Your input matters in closing the digital divide! Share your feedback on the accessibility and affordability of computers, high-speed internet, and digital skills resources with the N.C. Department of Information Technology. Your input will inform state plans to meet the needs of all North Carolinians.

� Take the 10-min survey here:

AskAshleigh is the first virtual caregiver integrated into an Area Agency on Aging in the nation. 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/

ACTION REQUIRED: Upcoming Grants Management System Transition and Limited Availability to Process Financial Transactions

FEMA is transitioning to a new financial management system: Federal Information Management System (FIMS). This transition will temporarily limit your ability to complete grants management and financial actions in FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) and other legacy grant systems mentioned below. You must submit any time-sensitive transactions by November 20, 2026.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR USERS

Beginning in late November, FEMA GO and other FEMA grant management systems will have a period of limited functionality. During this time, users will not be able to process financial transactions, such as draw downs, payment requests, obligations, de-obligations and closeouts.

ACTION NEEDED NOW

All grant systems users, including FEMA grant program staff and grant recipients, must complete time-sensitive grant and financial actions for grant awards by 5 p.m. ET on November 20, 2026. Transactions completed after that date will not be processed until at least mid-December.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE TRANSITION

Shortly after November 20, 2025, the grant systems will be placed in read-only mode while they are transitioned to FEMA’s new financial system. The process will take several weeks. During this period, you will be able to view all existing records.

• For Mitigation eGrants (MT eGrants), Payment and Reporting System (PARS) and FEMA GO, users will be able to view existing information but will not be able to enter, update, submit, approve or process grants administration or financial transactions, including payments.
• For National Emergency Management Information System-Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (NEMIS-HMGP), users will be able to view existing information and complete non-financial functions. However, users will not be able to process financial transactions in NEMIS-HMGP. HMGP users will still be able to request payments/drawdowns through the Payment Management System.

BOTTOM LINE

You have until November 20, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET to complete time-sensitive grant and financial actions for grant awards. After that date, financial transactions will not be processed in FEMA GO, NEMIS-HMGP, MT eGrants, or PARS while FEMA completes the transition to FIMS.

FEMA currently anticipates completing the transition in mid-December, but that timeframe is subject to change depending on disaster activity or technical complications.

QUESTIONS



For additional questions during this transition, please reach out to the FEMA GO Help Desk at FEMAGO@fema.dhs.gov or by phone at 877-585-3242. The FEMA GO Help Desk is available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET, except for federal holidays.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: TRAIL ACCELERATOR GRANTS TO LAUNCH YOUR TRAIL

DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS

Trail Accelerator Grants provide a jump-start to

communities that have the interest and political

support to accelerate the pace of trail building do this

work but need assistance to get projects up and

running or to develop their skills and resources along

the way.

In 2027, the Trail Accelerator Grant will have two

opportunities, with each focusing on different aspects

of trail development. The first will award professional

services, and the second will provide educational support through

other programs: Trail Care Workshops, funding/capital campaign education, and in-person, facilitated strategic planning for mountain bike/trail

organizations.

2027 Application Period for Both Opportunities:

Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2026

2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity: NOW OPEN

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for approximately $180 million under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Program and solicits applications from eligible entities to incentivize and accelerate the upgrade or retirement of the nation’s legacy diesel engine fleet. Read the NOFO here. 

The EPA anticipates that up to 4–12 awards per EPA Region will be made. For EPA Region 4 that is approximately $17,800,000. The maximum federal funding request per application is $4,000,000. Awards funded under this opportunity are expected to have a 2–4 year project period.

The following entities are eligible to apply:



1. A regional, state (including the District of Columbia), local agency, Tribal agency, or port authority that has jurisdiction over transportation or air quality. School districts, municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), cities, and counties are all generally eligible entities under this grant program to the extent that they fall within this definition.

2. A nonprofit organization or institution that:

• Represents or provides pollution reduction or educational services to people or organizations that own or operate diesel fleets; or
• Has, as its principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality.

