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."
Lumber River Council of Governments'
Legislative Day
On June 2, 2021 LRCOG board members, John Cummings, Angeline David, Chairman Rufus Duckworth, and Charles Townsend, and LRCOG staff members, Sonya Johnson and David Richardson, participated in the NC Association of Regional Council of Governments Legislative Advocacy Day in Raleigh. The LRCOG delegation was able to have meetings with the offices of all of the NC General Assembly members from our region.
Pictured Above (left to right: Sonya Johnson (LRCOG Clerk to the Board), Angeline David (LRCOG Board), Charles Townsend (LRCOG Board/Forum Member), David Richardson (LRCOG Executive Director), Rufus Duckworth (LRCOG Board Chairman),
Not Pictured: John Cummings (LRCOG Board)
Lumber River Council of Governments' American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 Information Hub

Find links to information, other resources, and sample documents
We Need Your Help with our Broadband Availability and Adoption Toolset (BAAT)
The Lumber River Council of Governments in partnership with our member governments and ECC Technologies is conducting a survey called a Broadband Availability and Adoption Toolset (BAAT). This survey is a comprehensive study of internet usage and availability for 5 counties in the region. Also, known as broadband, high-speed internet access has become a greater need due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many residents rely on broadband to stay in touch with friends and family, telecommute, shop, and operate businesses.

We know that many areas in our region do not have adequate access to high-speed internet, however, there is no reliable information on the location or speed of broadband service. The responses to the BAAT will help regional leaders identify and address current gaps in availability, speed/performance, reliability, and affordability, therefore, providing them with opportunities to consider additional funding mechanisms.

If you have any questions, please contact us at (910) 618-5533.
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
Announcements
N.C. HOPE Program Application Period Is Open, Offering Rent and Utility Assistance for North Carolinians Struggling to Recover from Pandemic
Legislative

House Bill 812 Clarify Remote Meetings During Emergencies –amends current law to clarify that a public body may take action during a remote meeting if it allows for submissions of written comments on the subject of the public hearing between the required meeting notice and 24 hours prior to the noticed time for the hearing. The bill also allows a public body that has issued notice for an in-person meeting to amend the notice to make the meeting a remote meeting up to six hours before the noticed time for the in-person meeting. The bill passed the Senate Judiciary and Senate Rules committees this week and now could be approved by the full Senate early next week before heading to the Governor for his signature. This legislation addresses a goal of NCACC and NCACC supports this legislation.

House Bill 500 Disaster Relief and Mitigation Act of 2021 – establishes and funds flood mitigation programs in various parts of the state prone to flooding. The legislation also sets up divisions related to transportation resiliency within the NC Department of Transportation as well as natural infrastructure pilot program in Wayne County. The bill passed the House Committee on Environment and now heads to Appropriations. The legislation addresses a long standing NCACC legislative goal to increase state support for disaster relief and flood mitigation.
S722 Revise Municipal Redistricting/Census. This bill requires that elections in municipalities with one or more offices up for election in 2021, where the candidate for that office is elected by district, shall be delayed until 2022.

Webinars/Trainings
Virtual Meeting on HB 500/SB 602
June 8, 2021- 11:00 a.m.

The Eastern NC Recovery and Resilience Alliance in coordination with your NC Council of Governments and elected officials requests your participation in a brief virtual meeting on Tuesday June 8th at 11am to share critical details related to two bills quickly advancing in the North Carolina General Assembly.

Both bills provide never before seen resources and progress on flood and disaster resilience. Time is of the essence for leaders throughout eastern North Carolina to gain an understanding of these bills and communicate to our state legislators our support for the most helpful proposals contained within. Specifically, the bill provides the following to support communities across North Carolina:

  • Allocates $32,200,000 for Neuse River Flood Mitigation
  • Allocates $36,500,000 for Lumber River Flood Mitigation and Recovery
  • Establishes a $20,000,000 Disaster Relief and Mitigation Fund for communities to develop shovel-ready projects and provide matching funds for federal grants and projects
  • Establishes a $20,000,000 Transportation Infrastructure Resiliency Fund
  • Allocates $25,000,000 to the Natural Infrastructure Flood Mitigation program for flood reduction projects
  • Allocates $30,000,000 to the Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund

The link to join is here: 
 
Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 882 1888 6747
Passcode: 094334
 
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,88218886747#,,,,*094334# US (New York)
 
Meeting ID: 882 1888 6747
Passcode: 094334
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbE1HOwdcS
LRCOG's Water/Wastewater Utility Resiliency -
How To Build a Financially Resilient System

June 15, 2021- 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Presented by Shadi Eskaf, Senior Project Director, SOG-EFC
American Rescue Plan: Local Government Commission Guidance
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Join NCLM and NCACC for a Q&A session with the N.C. State Treasurer’s office staff about the ARP funding for local governments. The webinar will discuss the specifics of accounting for American Rescue Plan funds for cities and towns.

The webinar is free, but registration is required. We encourage any local government staff, especially finance staff, and/or elected officials who will be involved with ARP funding processes to attend.
Virtual Plat Review Workshop
June 17, 2021 - 1:00 PM.
Funding Opportunities
Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant

Eligible applicants
North Carolina counties and incorporated municipalities are eligible for LWCF grants. Federally recognized Native American tribes are also eligible.
Eligible projects
Local governments can apply to acquire land for parks or to renovate existing parks. A project must be located on a single site.
Matching requirement
An applicant must match the grant with a minimum of 50 percent. Due to a federal share cap of $500,000, a greater match is required for projects that exceed total costs of $1 million.

Applications are due by October 1, 2021.
Environmental Enhancement Grant (EEG) program

Program Objectives
The EEG Program offers reimbursement grants for projects that improve North Carolina’s air, water, and land quality by addressing the goals of the Smithfield Agreement.

Apply for a Grant
The North Carolina Department of Justice will soon begin accepting applications for the next cycle of Environmental Enhancement Grants. Completed proposals will be due by Thursday, June 24, 2021, at 11 a.m.

Suggested Read
Coates' Cannon
American Rescue Plan: Local Government Funding for Affordable Housing Development
Authored by: Tyler Mulligan
CONTACT US

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