August 2023 Grant Resources Newsletter

AUGUST 2023 GRANT RESOURCES NEWSLETTER

The Division of Water Infrastructure is providing in-person training sessions and a virtual one in August for submittal of the Fall ‘FY2023 Drinking Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Loan and Grant funding applications. Deadline for all Loan and Grant funding is Oct. 2, 2023, 5:00 PM.

The next training sessions are:

· Tues., Aug. 8 – 10:00-4:30, New Hanover County Public Library, Main Branch (New Hanover Room), 201 Chestnut St., Wilmington, NC 28401. (Park in the parking deck and use the library administration entrance [between 3^rd and 4^th Levels]. Parking vouchers are available; please request them from the Library Administration Staff).

· Wed., Aug. 9 – 10:00-4:30 PM, Pitt Community College, Walter and Marie Williams Building (Max R. Joiner Auditorium), 2015 Warren Drive, Winterville, NC, 28590.

· Thurs., Aug. 10 – 10:00-4:30 PM, Archdale Building (Ground Floor Hearing Room), 512 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27604. (Parking is available in Visitor Lot 2 – Deck 75 on N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC, 27604. A virtual option is also available for this day only. A recording of this session will be available on the Division website after the session. WebEx link for the online listening: https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=me2729f646c9e556256868ab4c5237f62. (Password is NCDWI, Call-in number is (415) 655-0003; Access Code is 2435 723 2237)

Send RSVP to [email protected] or via (919) 707-9173 prior to the selected session; please provide your name, organization, email address, phone number, and the location of the training or to request the virtual session. All trainings are identical and application materials will be available at the Division websitehttps://www.deq.nc.gov/ beginning Aug. 2^nd.

Funding Availability for Fall 2023 Applications

For the Fall 2023 funding round, 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 (pending State appropriations), and the Viable Utility Reserve (pending State appropriations). 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.

· 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 grants per applicant every three years.

· 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) general supplemental funds, BIL Emerging Contaminants (PFAS) 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.

· State Reserve Program (SRP) construction projects: Pending State appropriations, grant funding may be available for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects. The latest information on funding availability and limits will be shared during application training.

· The Viable Utility Reserve (VUR): Pending State appropriations, grant funding may be available to local government units designated as distressed by the State Water Infrastructure Authority and the Local Government Commission to be used for infrastructure and study grants listed in NCGS 159G-32(d). The latest information on funding availability and limits will be shared during application training.

Applications for drinking water and wastewater planning projects will be considered for funding from the State Reserve Program. Grant funding is available to all local government units and non-profit water/wastewater corporations for the following purposes:

· Asset Inventory and Assessment grants: to inventory the existing water and/or wastewater systems and document the condition of the inventoried infrastructure.

· Merger/Regionalization Feasibility grants: to determine the feasibility of consolidating the management of multiple utilities into a single utility operation or to provide regional water/wastewater treatment, and the best way of carrying out the project.

Applications for stormwater planning and stormwater construction projects may be considered from the Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investment (LASII) fund, pending State appropriations. If funds are appropriated, grant funding would 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. Project types include stormwater planning, development and implementation of new stormwater utilities, and stormwater construction projects. The latest information on funding availability and limits will be shared during application training.

The Golden LEAF Foundation’s SITE Program opened its Fall 2023 round to local governments and nonprofits throughout NC, especially in its rural, economically distressed areas. The SITE Program will fund potential sites for economic development in any area - identification, due diligence, or development. The grant award’s maximum amount is $1.5 m during ‘FY 2023. The grant’s timeline includes the grant application’s deadline, September 14, 2023, and final decisions by December. Visit https://goldenleaf.org/site/ for more information or email [email protected] . Another round of SITE Program funding will be offered in early 2024.

In 2021, the N.C. General Assembly’s appropriation of $25 M. was awarded to the Golden LEAF Foundation for local governments in all 100 counties (awards up to $250,000) to be used for public infrastructure projects to reduce flooding through the Flood Mitigation Program. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all available funds are awarded. Visit https://goldenleaf.org/mitigation/ .

Categories of funding are available:

1. Construction of new or improvement of existing publicly-owned stormwater infrastructure, including natural drainage infrastructure and flood control equipment.

2. Repair of existing stormwater infrastructure damaged or destroyed by flooding, which must include improvements to mitigate against future flooding.

3. Engineering expenses related to planning and development of flood mitigation solutions.

USDA Rural Development: Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees: Application deadline: Open. USDA Rural Development offers financial assistance to eligible service providers that will construct, improve, or expand telecommunication and broadband networks in rural areas. Visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/telecommunications-programs/telecommunications-infrastructure-loans-loan-guarantees#overview .

