ChatGPT Prompt Tips for Government Leaders

Leadership in the digital age is not just about making informed decisions, but also about utilizing AI tools effectively. Ready or not, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making its way into government settings. ChatGPT can help you or your staff become more productive, but most people in governmental settings right now don't understand the basics of prompt generation. In short, you are only going to get a quality output if you give ChatGPT a quality input (i.e. prompt).

But how do you communicate with an AI to get the best results? Let's demystify the process!

Prompt Structure 101: Think of a ChatGPT prompt as a four-part recipe that guides the AI to deliver exactly what you need. Here's a simple breakdown:

1️⃣ Instructions: Clearly state your request. Like a mission for the AI, this is what you want it to do for you. Be specific!

2️⃣ Context: Provide background information so the AI understands the scenario. It's like giving it a sense of the environment your request exists in.

3️⃣ Input Data: Include critical details relevant to your request. This is the raw material the AI uses to craft its response.

4️⃣ Output Indicator: Specify the format or type of response you're looking for. This could be a report, a list, or an analysis.

NC DEQ’s Division of Water Infrastructure

Announces Spring 2024 Funding Application Training at Five Locations Statewide

Asheville, Hickory, Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Greenville

Feb. 27 through March 8, 2024

Session on March 5 is also offered virtually and will be recorded for posting on the Division’s website.

Applications for loan and grant funding for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater (construction only) projects must be received by the Division no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend training. There is no cost to register.

Training will cover information on funding programs, application package completion, Priority Rating Systems, funding timelines, and will include instructions on how to apply for Lead Service Line Replacement/Inventory funding. A primer for utilities designated as Distressed will also be provided.

Schedule and Locations for Spring 2024 Application Training Sessions

RSVP by registering online prior to the desired session. All training sessions contain the same content. Application materials will be available on the Division website before training begins. Maps for each of the venues will also be located on the Division website.

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, Asheville, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (35 seats available)

Land of Sky Regional Council of Governments

339 New Leicester Highway, Suite 140, Asheville, NC 28806

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, Hickory, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (30 seats available)

Western Piedmont Council of Governments

1880 2^nd Ave. NW, Hickory, NC 28601

Tuesday, March 5, 2024, Raleigh, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (50 seats available)

Albemarle Building, 2^nd floor

325 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603

*Parking is available in Visitor Lot 2 (Deck 75) on N. Salisbury Street.

**Main entrance is on N. Salisbury Street. Please check in with the receptionist.

A virtual option is also available on this day only. A recording of this training will be available on the Division website after this session.

Webex link for online participation:

https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=med6d20671cdd96ca2f0711a3554c0d86

(Password: NCDWI, Call-In #: 415.655.0003, Access Code: 2434 645 4791). WebEx invitations will go out the week of the training (March 4).

Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (30 seats available)

Mid-Carolina Regional Council of Governments

6205 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28304

Friday, March 8, 2024, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (40 seats available)

Pitt County Cooperative Extension (Agriculture Center), Mark W. Owens Auditorium

403 Government Circle, Suite 2, Greenville, NC, 27834

Funding Availability for Spring 2024 Applications

Applications will be considered for the following funding programs in the Spring 2024 funding round and will be covered in the training session:

·        Applications for drinking water and wastewater construction projects will be considered for funding from the Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure program, the State Revolving Funds, including Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds, the State Reserves, and the Viable Utility Reserve. Local government units and non-profit water/wastewater corporations (and investor-owned drinking water utilities for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund) may apply for funding.

o  The Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure (CDBG-I) program will provide grants to fund projects in areas that meet the U.S. Housing and Urban Development low-to-moderate income threshold (LMI). It is available to non-entitlement municipalities and counties and offers grants up to $3 million per applicant every three years.

o  The State Revolving Funds (SRFs) will provide low-interest loans (including loans that may be partially forgiven) for drinking water and wastewater projects. In addition to the SRF funds typically available, this round will include the use of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funds, and BIL Lead Service Line Replacement funds. Eligible utilities may apply for up to $25 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loans and up to $35 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans. Limits vary for Emerging Contaminants and for Lead Service Line Replacement funding.

o  State Reserve Program (SRP) construction projects: Grant and loan funding will be available for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects. The latest information on funding availability and limits will be shared during application training. Eligible utilities may apply for up to $3 million every 3 years.

