With Cases Rising Rapidly, North Carolina Tightens Existing Mask Requirements and Enforcement
On Monday, Governor Roy Cooper issued additional COVID-19 safety measures to tighten mask requirements and enforcement as cases continue to rise rapidly in North Carolina and across the country. Executive Order No. 180 goes into effect on Wednesday, November 25 and runs through Friday, December 11.
In addition to extending Phase 3 capacity limits and safety requirements, the Order tightens the existing statewide mask requirement – making it clear that everyone needs to wear a mask whenever they are with someone who is not from the same household. The Order also adds the mask requirement to several additional settings including any public indoor space even when maintaining 6 feet of distance; gyms even when exercising; all schools public and private; and all public or private transportation when travelling with people outside of the household.
The Order also requires large retail businesses with more than 15,000 square feet to have an employee stationed near entrances ensuring mask wearing and implementing occupancy limits for patrons who enter.
Read Executive Order 180.
Read a Frequently Asked Questions document about the Order.
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Site Selection Ranks NC as Top State Business Climate for 2020
North Carolina ranks as the nation’s top state business climate in 2020 in a two-way tie with Georgia, according to Site Selection magazine.
North Carolina held the No. 2 spot in the magazine’s annual business climates study for five straight years before rising to the top spot this year. North Carolina enjoyed a six-year run in the top spot from 2005 through 2010.
“North Carolina is a consistently strong performer in this ranking and has demonstrated once again that it has the business-climate attributes it takes to reach first place,” said Site Selection Editor in Chief Mark Arend.
Ohio ranks third overall in the latest Site Selection ranking, followed by Texas and South Carolina in fourth place. Virginia, Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, and Tennessee round out the 10 top states.
Christopher Chung is chief executive officer of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, which markets the state for business growth. “We’re thrilled North Carolina has received this recognition, and to be part of the team of state and local partners that helped make 2019 a decade-topping year for North Carolina in terms of corporate recruitment and expansion announcements that promise 21,000 new jobs,” Chung said.
The ranking follows the release of marketing firm Development Counsellors International’s recent "Winning Strategies" report that surveyed 316 U.S. corporate executives with site selection responsibilities. It ranked North Carolina as the No. 3 state for best business climate. The EDPNC received high marks, with 37% of respondents naming it as their top "best in class" state economic development organization, more than any agency.
Read Why Site Selectors Choose NC
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Moving Onward As One Regional Roundtables
EDPNC will be hosting a series of virtual roundtables in each region of the state to hear from local business leaders about the effects, challenges, and opportunities their region has faced in light of the pandemic.
We will also highlight the valuable counsel and services EDPNC provides to help North Carolina businesses, small and large, through recovery as we move onward as one.
Roundtable Dates:
Southeast Region // November 24 // James Wolfe, Existing Industry Expansions Manager
North Central Region // December 1 // Harry Swendsen, Existing Industry Expansions Manager
Northeast Region // December 2 // Sarah Bernart, Existing Industry Expansions Manager
South Central Region // December 3 // Phillip Shumaker, Existing Industry Expansions Manager
Piedmont/Triad Region // December 8 // Tracy Dellinger, Existing Industry Expansions Manager
Southwest Region // December 10 // Melanie O'Connell Underwood, Existing Industry Expansions Manager
Northwest Region // December 15 // Bill Slagle, Existing Industry Expansions Manager
Western Region // December 17 // Josh Carpenter, Existing Industry Expansions Manager
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State Officials Approve Viable Utility Reserve Implementation
The State Water Infrastructure Authority (SWIA) met Wednesday to approve criteria to identify distressed water and wastewater systems; their approval followed the Local Government Commission (LGC) taking the same action the week prior.. Session Law 2020-79 created the Viable Utility Reserve (VUR) fund – a new grant program to support financially struggling public water and wastewater systems by facilitating viable operations and encouraging regionalization – and tasked the LGC and SWIA with developing criteria together to identify utilities that are in distress
The VUR fund received $9 million in non-recurring state funds in 2020, and at their most recent meetings SWIA and LGC also identified four utilities as distressed, directing VUR grant funding to those utilities. Session Law 2020-79 was the result of a yearlong legislative study and stakeholder process that focused on the more than $17 billion in water and sewer infrastructure needs statewide.
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Free Classes:
Mayland Community College
Click on the flyer for more information on a great opportunity to start a new career for free! Mayland Community College now has money available through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief fund to provide free workforce classes to anyone wishing to begin a new career. Please help us get the word out.
Even though MCC primarily serves Avery/Mitchell/Yancey there may be customers interested in online classes or commuting in!
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Ashe County Airport, Jefferson, NC
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Infrastructure Projects Funded at Five N.C. Airports
RALEIGH – In its November meeting, the N.C. Board of Transportation approved state and federal grants for safety and airfield improvement projects at five North Carolina airports.
More than $6.6 million in state and federal funding has been awarded for projects that help airports increase capacity, attract new jobs and businesses, and improve the safety of the pilots and passengers.
