June 2023

Regional Impacts

New ECC Board Member Orientation - Thurs., June 8th at 4:00 P.M.

ECC will host a new Board Member Orientation on Thursday, June 8^th at 4:00 p.m. at the ECC Office. This will be prior to the Budget and Audit Committee meeting and General Membership Board Meeting that night. To register for the Orientation, please visit http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=gppuxoyab&oeidk=a07ejswh7gyd82acb94.

ECC General Membership Board Meeting to Be Held on Thurs., June 8th.

An ECC Executive Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, June 8^th. A Budget and Audit Committee meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m., and the General Membership Board meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. The agenda will include:

1. A public hearing/consideration of the 2023-24 ECC Budget

2. Consideration of Strategic Goals for 2023-24

2. Election of ECC Officers

In order to have a good head count for our quorum/dinner, please confirm attendance at: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=gppuxoyab&oeidk=a07ejt7h8abfda07b7e.

The meeting will be available via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87315545582?pwd=UjdFc0hsbzArTDdMcUlEeTE5cHJYUT09.

Local Government Training Needs Survey

ECC is working to develop a training schedule for ECC members for 2023-24, and we need YOUR help! Please share your thoughts and desires for training events in our region by completing a short survey available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JX8G52J.

Thank you!

ECC Encourages Local Governments to Adopt myFutureNC Educational Attainment Goal

At its May 11^th meeting, the ECC Executive Committee adopted a Resolution of Support for the myFutureNC Educational Attainment Goal to have 2 million North Carolinians with a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree by 2030. myFutureNC is a statewide nonprofit organization focused on educational attainment and is the result of cross-sector collaboration between NC leaders in education, business, and government. myFutureNC’s mission is to prepare North Carolina for the future by empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and ensuring our economic viability in a global economy. ECC encourages other local governments in our region and across the state to support this effort. For more information on myFutureNC, visit https://www.myfuturenc.org/.

Older Americans Month 2023 Regional Celebration Events

“Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month (OAM). The 2023 theme is Aging Unbound, which offers an opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences and discuss how communities can combat stereotypes. Senior Centers and local agencies across our region partnered to host community events to celebrate older adults. These events included informational health fairs, luncheons, activities, and awareness walks.

Public Radio East News Story – Carbon Reduction Plan Grant Program

Listen to Pollocksville Mayor / ECC President Jay Bender and ECC Senior Transportation Planner Becca Eversole speak about the Carbon Reduction Plan grant program and some bike and pedestrian planning grant applications that if awarded, could help communities in eastern NC at https://www.publicradioeast.org/pre-news/2023-05-04/nc-towns-look-to-build-bike-ped-projects-through-us-carbon-reduction-plan.

On May 2, 2023, Governor Roy Cooper signs Executive Order No. 280 directing action to continue the state’s commitment to building an age-friendly state. North Carolina is the tenth state to join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. “The Executive Order directs the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services along with expert working groups to develop a Multisector Plan for Aging in North Carolina. The Order also directs NCDHHS and the North Carolina Department of Commerce to convene a Caregiver Workforce Strategic Leadership group to develop and implement recommendations to bolster the caregiving work force.” To read more about Executive Order No. 280 visit https://governor.nc.gov/executive-order-no-280/open

Beaufort Named One of the Best Small Towns in the South

Congratulations to the Town of Beaufort for being named by Southern Living magazine as one of the 50 best small towns in the South! Read an article about this at Carteret County News-Times article.

ECC Welcomes Vandemere Town Commissioner Danny Wooten as a New Executive Committee Member

At the Eastern Carolina Council Executive Committee meeting on May 11^th, ECC President Jay Bender welcomed our newest Executive Committee member, Vandemere Town Commissioner Danny Wooten, who is serving as the Pamlico County municipal representative on the Executive Committee. Welcome, Danny! We look forward to your leadership.

Regional Senior Center Assistive Technology Kits

ECCAAA staff assembled and distributed assistive technology kits to local senior centers across the region throughout the month of May. These assistive technology kits will be utilized in educating older adults and caregivers on how assistive devices and medical alert systems can work together to keep older adults safe and independent in their home. Items included in the kits are mobility assistive devices, safety systems, alert/alarm systems, dementia activities, and much more. By providing these kits to our senior centers, it gives their clients the opportunity to explore the many ways assistive technology devices can benefit them and assist with aging in place. Please contact your local senior center to explore devices that may assist older adults in your community and for additional information.

ECC Executive Director David Bone Facilitates Town Board Retreat For the Town of Magnolia

On May 9^th, ECC Executive Director David Bone facilitated Board Retreat for the Town of Magnolia. Congratulations to the Mayor, Town Commissioners, and new Town Manager Charles “Twig” Rollins on a successful retreat!

