NACo Resources for Counties

The Inflation Reduction Act offers counties the opportunity to pursue clean energy initiatives and reduce emissions through new competitive grant programs, local resiliency investments and clean energy tax credits. NACo’s Inflation Reduction Act implementation analysis explains tax credits, tracks Notice of Funding Opportunities, and provides resources on direct county investments
 

In order for to communicate directly with their Congressional members, NACo released a Cornyn/Padilla template letter for county leaders to urge members of Congress to pass the bipartisan State, Local, Tribal and Territorial, Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act (S. 3011/H.R. 5735). NACo’s template letter encourages counties to share how they’ve utilized ARPA funding to improve infrastructure, public health measures, and economic development.
 

County residents will soon be eligible for student loan relief the Department of Education will soon start accepting applications for $10,000 or $20,000 worth of student loan relief depending on the type of borrower.
 

Workforce challenges are top of mind for many county governments the U.S. Department of Education has implemented temporary changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program rules that make it easier for federal student loans borrowers to receive credit for past periods of repayment. Millions of government employees may now be eligible for loan forgiveness or additional credit toward forgiveness under these time-limited PSLF changes.
 

NACo recently published a legislative analysis summarizing the Enhanced Election Security and Protection Act and its impact on county election administrators
 

County health facilities are critical agents for infection and disease control and are playing a crucial role in testing, treating, and vaccinating residents against the monkeypox virus.  On August 2, President Biden announced that he was appointing Robert Fenton, Regional Administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as the White House National Monkeypox Response Coordinator.
 

NACo recently published a legislative analysis on the Sustaining Our Democracy Act, summarizing new  improve voting systems and funding for state and local governments election administrations and access to voting.
 

NACo is proud to have launched a toolkit to help counties spread the word about Operation Green Light for Veterans including a resolution template, sample press release, social media toolkit, and letter to Congress. 
 

The Federal Communications Commission established the Affordable Connectivity Program Outreach Grant Program, which will provide funds for eligible entities to conduct outreach in support of the Affordable Connectivity Program
 

New Treasury guidance that provides new flexibility for grantees for housing affordability when using ARPA funds
 

We know that the problems we face in high-speed internet connectivity are particularly acute in rural America. The Rural eConnectivity program offers grants and loans to provide funding for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. 
 

NACo hosted a webinar on August 24 to discuss how counties are using Recovery Funds to combat the housing shortage and reduce the number of Americans experiencing homelessness.
 

NACo’s interactive BIL funding table is constantly being updated with funding opportunities through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.