Important Read: Supplanting Salaries & Benefits with ARP Funds
Many NC local governments, particularly those receiving under $10 million and claiming the standard allowance, have decided to spend some or all their American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARP/CSLFRF) monies to cover employee salary and benefit expenditures.
Often referred to as supplanting, spending ARP/CSLFRF funds on these internal expenditures allows a local government to trigger fewer federal regulations related to the grant funds. And, importantly, it frees up the non-grant revenues that would have been used to cover the salaries and benefits to be expended on new projects or programs, to increase fund balance, or to replace other revenue sources. The freed up non-grant revenues are not subject to award terms, time limits, or other federal grant regulations.
Removing these requirements greatly expands the types of projects that a local government may reasonably undertake. In short, supplanting is one way a local government can maximize the benefit of these one-time grant funds, while minimizing their administrative burden.
Although this expenditure option reduces the administrative burden of expending ARP/CSLFRF funds, it does not eliminate it. A new post on the UNC School of Government's Coates' Canons law blog walks through the legal authority and federal substantive and process requirements related to using ARP/CSLFRF funds to supplant salary and benefit costs. It includes a checklist to help local governments ensure full compliance. Read that post here.
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This Week's Wins
Here are some things worth celebrating this week at Foothills Regional Commission and in our region!
- The City of Shelby is a recipient of an ElectriCities of NC Spring 2022 Downtown Revitalization Grant! The city will receive $10,000 to complete a study to determine the best use of its historic railroad depot, which sits along its developing Carolina Harmony Trail. You can read more about it here. Congratulations, Shelby!
 The Town of Spindale, Rutherford Housing Partnership, Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity and the Stonecutter Foundation got a shoutout in the most recent newsletter from Dogwood Health Trust.
These bodies are partnering with Dogwood to increase housing opportunities and rebuild a vibrant community through the Revitalizing Spindale project. The newsletter is available here. Thanks to Spindale and these organizations for their important work!
Got a "win" for the region or FRC that you'd like to see celebrated? Send it to Mackenzie Wicker at mwicker@foothillsregion.org to have it included in our next newsletter.
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Input Wanted: Marion North Main Street Sidepath Feasibility Study
The City of Marion, in partnership with NCDOT is seeking community input on the North Main Street Sidepath Feasibility Study. The proposed North Main Street Sidepath is a 3-mile corridor connecting Downtown Marion with the Joseph McDowell Catawba Greenway along US-70.
The proposed sidepath is a critical missing link in the City of Marion’s bicycle and pedestrian network and is an identified corridor of the Fonta Flora State Trail. The North Main Street Sidepath Feasibility Study will evaluate potential route scenarios along North Main Street, US-70, and Catawba River to determine the preferred route. The study will also develop cost estimates and an implementation plan to construct the sidepath.
Your feedback is incredibly valuable and will provide the framework for developing the proposed North Main Street Sidepath. The survey is available here and will be open for public comment through Friday, June 17, 2022.
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Free Resource: At-Home, Rapid COVID Tests
Did you know that every U.S. household can get up to three free orders of at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests? Visit covid.gov/tests to place your order. All you need is your name and mailing address!
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Up for Review: Draft 10-Year Transportation Plan
A draft of the state’s next long-range transportation improvements plan is now available for public review. The State Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP, is the N.C. Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT's) guide showing how and when transportation projects are expected to be funded over the next 10 years. Projects scheduled in the first five years are generally considered to be committed, while those on the latter half of the schedule are subject to be re-evaluated when the next STIP is developed.
The draft 2024-33 STIP document is available here. It is presented as a spreadsheet, which the department considered more user-friendly than a PDF—the program used in previous years. A spreadsheet allows viewers to sort columns to explore projects that are of interest.
There will be upcoming opportunities for the public to comment on the draft in person and online. NCDOT plans to use public input and planning organization requests to produce a revised draft of the STIP by December. Transportation officials are expected to adopt the 2024-33 STIP in summer 2023. More information on the process can be found on the NCDOT webpage here.
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ICYMI: Foothills Job Opportunity
FRC is seeking a dynamic and qualified professional for the position of Program Manager in the Community and Economic Development Department. This position will work on a diverse set of projects, such as affordable housing, broadband and digital inclusion, economic development, land use planning, and more. Work may include project development and management, grant writing and post-award management, research and data analysis, and local government technical assistance. More information, including on how to apply, is available here.
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Upcoming Event for World Elder Abuse Awareness
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More Upcoming Events
- Race Matters: Courageous Conversations for Leaders - June 10, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. via Zoom. Presented by the UNC School of Government. $485 (discounts available for groups and scholarships available). More info and registration here.
- Affordable Housing Webinar for Local Government Leadership - June 15, 2-4 p.m. $40 registration. Offered by the NC Association of Regional Councils of Government and the ncIMPACT Initiative at UNC School of Gov. Will include 90 minutes of instruction from School faculty followed by 30 minutes in a regional Zoom breakout session. Registration and more info available here.
- Vacant, Abandoned, and Deteriorated Properties (VAD) Academy Bootcamp - June 15, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.. Free and virtual. Details and registration here.
- Essentials of Municipal Government - June 16-17 in Winston Salem OR July 25-27 via Zoom. Learn more and register here.
- The Basics of the American Rescue Plan Act & Uniform Guidance - June 20, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at WCU at Biltmore Park Asheville. Presented by the Local Gov Training Program and UNC School of Gov. Facilitated by Dr. Kara Millonzi. Fee is $60 and includes lunch. Registration ends June 13th or when the class reaches capacity (60 attendees). More info and registration here.
- NC Foothills Farm Tour - June 25 and Oct. 15 in Rutherford and Polk counties. Learn more here or find the link for tickets—sold per vehicle—on the tour’s website.
- Strategic Planning Framework for Public Sector Organizations - July 12 in Atlantic Beach. $125. Register and learn more here.
- 2022 NADO National Regional Transportation Conference - July 19-21 in Kansas City, MO. Register and learn more here.
SAVE THE DATE: The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has announced the date of its 2022 annual conference, One Appalachia: Connection & Collaboration, which it will co-host with the state of Maryland Oct. 17-19 at the Rocky Gap Resort in Flintstone, Maryland. More information is available here.
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