LRCOG News & Updates
Our Mission
"In its dedication to regional excellence, the Lumber River Council of Governments is
proactive in identifying local and regional needs and the resources to address
those needs in an effective and fair manner."
Area Agency on Aging


Nutrition Program

Region N Nutrition Providers continue to serve the older adults in our region during this unprecedented time.
Bladen Division on Aging
LRCOG Area Agency on Aging
(Serving Robeson & Scotland Counties)
Richmond County Aging Services
Senior Services of Hoke County
Lumber River Workforce Development Board
Program Updates
The Lumber River Council of Governments Workforce Development Division provides services through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program to Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth customers throughout Bladen, Hoke, Richmond, Robeson, and Scotland counties. The services provided through the (WIOA) program focus on training, career exploration, and employment assistance. The customer impact stories presented highlight services provided through the NCWorks Career Centers and our WIOA Youth Contractors.

For a complete listing of services and contact information please click links below.
Cisco King is a WIOA Youth Program participant in Robeson County served by UNC Pembroke - Office for Regional Initiatives. Cisco completed a continuing education course in welding at Robeson Community College. Cisco received a scholarship from the North Carolina State Employee Credit Union. He has now applied for employment with Sentinel Fence to use the training he completed in welding.
Michael Livingston is a WIOA Adult Program participant served by the NCWorks Career Center – Robeson County. Michael was a recent graduate seeking employment. Michael’s educational attainment was matched to the needs of employer, Sentinel Fence. Michael was placed in an On-the-Job Training (OJT) opportunity at Sentinel Fence using his training to create graphic designs, transfer paper drawings into Computer Aided Draft Designs, and working on projects to create enhanced imagery.
Announcements
Gov. Cooper Outlines Timeline on Group 3 COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization
Educators, school personnel and child care workers will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine beginning Feb. 24; North Carolina has administered more than 1 million first doses of vaccine
2021 Special Health Insurance Enrollment Period Through HealthCare.gov

Now through May 15, 2021, we are opening HealthCare.gov for all Americans to have the opportunity to sign up for health insurance. Now, everyone will be able to use a special enrollment period to help secure some peace of mind as we work to beat the pandemic and strengthen and build on the Affordable Care Act.
Vaccinations
Before Vaccination

When You Get Vaccinated
  • You should receive a vaccination card or printout that tells you what COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date you received it, and where you received it.
  • You should receive a paper or electronic version of a fact sheet that tells you more about the specific COVID-19 vaccine you are being offered. Each authorized COVID-19 vaccine has its own fact sheet that contains information to help you understand the risks and benefits of receiving that specific vaccine.
  • All people who get a COVID-19 vaccine should be monitored on-site. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and rare severe allergic reactions. ​

After Vaccination
  • With most COVID-19 vaccines, you will need two shots in order for them to work. Get the second shot even if you have side effects after the first one, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to get a second shot.
  • Ask your healthcare provider about getting started with v-safe, a free, smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination. V-safe also reminds you to get your second dose if you need one. Learn more at www.cdc.gov/vsafe.
  • It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines that require 2 shots may not protect you until a week or two after your second shot.
Proposed NCDOT Rule Change for Billboards

The NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is proposing a rule change that would override local ordinances and allow billboards with a state permit to be converted to digital and raised to 50 feet in height, even if such changes are not allowed by the applicable city or county ordinance.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Website
Vaccination Dashboard
North Carolina COVID-19 Information Hub
North Carolina’s First Cybercrime Hotline

United Way of North Carolina and the Cybercrime Support Network (CSN) announce the launch of North Carolina’s first cybercrime support and recovery hotline. The new system allows North Carolina residents to dial 2-1-1 to report and find resources to recover from identity theft, financial fraud, cyberstalking, cyberbullying and other cybercrimes. This initiative was made possible through a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Grant that was awarded by The North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission. Additional support for the project has been provided by the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT).
Webinars/Trainings
Opportunity Zones: The early evidence
Wednesday, February 24, 2021,10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST

In an effort to spur economic development in distressed and left-behind communities, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created more than 8,700 Opportunity Zones across the country and offered favorable capital gains tax treatment to investments in those low-incomes communities. Although Opportunity Zones are still young, they are already stimulating rigorous research.

Ed Glaeser of Harvard will give opening remarks, followed by a presentation from Kenan Fikri of the Economic Innovation Group. There will then be four sessions, organized by topic, each containing several paper presentations and discussant responses.
Distressed Public Utilities: What It Means for Municipalities
March 2, 10 – 11 a.m. (via zoom)

If your municipality has received a letter that your utility system may soon be deemed as “distressed,” the League is here to help you understand what this new designation means for your city or town. Distressed Public Utilities: What it Means for Municipalities will give attendees the opportunity to speak with state officials about this new designation and the opportunity to move towards viable operations.

The North Carolina League of Municipalities is hosting a webinar that provides an overview about this new state-level designation and what it means to be classified as a distressed utility. Webinar participants will learn:
  • Viable utility resources
  • Criteria of being a distressed utility
  • What does it mean to be on the list?
  • Available resources to help municipalities
Funding Opportunities
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

Overview
  • The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund was created with the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act.
  • Because the DWSRF is federally-seeded, the loans are subject to additional federal regulations regarding environmental review, outreach for disadvantaged business enterprises, payroll (Davis Bacon and related Acts), etc.
  • Congress provides funds for states to establish revolving loan programs for funding of drinking water projects.
  • States provide 20% matching funds.
Quality of Life Grants Program

As a pillar of the Paralysis Resource Center, the Quality of Life Grants Program, pioneered by the late Dana Reeve, impacts and empowers people living with paralysis, their families and caregivers by providing grants to nonprofit organizations whose projects and initiatives foster inclusion, involvement and community engagement, while promoting health and wellness for those affected by paralysis in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Suggested Read
Coates' Cannon
Tax Tips for a Resurgent Real Estate Market
By: Chris McLaughlin

Several blog posts were written about how the pandemic might affect local taxes (here, here, here, and here), focusing mostly on negative economic news. But there is at least one positive economic development from the pandemic that will impact property taxes; the residential real estate market is very strong across most of North Carolina.

Here are a few tax tips to keep in mind as residential sales heat up.

1- Who should get the tax bill for a recently transferred property?
Best practice is for counties to update their ownership records just before printing their bills to ensure that those bills are mailed to the current owners.

2- May the county release the lien on one subdivided parcel when it is sold even if the rest of the taxes on the parent parcel are not paid?
Yes, but the county is not required to do so.
CONTACT US

Lumber River Council of Governments | Phone: 910-618-5533 | Fax: 910-521-7556