Fremont and Grifton Welcomed New Town Managers

Fremont welcomed their new Town Manager, Robert Jones, on May 15^th. Grifton welcomes its new Town Manager Oryen Lowry, on June 1st. ECC welcomes Mr. Jones and Mr. Lowry to our region, and we look forward to working with them.

Webinars/Courses

2nd Offering for EDA Grants Webinar – Mon., June 26th

The Eastern Carolina Council hosted a webinar about EDA Funding Opportunities on May 24^th, and the webinar will be offered a second time – on Monday, June 26^th at 11:00 a.m.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration offers a variety of funding opportunities to support construction and non-construction projects that spur job creation, leverage private capital investments, and strengthen the community’s ability to compete in a global marketplace. This webinar will be good for economic development officials, county/city leadership, water/sewer managers, and community college leaders. The 1-hour ECC webinar session will provide an overview of EDA grants available to the ECC region, including supplemental funding for disaster recovery, communities impacted by job loss or supply chain disruption, and more. Hillary Sherman, EDA’s Economic Development Representative for NC, will provide the program and will be available to answer your questions.

ECC is the Economic Development Administration (EDA) designated Economic Development District for our 9-county region and can assist counties, municipalities, and other organizations with the EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance grant application. ECC can also manage the grant administration for funded projects.

To register for this webinar, visit http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=gppuxoyab&oeidk=a07ejslulleca430902.

ECC to Offer 2-Day Grant Writing Class July 10th and 11th

ECC hosted a 2-day grant writing class back in March, and folks have requested that we host it again, so we are! The Eastern Carolina Council (ECC) is hosting a 2-day grant writing workshop for our members on July 10^th and 11^th (9:00-4:30) for the first 35 people to register. ECC Community Planner Holly Craighead will be the trainer for this event.

The workshop will provide opportunities to learn the various types and categories of grants, including federal and private foundation grants, as well as a glossary of terminology. The workshop will also provide time for attendees to learn the various concepts necessary to develop a grant.

Participants are asked to come with an identified need from their community to develop a grant application. We will search for available grant opportunities on https://www.grants.gov/ and a local database.

If your community is interested, you can register here.

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.

UNC SOG - Top 10 Primer: Engaging the Community in Public Issues

How do your constituents interact with their government? Do the same five or ten people show up at every meeting or hearing? Would you like to learn how to engage more of your community in discussions about important public issues? Effective community engagement creates an atmosphere of trust in local government because people feel heard and valued; it also builds a sense of belonging.

Date: July 26, 2023

UNC SOG - Leading for Results - LGFCU Fellows

The Leading for Results program develops local government leaders. The fall program meets for two one-week sessions with a cohort of 25 participants (there will be two offerings this fall). The intensive two-week program, held in Chapel Hill, aims to enhance personal as well as organizational leadership skills and competencies. Participants complete the program with a deeper understanding of their individual leadership strengths, skills of improving their organizations, and a renewed passion for public service.

Individuals admitted to this program will attend as Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU) Fellows. LGFCU Fellows are a select group of individuals who represent the future of North Carolina local government leadership. LGFCU Fellows participate tuition free in the Leading for Results course, receive individual coaching, as well as join the alumni network and attend alumni events tuition free. Travel and lodging are the responsibility of the participants’ jurisdiction.

Date: September 11, 2023

UNC SOG - Harness the Power of Public Participation

In working with the public, do you ever wonder how to move from mere participation to genuine engagement?

If you are a local government professional or elected leader who seeks to better understand your community’s needs, concerns, and priorities, this class is for you.

As a government organization, public participation is an often-mandated prerequisite for certain decisions. Within this context, it can feel like an activity which we do simply to check a box. When public participation processes fall short, we get an incomplete picture of the community, often increasing distrust or lack of confidence in government. In the long run, less-than-optimal public participation yields less-than-optimal outcomes.

When public participation follows a “with-and-through” engagement mindset, rather than a “to-and-for” input mindset, we see improved communication, increased levels of trust and support for the effort, and reduced potential for needless conflict.

How do we shift to a with-and-through mindset and transform one-way, one-time public participation processes into multi-way, on-going community engagement?

In this one-day course, we will experience a with-and-through participative process, harnessing the knowledge and insights of the group. Discussions will include: what makes a with-and-through participative process different; implications of adopting this type of approach; and imagining where, when, and how this mindset might benefit our respective communities.

Come prepared to engage - this will be fun and interactive as we learn with-and-through each other!

Date: September 29, 2023

Grant Opportunities

ECC Grant Resources Newsletter Distributed

The May edition of ECC’s Grant Resources and Opportunities newsletter was distributed on May 15^th. The May and prior editions are available online at https://eccog.org/planning-resources/.