DOT – PROTECT NOFO: Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity – DOT’s vision to address the climate crisis is to fund projects that improve the resilience of the surface transportation system, which includes highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. The grant must address the following 3 components: 1) Use the best available scientific knowledge of climate change hazards, influences, and liabilities; 2) support the continual operation or rapid recovery of critical local, regional, or national surface transportation facilities; and 3) develop inventive and mutual methodologies to reduce risk reduction, including the use of natural infrastructure, which is fully authorized under the program. Visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppld=347585 to view the NOFO and https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/protect/discretionary for more information about the NOFO and the PROTECT Program. For direct questions about the grant application to [email protected] contact Becca Eversole at [email protected] for DERPO (Carteret, Craven, Jones, and Pamlico Counties) and Mickey Anderson at [email protected] for ECRPO (Duplin, Greene, Lenoir, and Wayne Counties). The grant deadline is Fri., Aug. 18, 2023, by 11:59 PM and applications must be submitted through grants.gov.

Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program NOFO is a combination of 2 major U.S. DOT Discretionary grant programs – Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) and Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) and can be found on grants.gov. Visit https://www.transportation.gov/grants/rcnprogram for information about future webinars, deadlines, and the evaluation criteria. Currently, 3 grant types are available for a total amount of $3.1 B., which will focus on the following goals:

· Prioritize disadvantaged communities.

· Improve access to daily destinations such as jobs, education, healthcare, food, and recreation.

· Foster equitable development and restoration; and

· Reconnect communities by removing, retrofitting, mitigating, or replacing highways or other transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity, including to mobility, access, or economic development.

Community Planning Grants: DOT will make awards for public engagement, feasibility studies, and other planning activities (for $50 M. RCP Planning funds and $135 M. NAE funds). BIL specifies the maximum Community Planning Grant award funded with RCP funds is $2 M., but there is no maximum award amount funded by NAE.

Capital Construction Grants: Removal, retrofitting, mitigation, or replacement with an existing eligible dividing transportation facility that reconnects communities, mitigates a burdening transportation facility that is a source of pollution, noise, stormwater, heat, or other burdens, or implements a strategy to reduce environmental harm and/or improve access through transportation improvements (from $148 M. RCP Capital Construction funds and $1 B. NAE funds). BIL specifies that the minimum Capital Construction Grant award funded with RCP funds is $5 M., but again, NAE does not have a minimum award amount. If a project is partially funded, the project components executed through the RCN Program must demonstrate independent utility.

Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants: The projects must be led by 2 or more eligible applicants to address a persistent regional challenge related to equitable access and mobility (for $450 M. NAE funds). Even though the priorities are the same as the other 2 grant types, the applicants must show both regional coordination and leverage local, state, and federal resources and policies. DOT may award all $450 M. of NAE funds to support regional collaboration and innovation on the eligible activities under Community Planning or Capital Construction Grants. DOT anticipates awarding 3-5 Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants.

To apply and submit applications, a new procedure is necessary to follow – the 3 grants will use 2 portals: Applicants must submit their applications via Valid Eval at https://usg.valideval.com/teams/rcn_planning/signup for Community Planning Grants and Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants with planning activities, and at https://usg.valideval.com/teams/rcn_captialconstruction/signup for Capital Construction Grants and Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants with construction activities.

The deadline is September 28, 2023, 11:59 PM.

EDA announces Recompetes Programs and releases new program tools, Eligibility Mapping resources and information. EDA has released funding through the Recompetes Program to alleviate persistent economic distress and support long-term comprehensive economic development and job creation in places with high prime-age employment gaps (defined as employment gaps in 25-54 age group). The competitive program is set up in 2 phases: Phase I, applicants can apply for 1 of the following: Strategy Development only; Recompete Plan Approval only; or both Plan Approval and a Strategy Development Grant.

Entities applying for Strategy Development Grants will be considered for investments in the range of $250,000 - $500,000, with limited potential up to $750,000. These grants will be designed to connect/support plans to spur economic development in the Project Region.

Entities applying for Recompete Plan Approval will not be conferred immediate funds, but which will open the door to compete as part of Phase II for Implementation Funds. Applicants must apply for and receive Recompetes Plan Approval to be eligible to apply and receive Phase II Implementation Funds. EDA anticipates making 4 – 8 Phase II Implementation grants where grants to Local Markets average approximately $50 M. and grants to Local Communities average approximately $20 M.