Eligible activities include the retrofit or replacement of existing diesel engines, vehicles, and equipment with certified engine configurations and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies.

Eligible Diesel Vehicles, Engines, and Equipment

School buses, transit buses, medium-duty or heavy-duty trucks, marine engines, locomotives, nonroad engines and equipment.

Diesel Emission Reduction Solutions

Eligible replacement highway vehicles include those certified by the EPA or CARB to run on diesel or clean alternative fuel engines (including gasoline), electric generators (gensets), hybrid engines, and zero-emission power sources (i.e., grid, battery, or fuel cell). 

Deadline

All application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than Friday, January 22, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. (ET) to be considered.

For more information on DERA funding, please visit www.epa.gov/dera.

Applications must include projects that meet program eligibility requirements. Program goals are achieved through the implementation of the above eligible activities. In addition, eligible entities may also use funds to reduce long-duration idling using verified idle-reduction technology with certain vehicles or equipment described above. 

If you have any questions or for more information, please feel free to reach out to Ron Townley at rtownley@ucpcog.org.

Each year, the Golden LEAF Foundation invites organizations from counties from a different Prosperity Zone to participate in our $11 million Community-Based Grants Initiative (CBGI). The process is competitive, but organizations from all counties within the Prosperity Zone will have an opportunity to apply.

The CBGI is designed to identify projects with the potential to have a significant impact. It is a focused process with grants targeted toward investments in the building blocks of economic growth. Funds are limited to projects that address job creation and economic investment, agriculture, and workforce preparedness.

Available Funds Eligible Entities Process Regional Projects

A total of $11 million is available to support projects in the region. Awards are limited to no more than three projects in any county and may total no more than $1.5 million in any county. Not all proposals will be funded and there is no assurance that there will be a funded project in every county. Funds may also be awarded for regional projects (see information below), which will not count toward the limit of projects in a county, but regional projects are funded through the overall $11 million program budget.

Counties from the North Central Prosperity Zone are invited to participate in our Community-Based Grants Initiative (CBGI). The counties in the North Central Prosperity Zone are Chatham, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren, and Wilson.

Joint Office Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Playbook 



The Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Playbook provides guidance on planning, engagement, siting and funding for electric infrastructure, offering interactive modules with clear steps to facilitate the development of a zero-emission transportation system. CLICK HERE for playbook access. 

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

USDOT Grants and Technical Assistance Navigator Tool 

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently launched the DOT Navigator, a new online resource designed to help communities identify federal grant and technical assistance opportunities. The DOT Navigator tool includes a searchable database of technical assistance opportunities as well as a variety of grant application resources. 

Our Planning & Development Services Department is conducting a tree inventory for the City of Wilson this fall, which is funded by a NC Forest Service grant. They will inventory public trees across four census tracts which include downtown and much of south and east Wilson. The inventory will be used to prioritize tree maintenance needs and identify planting spaces for new native trees. 

2026 NC County Map Book

The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners is pleased to share the 2026 County Map Book, compiling relevant North Carolina county data maps into one publication. 

These maps and data tables highlight demographic, economic, health, and educational information from North Carolina’s 100 counties. This annual publication is intended to provide context and promote analysis for decisions at the local level in counties across the state.

One page county-specific summaries will be released soon. 

Digital Skills Training Available to Local Government Personnel

Computer Skills Training Available to Local Government Personnel

Get free training and a free laptop! A free self-paced training offered through UCPCOG includes internet basics, email, Microsoft Word, Excel, social media, career searching, tele-health and more. 

Upon successful completion of the 17-module Northstar training, trainees receive a certification of digital skills, and a free laptop from the Kramden Institute.

UCPCOG is pleased to extend this training program to all member governments.

Everyone is eligible:

• Employees of local governments
• Local elected officials
• Local appointed board members

UCPCOG will help set each trainee up in Northstar and provide assistance as needed.

