The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) is a non-partisan organization that serves as the official voice of all 100 counties on issues considered by the General Assembly, Congress, and federal and state agencies. The Association provides advocacy expertise to counties and employs a team of registered lobbyists, who advocate on behalf of counties’ interests before dozens of administrative, legislative, and rule-making committees both during and in between legislative sessions.
State and Federal News
- News as of June 28, 2024
NCDEQ Division of Water Infrastructure Announces Fall 2024 Funding Application Trainings
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Division of Water Infrastructure announces training sessions on funding for drinking water and wastewater projects at five locations. Training sessions will cover information on funding programs, application package completion, Priority Rating Systems, funding timelines, and instructions on how to apply for funding to evaluate options to address PFAS contamination and for Lead Service Line Replacement/Inventory.
NCDEQ Fall 2024 Application Training Sessions:
- July 30, Asheville
- July 31, Lenoir
- Aug. 7, Williamston
- Aug. 8, Kinston
- Aug. 9, Raleigh
Click here to RSVP online. All training sessions contain the same content. For more information and application materials, visit the NCDEQ website.
FHWA Hosts Webinar on National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will host a webinar on the FYs 2023 through 2026 (Year Two through Year Five) National Culvert Removal, Replacement and Restoration Grant Program (Culvert Aquatic Organism Passage (Culvert AOP) Program) solicitation on Monday, July 15, from 1-2:30 p.m. Click here to register. The deadline to apply for a grant is Sept. 23, 2024.
OSHA Proposes New Emergency Response
The Occupational and Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to issue a new safety and health standard titled Emergency Response, to replace the existing Fire Brigades Standard. “The new standard would address a broader scope of emergency responders and would include programmatic elements to protect emergency responders from a variety of occupational hazards.” Click here to submit comments by Monday, July 22, 2024.
RACP Hosts Webinar for Small Utilities
The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) will host a webinar for small water utilities on the topic of how to develop or update risk and resilience assessments (RRAs) and emergency response plans (ERPs), as required by law. The webinar will be held Tuesday, July 23, from 1-2 p.m. Click here to register.
USDA Releases Rural Energy Resource Guide
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a rural energy resource guide, “Bright Ideas: Federal Resources to Boost Energy Efficiency in Rural America,” intended to provide examples and identify federal funding for clean energy.
June is National Safety Month
June is a great time to get county staff involved in creating an organization-wide safety culture. Visit the National Safety Council’s website to download free information, featuring a different safety topic each week in June.
County Advocacy Hub
Legislative Goals
Every two years, in the months preceding the long session of the North Carolina General Assembly, NCACC begins a grassroots process to develop our Association’s legislative goals, which guide NCACC’s work as a statewide organization. The process is designed to maximize participation by counties, build consensus among counties, and achieve a unified message on county priorities. Click here to view the NCACC 2023-2024 Legislative Goals.
NCACC’s advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels of government are guided by legislative goals as decided by our members. NCACC legislative goals are developed through a multi-phase process, which offers county commissioners, county officials and stakeholders several opportunities to provide input and shape priorities. These goals define the most pressing and important issues our members face and reflect the collective will of all 100 counties.
The importance of participating in the legislative goals process cannot be overstated. When policymakers hear the same message from all 100 counties throughout our diverse state, the voice of each individual county becomes amplified. Counties are stronger together and our common purpose is enshrined in NCACC history and our vision statement, which states: “Empowering 100 counties to work together for the betterment of one state.”
Legislative Goals & Reporting
Steering Committees
NCACC’s seven Steering Committees assist the Board of Directors in setting policy for the Association in the areas of Agriculture, Environment, General Government, Health and Human Services, Justice and Public Safety, Public Education, and Tax and Finance. Steering Committee membership is open to all county commissioners, as well as county staff who specialize in committee-related fields.