smaller in size and have fewer associated deaths compared to any other time during the pandemic. Additionally, comparing those same time periods shows the duration of outbreaks in long-term care facilities has decreased. Summary case counts and long-term care facilities currently in outbreak status can be found in the weekly Outbreaks and Clusters report.
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Advancing Municipal Leaders:
NCLM's On-Demand Learning Platform
The N.C. League of Municipalities’ Advancing Municipal Leaders program has launched a new online course catalog and learning platform. Full of on-demand courses dedicated to municipal leadership, AML’s new platform provides you with the opportunity to learn at your own pace and on your own schedule. Course subjects cover a variety of topics at affordable prices.
Earn Your Order of Municipal Leadership Online!
The Order of Municipal Leadership course bundle has been created as a way to guide you through important topics at a deep discount; the Order of Municipal Leadership is the first of AML’s three certification levels. Our on-demand training seeks to balance the importance of professional development, the realities of tight municipal budgets, and the time constraints we know our municipal leaders face every day.
Browse the AML Online Catalog here.
View step-by-step instructions for accessing the catalog here.
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AML Course: Top 10 Things Municipal Elected Officials Should Know About Affordable Housing
Nov. 9 | 10 a.m.
It's no secret that having an affordable supply of housing opportunities improves the quality of life and well-being of communities. Affordable homes can attract and retain employees, support the local workforce, and lead to better financial stability for residents.
The N.C. League of Municipalities’ Top 10 Things Municipal Elected Officials Should Know About Affordable Housing will identify the local challenges surrounding affordable housing and development. Attendees will receive an overview of the best practices and practical tips in addressing affordable housing and advancing equity for all members of the community.
Register today to learn more about affordable housing and why it’s valuable to your community.
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Registration for the School of Government’s Development Finance Toolbox program is now open. The program will be held online over a three-day period, December 7-9, 2021 at the School of Government.
Featuring instructors from the National Development Council and the School, the course is designed for elected officials, local government development professionals, and managers. The course teaches participants the basics of development finance tools used by North Carolina local governments to achieve their community and economic development goals.
Topics discussed will include:
· Federal financing programs and tax credit financing
· Public-Private Partnerships for Redevelopment
· Opportunity Zones and the Local Government Role
· Local government capital financing
· Tax increment financing (TIF) and synthetic TIF
· Business improvement districts
· Attracting private investment to Main Street
The registration fee includes a workshop (held on the first day of the course) designed to teach you the basics of calculating an estimated return on investment and different ways of thinking about debt and equity, heightening your intuition about what is and is not a worthwhile project.
CLE and AICP credit will be posted once the agenda is finalized. To find more details about the program and to register, please click here.
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Nov. 17
Upper Level Residential Development In Your Downtown
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Caregiving Webinars
AARP is hosting a two-part webinar series. Part 1: The Signs of Caregiver Burnout discusses the importance of caring for oneself as a caregiver and gives advice and tips on how to recognize and avoid caregiver burnout. Part 2: Tips and Tools for Self-Care builds on the first webinar, focusing on specific resources and practices caregivers can use to take better care of themselves including stress management, grief management, relaxation, meditation, and more.
Part 1 of the webinar will be held on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Part 2 of the webinar will be held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. ET.
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121 W. Nash St. Wilson, NC 27893
252-234-5952
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