DCTA Program Resources

State CDBG Information and Resources

This overview by HUD provides resources related to the State CDBG program, which offers grants to non-entitlement areas (cities with a population less than 50,000 and counties with a population less than 200,000) for housing, community services, and job retention.

Join the mailing list to receive HUD policy guidance, training opportunities, resources, critical deadlines, program support, and more.

CommunityDevelopment.Art

This relaunched website by PolicyLink includes new briefs, videos, and resources that examine the intersection of arts, culture, and equitable development. The website also shares how community development goals can be reached through the integration of arts and culture in partnership with non-arts organizations.

Guide to Federal Housing and Community Development Programs for Small Towns and Rural Areas

This guide by the Housing Assistance Council provides brief descriptions on the uses of program funds and eligibility requirements for federal housing and development programs administered by the USDA Rural Development (RD), HUD, and others, as well as contacts for further information about each program.

Livestream: What the Winter Storm Tells Us about Climate Justice in Rural Communities

March 30, 2021, 3:00 – 4:00 PM EDT

This webinar presented by Rural Assembly, in partnership with Southerly and the Daily Yonder, will feature journalists and other experts in a roundtable discussion about February's historic and devastating winter storm, and what it revealed about public health, housing, energy, the economy, and climate justice.

Virtual Housing Policy Forum 2021: A New Day

March 30 – 31, 2021, 1:00 – 5:00 PM EDT

Hosted by NLIHC, the forum will offer opportunities to engage with and learn from thought-leaders, policy experts, researchers, affordable housing practitioners, low-income residents, and leaders from Capitol Hill about the state of the affordable housing crisis in America and its solutions.

Spring Virtual CIO Forum: Technology Essentials for the New Norm

March 31 – April 1, 2021, 1:00 – 4:00 PM EDT

This forum hosted by NACo and the NACo County Tech Xchange will highlight technology essentials for the "new normal" counties are facing. Attendees will hear about strategies from experts in the fields of technology, talent acquisition, and leadership. Information Technology leaders, elected officials, county administrators, and private industry are encouraged to attend. Topics include artificial intelligence, the current cyberthreat landscape, social media, vaccine management, diversity in IT, and more.

CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series

April 13, July 13, and October 12, 2021, 2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT

This webinar series offered by the CDFA is a free, online series connecting businesses and projects within the food system to development finance tools, such as bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits, revolving loan funds, and more, to create equitable local and regional food systems. Learn about financing tools and how tech innovations are increasing access to food business financing and how investing in food-centered redevelopment can restore local food systems infrastructure, catalyze additional neighborhood development, and protect healthy, sustainable communities.

• Financing Food-Centered Redevelopment – April 13, 2021
• Financing Food Systems through FinTech – July 13, 2021
• Debunking Risk in Food System Finance – October 12, 2021

Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program Webinar

April 14, 2021, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EDT

In this webinar, hosted by the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH), attendees will learn about the new Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program funding opportunity from OLHCHH at HUD. Speakers will review key aspects of the program and answer questions related to the presentation.

Rural Assembly Everywhere

April 20 – 21, 2021

Hosted by Rural Assembly, this Rural Assembly Everywhere event helps participants connect, learn, and be inspired by some of the most compelling rural leaders, artists, and allies in the country. Stay tuned for speaker and performer announcements and ways you can participate!

Novogradac 2021 Affordable Housing Virtual Conference

April 29 – 30, 2021

This conference offered by Novogradac will explore how the low-income tax credit (LIHTC) incentive can be used to fill in gaps and help address the needs of the most vulnerable populations. Together with developers, attorneys, financiers, and government agencies, Novogradac’s virtual conference will address important topics like debt and equity, the homelessness crisis, and the 4 percent LIHTC.

CDFA 2021 Federal Financing Webinar Series

May 11, 2021 – December 14, 2021, 2:00 – 3:30 PM ET

CDFA launched a 7-part webinar series that convenes finance experts, federal agencies, and local practitioners to discuss the variety of federal programs available to restore local economies, preserve small businesses, invest in our communities, and protect our environment. The upcoming topics and dates include:

• Federal Programs for Affordable Housing Investment – May 11, 2021
• Federal Financing for Energy and Water Systems – June 8, 2021
• Investing in Critical Community Facilities – August 24, 2021
• The Federal Role in Financing Broadband – September 14, 2021
• Preserving Local Food Systems with Federal Financing – December 14, 2021

CDFA Rural Development Finance Webinar Series

June 1 and August 31, 2021, 2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT

The Rural Development Finance Webinar Series hosted by the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) is a free three-part series providing information and best practices about financing tools and programs specifically targeted for rural communities. This series is offered as part of the CDFA Community Facilities Technical Assistance Program. Funded by the USDA, this TA program includes resources accessible to every rural community, a Rural Finance Toolkit, and targeted technical assistance support to rural communities.

