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Kilgore, TX 75662
CARES Act Guidelines Require 75% of Funds to be Allocated Toward Public Health
East Texas Council of Governments • Oct 13, 2020
Through the Coronavirus Relief Fund, the CARES Act provides financial assistance for state and local municipalities to navigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the U.S. Treasury have outlined what the CRF can be used for. Below is a consolidated and summarized version of their guidance and some examples and recommendations on how the funds can be used.
The CARES Act requires that funds only be used to cover expenses that
- are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19
- were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020
- were not incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020, and ends on December 30, 2020
75% of those funds must be spent in one of the following 3 areas
- Medical expenses such as
- COVID-19 related expenses of public hospitals, clinics, and similar facilities.
- Expenses of establishing temporary public medical facilities and other measures to increase COVID-19 treatment capacity, including related construction costs.
- Costs of providing COVID-19 testing, including serological testing.
- Emergency medical response expenses, including emergency medical transportation, related to COVID-19.
- Expenses for establishing and operating public telemedicine capabilities for COVID-19 related treatment.
- Public health expenses such as
- Expenses for communication and enforcement by State, territorial, local, and Tribal governments of public health orders related to COVID-19.
- Expenses for acquisition and distribution of medical and protective supplies, including sanitizing products and personal protective equipment, for medical personnel, police officers, social workers, child protection services, and child welfare officers, direct service providers for older adults and individuals with disabilities in community settings, and other public health or safety workers in connection with the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- Expenses for disinfection of public areas and other facilities, e.g., nursing homes, in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- Expenses for technical assistance to local authorities or other entities to mitigate COVID-19-related threats to public health and safety.
- Expenses for public safety measures undertaken in response to COVID-19.
- Expenses for quarantining individuals.
- Payroll expenses for public safety, public health, health care, human service, and similar employees whose services are affected by COVID-19.
Our Regional Disaster Recovery Coordinator has outlined ideas for municipalities to consider when distributing funds.
- Funds may be used to pay employees' salaries and benefits if those employees are in public safety/public health.
- Funds may be used to increase solid waste capacity due to the increase in PPE waste.
- Funds may be used to help a manufacturer re-tool to produce PPE.
- Funds may be transferred to another unit of government, such as a school district, to help them deal with the public health emergency to purchase PPE and other supplies for student and staff.
- Use funds to establish telemedicine services for employees and/or citizens, especially for COVID-19 related treatments.
- Replacement, repairs, or retrofit of emergency medical vehicles for reliable use and safe transportation of individuals who may have COVID-19.
- Purchase of additional office supplies to allow for each employee to have their own. This will further prevent the spread of COVID-19 through shared-use office supplies.
Contact Our Regional Disaster Economic Recovery Coordinator, Daniel Seguin, at (903) 218-6471.
We are delighted to share that our Executive Director, David Cleveland, has been appointed to the prestigious board of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). David is one of 17 new members appointed for 2024 -2026, marking a significant recognition of his leadership and expertise in regional community and economic development.
Texas first responders are gearing up for a communication training that will address communications interoperability during emergencies. Coordinated by the East Texas Council of Governments and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Division of Emergency Management, this workshop marks a collaborative effort to bolster emergency communication systems and emphasize the importance of seamless communications in crisis situations. Over three days, from May 17th to May 19th, participants from various sectors will engage in radio communication tests, workshops on technological advancements, and discussion on the future of emergency communications. The exercise will kick off at the Tyler Junior College West Campus before transitioning to operational platforms for real-world testing. Interested participants are encouraged to register for the event at www.preparingtexas.org and search for “Regional Communications” in the main search bar to join the collective effort to enhance public safety communication across Texas and the East Texas region.
ETCOG will host a Hiring Event on Tuesday, May 14th, for part-time and PRN (as-needed) GoBus Operator positions.
ETCOG will hold its next Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, May 9, beginning at noon. The agenda will incorporate a Public Hearing to discuss and determine the Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) Program Regional Project Priority types. As part of the standard program process, each of the 24 regions in the State is encouraged to determine the regional project priority types for the program. During the Public Hearing, all stakeholders can discuss and provide input on what these CDBG Regional Project Priority types should be for the East Texas Region with the ETCOG Executive Committee. The meeting will include a public comment period. ETCOG invites anyone with input on the TxCDBG program to submit oral or written testimony in person or submit written comments directly to PublicComments@etcog.org by 11:00 a.m. on May 9, 2024. ETCOG will submit the adopted priority project types for the East Texas Region to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), which administers TxCDBG, by May 15, 2024. TDA will use these project types to score grant applications in the 2025-2026 funding cycle.
ETCOG honored regional citizens who exemplify excellence in performance, innovation, and contributions to the community at its 105th Semi-Annual Board of Directors Meeting last week at the Jeffersonian Institute in Jefferson, Texas. The meeting was led by ETCOG’s Board Chairman, Harrison County Commissioner William Hatfield, which included celebrating seven regional award winners at the ceremony.