Northstar is a self-paced, virtual training portal. The online modules can be done at work or home. Each module may take about an hour to complete, depending on the self-paced timing.

The trainings are a good refresher or first course in computer skills. They give staff and officials the training necessary to use computers and online resources safely and efficiently.

Contact Ben Farmer (BFarmer@ucpcog.org) for more information on how to get started.

The Digital Economies Project, funded by NC Department of Information Technology, is a collaboration between UCPCOG and the three local community colleges (+ CADA & AMEXCAN) to train community members on digital skills using the Northstar Digital Literacy platform.

EPA Launches Transparent, Interactive Permitting Map

Accessible public tool breaks down permitting barriers and removes confusion to unleash American prosperity

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching the EPA Permitting Authority Map. The interactive map—accessible via EPA’s website—identifies which regulatory agencies have the authority to issue permits covering all of EPA’s permitting programs and environmental statutes. The development of the map is an integral resource in advancing Pillar 3 of Administrator Lee Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback initiative: Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership.

The EPA Permitting Authority Map supports federal agencies, states, territories, Tribal nations, local agencies/governments, and the general public with:



• The ability to make a quick determination whether the permitting authority is with EPA or if there has been an approved delegation, primacy, or authorization given to a state, territory, Tribal nation, or local agency.
• The use of a Geo Platform based web map, which provides maximum flexibility for site visualization and project planning ability.

EPA also released new informational tools and resources to help community members, local officials, data center developers, and other interested parties assess the viability of Brownfield and Superfund sites as possible locations for industrial reuse. EPA's Redevelopment Mapper for Superfund and Brownfield Sites can help screen for suitable site characteristics on a Brownfield or Superfund site. The Mapper provides site locations and options for adding data layers that highlight site features and surroundings. 

Visit the Carolinas Development Assistance and Siting Hub!

NCCETC leads the Carolinas Development Assistance and Siting Hub (DASH) project as part of a U.S. DOE-funded program designed to support large-scale renewable energy development. The new hub will launch this week, featuring an ordinance database, numerous resources, upcoming events, and an extensive FAQ section. Be sure to check the website later this week to access the new features!

Visit the Website ➔

Announcing the

NC Resilient Communities

Planning Guide!

We are pleased to announce the publication of NCORR’s newest resource:

The NC Resilient Communities Planning Guide!

The Guide is a collection of resources tailored to help North Carolina communities develop a resilience plan or integrate resilience into existing planning documents, such as a comprehensive plan or strategic plan. Because each community’s needs are unique, the Guide doesn’t offer a fixed approach. Instead, it provides users with a set of considerations, options to up- or down-scale its approaches and examples of other communities’ actions. 

The Guide consists of two volumes: the Playbook and the Idea Book. 



The Playbook takes users through the stages of resilience planning, from preparation through plan implementation. Each section of the Playbook includes checklists and questions for consideration, to allow the user to customize their planning process to their organization’s specific needs. While the target audience is local governments, the content will also help community organizations or regional groups craft resilience strategies.

The Idea Book provides insight into strategies that advance resilience across 14 categories. These categories include environmental topics, like Stormwater Management and Flooding; social topics like Communication and Education; and economic topics like Business and Local Economy. For each topic, we explain its connection to resilience, demonstrate strategies for increasing resilience in this area and offer an in-depth case study of a community’s resilience project.

NC Works Career Centers assists both JOB SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS; Feel free to reach out to the Centers in the Turning Point Region and let a team member know how they can assist! Occasionally, the NC Works Centers (Rocky Mount and Roanoke Rapids share information about events and services), however, feel free to also follow the State's general NC Works page for general information that is statewide, regarding what basic job seeker and employer services are available and what Career Centers basically offer daily; some services are set on a different schedule such as resume writing courses and other partner-offered services throughout the week, however in an effort to assist customers, this information can be shared, just call or visit! The Wilson Workforce Center, powered by Turning Point Local Area is also a resource, located at Wilson Community College campus.