• Assembling Capital for Rural Development – June 1, 2021
• Best Practices for Rural Development Finance Agencies – August 31, 2021

COVID-19 Cost Recovery: Ways to Maximize Federal Funding

On February 25, 2021, NACo hosted this webinar in which the Hagerty Consulting team discusses ongoing response and recovery challenges and offers potential solutions by outlining recent federal policy changes, current federal funding opportunities, and tangible ways to jumpstart your community’s financial recovery process. While the maze of federal funding can be difficult to navigate, planning your cost recovery now will help maximize federal reimbursement opportunities in the future.

Follow the Data on the Pathway to Recovery

On February 18, 2021, NACo hosted a webinar in which nationally recognized Treasurer Scott German of Genesee County, NY discusses how he has maximized the value of Genesee County's cash through liquidity data and treasury service monitoring. Learn how to leverage technology and follow data findings to ensure every tax dollar is being maximized and to optimize short- and long-term cash performance.

Announcing the NACo Managed Cybersecurity Solution

On February 10, 2021, NACo hosted this webinar that explains the partnership NACo has forged with industry leading cybersecurity providers NuHarbor Security, Splunk, and Tenable to provide a comprehensive strategy to county Information Security Programs. This program and partnership maximizes the cost and operational efficiency of leading-edge software solutions and the efficiency of county resource utilization, and will uphold the highest cybersecurity standards.

Fighting Food Insecurity during COVID-19 and Beyond: Key Updates for County Leaders

On February 5, 2021, NACo hosted a webinar featuring county leaders, congressional staff, and national experts who discussed how emergency COVID-19 legislation can help counties combat food insecurity and the implications it may have for national anti-hunger policy moving forward.

NACo Webinar Series: Vaccine Management Solutions for Local Governments

On February 5, 2021, NACo hosted a webinar highlighting effective technology solutions for county vaccination management, with a focus on Microsoft’s solution which addresses unforeseen challenges that have emerged from the initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Microsoft’s dedicated COVID Response Team detailed their approach to solving problems in the quickest and most flexible way to ensure that jurisdictions and service providers can adjust quickly to changing situations.

County Eviction Series: Solutions from Across the Country

On February 4, 2021, NACo hosted a webinar demonstrating how county governments are assisting vulnerable residents whose housing and financial stability are at heightened risk due to COVID-19. Hear directly from county leaders on challenges and solutions to the evictions crisis, including county programming and support for children and families.

Path Forward: COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout at the State Level

On February 3, 2021, as part of Path Forward: Navigating the Return to Work webinar series hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Suzanne Clark, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sat down with West Virginia Governor Jim Justice to discuss the unique approach they’ve taken to distribution and administration, what other states can learn from their success, and what businesses can learn from how they’re engaging the private sector.

State of the State

On January 25 – 27, 2021, Route Fifty hosted a series of events where experts spoke about how the Coronavirus will continue to drive the work of state governments in the coming year.

COVID-19 Rental Assistance Webinar Series

• A Playbook for Immediate Deadlines and Program Implementation: On January 8, 2021, NACo introduced its first installment of their two-part COVID-19 Rental Assistance Webinar series. In response to the new $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, Witt O’Brien’s experts outline the immediate steps counties should take when evaluating whether to opt-in to receive the reserved allocation, developing strategies for immediate actions ahead of receiving funds, and designing the framework for a successful program.
• A Playbook for Program Implementation: On January 15, 2021, NACo hosted the second installment of its COVID-19 Rental Assistance webinar series. This webinar, featuring experts from Witt O’Brien’s, further outlines strategies for action and a framework for designing a successful program.

NLIHC National Call: Coronavirus, Housing, and Homelessness

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition hold weekly national calls entitled “Coronavirus, Housing, and Homelessness” that featured updates from national, state, and local advocates and service providers working to assist people experiencing homelessness, low-income households, and members of marginalized communities, all of whom are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recordings and slides from all past sessions are posted on the NLIHC website.

Eight calls have been held and recorded so far in 2021. Several of these sessions are highlighted below:

• On February 22, participants discussed the impact of the Texas winter storm on homeless populations, the Right to Council efforts around the country, and strategies for using FEMA EO to expand eligibility to people in long-term care facilities. Additionally, updates from the field, updates on the Eviction Moratorium and Emergency Rental Assistance program, and updates on new housing and homelessness resources in the next COVID relief bill were shared.
• On February 1, participants received updates from the field, from Capitol Hill, and updates on the CDC Eviction Moratorium and Emergency Rental Assistance programs, as well as revised estimates of rent and utilities arrears. Participants discussed the potential impact of utility disconnection and eviction moratorium on COVID infections and mortality, along with state and local strategies to protect tenants during the pandemic.
• On January 4, participants discussed the COVID relief bill and next steps, received information about addressing family homelessness during COVID-19, and heard field updates from four national partners. Working groups also provided updates and next steps.

E104: Grow with Google: Helping Jobseekers Kickstart Their Careers in High-Demand Fields

In December 2020, Workforce Central, the official podcast of the National Association of Workforce Boards, hosted Christian Michael, Program Manager for Grow with Google, to discuss the work that Google is doing to create opportunities for nontraditional talent to kickstart their career in high demand fields, including IT.

