FY2021-2022 HCCOG Annual Report

Recovery & Resilience

American Rescue Plan Act State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLRF) Administration

• Assisted 10 local governments with identifying a spending plan for SLFRF allocations

• Helped 10 local governments adopt 54 policies/ordinances for compliance

• Helped administer a total of $18,301,836 in SLFRF funding

Financial Summary

• Successfully submitted 10 compliance reports in the Treasury Portal

• Held 14 in-person meetings with local government staff to discuss SLFRF and additional ARPA funding opportunities

The Economic Recovery & Resilience department was created in April 2022.

Our Mission

To partner with our local government members to effectively identify, address, and leverage challenges and opportunities in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties while providing innovative solutions and beneficial services for our region.

Area Agency on Aging

Home & Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) Program

• 169,831 Congregate and Home Delivered Meals

Served

• 27,129 In-Home Aide Hours

Served

• 19,985 Transportation Trips

Planning & Development

Critical Infrastructure

Workforce Development

• 1,014 Hours of Legal Assistance

• 2,189 Total People Served

• 1,047 People Served at or Below Poverty Line

• $2,420,733 Region-wide HCCBG Federal and State Allocation

Evidence-Based Health Promotion

• 14 Classes Offered

• 173 Class Participants

• 64 Participants Completed the Class

• Burnsville East Main Sewer$2,153,570 grant

• Burnsville Bakers Creek Pump Station - $599,500 grant

• Burnsville Bolens Creek Water Intake - $2,221,191

Classes Offered:

• Powerful Tools for Caregivers

• Tai Chi for Arthritis and Falls Prevention

• A Matter of Balance

• Walk With Ease

Family Caregiver Support Program

• 69 caregivers registered with Family Caregiver Support Program

• 18 caregivers registered with Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program

• 312 respite hours provided to caregivers

• 654 hours of case management, support groups, emergency planning, telephone reassurance etc.

• 61 caregivers served through supplemental services including home safety equipment, liquid nutrition, and incontinence supplies

Lifespan Respite Program

• 405 Applications Received

• 259 Vouchers Awarded

• $110,966 Worth of Voucher Reimbursements to Caregivers

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

• 361 Technical Assistances

• 140 Visits to Facilities

• 110 Complaints

• 60 Cases

MIPPA (Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act) & SHIIP (Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program) Outreach

• 9,900 monthly awareness flyers distributed to homedelivered meals clients, community centers, senior centers, libraries, health departments, and live outreach events

• 14 monthly awareness flyers posted on social media reaching 553 people

• 19 newspaper advertisements and press release articles in 9 regional publications

• Burnsville Waterline Replacements - $5,849,527 grant

• Burnsville Water Treatment Plant - $1,345,706 grant

Economic and Community Development

• Avery Reentry Housing Project - $950,000 grant

• Ashe Industrial Park$438,024 grant

• Little Leaf Farms Waterline$1,292,296 grant

PY21 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Services

• 6,055: total # of individual customers receiving services through NCWorks.gov and NCWorks Career Centers

• 7: average # of services provided to each customer

• 351: total # of individuals receiving intensive services

• 76 Youth Served

º 28 Training Services Provided

• Watauga Slaughter Facility - $500,000 grant

• Regional Digital Inclusion Plan - $255,000 passthrough grants to counties

Parks and Recreation/Environmental

• Mitchell County PARTF$500,000 grant

• Yancey County PARTF$350,000 grant

• Wilkesboro Recreational Trails Program - $100,000 grant

Reports, Studies, Plans

• Mitchell County Park and Recreation Plan

• Sparta Land-Use Plan

• Banner Elk Land-Use Plan

• West Jefferson Land-Use Plan

• Wilkesboro Salary Study

GIS - Public Safety

• Yancey County E-911 GIS

Technical Support

• Avery County E-911 GIS

Technical Support

• Watauga County E-911 GIS Maintenance

• Wilkes County E-911 GIS Maintenance

• Town of Beech Mountain E-911 GIS Maintenance

• Wilkes Fire Department Water Point Updates

• Cove Creek VFD Mapping Services

GIS - Planning and Technical Assistance

• Burnsville Sewer System Mapping

• Librarian/Student

Performance Indicators Web App

• Wilkes Board of Education Mapping Services

• Sparta Zoning Map Update

º 26 Earned Credentials

º 28 Participated in Work Based Learning

º $187,080 Dedicated

to Youth Work-Based Learning activities

• 275 Adults and Dislocated Workers Served

º 203 Training Services Provided

º 110 Earned Credentials

º 22 Received On-the-Job Training/WEX

Average Unemployment Rate: 4.02% (seasonally adjusted)

Largest Training Sector: Healthcare

Workforce by the Numbers

• 717 High Country employers were served by the NCWorks system

• 6,555 services were provided to High Country employers through the NCWorks system

• 3,129 local jobs were posted using NCWorks Online

• 5,466 referrals were provided for posted jobs

• 72 hiring events hosted by NCWorks (virtual and inperson)

• 17 individuals completed Working Smart Training

• 2 local companies received training for their workforce

• 3 local employees upskilled through training to meet employer needs

• 58 local community college students with financial emergencies assisted with the Finish Line Grant

Other Projects/Accomplishments

• Received extension for Work Based Learning Enhancement Grant for On-the-Job Training (OTJ), Work Experience (WEX), and Incumbent Worker Grants (IWG)

• Designated as Recovery Friendly through the Recovery Freindly Workplace Initiative

• Administered the Finish Line Grant to assist college students with financial emergencies

• Certified the Human Services Career Pathway