Robert Hiett
Executive Director
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Creating Regional Solutions Since 1971 | |
UCPCOG is pleased to announce that we have received three national excellence awards for work in the Planning and Aging Departments for food system planning, regional disaster recovery training, and grandparents raising grandchildren projects. Those projects strengthened our economic development resiliency, increased local government capacity to respond and recover from disasters, and helped senior caregivers work with children with special needs. These are added to our impressive "wall of fame." | |
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We are excited to officially launch AskAshleigh—the first virtual caregiver integrated into an Area Agency on Aging. AskAshleigh provides immediate, personalized support with deep local knowledge, accessible at any hour of the day or night. Imagine having the expertise of Family Caregiver Resource Specialists right at your fingertips, helping you navigate caregiving challenges with real, actionable advice.
Caregiving is often an unexpected journey, filled with late nights, endless questions, and emotional challenges. For many families, especially those caring for loved ones with dementia, the journey can feel overwhelming and isolating.
This isn't just technology—it's a promise that no caregiver has to navigate this journey alone. For residents of Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton, and Wilson counties, AskAshleigh is ready to provide the support you need.
Learn more: https://ucpcog.org/askashleigh/
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We are excited to unveil our new, updated website. Please visit often to check out news and useful information for our region. Check it out here: www.ucpcog.org. | |
NCARCOG Partners with Civic Local Foundation for Collecting Donations to Help with Helene Recovery
The North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Government has partnered with Civic Local Foundation to serve as a trusted source to collect financial donations to help communities recover from the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Civic Local Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Civic and Local Government Credit Unions, shares the same core values of NCARCOG of being a resource to the state of North Carolina and its local governments.
“Our goal is to be a resource and catalyst to help rebuild our state. We can’t do this alone and the partnership with Civic Local Foundation represents unity in our efforts to help support North Carolinians affected by this storm. We are grateful to everyone who has donated thus far and hope to continue to receive financial support to help impacted communities,” stated Justin Hembree, NCARCOG Board Chair.
Through the collaborative partnership, NCARCOG will distribute funding to local government entities and employees impacted by the storm, assist with recovery efforts administered by regional Council of Government agencies, and help supporting organizations such as non-profits and local businesses to provide resources and emergency supplies. 100% of the administrative costs for disbursing the funds are being covered by Civic and Local Government Credit Unions. This means every penny donated will directly assist those in Western North Carolina who need it most.
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Funding Opportunites and Resources | |
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Grants Available to Advance Recycling Infrastructure
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program
The recycling funding for Tribes and intertribal consortia will provide approximately $20 million total in awards ranging from $100,000 to $1.5 million each. The recycling funding for communities will provide approximately $58 million total in awards ranging from $500,000 to $5 million each. This includes projects that will improve collection, transport, systems, and processes related to post-use materials that can be recovered, reused, recycled, repaired, refurbished, or composted. Read more about those available to communities.
Application deadline is December 20, 2024.
Please contact rtownley@ucpcog.org if you need additional information.
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Funding Available through Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched an ambitious $2 billion Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program that directly addresses the challenges and injustices too many communities face due to environmental and climate issues. It offers up to $20 million for projects focusing on climate resilience, pollution reduction, and building community capacity —particularly for those historically underserved. Recognizing the potential hurdles in navigating such significant funding opportunities, the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network (SSDN) steps in with a lifeline. SSDN's Local Infrastructure Hub (LIH) Regional Cohorts program is dedicated to bolstering the capacity of local governments and community-based organizations to apply for, secure, and manage federal funding, ensuring that those at the front lines of environmental and climate justice are fully equipped to bring about transformative changes. Application details and additional information about the program can be found on SSDN's website button below.
For more information, contact Nick Deffley at nick@southeastsdn.org.