At Ashe County Airport in Jefferson, for example, the funds will be used to construct a new, partial parallel taxiway so more aircraft can safely maneuver on the airfield and reduce possible safety hazards.
The grants provide:
- $3,285,000 in federal apportionment funds for the construction of a partial parallel taxiway and apron modifications at Ashe County Airport;
- $135,000 in additional state funds for culvert rehabilitation at Burlington-Alamance Airport;
- $675,000 in additional state construction funds to rehabilitate the north aircraft apron pavement at Currituck County Regional Airport;
- $2,250,000 in additional state construction funds for the Phase II rehabilitation of the aircraft apron pavement at Dare County Regional Airport; and
- $280,000 in additional State Transportation Improvement Program design funds for the taxiway over Interstate 73 at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro.
North Carolina’s 72 public airports serve as vital economic engines connecting people and business enterprises with the world. Airports and aviation-related industries contribute more than $52 billion to North Carolina’s economy each year, according to the 2019 State of Aviation report. They support 307,000 jobs, generate more than $2.2 billion in state and local tax revenue and provide more than $12.6 billion in personal income.
The funds awarded do not necessarily represent the total cost of the project.
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NCDOT Great Trails State Plan - Public Review of Draft Trail Network Maps
We are making excellent progress on the Great Trails State Plan. Our consulting team is working on the first draft of the plan, and we are in the last stages of finalizing the draft trail network. And, thanks again for providing feedback on the draft network. We received so much feedback from Division stakeholders in the last couple of months that has helped to refine the network from earlier drafts. We also received over 13,000 responses from the public through our survey and online web map. We appreciate your involvement and support of the draft network and plan.
To finalize the draft network, we would like to get additional feedback from the public in response to the draft maps. We’ve setup a Public Input page for the public to view the plan overview presentation, pdf copies of draft maps, a web-based map of the network, and provide specific comments to each of the Division maps. We are currently working with NCDOT Communications to distribute the Public Input page to community organizations, partners, and the public throughout NC.
Please help us spread the word about public review of the draft maps by distributing the Public Input page to your networks and/or hosting a link to the Public Input page on your agency or organizational websites.
The link to the Public Input page is provided here: https://publicinput.com/ncgreattrailsstate.
And, the link to our Great Trails State Plan Get Involved page is provided here: https://www.ncdot.gov/divisions/bike-ped/great-trails-state/Pages/get-involved.aspx. The Get Involved page provides an overview of public input thus far and the link to the Public Input page.
The deadline for public comment on the draft maps is Friday, December 4th, 2020.
As for next steps in the planning process, the draft plan will be available for Steering Committee and Division Stakeholder review next month and followed by public review of the draft plan likely in January.
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myFutureNC County Profiles Webinar
Join the NC Rural Center, myFutureNC, and Carolina Demography on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. to learn more about their County Attainment Profiles and the customized data specific to your local county.
About the County Data Profiles
myFutureNC in partnership with Carolina Demography has created data profiles for every North Carolina county that highlight county-level educational attainment and key education and workforce performance metrics.
It is the hope that leaders can use these profiles to help facilitate conversations and informed decision-making on local priorities aimed at increasing education levels with a specific emphasis on the "opportunities for improvement" uniquely identified by county.
Registration: https://web.cvent.com/event/82990079-3c49-482b-9817-9f7ad8de4834/summary
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Career Advisor I - Avery Job Posting
The North Carolina Department of Commerce Division of Workforce Solutions has a position for a Career Advisor/Employment Consultant that will be based in Avery County on Mayland’s Newland Campus. The position is posted on the Office State Human Resources site and it is listed on NCWorksand the Job Number is 11441127. If you know of any good candidates please share this information with them and have them to contact their local NCWorks Career Center for more information. Thank you for your assistance.
View the Job Bulletin here.
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Caregivers of Older Adults Survey
The High Country Area Agency on Aging Family Caregiver Support Program needs your help! The family caregiver support program is dedicated to help family caregivers in the High Country. Through this program we offer a multitude of services at no cost family caregivers. These services include but are not limited to case management, respite vouchers, information and assistance, and other supplemental services.
The High Country AAA is asking for your input to improve the organization's understanding of the needs of caregivers of older adults throughout our seven-county region during the COVID-19 pandemic. The family caregiver support program is dedicated to help family caregivers in the High Country. Through this program we offer a multitude of services at no cost to the family. These services include but are not limited to case management, respite vouchers, information and assistance, and other supplemental services.
The High Country AAA is asking for your input to improve the organization's understanding of the needs of caregivers of older adults throughout our seven-county region during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please complete this Survey the best of your knowledge. Your assistance is greatly valued and appreciated! Your responses will be used to inform the High Country Area Agency on Aging Family Caregiver Support Program and will be kept confidential to AAA staff. Thank you for your dedication to the family caregivers of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties. Your assistance is greatly valued and appreciated! Your responses will be used to inform the High Country Area Agency on Aging Family Caregiver Support Program and will be kept confidential to AAA staff. Thank you for your dedication to the family caregivers of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties.