Enhancing Fiscal Resilience in a Disruptive Environment: What We’ve Learned and What’s Next

On December 18, 2020, NACo hosted a webinar where KPMG and county officials discussed different approaches to enhance resilience in light of shifting public health, economic, budgetary and community dynamics – and how the difficult lessons of 2020 can help counties navigate a still uncertain 2021 outlook.

Sustainability and the Path to Equity

On August 5, 2020, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation hosted a webinar to explore how communities, NGOs, and the private sector can work together to create a more sustainable economy that delivers environmental justice and creates opportunity for all.

Deferring Program Fees: COVID-19 Considerations

On July 8, 2020, this webinar by Grounded Solutions Network unpacked why, when, and how some homeownership programs with lasting affordability are seeking ways to support their homeowners in this challenging time. The webinar discussed reasons why some programs are deferring or waiving monthly ground lease and other program fees, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rural Resilience: Hurricanes, Wildfire, and COVID-19

On June 24, 2020, the Rural Assembly and Daily Yonder held a webinar to share how disaster preparedness and response continues in communities dealing with wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme weather, all while also feeling the impacts of a pandemic. A video and transcript of the webinar are available.

Maximizing Value on Every Public Dollar During and After COVID-19

On June 24, 2020, NACo held a webinar focused on how counties can use liquidity analyses and data to maximize the value on current tax dollars and any CARES Act funding received and review ways to look under every stone for taxpayer benefit.

Local Strategies for Housing, Wealth, and Job Equity Webinar Series

On June 17 – July 24, 2020, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Reinventing Our Communities (ROC) Local hosted a series of 11 webinars which are now available online. The series examines local solutions to housing, job, and wealth equity challenges. Leading researchers and practitioners provide expertise for community leaders on topics that include rethinking zoning, supporting small businesses, upskilling and reskilling, and affordable housing preservation. These webinars can help you frame, contextualize, and organize around challenges in your community.

Childcare and COVID-19: Federal Resources and Best Practices for County Governments

On June 17, 2020, NACo held a webinar focused on the impacts of COVID-19 on access to safe and affordable childcare, and what counties are doing to maintain the current supply of childcare and sustain childcare businesses upon reopening. Federal resources for childcare services during COVID-19 and what counties can do to maximize these services and ensure safe, healthy learning environments for young children were outlined. A copy of the presentation slide show is available.

The Health of Our Democracy: Voting During a Pandemic

On June 9, 2020, the Aspen Institute hosted a conversation on how states and local jurisdictions can execute a voting process that is secure, trusted, and safe.

How Community Development Organizations Change When They Embrace Arts and Culture

On May 13, 2020, Arts, Culture, and Community Development featured community-based organizations and the artists with whom they have partnered sharing stories and lessons learned from local strategies to build stronger connections with residents, create and enhance neighborhood identity and solidarity, and achieve better outcomes in local planning and policy. View PolicyLink’s brief, How Organizations Change When They Embrace Arts and Culture, that explores these themes and stories.

Rural Health and COVID-19

On May 12, 2020, Rural Health Information Hub hosted this webinar featuring a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide an overview of the rural health focused efforts by HHS and USDA and highlight specific tools and resources to help combat COVID-19. This page provides the recording, audio transcript, and presentation slides.

OLHCHH and Partners: Healthy Homes COVID-19 Webinars

On May 4 – 6, 2020, HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) and the National Healthy Homes Partnership at the University of Missouri presented three webinars on COVID-19 mitigation and disinfecting strategies for multifamily and public housing developments. These webinars and related handouts were presented in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control Waterborne Disease Branch (CDC WDB) and Washington State Department of Health.

• COVID-19 and Housing (Spanish)
• COVID-19 and Multifamily
• COVID-19 and Public Housing

FEMA Region II Preparedness and Resilience Webinars 2020

This catalog from FEMA Region II provides links to pre-recorded webinars held in 2020. Webinars are grouped by 14 topic areas offering guidance on a wide array of individual and community awareness, preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience concerns.

Accessory Dwelling Units Webinar

On May 29, 2019, LISC hosted a webinar where two Rubinger Fellows spoke about how they’re leveraging Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in their unique markets. Affordable housing is becoming increasingly hard to find throughout many growing cities around the country. ADUs offer an alternative to customary housing units, taking the form of basement apartments, living units above the garage, new detached units, or 'tiny houses' built in the backyard of an existing home.

Eviction Prevention Toolkit Webinar

On April 18, 2019, LISC hosted a webinar where Barbara Geries from Champlain Housing Trust and Harold Nassau from The Consortium for Housing Asset Management (CHAM) discussed the value of operating an Eviction Prevention Program (EPP), provided basic information about program structuring, and gave examples of existing programs.

2020 State of Black America: Unmasked

This report from the National Urban League, produced in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, found that African Americans, who are more likely than white Americans to live in crowded housing and work in essential jobs, are nearly three times as likely to contract the virus. Black Americans also are more likely to be uninsured than white Americans, to suffer from pre-existing conditions that increase risk of severe illness, and to receive less aggressive treatment, and as a result are nearly five times as likely to be hospitalized for and more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19.