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On August 29, the FCC published initial rules for the 5G Fund for Rural America. This fund allocates $9Billion to mobile wireless carriers to bring 5G mobile wireless coverage to areas of the United States being served by 4G LTE or earlier wireless technologies. Eligible areas will be based on the FCC's Broadband Data Collection Maps. The FCC uses speed test results to verify the accuracy and reliability of the mobile broadband coverage data. A mobile app is available for download at the following: https://www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData/speed-test-app.
Wireless customers have the ability to challenge speeds at locations indoors, outdoors, or remotely. These challenges will influence the final funding maps for the 5G Fund.
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The EPA has opened its Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant program for 2024. The IRA funded program plans to spend $932M to fund projects in areas that are in nonattainment for current air quality standards. This program funds replacement of class 6 and 7 vehicles with zero-emission class 6 and 7 vehicles, including allocations for school bus, transit bus, and work truck replacements and allowances for charging infrastructure installation, workforce training, and some project costs. Contact Ron Townley: rtownley@ucpcog.org if you would like assistance. | |
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USDA and EDA Update Resources in Joint Guide to Boost Economic Development in Rural Communities
The Stronger Together: Federal funding and planning opportunities designed to promote sustainable economic development in rural America guide has been updated to provide a handy summary of EDA and USDA Rural Development programs that can be used to support common rural development strategies
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N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency reopens Homeownership Assistance Program
Assistance available for first-time homebuyers in 16 storm-impacted counties
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP) has reopened to assist eligible first-time and first-generation homebuyers in 16 eastern North Carolina counties. The program paused applications last year to ensure available federal funding would cover applications already in process.
The N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) committed $4.4 million in funding for the initiative, which can provide up to $30,000 in down payment assistance and up to 5% of the home sale price towards closing cost assistance to qualifying homebuyers. Approximately $2.2 million is still available to income-eligible homebuyers. The program also offers homebuyers education and counseling, which must be completed by the applicant prior to closing on a home and is offered at no cost through the program.
The Homeownership Assistance Program is made possible by HUD federal long-term mitigation funding provided through the NCORR Community Development Office. As part of NCORR’s mission of helping storm-impacted communities address urgent housing needs, HAP builds future resilience in areas hit hard by hurricanes Matthew and Florence.
The program will continue to serve low- to medium-income households in 16 counties federally designated by HUD as most impacted and distressed (MID) by hurricanes Matthew and Florence. These counties are Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Edgecombe, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Robeson, Scotland and Wayne. Previous applicants can reapply to HAP.
Interested applicants should read the program requirements to ensure their application meets the homebuyer and property rules for acceptance. Proof of mortgage loan pre-approval from a lender and a completed online interest form are required of applicants. Failure to follow these guidelines may disqualify applicants. Limited funding is available, so some applicants may not receive assistance.
The Homeownership Assistance Program is supported by North Carolina’s HUD Community Development Block Grant–Mitigation funding. The HAP program is one of multiple housing programs overseen by NCORR through its Community Development Office, which also administers the Affordable Housing Development Fund, Multifamily Development Fund, Public Housing Restoration Fund and Infrastructure Recovery Program. In addition to affordable housing, NCORR manages programs that support disaster recovery, resiliency, mitigation, strategic buyout, infrastructure and housing stability.
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $232 Million in Grants to Clean Up Brownfield Sites, Address Legacy Pollution, Advance Environmental Justice, and Spur Economic Revitalization
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of $232 million in grant funding through EPA’s Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) program. This is the fourth wave of funding supported by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda to assess and clean up polluted brownfield sites across the country. The new grants will advance environmental justice and help transform once-polluted, vacant, and abandoned properties into community assets while spurring economic revitalization in underserved communities.
The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provides $1.5 billion to EPA’s Brownfields Program. This funding has supercharged the Brownfields Program to support economic development in more communities across the country. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 200 grants nationwide this cycle at amounts ranging from $500,000 to $4 million per award.
“The grants awarded through this Brownfields program help communities turn polluted and often abandoned properties into community assets,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Thanks to funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are able to provide grants to more communities than ever before, helping make them cleaner, healthier and economically stronger.”
