Mighty Municipalities

Topics:BLOA MFOCTA Recap – Elder Fraud Special Agent Mark McMahon Elder Fraud in 2025 (60+): $7.7B Top scams Investment ($3.5b) Tech Support ($1b) Romance ($500m) Report a Scam: ic3.gov  Website: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/common-frauds-and-scams/elder-fraud Brochure: https://www.ic3.gov/Outreach/Brochures/elder_fraud_tri-fold.pdf Free presentation to groups of 25+  Reach out to local FBI Office Speaker Request Form by office: https://forms.fbi.gov/speaker-request-forms  SC - [email protected] Grants2026-11-13 - DOJ/BJA — Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act Program (Amount not specified; Match not specified): Supports eligible public agencies investigating and prosecuting qualifying unsolved civil-rights-era crimes. Grants.gov first stage closes November 13; JustGrants closes November 20.2026-11-16 - FHWA — Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (Amount not specified per award; $80 million FY2026 authorization; Generally 20% nonfederal match): Local governments can fund planning, studies, construction, and road improvements to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity.2026-11-19 - USDA NRCS — Easement Restoration and Stewardship ($250,000–$5,000,000; No match required): Municipalities and other eligible entities may restore, maintain, monitor, or assess existing qualifying federal wetland and floodplain easements.2026-11-20 - DOJ/BJA — Justice Reinvestment Initiative (Up to $4,000,000; No match required): Municipal and other local governments can evaluate justice-system operations, reduce inefficient expenditures, and reinvest resources in evidence-based strategies to reduce crime and recidivism. Grants.gov first stage due November 20; JustGrants December 1.2026-11-23 - NC OSBM — Helene Local Government Capital Grant, Round 2 (Up to $5,737,500 per eligible recipient, subject to county caps and prior awards; Match not specified): Western North Carolina local governments may fund repairs, renovation, or replacement of Hurricane Helene-damaged infrastructure that is ineligible for FEMA Public Assistance.2026-11-24 - NC DEQ — State Energy Program Energy Efficiency Subgrant ($50,000–$200,000; Match not specified): North Carolina municipalities may improve the energy efficiency of public buildings through HVAC, lighting, envelope improvements, commissioning, and other qualifying energy upgrades.2026-12-01 - Community Foundation of Greenville — New Leaf Fund (Typically $20,000–$100,000; Match not specified): Invitation-only grants for municipalities and qualifying organizations pursuing land conservation, historic preservation, open-space protection, and cultural assets primarily in Greenville County and the Upstate.2026-12-01 - DOJ/OJP — Integrity in American Elections Grant Program (Up to $5,000,000; No match required): Eligible local governments and justice agencies may fund investigation and prosecution of qualifying voting and voter-registration offenses. Grants.gov first stage due December 1; JustGrants December 8.2026-12-02 - NFWF — Acres for America ($250,000–$1,000,000 expected; Minimum 1:1 match): Nationwide municipal land-conservation funding for permanent protection of significant wildlife habitat and public-access lands. Full proposals are invitation-only following the October 19 pre-proposal deadline.2026-12-02 - DOJ/BJA — Missing and Unidentified Human Remains Program (Amount not specified; Match not specified): Eligible municipalities and forensic agencies can improve investigation, forensic processing, transportation, and identification of missing persons and unidentified remains. Grants.gov first stage due December 2; JustGrants December 9.2026-12-09 - National Endowment for the Humanities — Landmarks of History and Culture and Summer Institutes (Up to $460,000; No match required): Eligible municipalities, museums, and cultural organizations can develop humanities education and professional development programs for teachers and faculty centered on history and cultural landmarks.2026-12-10 - SCPRT — Park and Recreation Development Fund (Allocation varies by recipient; 20% local match): December monthly application opportunity for eligible South Carolina local governments seeking public recreational facility construction, improvement, or renovation funding.2026-12-11 - EPA — Southeast New England Program Innovative Restoration Grants (Up to $1,000,000 for large-scale projects; No match required): Geographic opportunity for eligible local governments in southeast New England coastal watersheds pursuing innovative river, coastal, and watershed restoration projects. Not available for Carolina project locations.Find Us:Mark Partin is Chief of Staff for the City of Sumter (https://sumtersc,gov).  