News & Updates for the Mid-Carolina Region
Grants, resources, training, important dates, and more.
|
|
Technical Assistance and Predevelopment Grants
Community Challenge Grants
Solar+Schools Grant Program
Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act Changes
2020 Walking College
Nominations for Honorary ICMA Membership
Determining Pay Rates for Local Government Positions Webinar
NCARCOG February Meeting Summary
Basic Code Enforcement Training
Important Dates
Share Your Good News
|
|
Technical Assistance and Predevelopment Grants
|
The Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is offering technical assistance and predevelopment grants through its Community Facilities Fund. Rural LISC created the Community Facilities Fund to provide capital to help develop and improve essential community facilities in rural areas. The fund provides permanent and construction-to-permanent financing for rural community facilities, including health care centers, hospitals, educational facilities, and other nonprofit and public facilities in communities with populations under 20,000.
CLICK HERE
for more information.
CONTACT
Justin Hembree, MCCOG
|
|
Community Challenge Grants
|
AARP is accepting applications for its 2020 Community Challenge Grant Program. AARP’s Community Challenge provides small grants to fund "quick-action" projects to improve housing, transportation, public space, technology, and civic engagement.
Applications are due April 1
. Eligible projects include physical improvements, temporary demonstration projects, and new programs or services. Grant amounts vary by project.
CLICK HERE
to learn more.
CONTACT
Justin Hembree, MCCOG
|
|
Solar+Schools Grant Program
|
NC GreenPower recently announced year six of its Solar+Schools Program. Any NC K-12 school may apply for a
grant of up to $14,000
toward installation costs for a 3 to 5 kW education solar system. In addition, awardees will receive
nearly $12,000 in related benefits
, such as donated SunPower solar modules, a STEM curriculum, and teacher training.
It is estimated there will be grant funding for five to 10 schools in 2020. However, the number of awards will be dependent on donations made to the program.
CLICK HERE
for more information.
CONTACT
Katie Lebrato, NC GreenPower
OR
Justin Hembree, MCCOG
|
|
Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act Changes
|
Session Law 2019-19, adopted by the NC General Assembly during its 2019 Session, made several changes to the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act. Changes primarily relate to the duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of local government finance officers. Of note, local governments can now
contract with Councils of Government
to provide finance officer services.
|
|
America Walks is now accepting applications for its 2020 Walking College, a six-month remote learning fellowship that culminates in a walking action plan for each participant’s community.
Fellows learn about walkable design, how to engage decision-makers and the public around walkability plans, and how to foster local advocacy for accessible, livable communities. Twenty-five fellowships are awarded each year.
Applications are due February 28
.
CLICK HERE
to learn more.
|
|
Nominations for Honorary ICMA Membership
|
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is accepting nominations for Honorary Membership.
Honorary Membership
is awarded to individuals outside the profession of local government management because of their distinguished public service and contributions to the improvement and strengthening of local government.
CLICK HERE
to learn more.
Eligible nominees include, but are not limited to, academic leaders, elected officials, and civic leaders. Selection will be based on the following criteria:
- Contributions to strengthening the structure of local government
- Leadership in increasing citizen understanding of the governance and management of local government
- Initiatives that brought about improvement and development of local government managers
- Programs, writing or general career contributions that have enhanced the responsiveness and effectiveness of local government
A nomination can be made by any voting member of ICMA.
CLICK HERE
to download nomination forms.
CLICK HERE
to see a listing of Honorary Members, including the three 2019 recipients.
|
|
Determining Pay Rates for Local Government Positions Webinar
|
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is hosting
“Competitive Pay: Best Practices for Determining Pay Rates for Local Governments”
webinar on
March 17
from
1pm to 2:30pm
.
The webinar will outline tactics local governments can use to recruit and maintain a high-caliber staff, examine methods for compensation methods, and review best practices for determining pay rates for individual positions.
The cost is
$149 for ICMA members
and
$249 for non-members
.
CLICK HERE
for additional information.
|
|
NCARCOG February Meeting Summary
|
The NC Association of Regional Councils of Government (NCARCOG) met on February 4 and 5 in Winston-Salem. The following items were discussed:
2020 Census
Bob Coats, NC Census Liaison and State Data Center Coordinator, provided an update concerning 2020 Census preparations.
