Ashe County Awarded CDBG-Neighborhood Revitalization Grant
The NC Department of Commerce has awarded Ashe County $750,000 in CDBG-Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) funding. The grant will be used to assist four (4) pre-selected low-income homeowners with major home rehabilitation. In addition, a portion of the funding will be used to help up to twenty (20) low- and moderate-income homeowners with small emergency repairs under $5,000. Eligible repairs may include a new roof, plumbing repairs, handicapped bathroom modifications, handicapped ramp, porch repairs, or other safety issues.
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Three Counties Receive CDBG-Coronavirus
(CDBG-CV) Funds
Three counties in our region received a combined total of $2,250,000 in CDBG-CV funding from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The program is designed to help prepare, prevent, or respond to the health and economic impacts of COVID-19, primarily for low- and moderate-income residents.
Ashe County Direct Utility Assistance Project – Ashe County received $900,000 to provide up to 6 months of utility assistance to eligible households affected by COVID-19.
Watauga County COVID Relief Program – With their $900,000 award, Watauga County will work with five (5) local non-profits to assist low- and moderate-income households affected by COVID-19. Funding will be available to eligible households to help with rent/mortgage and utility payments, provide for food distribution, and funding for additional mental health opportunities.
Yancey County Community Resource Center – Yancey County received $450,000 to construct a covered, open-air facility to conduct drive thru COVID-19 testing and distribute food boxes to eligible households. The funding will also provide utility and rent/mortgage assistance to eligible households affected by COVID-19.
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With Key Metrics Increasing Rapidly, North Carolina to Begin Modified Stay at Home Order to Slow COVID-19 Spread
Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen today announced that North Carolina will begin a Modified Stay at Home Order after a rapid increase in North Carolina’s key COVID-19 trends. The Order requires people to stay at home between 10 pm and 5 am and takes effect Friday, December 11 and will be in place until at least January 8, 2021.
The Order requires restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, personal care businesses and more to close at 10 pm. Travel to and from work; to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services; or to take care of a family member is exempted. Read more in the Frequently Asked Questions document.
Read Executive Order 181.
Read a Frequently Asked Questions document about the Order.
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County Distress Rankings (Tiers)
The North Carolina Department of Commerce annually ranks the state’s 100 counties based on economic well-being and assigns each a Tier designation. This Tier system is incorporated into various state programs to encourage economic activity in the less prosperous areas of the state.
The 40 most distressed counties are designated as Tier 1, the next 40 as Tier 2 and the 20 least distressed as Tier 3.
Review the 2021 County Tier Designations Memo (published November 30, 2020) County Tiers are calculated using four factors:
- Average unemployment rate
- Median household income
- Percentage growth in population
- Adjusted property tax base per capita
Beginning with the 2019 rankings, only these four factors determine final Tier rank. In previous years, additional 'adjustment factors' were also considered in the calculations. In 2018, the North Carolina General Assembly eliminated these adjustment factors from the Tier ranking methodology (S.L. 2018-5, Section 15.2.a).
https://www.nccommerce.com/grants-incentives/county-distress-rankings-tiers
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NC FIRST Commission Seeks Public Input
The N.C. Department of Transportation’s NC FIRST Commission is asking the public to use a new online investment tool to provide input on future revenue solutions from now until December 14, 2020.
Creating Revenue and Finding Transportation Solutions, or CRAFTS, allows you to create your own revenue and investment scenarios. This tool was created by SAS to aid the NC FIRST Commission in finding revenue solutions as the group prepares to make final recommendations to the Board of Transportation.
NC FIRST unveiled the CRAFTS tool in September, allowing commissioners to test the tool before it was made available to the public today. The public can now access the tool and comment portal on the CRAFTS webpage.
Commissioners will review public input before making final recommendations in January for sustaining the future of North Carolina’s transportation system.
The NC FIRST Commission was formed in March 2019 to research and advise the secretary of transportation of potential components of a sustainable long-range transportation investment strategy.
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2020/2020-12-1-crafts-tool-public-input.aspx
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Governor Cooper Forms Bipartisan North Carolina Council for Health Care Coverage
Governor Roy Cooper has announced the formation of The North Carolina Council for Health Care Coverage to be convened by the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. Council members include bipartisan members of the General Assembly and representatives from a variety of sectors including business, nonprofit, and health care.
“This pandemic has further exposed the many challenges facing North Carolina’s fractured health care system,” said Governor Cooper. “Too many hardworking North Carolinians cannot access affordable health coverage. This Council will guide North Carolina solutions that can help more people get the coverage they need.”