2021 COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program: Part I - Three Actions Localities Should Take Now to Participate

Some NACo partners have developed new resources to support county implementation efforts for the new $25 billion Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program authorized under the year-end spending deal. In this article Witt O’Brien’s offers three steps as a guideline to help localities make the correct decision about participating as a rental assistance program grantee

Assessment of County Needs in Economic Recovery

A newly released analysis from NACo outlines the results of a county leader survey, four focus groups, and 15 interviews with county leaders on their experiences and needs to manage economic recovery related to the community impacts of COVID-19.

Budget Stress Tests Can Help States Manage the Pandemic’s Fiscal Impact

This article from Pew Charitable Trusts covers lessons from four states on how the analyses provide insights into shortfall scenarios, how the recession caused by the Coronavirus pandemic is clouding states' financial futures, and how stress tests can help leaders plan for what comes next.

Building Better Fundamentals for Rural Progress: Good Data, Fairer Media Practices, and Stronger Local Organizations

This outline of three reports, developed by Housing Assistance Council and the Aspen Institute, breaks down the challenges that obscure the nation’s understanding of and attention to rural issues and progress, and how to work toward improvement.

Business Response Survey to the Coronavirus Pandemic

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has developed new data on how U.S. businesses changed their operations and employment since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic through September 2020. This information, combined with data collected by other current BLS surveys, can aid in understanding how businesses responded during the pandemic and shows changes in employment, wages, job openings and terminations, employer-provided benefits, and safety and health.

Cascading Impact of COVID-19 on Microbusinesses

This report from Prosperity Now looks at why businesses owned by people of color, women, and immigrants were highly susceptible to an economic downturn prior to the pandemic. It also details how microbusinesses (businesses with zero to nine employees), which are historically the most vulnerable to financial shocks, have been severely impacted by the virtual stoppage of economic activity in the sectors of the economy where they are most represented – including the food service industry, retail, and accommodation services.

City Fiscal Conditions 2020 Report

This report from the National League of Cities finds that it will take years for municipal budgets in the United States to recover from the economic impacts of the Coronavirus. Based on a survey of 485 municipal finance officers, the City Fiscal Conditions 2020 report found that large majorities of respondents said their cities were less able to meet their fiscal obligations in FY 2020 (78 percent) and anticipate that things will be even worse in FY 2021 (87 percent), the highest percentage registered by the annual survey since the Great Recession. By comparison, only 24 percent of municipal finance officers surveyed in 2019 reported that their city would be less able to meet its fiscal obligations.

Colorado County Program Helps Local Businesses

Rather than see them go rogue against COVID-19 restrictions, Mesa County, CO and the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce are working with local businesses to standardize safe operating procedures during the pandemic. More than 600 local businesses have pledged their commitment to following strict guidelines and the county’s groundwork over the last eight months is supporting the program as infections rise.

Comprehensive Analysis of COVID-19’s Impact on County Finances and Implications for the U.S. Economy

This report from NACo, published July 21, 2020, outlines that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, county revenues are plummeting while costs are skyrocketing. NACo research finds the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to massive budgetary impacts for county governments and local taxpayers, with as much as $202 billion in lost revenue and increased expenditures through FY 2021.

Connecting Counties to Residents with Access Live

This article from NACo highlights a useful tool and the importance of local governments maintaining open communication with residents in their community. When it is not possible to meet for in-person town halls and other events, Access Live is a tool that allows government officials to virtually reach thousands of people at once, from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Access Live allows government officials to virtually reach thousands of people at once.

Consumers, Communities Struggled with Effect of Pandemic

The Federal Reserve's latest Consumer & Community Context features articles analyzing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic among consumers, communities, and community development organizations.

Coronavirus Pandemic Refugees and the Future of American Cities

The Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise from the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School studied the impact of the Coronavirus on American cities. History informs us that some people, especially the wealthy, flee cities in response to pandemics and other major catastrophes. In past pandemics and crises, refugees have typically returned, remaining attracted to the social and cultural dynamism cities offer. However, the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic raise questions about the future attractiveness of large cities as places to live and do business.

Counties and COVID-19: Positioning America for Recovery

This report published by NACo (February 2021) examines the role of counties in the recovery process as local leaders support America’s 10 million unemployed workers amidst the challenges of delivering essential services during a global pandemic. The report offers key takeaways from research on the fiscal impact of Coronavirus on our communities and how counties are uniquely positioned to support U.S. job growth, GDP expansion, and economic recovery.

Counties Face Economic Recovery Challenges

NACo surveyed and interviewed county leaders across the country to assess how counties are recovering economically from the impacts of COVID-19. All the counties shared a need for funding and critical partnerships in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns remain about loss of revenue and the capacity to serve their residents.

Counties Provide Free Transportation to Vaccine Sites

This article by NACo, published March 2, 2021, explores how counties are working to tackle transportation issues to ensure residents can get to and from vaccine appointments, with some counties providing free transportation to vaccine sites. Read about their methods, including how one county received federal transportation assistance and allocated CARES Act money for the rural transit system.