The Notices of Funding Opportunities and application information are posted on www.grants.gov/. Applications are due by November 14, 2024 via grants.gov.
EPA’s Brownfields Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. The Brownfields Program is contributing to this commitment to advance environmental justice and EPA is working to advance equity considerations in all aspects of its work.
EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.7 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. Prior to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this program made approximately $60 million in grant funding available each year. Thanks to the President’s historic investments in America through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA increased that yearly investment nearly four times over.
Copies of the FY25 Brownfields Grants Guidelines and other application resources are available on the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Application Resources webpage.
Read more on EPA’s Brownfields Program.
For further information: Contact: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $7.5 billion in Available Financing for Water Infrastructure Projects
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of $7.5 billion of Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) funding. The WIFIA program offers long-term loans to help communities implement critical water infrastructure projects, which protect public health, deliver environmental benefits, create over 60,000 good-paying jobs, protect waterways including drinking water sources, and support local economies, at a lower cost.
“Good infrastructure is the foundation for delivering clean, safe water to people across the country,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The Biden-Harris administration has prioritized water infrastructure investment with this $7.5 billion infrastructure funding through WIFIA, on top of the unprecedented $50 billion in funding the Biden-Harris Administration secured under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With these resources, communities will keep building on progress to replace lead pipes, cut PFAS pollution, and protect people from climate change.”
The funding announcement demonstrates EPA’s continued commitment to water infrastructure improvements that ensure all communities have access to clean and safe drinking water. For this round of funding, EPA has identified the following priority areas:
- Increasing investment in disadvantaged communities and improving health and livability.
- Making rapid progress on lead service line replacement.
- Addressing PFAS – known as “forever chemicals” – and emerging contaminants.
- Strengthening climate resilience in the water sector.
- Supporting water innovation and resilience.
Learn more about the WIFIA program and this funding announcement.
For further information: Contact Information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
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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
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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.
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SITE Program – Identification provides support to identify potential industrial sites in communities that do not currently have quality industrial sites to market.
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SITE Program – Due Diligence provides funding to complete eligible due diligence activities such as environmental assessments, archaeological analyses, and mapping.
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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.
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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
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Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy Guide
Navigating eligibility and grant application procedures for federal hazard mitigation programs can be challenging. The Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy Guide, produced by FEMA, has been updated for 2024. It provides helpful information on the criteria, statutory and policy requirements and administrative and reporting procedures for four hazard mitigation grant programs: the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP); the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities(BRIC) grant program; the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program; and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire (HMGP Post Fire).
If your jurisdiction is considering pursuing these grants, this guide can be a helpful resource to understand the grant requirements and steps to take to submit an application and administer your grant
North Carolina Emergency Management also has resources, staff and programs to assist communities in applying for BRIC and FMA and HMGP funding, and encourages interested communities to reach out using contacts found on those web pages.
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EPA Releases New Tools to Help Small, Rural, and Tribal Communities with Lagoons Manage Wastewater and Protect Waterbodies
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released resource tools to help protect public health and local water bodies in communities that rely on lagoons for wastewater management.
Lagoon wastewater treatment systems are typically used in communities that are smaller than 3,000 people and can lack the necessary financial and technical resources to comply with the Clean Water Act. EPA’s new tools are intended to help local decisionmakers effectively and efficiently protect public health and the environment, address compliance challenges, and improve asset-management planning.
The new resources include:
- The “First Stop Toolbox for Lagoons” identifies technical, financial, and regulatory support resources in a user-friendly web tool. This tool will help lagoon operators and technical assistance providers assess operations and compliance challenges in their lagoons, and in turn, help communities resolve these challenges on their own.
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The “Small Lagoon Communities Economic Streamlining Tool” and the “Individual Lagoon Tool” help states, authorized Tribes, and communities determine whether a water quality standards (WQS) variance is an appropriate step to take when a small community is experiencing compliance challenges related to ammonia. Both tools are accompanied by an implementation document: “Applying the EPA’s Economic Analysis Tools to a WQS Variance for Ammonia for Small Lagoon Communities.”