Survey Link: https://forms.gle/N3vY4w1McdrLRzQg8
I have also attached the referral form for the family caregiver support program, please refer anyone you might think will benefit from this program. The eligibility requirements are that the caregiver must be caring for some 60 years of age or older who needs help with at least two activities of daily living (toileting, bathing, ambulating, eating, getting in/out of bed or chair) or they must be caring for someone living with Dementia.
Feel free to share this survey to your networks or reach out to me if you have any questions.
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NC MedAssist Info Session - Free Prescriptions for the Uninsured
NC MedAssist will be holding two free information sessions on December 1 and December 2 at 11:30am. Join us to learn about the Free Pharmacy program and how uninsured individuals can receive FREE prescription medications mailed to their home through our nonprofit pharmacy! See attached flyer to view dates and register or click here: www.medassist.org/infosession. Feel free to forward this email and share with others!
Across North Carolina, our neighbors have found themselves with little to no income and no health insurance. They are struggling to purchase their medication and many of them are suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension. The inability to purchase medications leads to risky behaviors such as taking less medication or sometimes going without it at all. Now more than ever, the choice between purchasing food or medicine is being felt by our neighbors and NC MedAssist is here to help!
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Local Government Training Program - Professional Development Scholarship
The Local Government Training Program (LGTP) is pleased to announce that we will be offering $200.00 scholarships to local government professionals in western North Carolina, to help pay for virtual professional development offerings from UNC’s School of Government. Due to the limitations for face-to-face instruction being offered in the western region, the LGTP is working to support our local government jurisdictions by helping to mitigate professional development training costs and increase attendance and participation in these opportunities. These scholarship dollars will be used to help pay for the tuition costs for upcoming virtual instruction. To see a list of upcoming courses offered by the School of Government please check https://www.sog.unc.edu/courses/.
In order to apply for these scholarship funds please complete the attached application and return it to Bob Boylan, rcboylan@email.wcu.edu, prior to registering for the program with the School of Government. Once you have received confirmation of your approval, you will then complete the registration process with UNC. When you submit your course registration form, you will be required to confirm your payment method; you should select the option to be invoiced. Scholarship funds will be applied to your balance at the end of the month in which you applied. Once your scholarship has been applied to your account, a final invoice will be generated with the remaining balance to be paid by your jurisdiction. If the cost of the workshop is less than $200.00, this scholarship will cover the entire tuition. Please share this information with any other employees in your jurisdiction who are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity. For additional information or if you have any questions please contact me via email or at (828)-227-3442.
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Keys to Economic Recovery from COVID-19
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What strategies will help local economies recover more quickly from the COVID-19 pandemic? The ncIMPACT Initiative at the UNC School of Government and NCGrowth at the Kenan Institute for Private Enterprise are collaborating on a project to assess the short term impacts of local factors and local government actions that aim to help people feel safe engaging in activities that improve the economy.
Register for a free series of webinars where we will share what we learn and collect your input as the project progresses. Let's dive into the data and learn from each other as we navigate next steps in North Carolina.
Upcoming Webinar Dates:
January 27: Using Data to Drive Decisions in the Face of Crisis
All webinars begin at 2:00 p.m. EST
This project is supported by the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with funding from the North Carolina Coronavirus Relief Fund established and appropriated by the North Carolina General Assembly.
Learn more and register once for the series at: https://go.unc.edu/s2N4T |
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Legal Basics for Advisory Boards Webinar
January 21, 2021
10 am – 2:45 pm (with a 45-minute lunch break)
Online | Zoom
We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the Legal Basics for Advisory Boards Webinar on Thursday, January 21, 2021, from 10 am – 2:45 pm, with a 45-minute lunch break from 12 – 12:45 pm. The class will be held via Zoom, and will be available for on-demand purchase after the live webinar date.
Registration: To register for this course, please visit the course webpage. The registration fee is $150.
Topics: Municipalities and counties throughout the state rely on advisory boards for recommendations on a wide range of local government issues. This online crash course for advisory board members is designed to help them do their important work effectively and lawfully. Participants will gain a basic understanding of topics relevant to all local government advisory boards, including the open meetings law, the public records law, and board procedures. (NOTE: This course will not cover procedural requirements specific to planning boards or quasi-judicial proceedings.)
Materials: Any related documents will be posted under the “materials” tab on the course web page. Each registrant will receive Suggested Procedural Rules for Local Appointed Boards in an e-format.
Faculty coordinator: Trey Allen at tallen@sog.unc.edu
For more information: Contact Rachel Mintel, program associate, at mintel@sog.unc.edu
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Upcoming Local Elected Leaders Academy Courses
Dates, topics, and links for course descriptions and registration are included below. As a reminder, CPLG is offering 25% registration discounts in recognition of the budget disruptions local governments continue to experience as the NC economy slowly recovers. Our continued use of virtual platforms provides wide access to these offerings. I hope you can take advantage of some of these important options to hone your local leadership skills.
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