Counties Turn to Apps, Alert Systems in Pandemic

NACo documented how county officials across the country are turning to technology to spread vital information and keep their residents informed. “With the ability to use apps — the sky’s the limit,” said Rich Collins, director of Emergency Services for Sarasota County, Florida, where officials launched a notification system and are using mobile applications to spread information during the COVID-19 outbreak.

County Economic Mobility Action Tracker

NACo and the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program have launched the County Economic Mobility Action Tracker to provide county leaders with resources for safeguarding residents’ financial security and economic mobility during COVID-19.

County News on COVID-19

NACo publishes information and articles of interest to counties relating to the Coronavirus pandemic. County News has explored many facets of county governments' response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including topics like health program development, emergency shelter provision, COVID-19 budget impacts, county election challenges, and more.

The COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index (CCVI)

This index, developed by Surgo Foundation and featured as a CDC resource, identifies which communities may need the most support as Coronavirus takes hold. Mapped to U.S. Census tract, county, and state levels, the CCVI helps inform COVID-19 planning and mitigation at a granular level.

COVID-19’s Continued Impact on Low- to Moderate-Income Communities – Perspectives from Main Street: October 2020

All 12 of the Federal Reserve Banks and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System released the results of a survey of representatives of nonprofits, financial institutions, government agencies, and other community organizations that determines the pandemic’s impact on LMI communities. The survey reveals that the majority of organizations see COVID-19’s impacts on a range of issues, from employment and education to basic consumer needs and health, got modestly or significantly worse since August.

COVID-19 Crisis Management: Three Lessons County Officials Have Learned on the Front Lines

Zencity held an open discussion with county administrators from McHenry County, IL, Nevada County, CA, and Ottawa County, MI to discuss their personal experiences managing the pandemic.

COVID-19 Economic Crisis: By State

Carsey School Director Michael Ettlinger and Policy Analyst Jordan Hensley recently sat down for an interview with Carsey Research Assistant Professor Jessica Carson to discuss the latest data and updates of their weekly report.

COVID-19 Economic Implications for Agriculture, Food, and Rural America

This resource by USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) considers links in the farm-to-consumer supply chain that may be affected by the pandemic, including farms, processors, handlers, retail outlets, and trade. ERS also examines the economic impacts of the pandemic on consumers, food assistance program participants, residents of rural America, and farmers. The web page highlights ERS research and data that can help interpret and understand the emerging economic impacts of the pandemic.

COVID-19 Equity in Recovery

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank has released a series of briefs to identify those most at economic risk from COVID-19 and set a policy framework for a more equitable recovery. 

• Which Neighborhoods and Households Will Be Most Impacted by COVID-19?
• Which Workers Will Be Most Impacted by COVID-19?
• What Small Businesses Will Be Impacted by COVID-19?

COVID-19’s Impact on Multifamily and Affordable Housing

Multi-Housing News reports on how the Coronavirus has heightened inequality in the housing market, a crisis that the country will continue to experience even after the pandemic is over.

COVID-19 Inequality and American Well-Being

The results of a survey, conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, reveal marked declines in American well-being, with significant demographic and geographic disparities, and little precaution against risk. The survey results led the author to conclude that place-based relief policies make less sense than targeting relief to hardest-hit individuals.

COVID-19 Reported Cases in Rural America

This Housing Assistance Council website reports on COVID-19 cases in rural areas across America. The site includes maps and charts looking at changes over time, comparing non-metro to metro cases, and examining rural per capita COVID-19 rates. This website is based on data collected by the New York Times.

COVID Response and Budget Basics at Forefront for States

In this article, Route Fifty summarizes the comments made by state government experts about how the Coronavirus will continue to drive the work of state governments in the coming year. Although most states will be better off financially than initially projected, pandemic-related initiatives will likely take up most of their time and resources this year, pushing innovative lawmaking to the backseat. Listen to the experts who spoke during the State of the State event hosted by Route Fifty on January 25, 2021.

Crisis Hits Minority Firms Hard

This article, from the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, provides an overview of the vulnerability of firms owned by minorities prior to the crisis and shares insights from organizations that work with minority firms on how these firms are being affected during the crisis.

Deadline Fuels CRF Money Uncertainty

This article in County News Now discusses how the December 30, 2020 deadline to use or lose CRF money is forcing county budget managers into a tight spot.

Emergency Rental Assistance FAQs

On January 19, 2021, the U.S. Treasury Department released its first iteration of FAQs regarding the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The Emergency Rental Assistance FAQs document offers guidance for the new $25 billion emergency rental assistance (ERA) program and will be supplemented by additional guidance and FAQs on a rolling basis. NACo’s COVID-19 Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program resource page on the ERA offers additional information, including projected allocations for eligible county governments.

Emergency Rental Assistance Programs in Response to COVID-19

NLIHC released a Research Note that provides a descriptive analysis of more than 440 rental assistance programs created or expanded in response to COVID-19.

Experiences with the COVID-19 Outbreak Can Vary for Americans of Different Ages

Older Americans see the pandemic as a major health risk and younger adults mainly see a financial threat. The Pew Research Center looks at how experiences with the outbreak differ across the age spectrum.

