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Innovation Challenge Workshops and Grants
Is your county or region experiencing economic challenges due to the contraction of the coal industry? Searching for tools and resources related to economic diversification, job creation or workforce training? If so, consider applying to attend a workshop this fall that addresses all of these topics and more.
The National Association of Counties and the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation, with support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) are pleased to announce the second of three workshops being hosted throughout 2015 to support counties and regions impacted by the contraction of the coal industry. The goal of each workshop is to help boost the innovative potential of coal-reliant counties and regions seeking to grow and diversify their economies.
This program is not limited to coal-producing counties. Places that are home to coal-fired power plants, coal processing facilities and transportation hubs are encouraged to apply.
The application to attend the Grand Junction, Colorado workshop is now open and will remain open until Friday, July 17th at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
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Mental Health First Aid Training - Veterans Focus
Mental Health First Aid is a public education program that helps the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Mental Health First Aid is offered in the form of an 8 hour course that presents an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders in the U.S. and introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. Those who take the 8-hour course learn a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care.
This particular course is geared toward veterans and is open to anyone but would be particularly helpful for veterans, families of veterans, those who work with them and those who care for them, primary care professionals, employers and business leaders, faith communities, school personnel and educators, state police and corrections officers, nursing home staff, mental health authorities, state policymakers, and volunteers.
The training is free and will be offered at the locations listed below. For more information, click on the links provided.
Warren County 6/10/15
Allegheny County 6/12/15
York County 6/26/15
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DEP New eComment System
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has launched a new online feature "eComment" that will expand transparency and further enhance public participation in the policy making process. The eComment system allows the public to more easily access Technical Guidance Documents and other policy-related proposals open for comment. The public can also view all support documentation, submit comments online and view the full text of all public comments submitted. All comments will be available within 5 days of submission and will remain viewable until the documents are finalized.
Accompanying the eComment system rollout is the revised "Policy for Development and Publication of Technical Guidance." As recommended by members of DEP's Citizens' Advisory Council, DEP, under this new policy, will publish a non-regulatory agenda twice each year that lists all of the policies and technical guidance documents the agency plans to introduce or revise. In addition, the policy expands the role of advisory committees by requiring DEP staff to consult with members of the corresponding advisory committee(s) when developing technical guidance documents and to do so as early in the process as practicable.
DEP will conduct two webinars about the policy changes to allow people to learn more about the changes. The first will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 10, 2015. To register, click here. The second webinar will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, 2015. Participants can register here. Completed webinars will also be available to view if you are unable to attend one of these sessions.
The public is encouraged to submit comments electronically on the "Policy for Development and Publication of Technical Guidance" using the
new eComment system, at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment by June 14.
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Hazard Mitigation Grants
FEMA has announced the FY 2015 Notice of Funding Opportunities for two of the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs: Flood Mitigation Assistance and Pre-Disaster Mitigation. HMA grant programs provide states, tribes, territories, and local governments funding for eligible mitigation activities to strengthen our nation's ability to reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damages.
All 50 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and Federally-recognized tribal governments are eligible to apply. Local governments are considered sub-applicants and must apply to their Applicant state/territory.
Applicants are encouraged to review the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance for detailed information regarding eligibility and to contact their FEMA Regional Office for additional information. Grant applications must be submitted to FEMA through the Mitigation eGrants system on the FEMA Grants Portal accessible on the Internet no later than 3:00 PM EDT on August 28, 2015.
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PA Primary Election Results
The Pennsylvania county election results from the May primary are now available on the CCAP website. Included with those results is an analysis of the elections. To view this document directly, please follow this link, or click on the link provided under "what's new" on the CCAP home page, www.pacounties.org.
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CCAP Welcomes New Members
CCAP welcomes the following new associate members who have joined the organization:
- MuniciPAY, Insurance: MuniciPAY allows municipalities to accept credit cards and electronic checks at no cost to them. They can accept payments face to face, over the phone and through the web. We also give them real time reporting.
