News & Updates for the Mid-Carolina Region
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More Than $28 Million in Grant Funds Available
EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance Program
Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction
Long-Term Economic Recovery Strategies Webinar
Funding and Financing Strategies Webinar
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More Than $28 Million in Grant Funds Available
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NC community leaders are invited to apply for
Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) funds for 2020. The
NC Department of Commerce
and its
Rural Economic Development
team has posted
new guidance and an application form on the agency's website
. A new category of funding for 2020 addresses the current COVID-19 situation.
NC Commerce will administer nearly
$28.52 million
in
Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus
(CDBG-CV) funds awarded to the state by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support NC’s COVID-19 response efforts. This allocation was authorized by the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
, known as the CARES Act.
The CARES Act made available
$5 billion
for HUD grants such as CDBG for special allocations to states and individual communities. As required, the NC CDBG-CV allocation will be allocated to non-entitlement areas across the state, which include
incorporated municipalities under 50,000
and
counties under 200,000
in population.
In addition to the CDBG-CV program, non-entitlement local units of government are encouraged to apply for the
NC Neighborhood Revitalization Program
(CDBG-NR) to assist with local needs identified by the community in collaboration with state and local health officials to prepare, prevent, and respond to the coronavirus. Projects could include, but are not limited to,
stabilizing housing
, r
ehabilitating homes for vulnerable populations
, and
repurposing buildings into patient treatment centers
.
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EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance Program
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The
US Economic Development Administration
(EDA) is now accepting applications from eligible grantees for
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
(CARES Act) supplemental funds (EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance) intended to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.
In March, President Trump
signed
the
$2 trillion
CARES Act into law. The CARES Act provides EDA with
$1.5 billion
of which
$1.467
billion is available for grant making.
EDA will make
CARES Act Recovery Assistance
grants under the authority of its
Economic Adjustment Assistance
Program
(EAA), which is intended to be flexible and responsive to the economic development needs and priorities of local and regional stakeholders.
Examples of projects that EDA may fund through its
CARES Act Recovery Assistance Program
include economic recovery planning and preparing technical assistance strategies to address economic dislocations caused by the coronavirus pandemic, preparing or updating resiliency plans to respond to future pandemics, implementing entrepreneurial support programs to diversify economies, and constructing public works and facilities that will support economic recovery, including the deployment of broadband for purposes including supporting telehealth and remote learning for job skills.
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Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction
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The
US Department of Agriculture
(USDA) has announced the availability of
$900,000
for local governments to host
Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction
(CCFWR) pilot projects for fiscal year (FY) 2020. The cooperative agreements will support projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. The agreements are offered through USDA’s
Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
.
USDA will accept applications on
grants.gov
until midnight
June 26
,. Projects should span two years with a start date of
October 1, 2020
and completion date of
September 29, 2022.
Cooperative agreements support projects led by local governments that:
1) generate compost
2) increase access to compost for agricultural producers
3) reduce reliance on, and limit the use of, fertilizer
4) improve soil quality
5) encourage waste management and permaculture business development
6) increase rainwater absorption
7) reduce municipal food waste
8) divert food waste from landfills
USDA’s
Natural Resources Conservation Service
will provide assistance for conservation related activities.
Priority will be given to projects that anticipate or demonstrate economic benefits, incorporate plans to make compost easily accessible to farmers, including community gardeners, integrate other food waste strategies, including food recovery efforts, and collaborate with multiple partners.
A webinar, which will be held on
June 4
from 2pm to 4pm, will provide an overview of the cooperative agreements’ purpose, project types, eligibility, and basic requirements for submitting an application. Information on
how to register and participate in the webinar
, or listen to the recording, will be posted at
farmers.gov/urban
.
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Long-Term Economic Recovery Strategies Webinar
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Lessons shared will draw on strategies related to recovering from a natural disaster, a unique event like a military base closure, or from a major industry downturn, such as the ongoing decline of the coal industry. Topics highlighted will include economic diversification, business assistance, talent development, improved infrastructure and amenities, and more.
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Funding and Financing Strategies Webinar
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The
Environmental Finance Center Network
and the
Smart Management for Small Water Systems Program
is hosting a webinar that will focus on funding and financing strategies for integrated hazard mitigation and water resource plans. The webinar is set for
May 27
from
2pm until 3pm
.
In light of increasing development, ever-changing conditions, increasingly stressed infrastructure, and growing financial pressures, integrating hazard mitigation and water quality-focused resource management is becoming more and more important to the success of water systems and other public-serving entities. This webinar will provide strategies for incorporating funding and financial strategies into integrated plans and explore various solutions for how local communities can pay for water resource projects.
Click
here
to learn more and to register.
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If you have news, events, announcements or other items you would like included in an upcoming FYI, please
email
Justin Hembree, MCCOG Executive Director.
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.
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Mid-Carolina Council of Governments
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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.
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