NC Works Career Centers:

NCWorks Career Center, Rocky Mount

NCWorks Career Center, Roanoke Rapids

AGING

November is National Family Caregivers Month!

If you know a family caregiver, take some time this month to tell them how amazing they are and how much their care and dedication mean. Even better, offer to help so they can take a break and enjoy some time for themselves.

If you are a family caregiver, we want you to know that your dedication, love, and support for your loved ones do not go unnoticed. Caregiving is not an easy journey, and you deserve care and support, too. Please remember—you are not alone.

This month, take a little time to celebrate yourself. Whether it’s getting a massage, enjoying a quiet moment, treating yourself to a makeover, or simply doing something you love, your well-being matters. Thank you for all you do!

Healthy Aging Highlights

Staying active is an important part of healthy aging! To help those interested in learning more about exercise, NIA created an Exercise and Older Adults Toolkit to share reliable health information, research news, infographics, publications, and videos that highlight the benefits of physical activity. The materials are designed for older adults, caregivers, and health care providers.



Explore and share the toolkit to help encourage safe, enjoyable exercise at any age

Top 10 Primer: Gifts, Favors, and Conflicts of Interest

November 10, 2026 | Online

10:00-11:15am | Course Cost: Free

Elected officials are often bombarded with good will. Sometimes, that good will takes the form of gifts, most unsolicited but no less problematic. What’s an elected official to do?  

This highly interactive online workshop will cover the ten most important points for elected officials to know about the legal and ethical boundaries of accepting gifts and favors, and conflicts of interest. 

What You'll Learn:

• What is a conflict of interest?
• How does North Carolina law define gifts and favors?
• When can you accept gifts and favors, and when should you politely decline?
• What is the difference between a financial interest and a direct benefit?
• What does it mean to have a Duty to Vote? When can you be excused from voting?
• What do federal rules restrict regarding gifts, favors and financial interests?

Intermediate Purchasing Seminar

November 17-19, 2026 | Chapel Hill  | 9:00am-4:00pm | Course Cost: $535



This three-day seminar will sharpen participants' purchasing skills and deepen their understanding of the legal and practical aspects of public purchasing.

This course is intended for officials with two or more years of experience in local governmental purchasing.

What You'll Learn:

• Bidding and property disposal
• Capital leasing
• Performance management and benchmarking
• Insurance and risk management
• Electronic bidding and contract management
• Effective communications
• Ethics and conflicts of interest
• Practical skills training, including handling difficult bids

Basic Principles of Local Government Purchasing

January 25-27, 2027 | Chapel Hill or Online | Course cost: $685

This course is designed for new local government purchasing officials and covers basic principles and legal requirements for local government purchasing.



What You'll Learn:

• Competitive bidding requirements for purchasing and construction contracting
• Purchasing ethics and conflicts of interest in public procurement
• Practical skills such as vendor relations, developing specifications, and preparing bid solicitations
• Purchasing policies and electronic bidding
• Decision analysis, motivational strategies, and effective communication
• Local government law overview, including open meetings and public records laws
• Budgeting and fiscal control
• Surplus property disposal
• Tips for success from experienced local government purchasing professionals

2027 Rural Summit

Our Legacy, Our Future

We hope you'll join us for the NC Rural Center’s 2027 Rural Summit on March 24-25, 2027, at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Research Triangle Park.

In 2027, the Rural Center will celebrate the 40th anniversary of our founding — 40 years of working together to build vibrant communities in North Carolina. This year's Summit will honor the people, ideas, and communities that have shaped our history and continue to build places where all people can live and thrive.

Early-bird registration will open on Wednesday, January 6, 2027.

If you're invested in building our state's future, the Summit is an opportunity to network with peers and community leaders, learn about what's happening now, and ideate on what's to come in rural North Carolina.