US Department of Agriculture: Rural Development and US Department of Commerce: Economic Development Administration

The Federal government website https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/508F_RD_EDA_JointPlanningResourceGuide.pdf was launched as a Joint Planning Resource Guide by the US Department of Agriculture: Rural Development and the US Department of Commerce: Economic Development Administration in 2022. It is divided into 4 key focus areas for grants and loans: 1) Planning and Technical Assistance; 2) Infrastructure and Broadband Expansion; 3) Entrepreneurship and Business Assistance; and 4) Workforce Development and Livability. The 30-page list has 41 opportunities for grants and loans from the 2 federal agencies.

Housing Preservation Grant - Notice of Solicitation of Applications

The Fiscal Year 2023 Section 533 Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) Notice of Funding Availability was published in the Federal Register on April 19, 2023.

The HPG program provides grants to qualified organizations to repair or rehabilitate homes, rental properties, or co-ops occupied by low- and very-low-income residents in rural areas. Eligible applicants are organizations which include most State or local governmental entities, federally recognized Indian tribes, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations.

In addition to regular program funding, $2,500,000 was made available under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 to help people repair homes they own or rent that were damaged by a Presidentially declared disaster in calendar year 2022.

Properties proposed for repair must have sustained damage in a Presidentially declared disaster in calendar year 2022. A list maintained by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is available at this link: FEMA Website. In the dropdown boxes on that webpage, select the year 2022, and then choose “Major Disaster Declaration” or “Fire Management Assistance Declaration” as the declaration type.
A maximum award of $50,000

Pre-applications may be submitted to the Rural Development State Offices. The closing deadline for receipt of all paper or electronic pre-applications is June 5, 2023.

For general information, applicants may contact Mandy Couture at 515-418-2188 or via email at mandy.couture@usda.gov

T-Mobile Hometown Grant Application Q2 2023 (April 3 - June 30, 2023)

Ends on Sat, Jul 01, 2023, 1:00 AM

T-Mobile Hometown Grants is a $25 million, five-year initiative to support the people and organizations who help small towns across America thrive and grow. Hometown Grants are given every quarter to up to 25 small towns. Apply for funding to support a community project of your choice, like revitalizing or repurposing a historic structure, creating a downtown asset or destination, or improving a space where friends and neighbors gather. Projects that add to a sense of place or could lead to further investment are of particular interest. We look forward to learning more about your town and your project. Apply Now.

ARPA Resources

AUDITS and ARPA

Are you concerned about audits as a result of ARPA fund expenditures? What kind of audit will certain expenditure levels trigger? How should you prepare for your audit?

You can find answers to these questions in a new handout created by the Triangle-J Council of Governments. It is applicable to towns and counties statewide.

Find the audit help guide at this link: https://www.tjcog.org/sites/default/files/uploads/arpa_audit_considerations_v2.pdf

There is also a blog post from the UNC School of Government that explains what can trigger various levels of audit: https://canons.sog.unc.edu/2022/01/procuring-single-audit-services-under-the-uniform-guidance-2-c-f-r-part-200/

ARP Technical Assistance Provided to ECC Members

Eastern Carolina Council provides American Rescue Plan (ARP) technical assistance to its members, at no cost to our members, through grant funding support. Senior Community Planner, Carlton Gideon and Community Planner Holly C. Lippit are providing American Rescue Plan / Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARP/CSLFRF) program technical assistance. If you have a question about ARPA compliance, policies, or reporting, please contact Carlton at cgideon@eccog.org or at 252-638-3185, ext. 3018, or Holly at hcraighead@eccog.org or at 252-638-3185, ext. 3021.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM TREASURY

The best source of information on how to submit reports is the User Guide, which contains detailed submission instructions and includes answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) for reporting.

Treasury has also posted a series of recorded webinars to assist recipients in understanding and complying with relevant reporting requirements and assist recipients in accessing Treasury’s Portal:

Project and Expenditure Report: Reporting under Revenue Replacement
Project and Expenditure Report: Simplified Submissions
Project and Expenditure Report: Submissions using All Expenditure Categories
NEU Intro to Reporting: Account Creation, Roles, and Agreements/Supporting Docs Submission (NEU specific)
Account Creation and Login: Creation of an account in Treasury’s Portal through ID.me or Login.gov
User Roles: Assignment and updates of user roles in Treasury’s Portal
Bulk Uploads: Overview of submitting bulk uploads in Treasury’s Portal

Upcoming ARP Office Hours with UNC School of Government

Tuesday, May 30, 8:30-9:30am – Focus on Funding Personnel (with both revenue replacement and non-revenue replacement)
Thursday, June 8, 8:30-9:30am
Monday, June 12, 8:30-10:30am -- Focus on Accounting & Budgeting
Tuesday, June 20, 12-1pm
Thursday, June 29, 8:30-9:30am --- ARP BASICS
Wednesday, July 5, 8:30-9:30am
Thursday, July 13, 12-1pm -- Focus on Program Income for Water/Wastewater Projects
Thursday, July 20, 8:30-9:30am -- Focus on Procurement
Friday, July 28, 12-1pmZOOM LOG IN