Subscribe and Find more of Mark's Local Government Leadership Thoughts at https://localleadershipinsights.substack.com/Karl McCollester spent 20 year in strategic technology consulting for small municipalities in the Carolinas and George.  He is the CEO of GovPossible.GovPossible (https://govpossible.com) is a Public Benefit Corporation that provides software to help small municipalities manage their operations including finance, budget, licensing, permitting, planning, codes enforcement, cemetery, meetings, and website. Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: EI8UMMFKSRDL6DCC

Topics:Join host Karl McCollester and co-host Mark Partin as they delve into the transformative power of public art, sharing how it can breathe life into communities, attract tourism, and foster local pride. Grants:Congratulations to the winners of the Duke Energy grants!: https://news.duke-energy.com/releases/duke-energy-foundation-investing-nearly-200-000-in-south-carolina-communities-to-support-main-street-revitalization-efforts  DOA Grants 2026-10-30 - U.S. DOJ/BJA — FY2026 Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative (Up to $2,637,041; No match required): Grants.gov due 2026-10-30; JustGrants due 2026-11-06. Priority for rural municipalities and their police departments pursuing targeted violent-crime reduction strategies, technology, analytics, training, personnel, and operational capabilities. 2026-10-30 - U.S. DOJ/BJA — FY2026 STOP School Violence Program (Up to $2,000,000; No match required): Grants.gov due 2026-10-30; JustGrants due 2026-11-06. Municipal governments and partners can fund school violence-prevention training, threat assessment/intervention teams, anonymous reporting systems, and eligible school-safety technology. 2026-11-02 - NC DEQ — Lead Service Line Replacement Rolling Funding Round (Amount not specified; Match not specified): Next consideration cutoff: 5:00 p.m. Municipal drinking-water utilities may seek low-interest loans, with principal forgiveness available to qualifying applicants, for lead-service-line identification and replacement. Applications are otherwise accepted on a rolling basis. 2026-11-05 - National Fish and Wildlife Foundation — 2027 Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative (Most awards $75,000–$200,000; Minimum 1:1 nonfederal match for the main program): Coastal municipalities can support shorebird habitat management, disturbance reduction, monitoring, and conservation at priority Atlantic/Gulf sites. Exception: a separate piping-plover project category specifies no match. Due 11:59 p.m. Eastern. 2026-11-16 - Federal Highway Administration — FY2026 Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (Amount not specified; Generally 20% nonfederal project-cost match, with statutory exceptions): Local governments may fund wildlife-vehicle collision hot-spot analysis, planning, research, crossings, and related safety infrastructure. FY2026 program funding is approximately $80 million, not a typical individual award amount. Grants.gov deadline 11:59 p.m. Eastern. 2026-11-19 - USDA NRCS — Easement Restoration and Stewardship ($250,000–$5,000,000; No match required): Cities, counties, and special districts may apply for cooperative agreements supporting restoration, stewardship, and assessments of existing wetland and floodplain conservation easements. Applications due 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Find Us:Mark Partin is Chief of Staff for the City of Sumter (https://sumtersc,gov).  Subscribe and Find more of Mark's Local Government Leadership Thoughts at https://localleadershipinsights.substack.com/Karl McCollester spent 20 year in strategic technology consulting for small municipalities in the Carolinas and George.  He is the CEO of GovPossible.GovPossible (https://govpossible.com) is a Public Benefit Corporation that provides software to help small municipalities manage their operations including finance, budget, licensing, permitting, planning, codes enforcement, cemetery, meetings, and website. 