These tools were developed as priority actions under the EPA’s 2022-2026 Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Action Plan, and respond to needs identified by state co-regulators and lagoon communities.
Learn more about lagoons in videos from EPA’s Bruno Pigott and Kathryn Kazior.
For further information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
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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.
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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
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ARPA Funds – Your obligation deadline is coming up!
A critical deadline for your local ARPA funds is coming up at the end of this calendar year.
December 31, 2024, is the deadline for obligation of ARPA funds, and for most practical purposes, it is also the deadline for spending your local ARPA funds.
Are you sure your community has obligated its ARPA funds? Answer the following questions to be sure!
- If your locality has expended all its ARPA funds on specific projects AND has adopted a Grant Project Ordinance that authorized those expenditures, that is great!
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If your locality has NOT expended all its ARPA funds, please be aware that for practical purposes, the funds must be expended by Dec 31, 2024
- If your locality has NOT adopted a Grant Project Ordinance designating the ARPA funds towards specific named projects, it is important that you proceed as soon as possible with that task.
- Every locality must adopt a Grant Project Ordinance that authorizes the specific expenditures of its ARPA funds.
- NOTE: “Revenue Replacement” alone is not a specific named project. Some communities have adopted ordinances that only name “Revenue Replacement” as the expenditure. This is not sufficient to obligate the funds
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If you are not sure, please check your adopted ARPA Grant Project Ordinance to be sure that it names specific project(s) on which specific amounts will be spent.
Any amount from your local ARPA funds that is not expended (meaning employee salaries paid, invoices paid to contractors, purchases paid for, etc.) by DECEMBER 31, 2024, cannot be re-obligated for any other purpose.
Therefore, the School of Government at UNC strongly recommends that your expenditures from your local ARPA funds be COMPLETED by December 31 of this year in order to avoid problems.
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EXCITING NEWS FOR OUR REGION!
Natron Energy, Inc. will build the first sodium-ion battery gigafactory in the U.S. at the Kingsboro Megasite. The manufacturer will invest nearly $1.4 billion in Edgecombe County, creating over 1,000 jobs.
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NIA Healthy Aging Highlights
Your risk of fall-related health issues rises as you age. If you fall and break a bone, it could lead to more serious problems, such as a hospital visit or disability. Taking care of your overall health can help lower the chance of falling. These tips can help you prevent falls and broken bones:
- Stay physically active. Regular exercise improves your muscles and makes you stronger.
- Choose the correct footwear. Wear nonskid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes.
- Make sure your workout has a variety of exercises. Improve your strength and balance with yoga, tai chi, lifting weights, and resistance bands.
- Have your eyes and hearing tested. Even a small change in sight and hearing is linked to increased fall risks. Take time to get used to new eyewear or hearing aids.
Find more tips to prevent falls and broken bones.
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Dementia Friendly America Launches New Website
In 2025, USAging will celebrate 10 years of Dementia Friendly America! In anticipation of this milestone, we have launched a redesigned DFA website. Take a look and explore DFA’s tools and resources.
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Development Finance Toolbox
December 3-5, 2024 | Online
10:00am-4:30pm | Course Cost: $360
How do local governments use public-private partnerships for development? What finance tools are available to local governments to revitalize Main Street? North Carolina communities have a variety of financing tools available for attracting and growing businesses, improving real estate, and building community assets. This course is designed for elected officials, city and county managers, assistant managers, clerks, and community and economic development professionals who want to learn about the development finance tools used by local governments in North Carolina.
What You'll Learn:
- Federal tax credit financing
- Public-private partnerships for redevelopment
- Local government capital financing
- Tax increment financing (TIF) and synthetic TIF
- Business improvement districts
- Attracting private investment to Main Street
- Grant identification and management
- Fundamentals of developer real estate financing
Click here to go to the course page and register.
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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.
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121 W. Nash St. Wilson, NC 27893
252-234-5952
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