Exploring a Skills-Based Approach to Occupational Mobility

This report, from the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and Cleveland, explores how the demand for labor is expected to shift in the post-pandemic economy, and how transferable skills could both pave the way for lower-wage workers to move up to higher-paying positions and help meet the talent needs of employers.

For Older Adults in Publicly Funded Housing during the Pandemic, Service Coordinators Help Build Resilience

A survey of service coordinators working with older adults in publicly funded housing identified unique challenges faced in adapting to COVID-19. The survey, conducted by the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS), found that disruptions to professional care may affect older residents’ physical and mental health.

Forced Automation by COVID-19? Early Trends from Current Population Survey Data

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia released new research, led by Lei Ding and Julieth Saenz Molina, that provides the first empirical analysis of the impact of COVID-19-induced automation on job losses.

The Fragile Financial Stability of Immigrant Households in Light of COVID-19

This brief, released by Prosperity Now, provides an overview of the structural barriers that have made low- to moderate-income immigrant households particularly vulnerable to the public health and economic crises precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Framework for an Equitable COVID-19 Homelessness Response

With a racial justice and equity lens, the framework provides guidance to communities on how to use a wide range of federal funding sources, including CARES Act programs, strategically across key public health and economic recovery strategies to meet public health goals, increase housing stability, and prevent future increases in homelessness.

View Resources and Tools to assist with implementation.

HHS Protect Public Data Hub

Providing access to data on the healthcare system from a wide range of sources to support data-driven COVID-19 response, Health and Human Services (HHS) provides a Coronavirus data hub that brings together information from federal, state, and local governments and the healthcare industry. The hub shares hospital capacity data at the national and state level, including inpatient beds occupied, inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and ICU beds occupied.

How Counties are Working with Lyft to Expand Transportation Access

NACo shares examples of two counties, Cook County, IL and Essex County, NJ, that are collaborating with Lyft to expand transportation access to their residents.

How Digital Training Can Help States and Cities Build Their Public Health Workforce

This report by The Aspen Institute outlines how numerous states and cities are attempting to quickly build a corps of community health workers by utilizing digital training programs.

How Public Officials Can Use Data and Evidence to Make Strategic Budget Cuts

This issue brief from Pew Charitable Trusts warns that though state and county officials are facing unprecedented fiscal challenges, leaders should resist the temptation to make indiscriminate, across-the-board budget cuts. The brief describes useful, proven tools that policymakers can use to inform their spending decisions that will lead to better outcomes during the downturn.

The Impact of Coronavirus on Households Across America

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, National Public Radio, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. households. The report covers health, economic, and work-related impacts and related issues such as broadband access. The analysis is broken up into five reports:

• The Impact of Coronavirus on Households Across America (national)
• The Impact of Coronavirus on Households in Major U.S. Cities
• The Impact of Coronavirus on Households by Race/Ethnicity
• The Impact of Coronavirus on Households with Children
• The Impact of Coronavirus on Households in Rural America

Impact of COVID-19 on Low- to Moderate-Income Communities

The Federal Reserve released a new report spotlighting the challenges low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities are facing across the nation.

In Historic First, Protests Spread to More than 3,000 Towns

The Daily Yonder reports on the rise in protests to end racism and police violence against people of color in rural communities.

The Inequities of Job Loss and Recovery Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

The University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy published a brief that discusses the wide variations in unemployment and the level of job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic across the nation’s demographic groups that have historically suffered disparities in the workforce, including persons of color, women, and immigrants.

Integrating Equity in the Time of COVID-19

As communities across the country plan for the influx of money to flow into the homelessness response system, equity should be an important consideration throughout the planning and implementation of that funding. In order to identify and respond to gaps in current services and support, communities should consult and listen to those most impacted by the issues. This memo by Homebase provides guidance on some key considerations when integrating equity into service delivery and design and includes references to existing resources and helpful information.

Key Considerations for Counties in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

NACo published a brief highlighting the key considerations for counties as they work with states and other local jurisdictions to prepare their vaccine distribution plans. The brief includes a strategic overview of a recommended plan, developed in coordination with the CDC and the DoD, and an interim playbook for state, tribal, territorial, and local public health programs to begin operationalizing a vaccination response to COVID-19 within their respective jurisdictions.

Local Area Unemployment Statistics: An Economic Analysis of COVID‑19

New NACo research analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on the employment force of counties across the country. The August Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report showed indicators that the U.S. economy was beginning a slow, unstable recovery process. Eighty-one percent of counties reported unemployment levels above the healthy level of unemployment. New NACo research takes a deeper dive into the latest employment statistics to explore how the pandemic is impacting different groups of counties in similar economic situations, ultimately highlighting the need for direct, flexible federal funding.

Measuring COVID-19's Impact on America’s County Workforce

NACo analyzed the economic and fiscal strain the pandemic has had on the nation’s counties, including the impact COVID-19 has had on county workers across the nation.

Moratorium on Encampment Sweeps to Reduce Transmission of COVID-19

The report from May 26, 2020 by Homebase discusses recommendations by the CDC and HUD to cease clearing homeless encampments to reduce the health impacts on encampment residents and the surrounding community. The report offers recommendations, next steps and links to similar reports and CDC guidance for unsheltered homeless individuals and families.