Applicants interested in applying for both Strategy Development and Recompete Plan Approval must complete both application requirements. To be eligible, areas can utilize the Recompete Eligibility Mapping Tool to determine the eligibility of their project region, which is available at: Recompete Eligibility Mapping Tool (REMT) - Main Map Viewer (anl.gov). In cases where an area is shown as partially eligible on the map, applicants are encouraged to view the Census Tract Mapping Tool to determine the eligible census tracts. This Census Tract Tool is available at: Recompete Eligibility Mapping Tool – Census Tracts Viewer (anl.gov). (For ease of use, interested parties may find it most helpful to remove all layers on the left, except the box for Eligible Census Tracts with Partially eligible municipalities and Eligible Census Tracts within Partially Eligible Counties.)

Applications for both Strategy Development and Recompetes Plan Phase I must be submitted on October 5, 2023, by 1:59 PM EST. Only applicants who apply for and receive approval for their Recompetes Plan Phase I will be eligible to apply for Phase II Implementation resources in winter 2023. The full notice for the Recompetes Program is available at https://www.eda.gov/sites/default/files/202306/Recompete_Pilot_Program_NOFO_phase_1_vF.pdf. General program FAQs are available at https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/recompete-pilot-program/faq.

EDA’s 2 July webinars on the Recompetes program were recorded; access the public webinar, here https://www.eda.gov/news/media/video/3613 and the webinar’s Powerpoint slides - here https://www.eda.gov/sites/default/files/2023- 07/Recompete_NOFO_1_Program_Overview_Public_Webinar_20230630_v1_0.pdf.

EDA is accepting applications under Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs to support accept construction, planning, technical assistance grant applications to advance job creation. EDA 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 conducting analysis or regional technical assistance programs with clear economic development outcomes, should consider EDA’s grant programs. The Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs have a rolling deadline! For further information, please go to https://sfgrants.eda.gov/s/. Contact Hillary Sherman at [email protected] for more information and to discuss program projects.

SOUTHEAST CRESCENT REGIONAL COMMISSION’S (SCRC) STATE ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (SEID) GRANT PROGRAM, which resulted from the Commission’s 5-year Strategic Plan (2023-2028) is to revitalize/stimulate AL’s, GA’s, MS’, NC’s, SC’s, and VA’s public infrastructure improvements and economic development projects for telecommunications, transportation, high-quality health care, access to affordable housing, business and workforce development, resource conservation and preservation, and tourism and recreation. Sixty-nine NC counties will be eligible for $4,466,111; Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico, and Wayne Counties are included in the funding notice. The goals are: 1) Invest in Critical Infrastructure; 2) Improve Health and Support Services Access and Outcomes; 3) Strengthen Workforce Capacity; 4) Expand Affordable Housing Stock and Access; and 5) Promote Environmental, Conservation, Preservation, and Access. The deadline for pre-applications was July 21, 2023, the full application portal opened on Aug. 7, 2023, and the full application is due Sept. 15, 2023. Notification of SEID Awards will be announced on Nov. 14, 2023.

Local governments (village, town, city, and county) and non-profits (IRS designated 501 (c)(3) and 501 (a)) are eligible. $20M-$500M is the award ceiling. The federal cost share for projects: may not exceed 50% - in transitional counties or isolated areas of distress for projects in distressed counties, may not exceed 80% in distressed counties, and can be increased by 60-90% for multi-county or multi-state. Visit https://scrc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SCRC-SEID-Grant-NOFA-06082023-release.pdf and https://scrc.gov/southeast-crescent-regional-commission-scrc-announces-20-million-in-new-funding-through-the-state-economic-and-infrastructure-development-seid-grant-program/ .

NEW ORGANIZATIONS APPLYING FOR FEDERAL GRANTS: Allow 2-3 weeks’ time to successfully register with SAM.gov then grants.gov . For registration information visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.

OTHER RESOURCES – FREE WEBINARS

ARP/CSLFRF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES – UNC, CHAPEL HILL, SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT ARP OFFICE HOURS: Kara Millonzi hosts weekly ARPA office hours to help answer eligibility, compliance, and reporting questions related to the ARP/CSLFRF award. If needed, email Rebecca Badgett for the Zoom link: [email protected].

Preparing for the Audit. As the fiscal year closes out this week, it’s a good time to focus on the upcoming annual audit. Most local governments spent at least some of their ARP/CSLFRF funds this fiscal year, which may trigger additional audit scrutiny. There are things you can do now to prepare for a successful audit. This blog post provides (hopefully helpful) guidance on preparing you (and your auditor) to audit ARP/CSLFRF funds.