The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) announces $93,500 in grants from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) awarded to East Texas jurisdictions, special districts, and regional initiatives to support waste minimization efforts in ETCOG's fourteen-county region. This funding assists jurisdictions in establishing or expanding projects that would directly provide a measurable effect on reducing the amount of waste going into area landfills by diverting various materials from the municipal solid waste stream for beneficial use or reducing waste generation at the source. Applicants were eligible to apply for the following Municipal Solid Waste Grant Project Categories: 1) Local Enforcement, 2) Litter and Illegal Dumping Clean Up and Community Collection Events, 3) Source Reduction and Recycling, 4) Local Solid Waste Management Plans, 5) Citizens' Collection Stations and "Small" Registered Transfer Stations, 6) Household Hazardous Waste Management, 7) Technical Studies, 8) Educational and Training Projects. ETCOG annually helps jurisdictions apply for funds, which are then ranked and scored by our Solid Waste Advisory Committee. This committee is made up of local subject matter experts from the region. After the ETCOG Executive Committee approves the projects, we recommend them to TCEQ. The following grants in East Texas have been approved for funding by TCEQ. "ETCOG appreciates the efforts of many of our jurisdictions to apply for these funds, as well as the Solid Waste Advisory Committee’s commitment to making East Texas a cleaner place to live," said ETCOG's Economic Development Manager, Parker Harrison. “These essential projects led to the cleanup of hundreds of sites, almost 5,000 tires, and the collection of nearly a million pounds of solid waste last year. We look forward to seeing the results this year’s projects will bring to the region.”
The solar eclipse is fast approaching, so get ready to experience this rare event where the moon covers the sun, creating a breathtaking sight. ETCOG Regional Technology Solutions (RTS) has played an important role in enhancing your experience by determining if you are within the path of totality. The solar eclipse, marked by the alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth, resulting in the temporary obscuration of the sun's light. During this occurrence, the moon casts a shadow on Earth, offering observers a unique glimpse of the sun's corona and a twilight during daylight hours. Remarkably, half of ETCOG's 14-county region finds itself within the path of totality, positioning East Texas as a prime location for eclipse enthusiasts. This event on Monday, April 8 marks the first total eclipse visible to East Texas since 1878. To make sure you make the most of this rare occurrence, RTS has built an eclipse map that allows you to pinpoint your location within the path of totality. You can access the map to view your location by visiting go.etcog.org/2024eclipse . Beyond the eclipse map, RTS specialized in the creation of interactive solutions, ranging from customized apps to digital maps, and prints. These services are offered to city, county, and partners, showcasing ETCOG's commitment to solving local solutions and a low cost. For more local information → www.visittyler.com/solar-eclipse
The East Texas Council of Governments' rural transit system, GoBus , is proud to be a recipient of the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) annual AdWheel awards, which recognize excellence in marketing and outreach efforts by transit providers nationwide. The APTA AdWheel Awards fosters creativity and innovation within the public transportation industry, highlighting best marketing practices that contribute to the betterment of public transportation. The selection process involves evaluations by industry experts for creativity, impact, community engagement, and overall effectiveness. “I am proud of our Communications, Human Resources, and Transportation teams for collaborating effectively to address an ongoing staffing need within our agency. To receive national recognition for these efforts means a lot to me and all of us here at ETCOG!” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. ETCOG received the award in the Special Event subcategory for the Best Marketing and Communications on Workforce Development. The award acknowledges team effort in hosting a one-day hiring fair dedicated to GoBus Operator positions. The event featured comprehensive activities, including on-site interviews, video highlights, and bus tours, providing prospective candidates with a glimpse of transit operations and a seamless hiring process for human resources. This recognition celebrates our commitment to workforce development and highlights the success of ETCOG’s strategic marketing and communication initiatives in attracting top talent. "We are honored to receive this prestigious APTA award,” said ETCOG Communications Director Lindsay Vanderbilt.” This recognition is a reflection of the dedication and creativity of our team and the collaboration across our agency to solve transportation hiring challenges.” A member of the ETCOG communications team joined other award recipients and marketing experts to share details on their award-winning campaigns and projects at the APTA Marketing Workshop held February 12-14, 2043, in New Orleans, Louisiana. APTA is a nonprofit international association of over 1,500 public and private sector member organizations and is the only association in North America that represents all modes of public transportation, including bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne services, and intercity and high-speed passenger rail.
ETCOG is excited to announce the collaboration with Carson Consulting, spearheaded by Cecile Carson, Ph.D., to develop a comprehensive Local Enforcement Environmental Crimes Toolkit. With over three decades of experience in partnering with local, state, and national organizations, Dr. Carson brings a wealth of expertise in creating litter and illegal dumping kits, training materials, and researching effective litter law enforcement practices. The primary goal of this toolkit is to equip local jurisdictions with the necessary tools and resources to empower enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and government decision-makers. The initiative, set for completion by August 16, 2024, aims to enhance environmental enforcement, foster collaboration with relevant entities, and provide guidance in reducing environmental offenses and illegal dumping. Key features of the toolkit include: Enforcement and Prosecution Section: Offering tools and resources for effective enforcement and prosecution of environmental crimes. Building Collaboration: Providing guidance on fostering stakeholder collaboration to achieve shared environmental goals. Public Education: Equipping users with resources to educate the public on the importance of environmental protection and legal compliance. We encourage our members to anticipate the forthcoming resources. Dr. Carson will initiate outreach to local enforcement officers in the coming weeks. For those with questions or want to learn more about this project, contact our Economic Development Specialist, Lisa Smith, at 903-218-6467 or lisa.smith@etcog.org . This project is funded in part by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and approved by the ETCOG Solid Waste Advisory Committee.