- Value Behavioral Health of PA, E-Government, Finance: Value Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania (VBH-PA) coordinates behavioral health services for HealthChoices members living in 13 counties throughout western Pennsylvania. The VBH-PA vision employs the principles of wellness and recovery in developing a unique array of services and providers for each county that target its member's service needs and strengthen its existing delivery system, while controlling costs and improving the quality of care and health outcomes for HealthChoices members.
- Youth Advocate Programs, Inc., Human Services: Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP) is one of the largest non-profit youth and family support agencies working with high-risk youth and their families in the United States. Our mission is to engage human service systems so that they rely less on institutional care and to invest more in supporting families and neighborhoods. We currently work with child welfare, juvenile justice, behavioral health, disability, and education systems to develop and offer community-based alternatives for the highest risk children, young people, young adults and families.
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LifeSkills Training Initiative
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), Department of Human Services (DHS), Department of Health (DOH), the Juvenile Court Judges' Commission (JCJC), and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), are providing three years of LifeSkills Training (LST) to 6th, 7th and 8th graders beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.
The LST program is an evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention program designed to be implemented in middle and junior high school classrooms. In high-quality, multi-year research studies LST has been extraordinarily effective in preventing youth onset and escalation of substance use. LST also effectively helps to reduce violence and other high-risk behaviors. LST includes age-appropriate and culturally relevant information, facilitated discussions, and structured activities in 30 class sessions over three years.
The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado (CSPV) is offering this program to school districts in Pennsylvania at no cost. Both CSPV and the EPISCenter (a technical assistance center funded by PCCD and DHS) will be available to provide technical assistance to Pennsylvania schools that participate in this program.
If you are interested in pursuing this initiative or have any questions, please contact, Joan Bryant, Ph.D. at via phone at (303)735-0455 or joan.bryant@colorado.edu. For more details about this initiative, including a fact sheet and the application form, please follow this link. Please note that while the deadline for Pennsylvania School Districts to submit applications is not until October 31, 2015, interested districts are encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
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PA County Guide to Pension Best Practices Updated
The PA County Guide to Pension Plan Best Practices has been updated and is available on the CCAP website. This Best Practices report was originally designed in 1996 for the new class of commissioners entering county government. It proved to be a popular publication, and was updated in 2004. The 2015 update is intended to keep county officials and staff informed about changes to laws and the process which have happened in the last nine years. To view the guide in full, follow this link. |
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POWER Initiative Funds Available
$35.5 million in funding is now available through the Partnership for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative. POWER, which was announced at the end of March, is an EDA-led, coordinated effort among multiple federal agencies using existing resources to provide integrated and coordinated investments in communities and workers negatively impacted by changes in the coal industry and power sector.
The Federal Funding Opportunity Announcement outlines the POWER Initiative implementation grant priorities, evaluation factors, and application guidance for the up to $12.5 million in funding from the EDA, up to $20 million from Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and up to $2.5 million from the Small Business Administration (SBA), and up to $500,000 from Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
Funding from these programs has been aligned to attract projects that seek to take a comprehensive approach towards economic diversification and worker advancement in implementing their economic development strategic plans. These grants will enable grantees to build economic resilience, industry diversification, and promote new job creation opportunities.
Although resources from EDA, ETA, ARC, and SBA are made available through this FFO, applicants need to apply separately for each funding source they are interested in pursuing. The deadline for receipt of applications for EDA and ARC funding is July 10, 2015, and applications for ETA funding will be accepted on a rolling basis. Proposals for SBA's Regional Innovation Clusters Program contract solicitation will be accepted on a rolling basis after June 1st, 2015. For more information, visit the POWER website.
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Watershed Protection and Restoration Grants
As part of the 2015 Department of Environmental Protection's Growing Greener Plus Program, applications are now being accepted for watershed protection and restoration grants. The Department is authorized to allocate these grants to a variety of eligible applications including counties. For the upcoming grant round, the Department will invest in projects that will ultimately protect or restore, or both, watersheds in this Commonwealth from impairment due to nonpoint source pollution, with a focus on priority activities.
Through the same application process, applicants can also apply for funding through the Department's Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) Grant Programs and Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grant Program. SMCRA grants are available to various entities including municipalities, municipal authorities and nonprofit organizations for projects meeting SMCRA Set Aside or Bond Forfeiture grant requirements. Section 319 grants focus on funding similar projects to Growing Greener but with special emphasis within targeted watersheds.