·        Applications for drinking water and wastewater planning projects will be considered for funding from the Viable Utility Reserve (VUR). VUR grants are available to local government units designated as distressed by the State Water Infrastructure Authority and Local Government Commission. Grant funding may be available for Asset Inventory and Assessment grants and Merger/Regionalization Feasibility grants.

·        Applications for stormwater construction projects will be considered for funding from the Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investments (LASII) fund. Grant funding will be available to cities and counties, and regional Councils of Government and non-profit entities partnering with cities and counties, to improve or create infrastructure for controlling stormwater quantity and quality. Funding is offered only for stormwater construction projects. Funding is NOT offered for stormwater planning projects or to develop/implement a new stormwater utility. Stormwater construction grant limits up to $5 million per applicant or up to $7.5 million total if two or more units of local government are collaborating on one project are available.

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. 

Attorney General Josh Stein is pleased to announce the 2024 Environmental Enhancement Grant Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP is attached to this email. The EEG program provides grants to non-profit organizations with an environmental purpose, academic institutions, and governmental entities to preserve and enhance North Carolina’s natural resources. Grant awards will from $5,000 to $500,000.00. Grant awards fund land acquisition, construction, planning, education, and research projects. There is a preference for projects in eastern North Carolina or projects that benefit underserved or overburdened communities.

Important Dates for the 2024 RFP

Interest Meeting: February 13, 2024 at 10:00 AM To RSVP please click here. (Please note- the meeting will not be recorded)

           Letters of Intent Due: March 1, 2024 Letters of Intent can be submitted here.

**Only applicants submitting Letters of Intent will be eligible to submit a full proposal**

Information Meeting: March 6, 2024 at 10:00AM (held remotely)

All those submitting a Letter of Intent will be sent the link for the meeting

Proposals Due: April 4, 2024 by 11:59pm

Further information can be found at https://ncdoj.gov/protecting-the-environment/eeg/ If you have any questions, please contact eeg@ncdoj.gov.

NCDEQ Local Government Grant Opportunities

Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant Program



Proposals are now being accepted for the 2024 Community Waste Reduction and Recycling (CWRAR) Grant Program. Download the 2024 CWRAR Grant request for proposals: PDF or Word. 

This grant program is a recurring annual funding opportunity for local governments to build lasting capacity to divert materials from the waste stream and / or increase public awareness of recycling. 

Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2024. 

For more information or assistance please contact Sandy Skolochenko at 919 707-8147. 

Multifamily Recycling Grant Program

The Multifamily Recycling Grant Program offers funding to initiate or expand multifamily recycling programs within the state and is open to local governments, recycling businesses or non-profits, multifamily property owners or management companies, public housing authorities, and colleges and universities for off-campus housing. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For more information or assistance please contact Elise Traywick at 919-707-8135. 

Digital Inclusion Grant Now Open!

Digital Champion Grant Program from the NCDIT

(Department of Information Technology)

The N.C. Department of Information Technology's Office of Digital Equity and Literacy is offering $14 million in funding for digital equity initiatives through the Digital Champions Grant program. Each applicant can apply for up to $400,000 per county served with a maximum of $1.5 million allocated per project.

Eligible Uses All projects must develop or expand digital equity programming and address at least one of the following elements of digital inclusion:

1. Affordability of reliable, high-speed internet

2. Internet enabled devices (computers, laptops, etc.) that meet users’ needs

3. Access to digital literacy and skills training

4. Quality technical support

5. Applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration

Priority Populations All projects may serve one or multiple counties, and must serve one or more of the following populations:

1. Low-income households (150% of the federal poverty level or below)

2. Individuals who primarily reside in a rural area

3. Aging residents

4. Incarcerated and second chance residents/reentry/justice involved individuals

5. Veterans

6. Individuals with disabilities

7. Individuals with a language barrier, including individuals who are English learners and have low levels of literacy

8. Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group

Applications will be accepted from:

• Community Services

• Local governments (town, city, county)

• Local libraries

• K-12 school systems (public, private and charter)

• Nonprofit organizations

• Higher education institutions

• Regional entities (ex. councils of governments) 

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.