The Council is charged with reviewing the state of health care coverage in North Carolina, exploring how other states have increased health care coverage, and developing principles to guide policymakers in increasing coverage in the state. As of 2019, 17% of adults were uninsured in North Carolina, the 6th highest rate in the U.S. This number continues to grow as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“North Carolina is a leader in innovative health care and access to health care impacts every aspect of our society. It is critical that we have a diverse group of opinions as we look at ways to improve our current system,” said Dr. Mark McClellan, M.D., Ph.D, Director of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. “I am confident that this Council can move us closer to health care solutions that are right for North Carolina.” Dr. McClellan formerly served as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
Council members were selected from across the state, representing bipartisan viewpoints, and reflecting the rich diversity of North Carolina. They include:
- Rep. Gale Adcock, NC House of Representatives
- Chip Baggett, CEO, NC Medical Society
- Rep. Kristin Baker, NC House of Representatives
- Rep. John Bell, NC House of Representatives
- James Brigman, Pastor
- Cassandra Brooks, Owner/Operator, Little Believer’s Academy
- Senator Jim Burgin, NC Senate
- Mandy Cohen, MD, Secretary, NC Dept of Health and Human Services
- Casey Cooper, CEO, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority
- Rep. Carla Cunningham, NC House of Representatives
- Andy Ellen, President & General Counsel, NC Retail Merchants Association
- Don Flow, Owner/CEO, Flow Automotive Companies
- Mickey Foster, CEO, FirstHealth of the Carolinas
- Tina Gordan, CEO, NC Nurses Association
- Lisa Harrison, Director, Granville-Vance Public Health
- Reg Henderson, VP, Government Relations, Lowe’s
- Senator Ralph Hise, NC Senate
- Vivian Howard, Restauranteur & Author
- Senator Brent Jackson, NC Senate
- Senator Joyce Krawiec, NC Senate
- Rep. Donny Lambeth, NC House of Representatives
- Steve Lawler, President, NC Healthcare Association
- Mehul Mankad, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Alliance Health
- Kenya McNeil-Trice, MD, Professor and Vice Chair of Education in Pediatrics, UNC
- Tommy Newton, MD, Family Physician
- Lynne Pierce, Executive Director, SAFE Food Ministry
- Dave Richard, Deputy Secretary, NC Dept of Health and Human Services
- Sen. Gladys Robinson, NC Senate
- Gary Salamido, President and CEO, NC Chamber
- Merritt Seshul, MD, NC Medical Society Representative
- Erica Smith, Executive Director, Care4Carolina
- Tunde Sotunde, MD, President and CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Margaret Weller-Stargell, President and CEO, Coastal Horizons
- Rep. Donna White, NC House of Representatives
- Dale Wiggins, Chairman, Graham County Board of Commissioners
- Senator Mike Woodard, NC Senate
- Patrick Woodie, President, NC Rural Center
- Gene Woods, President and CEO, Atrium Health
The Council will convene virtually and conclude its work by the end of January.
https://governor.nc.gov/news/governor-cooper-forms-bipartisan-north-carolina-council-health-care-coverage
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Carolina Tracker: A Resource for Recovery (new website)
COVID-19 has created enormous challenges for communities, households, workers, and businesses in North Carolina. A team of researchers from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has launched a website called Carolina Tracker: A Resource for Recovery, which includes a dashboard to track indicators across different domains such as employment and the economy, travel patterns, real estate, and society. In addition, interpretations of these trends can be read in analytical stories such as “Layoffs Return To Pre-Pandemic Levels ” and “Home Sale Indicators Show Strongest Growth In A Decade, But Lagging Supply Is Cause For Concern.”
“This new website contains assembled datasets from various public and private sources to track over 30 indicators ranging from housing market performance to economic vitality,” said Nikhil Kaza, associate professor of city and regional planning. “Some datasets use administrative records, while others scrape data from the web or use passive cell phone traces.” The datasets are freely available to download in the “About” section of each indicator. The site will be updated with new indicators as they become available.
This project was 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. The project team is led by Nikhil Kaza, Nichola Lowe, and Noreen McDonald from the department of city and regional planning, working with a team of consultants and researchers.
Learn more: Track indicators across different domains such as employment and the economy, travel patterns, real estate, and society (In addition, interpretations of these trends can be read in analytical stories)
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DEACS Announces 2021 Community Waste Reduction & Recycling Grant Round
N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service (DEACS) has announced the opening of the 2021 Community Waste Reduction and Recycling (CWRAR) Grant Round. Counties, municipalities, councils of governments, and solid waste authorities are eligible to apply for funding through this grant program.