ARPA Flex. “Any day now…….” It seems like a running joke now that we are still waiting on ARPA Flex regulations that were due back in February, but we keep hearing “any day now.” For those wondering what ARPA Flex is, Congress authorized some additional expenditure options for local governments who received over $10 million in ARP/CSLFRF and must expend funds outside of the revenue replacement category. The new expenditure options relate to certain transportation projects, CDBG projects, and disaster recovery projects. But we need to wait for the US Treasury to issue regulations interpreting the flex provisions. Any day now……”

Upcoming Office Hours. Note that several of these are focused on special topics, including ARP BASICS, which is a 2-hour session targeted to those new(er) to ARP/CSLFRF.

1. Friday, August 11, 8:30-10:30am -- ARP BASICS

2. Wednesday, August 16, 12-1pm – Focus on Property Management

3. Friday, August 25, 8:30-9:30am

ZOOM LOG IN

Here is the new Zoom Log in for all Office Hour Sessions:

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)

FREE COURSE: Using ARPA Funds to Directly Fund a Capital Project (launched August 2022)

REGISTER FOR A FAIR HOUSING WEBINAR CO-SPONSORED BY ECC. ECC is partnering with Legal Aid of NC to host a 1-hour webinar on Fair Housing on Wednesday, August 23^rd at 10:00 AM. Topics to be covered include:

HUD’s fair housing requirements for CDBG and HOME funding recipients (Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing and the history of fair housing),
Zoning and fair housing, and
Reasonable accommodations/modifications for people with disabilities.

Register in advance for this webinar at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_POg0ZdcoQWmjnhLV0ZynZg. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

NCLM ARP WEBINAR ABOUT NCLM’S NEW ARP SERVICES FOR MUNICIPALITIES: The NC League of Municipalities (NCLM) is unveiling some new American Recovery Plan (ARP) service lines for towns and cities and will explain more about the services it will fund in an upcoming webinar titled, “ARP Service Line: Resources Designed for NC Cities and Towns.” The webinar is free and will be held on Wednesday, August 30^th from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. The webinar will include a panel from the NCLM ARP team.

Through a robust in-house staff and a network of statewide partnerships, NCLM is prepared to assist local governments with a suite of services in conjunction with their ARP spending. The resources available will shore up capacity questions, link local governments to additional funding, and address specific needs.

Do you have questions or concerns related to any of the following?

· Legal assistance.

· Strategy and approach.

· Need for additional grant funding.

· Eligibility and compliance guidance.

· Cybersecurity.

· Planning and engineering.

· Communication with your citizens.

Even though the webinar is free, you must register at Meeting Home Page (nclm.org). Registrants will have to have (or create) an NCLM account. That process is simple and free. If you do not have an account, you will be triggered to do so when following the registration link. If you need help remembering how to access your account and have difficulties registering for this event, please email [email protected].

NC DIGITAL EQUITY SURVEY: The State of NC is seeking input on the accessibility and affordability of digital devices and the internet, as well as the public’s digital skills; the survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and is online at https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9EpNXtAhUn7IOQS.

RESOURCES / NOTICES

ECC TO OFFER GRANT WRITING SERVICES – ECC provides grant writing services to member communities. We are taking on grant writing projects on a case-by-case basis, based on availability and other considerations. If you are interested in ECC helping your community with grant writing, please contact Community Planner, Holly C. Lippitt, ([email protected], 252-638-3185, ext. 3021) or Executive Director, David Bone, ([email protected], 252-638-3185, ext. 3005).

US TREASURY RECENTLY RELEASED UPDATED REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE REPORTING CATEGORIES. Please note that these new requirements do not apply to GREAT grants that have been categorized as revenue replacement (expenditure category 6.1). However, if you have a GREAT grant that was not classified as Revenue Replacement, these changes will likely apply to you. NCDIT will be providing guidance for those of you that have GREAT grants for which the new reporting rules apply. Visit https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Compliance-and-Reporting-Guidance.pdf.

The NEW GSA FAC - (U.S. Government Services Administration and Census [U.S. Census Bureau] Federal Audit Clearinghouse) https://www.fac.gov/ - is designed to be accessible and consistent. It is like the Census FAC, but with transitioning (for ‘FY 2022 and ‘FY 2023), it will rely on users’ feedback in their decision-making for present and future enhancements. Visit https://www.fac.gov/walkthrough/ for the step-by-step overview of the new process that will take place on Oct. 1, 2023 - to see what changes affect NC organizations.

Eastern Carolina Council / P.O. Box 1717 / New Bern, NC 28560