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Grant Application - FY2025 Rural Operating Assistance Program Transportation Grant
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Theresa Torres, Human Services Agency, Transportation Director, 704-283-3598
ACTION REQUESTED:
1) Authorize the County Manager to submit the FY2025 Rural Operating Assistance Program application and complete all necessary assurances and certifications, including the FY 2025 Certified Statement, 2) upon award, authorize the County Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement substantially consistent with this agenda item, and 3) upon receipt of the award, recognize, receive, and appropriate funding to the Human Service Agency’s Transportation budget.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
None.
BACKGROUND:
The Human Services Agency Transportation Department seeks approval to complete an annual grant application for the Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP), a State-funded public transportation formula-based program administered by the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT-IMD). Union County expects to receive $287,100 in FY25 ROAP funding which will cover operating costs for the provision of trips meeting eligibility criteria in 1 of 3 funding categories:
• Elderly & Disabled Transportation Assistance Program funds (EDTAP),
• DOT Employment funds (EMPL), and
• Rural General Public funds (RGP).
ROAP funds cannot be used for administrative or capital expenses. The period of performance for these funds is July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, regardless of the date on which ROAP funds are disbursed to the County.
FY25 EDTAP funds of $123,936 must remain in the EDTAP program. However, EMPL funds of $54,568 and RGP funds of $108,596 can be transferred to any program. EDTAP, EMPL, and RGP funds may cover up to 100% of the fully allocated trip cost, with no local match required.
County governments are the only eligible applicants for ROAP funds, and the County Financial Officer is the DOT-mandated person responsible for overseeing the funding.
EDTAP participants must be either age 60+ or have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, per NC G.S. Article 2B, 136-44.27.
EMPL recipients must meet one of the following criteria: (1) DSS client who transitioned off Work First or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in the last 12 months; (2) Workforce Development Program participant; (3) Any resident who needs transportation to work, employment training or other related destinations whose work schedule and destination can be accommodated by the local transit system; (4) A child who requires transport to daycare in conjunction with an eligible parent’s trip to work.
RGP recipients must reside in a non-urbanized area of the County and need transport for any reason (E.g. medical appointment, educational opportunity, employment, personal business). Additionally, RGP recipients (1) must not qualify under a Human Service Agency to receive transportation or (2) their supporting Human Service Agency must have expended all transportation funding and no longer be able to fund trips.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
A total of $287,100 in ROAP funding, with no required local match, and is budgeted accordingly for FY2025.