Multifamily Lookup Tools

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced on May 4, 2020 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have created online multifamily property lookup tools to help renters find out if they are protected from evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tools allow renters to determine if the property they live in is financed by one of the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) and thus included in the eviction moratorium under the CARES Act.

Municipal Revenues Steeply Decline in College Towns

This article from the Bond Buyer reports on how most students cleared out in March from the college towns around the nation that depend on them for their economic base, precipitating an economic dive that has been steeper than most other places around the nation. These thousands of college towns may be officially incorporated as cities, villages, or boroughs, but they all face common revenue shortfalls due to COVID-19 that range from a drastic drop in hotel occupancy taxes to a dramatic decline in water and sewer use.

Natural Disaster Planning Takes on Urgency During Pandemic

This article from NACo reports on natural disaster planning and how it takes on urgency during the pandemic. Hurricanes and wildfires often force residents into emergency congregate housing which is exactly the kind of situation counties are trying to avoid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

New Tools for Effective Public Health Communication

Communicating about public health has never been more important and too many people do not understand what public health is or what public health professionals do. The de Beaumont Foundation and the Aspen Institute have launched the Public Health Reaching Across Sectors (PHRASES) website and tools to assist public health officials with research-based framing and communication strategies that can help build support, trust, and credibility.

Next Stimulus Needs to Help Us, Small Cities and Counties Say

The Daily Yonder reports that 95 percent of the nation’s counties got left out of the March stimulus package. Cities and counties are organizing to make sure they fare better with the next proposal.

Oakland County Lays Out Ambitious Economic Development Plan for COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery

Oakland County, Michigan has unveiled its economic plan to recover from the impact of the Coronavirus recession and revitalize its largest city. The strategic action plan is built around the strategies of stabilizing businesses impacted by the recession, policies that aid in business recovery, diversifying the county's industries, and ongoing implementation of those economic development efforts.

Overview of Broadband Funding Opportunities in the COVID-19 Relief Act

This January 19, 2021 summary provided by National Law Review in collaboration with Keller & Heckman, offers information on broadband and telehealth programs and funding opportunities from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act which establishes or re-appropriates a number of significant broadband-related support programs.

Pandemic Fundamentally Alters Transit Systems

This article from NACo County News, published February 8, 2021, explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on county transit systems. The pandemic has shown county transit systems who their essential workers are and the services they still need. Several county transit administrators share their experience and perspectives about the future.

Pandemic-Related Economic Struggles Could Ultimately Increase Investment in Opportunity Zones

Novogradac reports that Opportunity Zone investing is expected to increase in a post-pandemic economic recovery phase that can start as early as this summer. The report outlines the potential opportunities and the sectors of business that are best positioned to benefit.

Proximity Doesn’t Benefit Just Big Cities – It’s Helping Rural Communities Weather the Economic Crisis Too

This Brookings article reports that “Rural Small Businesses on commercial corridors and main streets are better able to weather the pandemic than independent ones.” The NMSC and Brookings’s Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking have taken a more granular look at how place impacts small business survival. They have found that the pandemic is putting rural downtowns, many of which are still struggling to recover from the last recession, in an increasingly precarious economic position due to their heavy reliance on retail and restaurants, as well as their limited access to the capital and broadband infrastructure small businesses now need to survive.

Public Sector COVID-19 Recovery Assessment Tool – How Prepared is Your Entity to Reopen, Recover, and Reset?

The Baker Tilly Public Sector COVID-19 Recovery Assessment tool can help state and local government, utility, and school district leaders assess the current impact of the Coronavirus crisis on their entity and community, understand the level of preparedness for recovery in a possibly permanently altered environment, and identify potential risks an entity may need to mitigate.

Real-World Responses in Real Time: Helping Rural Schools Navigate Rising Mental Health Needs due to COVID-19

This resource by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) National Center for Rural School Mental Health compiles a set of resources for families, schools, teachers, and youth on a wide range of pandemic-related challenges.

Redlining and Neighborhood Health

This study from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition finds households living in historically redlined neighborhoods are seeing a relatively higher prevalence of COVID-19 in their communities. The study links the systemic effects of limited access to investment and other financial resources to poverty, reduced life expectancy, and chronic diseases, all of which are risk factors for poor outcomes from COVID-19.

Renters’ Experiences during COVID-19

This research brief published March 1, 2021 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia provides new evidence of how the pandemic has increased housing insecurity among renters and how households have navigated this ongoing hardship. Drawing from the January 2021 wave of the Consumer Financial Institute’s COVID-19 Survey of Consumers, this research brief summarizes missed or partial rent payments, the amount of back rent currently owed, interactions with landlords, worries about eviction, and the resources and strategies renters have used to afford monthly rent payments.

Rural Healthcare Surge Readiness

This tool, developed by Rural Health’s COVID-19 Healthcare Resilience Working Group, provides critical resources for rural healthcare facilities to prepare for and respond to a COVID-19 surge.