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

Registration Now Open!

The 2024 State Energy Conference will be held April 23-24, 2024, at the McKimmon Conference and Training Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Come to network, learn best practices, hear about successful case studies, engage in important energy discussions and more.

The 2024 conference will cover the following topic areas:

• Clean Transportation
• Commercial and Multi-Family Buildings
• Government and Institutional Buildings
• Innovative Technology and Deployments
• Industrial Buildings
• Renewable Energy
• Residential Homes
• Utilities and Infrastructure

Why You Should Attend

• Choose among 30 different sessions in six different tracks.
• Full access to all conference sessions through the conference app for three weeks after the conference is complete.
• Network with exhibitors, sponsors and attendees at designated break times.
• Receive professional continuing education credits (access to all sessions and credits).

Who Should Attend

Architects, decision-makers, engineers, attorneys, real estate brokers, energy and sustainability managers, facilities personnel, property managers, planners and thought leaders from:

• Small businesses
• Developers
• Innovation firms
• Energy companies
• Colleges and universities
• Government and state agencies
• Corporations
• Nonprofit organizations

Become a sponsor or exhibitor

Showcase your business or organization with a sponsorship or exhibit booth at the 2024 State Energy Conference.

Visit the sponsorship and exhibitor webpages or contact Shannon Helm at slhelm@ncsu.edu for more information.

Save the Date! – UCPCOG is partnering with the UNC School of Government to host a half day training for planning board members and elected officials focused on legislative zoning decisions.

Format: In person

Location: Nash Community College Science & Technology Building

Date: Wednesday May 8, 2024

Time: 12:30PM – 4:30PM

Registration: a registration link will be developed by the SOG soon. All member governments will be emailed a link once it is available. If you are interested in attending and want to make sure you receive the link, please contact Ben Farmer bfarmer@ucpcog.org or (252)-234-5966. 

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.

BRIC Direct Technical Assistance for Communities & Tribal Nations

Submit Your Request!

FEMA is Offering BRIC Direct Technical Assistance for Communities and Tribal Nations.

FEMA offers direct technical assistance for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Direct Technical Assistance (BRIC DTA) initiative provides tailored support to communities and tribal nations that may not have the resources to begin climate resilience planning and project solution design on their own. Through process-oriented, hand-in-hand assistance, BRIC DTA will partner with communities interested in enhancing their capability and capacity to design holistic, equitable hazard mitigation solutions that advance community-driven objectives.

ARPA Update

ARP OFFICE HOURS 

• Tuesday, February 6 — 8:30-9:30 a.m. (ARP specific) 
• Tuesday, February 13 — 8:30-9:30 a.m. (General local government finance, including ARP) 
• Thursday, February 22 — 12:00-1:00 p.m. (ARP specific) 
• Tuesday, February 27 — 8:30-9:30 a.m. (General local government finance, including ARP) 



Zoom Information:

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

Meeting ID: 954 8190 9044

Passcode: 779726

One tap mobile

+16469313860,,95481909044# US

+19292056099,,95481909044# US (New York)



INTERNAL CONTROL IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS

Headline: City finance employee embezzles public money. While the facts may differ, the story underlying this all-too-common headline is usually one in which a trusted employee slowly pockets money by writing checks or electronically transferring funds to a personal bank account until the fraud is eventually uncovered. How did this happen? Citizens want to know. They look to the governing board for answers—we elected you and entrusted you to protect us....Read More

NCDIT RELEASES UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR THE COMPLETING ACCESS TO BROADBAND (CAB) PROGRAM

On August 11, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) released updated guidance on the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program. The CAB program offers interested counties the opportunity to partner with the state broadband office to fund broadband deployment projects in unserved and underserved areas of the county. Key updates include information on the use of CAB funds for eligible unfunded GREAT grant projects, the statewide Information Technology convenience contract for internet service providers to participate in CAB, and planning project areas.

