DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY & RESILIENCE

Created to assist the region’s local governments with administering and effectively leveraging funds stemming from the American Rescue Plan Act. The department also provides a variety of planning services and technical assistance aimed at increasing local and regional resiliency and disaster recovery capacity. This page offers a brief overview of the services offered by the department, along with a collection of helpful data and resources.


State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) Technical Assistance Overview

Staff provide hands-on assistance to help local governments administer distributions received as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF).

Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) Technical Assistance Overview

Staff are available to assist counties with claiming their Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund allocation from the Treasury Department, maintaining compliance with these funds, and completing all mandatory reports.

State Earmark Assistance Overview

Staff assist communities with administration and implementation of earmarks they receive in the state budget stemming from the state’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Grant Application Assistance Overview

Staff monitor competitive grant programs funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and notify local governments of potential opportunities. They advise local governments on funding fits and assist them with developing and submitting applications.

Disaster Recovery Overview

Staff provide training related to financial management of disaster recovery funds along with technical assistance offerings aimed at increasing regional and local disaster recovery capacity.

Opioid Settlement Fund Assistance Overview

Staff assist counties with the financial and annual reporting required by the Opioid Settlement Fund and with facilitation of community meetings.

Long-Range Planning & Technical Assistance Overview

Staff provide technical assistance and planning services to increase regional and local resilience. These efforts are focused on local government financial sustainability, proactive maintenance of infrastructure, environmental sustainability, progressive land use planning, community development, and economic development.

Explore Services


STATE & LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS (SLFRF) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE


LOCAL ASSISTANCE & TRIBAL CONSISTENCY FUND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE


STATE EARMARK ASSISTANCE


GRANT APPLICATION ASSISTANCE


DISASTER RECOVERY


OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND ASSISTANCE


LONG-RANGE PLANNING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE


RESOURCES




STATE & LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS (SLFRF) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE




Assistance Details


Assistance ranges from guidance and advice to full compliance and reporting depending upon the staffing and needs of the local government. Examples of assistance offered:

  • Development of ordinances and policies necessary to comply with requirements of the American Rescue Plan Act
  • Guidance on eligible uses of funds and steps to maintain compliance
  • Development of Grant Project Ordinances
  • Report preparation and submission
  • Strategies to maximize benefit
  • Project implementation


LOCAL ASSISTANCE & TRIBAL CONSISTENCY FUND (LATCF) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE


Assistance Details


Staff are available to assist counties with claiming their Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund allocation from the Treasury Department, maintaining compliance with these funds, and completing all mandatory reports.


STATE EARMARK ASSISTANCE




Assistance Details


Staff assist communities with administration and implementation of earmarks they receive in the state budget stemming from the state’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. This assistance includes:

  • Development of ordinances and policies necessary to comply with ARPA requirements
  • Report preparation and submission
  • Development of Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposals documents
  • Reimbursement requests

GRANT APPLICATION ASSISTANCE


Assistance Details


Much of the funding stemming from the American Rescue Plan Act is available in the form of competitive grants at the federal and state level. Staff proactively monitor grant programs and notify local governments of funding opportunities. They also advise local governments on funding fits and assist them with developing and submitting competitive applications. Frequent funding agencies include:


DISASTER RECOVERY


Assistance Details


The State of North Carolina has prioritized efforts to build disaster recovery capacity among local governments, particularly as it relates to management of recovery funds. To that end, the General Assembly provided a grant to the North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Governments to provide financial training and conduct activities to build regional and local capacity. The Association disseminated these funds to the sixteen Councils of Government across the state to oversee capacity building in their service area. High Country COG is using this funding to build capacity in several ways, including:

  • Training for local government staff on proper financial management of disaster recovery funds. An online, self-paced version of this training is available for free. Please click this link to access the training and enroll in the course.
  • Assisting communities with identifying potential projects and submitting applications for grants designed to increase resiliency and hazard mitigation.
  • Assisting local governments with administration and oversight of awarded FEMA funding.
  • Developing the High Country Regional Resilience & Disaster Recovery Web Application. This interactive online map application allows users to explore data layers showing critical facilities, transportation infrastructure, hazards, and measures of vulnerability and resiliency across the High Country region.
  • Developing Emergency Operations Plans for all seven High Country Counties, along with a handful of Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (THIRAs) and a Continuity of Operations Plan. These documents were developed at no cost to the communities.
  • Coordinating meetings related to hazard mitigation and resiliency.
  • Assisting local governments with adopting or updating stormwater regulations.
  • Mapping stormwater networks for small municipalities.


OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND ASSISTANCE




Assistance Details


Each county in North Carolina is receiving funding stemming from the Opioid Settlement. Counties are tasked with using these funds to undertake activities that address the negative impacts of the opioid epidemic in their communities. COG staff are available to assist counties with the financial and annual reporting required by the Opioid Settlement Fund, and to facilitate community planning meetings.


LONG-RANGE PLANNING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE


Assistance Details


The American Rescue Plan Act and associated funding offers a generational opportunity for local governments to address long-standing needs and facilitate economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Building long-term resiliency, however, requires thoughtful planning and assessment. COG staff are available to provide technical assistance and planning services to increase regional and local resilience, primarily focused on:

  • Local government financial sustainability & sound management practices
  • Proactive maintenance of infrastructure
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Sound land use plans & regulations
  • Community development & livability
  • Economic development

RESOURCES


UNC School of Government ARPA Resources


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North Carolina Association of County Commissioners


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North Carolina League of Municipalities


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North Carolina Opioid Settlement


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North Carolina Opioid Settlement Memorandum of Agreement & County Responsibilities


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U.S. Treasury Department State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds


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North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office


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North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Infrastructure


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North Carolina Environmental Finance Center


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North Carolina Department of Public Safety Division of Emergency Management


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Dogwood Health Trust


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North Carolina Department of Information Technology Growing Rural Economics with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant


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North Carolina Department of Information Technology Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) Program


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U.S. Treasury Department Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF)


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High Country Regional Resilience & Disaster Recovery Interactive Map


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