2021 Priority Projects include:
- Outreach enforcement projects (e.g., cart tagging) to reduce contamination
- Projects that divert food waste from landfill disposal (backyard composting, implementing, or expanding collection, management, or recycling of food waste)
- Construction and Demolition (C&D) debris recycling
- Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program implementation or expansion
Click here for the RFP for the Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant.
Grant Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2021.
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Essentials of County Government
Click HERE to register for Essentials of County Government!
The UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners have partnered to offer newly-elected county commissioners a crash course on the essentials of county government. In this course, we will introduce newly-elected commissioners to the basic functions of county government and the role of the governing board. In short, we are here to help you successfully transition from campaigning to governing.
What to Expect:
This year we will be conducting the course virtually and will be exploring three themes, one per month. For each theme, participants will be expected to complete 30-60 minutes of pre-work, followed by a 3-4 hour live, interactive session on Zoom. At the conclusion of each session, commissioners will have the opportunity to “ask the expert” to learn more about specific topics of interest. Take a look at the agenda for the live Zoom sessions HERE.
When Can You Take The Class?
Track 2 Live Session Dates/Times:
- January 22, 2021, 9:00am-1:00pm - County Government: Roles and Responsibilities
- February 25, 2021, 9:00am-12:30pm - Budgets, Fiduciary Duty, & Financial Condition
- March 23, 2021, 9:00am-1:00pm - Ethics, Conflicts of Interest, and Open Government
For more information about the program, click HERE.
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Johnny Wishon, right, and Joe Scheffey prepare a tree for shipping at Wishon Evergreens in Sparta, North Carolina.
Photo by: Nick De La Canal
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Shoppers Are Even Buying Their Christmas Trees Online
Lots of holiday shoppers are buying gifts online to avoid the crowds this year, but what about buying a Christmas tree from the web? Farmers say contactless, mail order Christmas trees are actually having a moment in 2020.
One of those farmers is Johnny Wishon, who's been mailing Christmas trees from his farm in Sparta, North Carolina, for the past 12 years.
Workers on his farm prepare trees for shipping by feeding them through a baling machine that ties their branches up with twine. Then workers slid each tree trunk first into a narrow cardboard box.
They staple the box shut, slap on some postage, and the package is ready to be picked up by a mail truck and shipped off to almost any state in the country.
Wishon's farm typically mails out a couple hundred trees each year, but it's never been a big part of the business. When asked what he first thought of the concept, Wishon shook his head and laughed.
"Honestly, I thought it was crazy too," he said.
Most of his business is done with retail lots or people coming directly to his farm. But this year, he said his mail orders have spiked considerably.
Read more here!
WFAE | By Nick de la Canal
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2020 North Carolina Employer Needs Survey
The 2020 Employer Needs Survey asked over 3,000 business establishments during the Fall of 2019 about their hiring practices, with emphasis on hiring difficulties and workforce needs. The NC Dept of Commerce Labor & Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) has carried out an Employer Needs Survey every two years since 2014, allowing for comparisons across time as labor market conditions shifted during the recovery from the Great Recession. Respondents to the 2020 survey came from all 100 of the state’s counties, and the industry mix and firm size of the Overall sample is reflective of the state. Although labor market conditions have changed dramatically since the reference period due to the coronavirus pandemic, the survey results offer a snapshot of the tight labor market conditions faced by employers a few months ago as well as other more long-term challenges for the workforce development system.
Summary Handout
Full Report: https://files.nc.gov/nccommerce/documents/files/2020-Employer-Needs-Survey_Final.pdf
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Join Us for a Virtual COVID-19 Panel Discussion in the Northwest Region!
Please join the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), in partnership with the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, on December 15 to hear from local business leaders about the effects, challenges, and opportunities the Northwest 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.
Moderated by David Jackson, President/CEO, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.
Panelists will include:
Christopher Chung, CEO at EDPNC
Sarah Chester, Executive Director at Carolina Textile District
George Auten, Principle at Atriax Group, PLLC
Ali Karnib, VP of Operations, Composite Business Unit at NanoXplore, Inc.
John Loyack, VP Global Business Services at EDPNC
Bill Slagle, Northwest Existing Industry Expansions Manager at EDPNC
Please share this invitation with your local businesses so they can learn more about what EDPNC can do for them!
Those interested in attending this virtual event should register by December 14.
More Information
Register Here
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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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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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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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