Ameri-Corp
Becky Bowen, Cultivate NC and NC State Cooperative Extension, provided an update on Cultivate NC. Cultivate NC will place up to nine Ameri-Corp volunteers with organizations throughout the state. Organizations must commit $10,000 per year in order to host a volunteer.
Chapter 160D Planning Legislation
The NCARCOG discussed the potential development of a program that will assist local governments across the state in complying with the requirements of the new land use law.
Legislative Update
Chris Wall, The Policy Group, provided a legislative update.
COG Legislative Day be on May 13
.
NADO Dues Structure
Justin Hembree, MCCOG and National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Board Member, explained the new NADO dues structure.
Resiliency Assessment Tool
Chair Lee Worsley, Triangle J COG, will be examining options for a statewide assessment tool for resiliency planning .
Future Meetings
It was decided that future meetings will be held at different locations throughout the state.
MCCOG will host the April meeting
.
SE4A Sponsorship
David Richardson, Lumber River COG, suggested that NCARCOG commit to being a sponsor for the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging (SE4A) Annual Conference that will be held in Asheville later in the year. It was decided NCARCOG would participate as a Silver/Conference Program Sponsor.
EMAIL
Justin Hembree, MCCOG, for more information about any of these items.
|
|
Basic Code Enforcement Training
|
A few seats are still avaliable
for the TJCOG/MCCOG Basic Code Enforcement Course, but are going fast. The course will cover public nuisances including chronic violators; abandoned, junked & nuisance vehicles; minimum housing code; non-residential building & structures code; and civil penalty processes.
Save your seat by registering for one of the sessions below.
Robbins Fire Station
Robins, NC
Monday, February 24
8am-4pm
Smithfield Town Hall
Smithfield, NC
Tuesday, February 25
8am-4pm
Cost is $100 for MCCOG and TJCOG member government staff and $125 for non-member government staff. Lunch will be provided.
|
|
February 20
RLUAC Quarterly Meeting
February 24
Basic Code Enforcement Training
February 25
Basic Code Enforcement Training
March 4-6
ICMA Southeast Regional Conference
March 10-12
NC Main Street Conference
March 15-18
National Association of Development Organizations Washington Conference
March 17-18
Senior Tar Heel Legislature
March 24
MCCOG Quarterly Managers Lunch
March 26
MCCOG Board of Directors Meeting
March 26
MCCOG Aging Advisory Council
April 1-3
NC Association of Regional Councils of Govenments/The Forum Meeting
April 8-April 27
Mid-Carolina Senior Games
April 9
Mid-Carolina RPO TCC Meeting
April 15
Mid-Carolina RPO TAC Meeting
May 5-7
NC League of Municipalities CityVision Annual Conference
May 13
COG Legislative Day
May 28
MCCOG Board of Directors Meeting
June 16-17
Rural Day
June 18-20
NC City & County Management Association Summer Seminar
June 25
MCCOG Board of Directors Meeting
July 9
Mid-Carolina RPO TCC Meeting
July 22
Mid-Carolina RPO TAC Meeting
August 13-15
NC Association of County Commissioners Annual Conference
August 27
Mid-Carolina Board of Directors Meeting
August 30-September 2
- SE4A Annual Conference
October 8
Mid-Carolina RPO TCC Meeting
October 22
MCCOG Board of Directors Meeting
October 28
Mid-Carolina RPO TAC Meeting
|
|
If you have news, events, announcements or other items you would like included in an upcoming FYI, please
EMAIL
Justin Hembree, MCCOG.
Please let us know if you have questions, need additional details about the information we have shared or if there is a way the Council can be of service.
|
|
Mid-Carolina Council of Governments
Creative Regional Solutions
|
|
Mid-Carolina Council of Governments is a multi-county, planning, development, and human services organization. We reach across county and municipal borders to provide technical assistance to our local governments and to administer programs that benefit our region’s citizens.
Our mission is to provide creative regional solutions to relevant and emerging issues in Cumberland, Harnett, and Sampson Counites while providing a standard of excellence in the delivery of federal, state, and regional services for our local governments and the people they serve.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
