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Foothills Regional Weekly
June 16, 2022

This Week's Wins


Here are some things worth celebrating this week at Foothills Regional Commission and in our region!
  • Polk County is receiving a $400,052 grant through the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) for the removal of vegetative debris from local waterways! The county is currently gathering input on problem areas that need to be addressed. You can read more here or, if you would like to submit a project for consideration, email Polk County Soil & Water Conservation District Director Kelly Gay at kgay@polknc.org by Friday, June 24. Congrats, Polk!
     
  • The City of Shelby has announced that work is done on a new suspension bridge at the head of the First Broad River Trail and that the trail is open to the public after being closed for two years! Read more about it here. Nice work, Shelby!
     
  • Members of FRC's Department of Community & Economic Development participated June 15 in a special hybrid training offered by the NC Association of Regional Councils of Government and the ncIMPACT Initiative at the UNC School of Government. The Affordable Housing for Local Government Leadership webinar included 90 minutes of instruction from school faculty followed by a 30 minute regional breakout session. Foothills' session was held via Zoom and, though the group was small, the discussion was lively!

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.

Input Wanted: Age My Way NC Survey


The NC American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is conducting a statewide survey about aging in place. 

The Age My Way Community Survey aims to find out what individuals will need as they get older to make their existing community a great place to live. Complete the survey here.

Funding Opportunity: WORC Initiative


There is $34.2 million available in a fourth round of grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor for the Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC) initiative. WORC helps new and dislocated workers, as well as workers overcoming substance use disorder, access training and career opportunities.

As part of WORC, the Appalachian Regional Commission partners with the Department of Labor to develop comprehensive approaches addressing economic distress and workforce development activities throughout the Region. Successful WORC projects draw on long-term economic growth strategies, building on bottom-up, community-led plans maximizing economic resilience and regional strengths.

Grants will range from $150,000 up to $1.5 million. Proposals are due July 8, 2022. More information is available here.

Local Event: COVID-19 Pediatric Vaccine Clinic



A PDF version of this flyer is available here. A Spanish PDF version is available here.

Funding Opportunity: Safe Streets & Roads for All


The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next 5 years. In fiscal year 2022 (FY22), up to $1 billion is available. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. 

The FY22 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Safe Streets and Roads for All grants is live on Grants.gov. The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. EDT on September 15, 2022.

More information is available here. A webinar series on how to apply for the grant is ongoing. Registration and previous webinar recordings that can be found here.

ICYMI: 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. 

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.

More Upcoming Events

  • 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.
  • Cash Management and Investment of Public Funds - July 12-28, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. via Zoom. Presented by the UNC School of Government. $525 fee. Intermediate class for finance officers, treasurers and/or staff with cash management responsibilities. More info and registration here.
  • 2022 NADO National Regional Transportation Conference - July 19-21 in Kansas City, MO. Register and learn more here.
  • Essentials of Municipal Government - July 25-27 via Zoom. Presented by UNC School of Government. Learn more and register 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.

Foothills is Hiring!


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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