Click here to access the newly updated CAB guidance

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

The Next NC Scholarships Expands Tuition Assistance for Students

North Carolina students from households making $80,000 or less could have their tuition and fees fully covered at any of the state’s 58 community colleges or more than half of, if not all, of their tuition and fees covered at any of North Carolina’s 16 public universities thanks to the new Next NC Scholarship.

Students attending a community college will receive at least $3,000. That’s more than the cost of full-time tuition, which means qualifying North Carolinians can choose from any of the 58 community colleges across the state and have all of their tuition and fees 100% covered.

Those attending a public university in North Carolina will get a minimum of $5,000. That pays for more than half, if not all, of tuition and fees at any of the 16 public universities in the state.

Students with the greatest need for financial aid could qualify for even more funding to help make paying for college more manageable. 

Attention, all job seekers! Join us for the ECC Job Fair on Friday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event will be held in the Fleming Building on the Tarboro campus. For details, please contact deanss@edgecombe.edu or (252) 618-6537.

AGING

CMS Streamlines Access to Medicare Savings Programs

In late November, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services implemented final regulations that will make it easier for potential beneficiaries to enroll in Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs). The changes reduce the burdensome paperwork of MSP applications, for example the life insurance assets verification process. Furthermore, the rule requires recipients under the Supplemental Security Income to be automatically enrolled in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program. This provides coverage of Part A and B premiums and cost sharing for 1 in 8 Medicare recipients. Similarly, the changes will also use states’ data from the Part D low-income subsidy program to enroll recipients into MSPs. The changes are effective as of November 17, 2023.  

Cutting Calories May Slow the Pace of Aging in Healthy Adults

Long-term calorie restriction may slow the pace of biological aging in healthy adults, according to an NIA-funded study. Specifically, cutting caloric intake by 12% for two years in lean or slightly overweight adults slowed the pace of aging by 2-3%. Although the effect is small, it adds up over time; earlier research suggests that a similar slowdown may reduce the risk of dying in 10 to 15 years by 10-15%. The findings, published in Nature Aging, provide evidence that age-associated molecular changes can be slowed or reversed to potentially extend lifespan in humans.

Biological age refers to the accumulating damage, physiological changes, and loss of function that occur in a person over time. One method scientists use to measure biological age examines the epigenome, which contains a record of changes to a cell’s DNA and DNA-associated proteins. Led by Columbia University scientists, this study used DNA methylation (DNAm) to determine if the long-term calorie reduction changed how fast bodies were aging. The researchers analyzed data collected from a previous trial called the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) trial. The CALERIE trial examined the effects of calorie restriction in healthy, lean, or slightly overweight young and middle-aged adults over two years. The scientists wanted to know if the calorie restriction in the CALERIE trial affected molecular processes associated with aging. The goal for participants was to reduce their daily caloric intake by 25%, but the average that the calorie restriction group was able to reach was a 12% reduction.

The White House has released the first ever U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). The Playbook lays out an initial set of structural actions agencies are taking to support equitable health outcomes across communities. It also highlights the need for well-coordinated systems of health and social care to better address social needs that can impact health.

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.

Local Government Fundamentals

Chapel Hill, NC

February 20, 2024

This course will focus on the fundamentals of local government law. It will begin with an overview of the structure, power, and authority granted to local governments by the state legislature to act on matters of local concern. It will also cover the transparency rules for conducting open meetings and creating public records; it will touch on the legal requirements for expending public money under the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act; and it will explore the state law requirements for entering into public contracts. The complete agenda is located under the course materials tab. 

This course is appropriate for employees who are new to local government or for those who may be transitioning into new roles.

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.

UNC SOG Water/Wastewater Finance Strategies Course 

The UNC School of Government is pleased to announce that registration for the Water and Wastewater Finance Strategies course is now open. This is a two-day in-person course that will take place on February 15-16, 2024 at the UNC School of Government 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 “Water and Wastewater Finance Strategies,” then click “Register Now.” After registering, you should receive a confirmation email. Once registration has closed, complete information regarding instructions, materials, and details about the course will be provided via email. Please see the Water and Wastewater Finance Strategies course page for more information about the course itself.

Registration Link:

Click Here to Register

REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE UNTIL TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13^th AT 5:00 PM.