The deadline for submitting applications to the Department's Growing Greener Grants Center (Center) is July 10, 2015. Applications must be postmarked no later than July 10, 2015.
To request or download an application or obtain more information concerning the Growing Greener Program, visit the Growing Greener web site at www.dep.state.pa.us (DEP Keyword: Growing Greener). The Center can be contacted at (717) 705-5400 or GrowingGreener@state.pa.us.
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2015 CCAP Annual Conference
The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania is pleased to be bringing the 2015 Annual Conference to the beautiful and historic Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, Allegheny County this summer. The Annual Conference is CCAP's premiere educational and networking conference. This year's Conference will be held August 2-5 and features many educational sessions, an extensive exhibit hall and great speakers.
The Conference officially kicks off on Sunday evening with the reception in the Exhibit Hall. All registered Conference attendees will have a chance to meet over 80 vendors interested in working with counties. Monday morning's Open General Session features keynote speaker Matt Tenney who works with organizations to develop highly effective leaders. Monday and Wednesday also feature important breakout sessions on timely topics important to county government. Check the CCAP website after April 30 for a complete list of breakout session offerings and an updated schedule.
Other highlights of the Conference include an evening event at the famous Carnegie Science Center and Highmark SportsWorks compliments of C.S. McKee. L.P. After Tuesday's Business Session attendees are invited to participate in the golf tournament hosted by Mazzitti & Sullivan EAP Services, Inc., Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and Scott + Scott Attorneys at Law, LLP, along with a skill contests offered by CGL Companies. The luncheon will be provided by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Tuesday will also include an afternoon tour of the Ohio River locks and dams system, the President's Reception, Annual Banquet and Annual Awards ceremony.
Conference registration materials can be downloaded from the CCAP website, www.pacounties.org. Members can register for the Conference and make their room reservations at the Omni William Penn Hotel by following the instructions on the website. The early bird conference registration deadline is June 30 and the room reservation deadline is July 6.
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NACo Annual Conference Registration Now Open
NACo's 80th Annual Conference and Exposition provides an opportunity for all county leaders and staff to learn, network and guide the direction of the association. The Annual Conference, held each July, is hosted by a NACo member county. This year, the conference will be held in Mecklenburg County, (Charlotte) North Carolina. The Annual Conference provides county officials with a great opportunity to vote on NACo's policies related to federal legislation and regulation; elect officers; network with colleagues; learn about innovative county programs; find out about issues impacting counties across the country; and view products and services from participating companies and exhibitors.
Registration is now open. For more information, or to register online, follow this link.
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Local Government Training Opportunities
The Pennsylvania Local Government Training Partnership is a training initiative between the Governor's Center for Local Government Services and Pennsylvania's statewide associations, including CCAP. There are many options for upcoming training sessions, as well as sessions that can be downloaded and viewed at your convenience. PACourses offered through the partnership are designed to keep municipal officials current on new laws and legislative requirements and enhance their ability to govern more effectively. Year-round, statewide training is provided in the areas of local government administration, finance, community and economic development, public safety, land use and planning, public works, recreation, environmental, and tax collectors.
For more information, or to register for a course, visit the PA Local Government Training Partnership website.
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| Upcoming NACo Webinars
Registration is now open for the following NACo webinars:
- Stepping Up: Strategies to Measure Prevalence and Assess the Needs of Individuals with Mental Illnesses in Jails
June 11, 2015
2:00 - 3:15 p.m. - U.S. Supreme Court Decision: Health Insurance Marketplace Tax Credit Subsidies
July 30, 2015
2:00 - 3:15 p.m.
In addition to these webinars, there are recordings of webinars from the past six months on a range of topics. To access these recordings, or for additional details and registration information, please click here.
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Job Postings
As counties notify us of current vacancies we post them on our website and list them in the Update.
Additional information on each posting can be found by clicking on the name of the vacancy you are interested in. To submit a job posting, refer to the CCAP website. For additional information on submitting a job posting contact Mandi Glantz at mglantz@pacounties.org.
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| Upcoming Events
For a complete listing of upcoming events refer to the CCAP website.
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