Rural Home Prices Rise as People Consider Leaving Cities During Pandemic

This data from Realtor.com shows that homes in urban zip codes had a 19 percent increase in views compared to last year, while homes in suburban zip codes had a much larger 30 percent jump, and homes in rural zip codes saw a 34 percent increase in views.

Six Ways to Prevent Post-COVID Vacancy

An article in Shelterforce reports that while it may still be months until the community impacts of COVID-19 come into focus, there are ways to act now to minimize commercial and residential property deterioration and subsequent vacancy.

Spotlight: A Conversation with Oji Alexander, Executive Director of Home by Hand

Home by Hand Executive Director Oji Alexander shared with the National Housing Conference about how the organization and the people it serves are affected by COVID-19. Find out more about how this agile nonprofit quickly pivoted to serve the needs of its community in the wake of the pandemic.

State Execs Talk COVID-19 Impacts on Budgets, More

This article from NACo covers topics discussed during the National Council of County Association Executives - National Association of Counties 2020 Knowledge Management Forum, held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Top concerns emerging from the pandemic for state association representatives center on fiscal issues, public health, and workforce implications, according to a NACo survey of 24 state associations.

Stemming Evictions and Creating Future Housing Stability

This report from Prosperity Now shows that with the U.S. potentially on the verge of an immense eviction and homelessness crisis, it is imperative that policymakers act now. The brief provides a look at a series of policies that can support the economic well-being of vulnerable renters now and over the long-term.

Supporting American Indian & Alaskan Native Communities Combating COVID-19

The eHealth Initiative has released a report from a virtual roundtable panel on health disparities related to COVID-19 facing American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Authors discuss the Indian Health Service response to the pandemic and gaps in pandemic-related services, including telehealth access, underfunded and understaffed healthcare facilities, data quality and information access, cultural literacy, and behavioral health needs.

Tracking COVID-19 Expenses

This tool from Cartegraph helps counties track COVID-19 data, expenses, and time to ease the process for applying for FEMA reimbursements.

Treasury’s OIG Releases CRF FAQs on Reporting and Recordkeeping

The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an updated FAQs document that contains modifications to the reporting requirements for the CRF. The changes comes after bipartisan organizations representing state and local governments, including NACo, shared concerns regarding additional reporting and record retention requirements for counties using CRF payments.

Unequal Distribution of COVID-19 Risk among Rural Residents by Race and Ethnicity

The Journal of Rural Health has published a study on the COVID-19 risk in rural communities by race and ethnicity. The paper highlights the different issues that influence the health outcomes of people of color and Indigenous people living in rural areas during COVID-19.

Using Technology to Optimize Leasing in an Age of Social Distancing

This report in Multifamily Executive tracks the trend, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, to adopt virtual leasing tools.

U.S. States’ Path to Economic Recovery (Declining Fiscal Support, Slowing Employment Revival and Resurging Coronavirus Expected to Extend Road to Recovery)

A special report by FitchRatings examines the way the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a dramatic short-term economic and revenue growth shock for many U.S. states. The slowing labor market recovery, significantly reduced pandemic-related state and federal government transfers, and a resurging wave of Coronavirus infections and hospitalizations will slow the pace and challenge the durability of the economic recovery of many U.S. states.

Where States Get Their Money Will Shape Pandemic’s Fiscal Fallout

A special report by FitchRatings examines the way the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a dramatic short-term economic and revenue growth shock for many U.S. states. The slowing labor market recovery, significantly reduced pandemic-related state and federal government transfers, and a resurging wave of Coronavirus infections and hospitalizations will slow the pace and challenge the durability of the economic recovery of many U.S. states.

Will Remote Work Change Central Business Districts?

This article in The Bond Buyer discusses the impacts of the open-ended work-from-home orders millions of Americans received from their employers and the apparent success of that model to date, which raises questions about the future commitment of corporations to basing their employees in cities or office buildings in general, and whether the work-from-home strategy could be a win-win situation.

USDA Rural Development | Business and Industry CARES Act Program

USDA Rural Development offers loan guarantees to help rural businesses and agricultural producers meet their working capital needs during the Coronavirus pandemic. Loans must be used as working capital to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the effects of the pandemic.

Deadline: September 15, 2021

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation | Art Museum Futures Fund

As part of its emergency grantmaking in the face of the global COVID-19 crisis, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation launched a new emergency grant program to support Midsized Art Museums.

Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

EDA | Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs including CARES Act Funding

The EDA grants are awarded to entities to provide investments that support construction, non-construction, planning, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects. The grants are available to state or local government entities; Indian Tribes; institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations.

Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

Federal Reserve | Main Street Lending Program

In response to the financial strain on small businesses resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, the Federal Reserve has introduced the Main Street Lending Program (MSLP) to support lending to small and medium-sized businesses and nonprofit organizations that were in sound financial condition before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What You Need to Know About the Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program.

Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund |COVID-19 Response Grants

The William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund is offering immediate support to communities in Connecticut responding to current events related to COVID-19. Support could include crisis response that addresses the physical, social, and emotional well-being and safety of those most affected by racism and poverty.

Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.