Topics:In this episode of Mighty Municipalities, hosts Karl McCollester and Mark Partin discuss  artificial intelligence (AI) in small municipalities. They explore the implications of AI on local governance, particularly focusing on privacy concerns, the concept of shadow AI, and the importance of educating employees about responsible AI usage. The conversation also highlights practical applications of AI in municipal operations, such as crafting communications and analyzing ordinances, emphasizing the need for careful data handling and verification. In this conversation, Karl McCollester and Mark Partin discuss the integration of AI in municipal operations, emphasizing the importance of understanding AI's limitations, enhancing community engagement through improved graphics, and the necessity of implementing clear policies. They also explore the excitement surrounding AI and the need for careful implementation, alongside various grant opportunities available for municipalities to improve infrastructure and community services.Town of Pelzer Image: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DzR7QafW3/Chapters00:00 Introduction to Mighty Municipalities01:13 Exploring Public Art and AI in Municipalities04:18 Privacy Concerns in AI Usage12:17 Understanding Shadow AI and Employee Education15:18 Leveraging AI for Municipal Operations21:26 Comparative Analysis of Ordinances Using AI22:46 Understanding AI Limitations in Municipal Analysis27:55 Enhancing Community Engagement through AI Graphics31:34 Implementing AI Policies in Municipalities37:45 Navigating AI Excitement and Implementation Challenges38:36 Exploring Grant Opportunities for MunicipalitiesGrants2026-10-15 - U.S. EPA — Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development (Up to $7.8 million listed award ceiling; no match required; $10.8 million total program funding): EXTENDED DEADLINE (formerly October 5). Public works departments and qualified partners can develop drinking-water/wastewater apprenticeships, internships, school-to-work pathways, and regional operator-training partnerships. 2026-10-19 - National Fish and Wildlife Foundation — Acres for America, 2027 ($250,000–$1 million; at least 1:1 match, with higher leverage competitive): PRE-PROPOSAL deadline. Local governments may propose conservation land acquisitions or perpetual easements protecting important habitats, wildlife connectivity, and public access. Invited full proposals are due December 2. 2026-10-20 - AmeriCorps — Seniors RSVP, FY2027 (Amount not specified; match requirements vary by application and must be confirmed): Local governments and eligible organizations may sponsor structured volunteer programs for adults age 55+ addressing community needs such as elder support, disaster response, or family services. 2026-10-30 - DOJ/BJA — Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative (Up to $2,637,041 listed award ceiling; no match required): FIRST STAGE. Supports rural town, city, and county law-enforcement projects to prevent and reduce violent crime. Grants.gov submission due October 30; JustGrants final submission due November 6. 2026-11-05 - National Fish and Wildlife Foundation — Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative, 2027 (Most awards $75,000–$200,000; generally minimum 1:1 nonfederal cash/in-kind match): Coastal municipalities and partners may improve shorebird habitat, protect sensitive beach and marsh areas, reduce disturbance, and monitor priority species. A separately described piping-plover priority has different match rules. Find Us:Mark Partin is Chief of Staff for the City of Sumter (https://sumtersc,gov).  Subscribe and Find more of Mark's Local Government Leadership Thoughts at https://localleadershipinsights.substack.com/Karl McCollester spent 20 year in strategic technology consulting for small municipalities in the Carolinas and George.  He is the CEO of GovPossible.GovPossible (https://govpossible.com) is a Public Benefit Corporation that provides software to help small municipalities manage their operations including finance, budget, licensing, permitting, planning, codes enforcement, cemetery, meetings, and website. Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: 2C4QKL34VF2VDPJL

Mighty Municipalities: Workforce Development, Data Centers, and Grants for Small CommunitiesHow can small municipalities build a stronger local workforce—and make thoughtful decisions about major development proposals? In this episode of Mighty Municipalities, host Karl McCollester and co-host Mark Partin explore those questions through the lens of community events, workforce programs, data centers, and funding opportunities.The conversation begins with Sumter’s eSTEAM Festival, a community-wide effort connecting students with local employers, schools, government, and industry. Mark explains how the festival showcases both established careers and emerging technologies, helping young people see opportunities close to home. The hosts also discuss how municipalities can support workforce development beyond technical training, including the “soft skills” of self-leadership, punctuality, appropriate workplace conduct, and communication—and how communities can measure whether their efforts are making a difference.Next, Karl and Mark examine the debate over data centers. They discuss concerns around water use, power demand, land, and the actual economic benefits communities may receive. They also explain the role data centers play in everyday services, from grocery checkout systems and bus schedules to AI tools. Their practical advice for municipal leaders: gather evidence from nearby communities, weigh both benefits and costs, set clear limits and expectations, and involve residents early in the decision-making process.The episode closes with a roundup of grant opportunities for local governments, covering trails, flood mitigation, recreation facilities, juvenile justice, rural law enforcement, and school safety.For municipal leaders, economic development teams, and community partners, this episode offers practical ideas for strengthening local talent and approaching complex growth decisions with care.Find Us:Mark Partin is Chief of Staff for the City of Sumter (https://sumtersc,gov).  Subscribe and Find more of Mark's Local Government Leadership Thoughts at https://localleadershipinsights.substack.com/Karl McCollester spent 20 year in strategic technology consulting for small municipalities in the Carolinas and George.  He is the CEO of GovPossible.GovPossible (https://govpossible.com) is a Public Benefit Corporation that provides software to help small municipalities manage their operations including finance, budget, licensing, permitting, planning, codes enforcement, cemetery, meetings, and website. GrantsOct. 8 — ($50k-$1.2m) SCSC Recreational Trails Program SCPRT PR Local governments can fund trail construction, rehabilitation, trailheads and related infrastructure. Oct. 8 is the pre-application deadline; advancing applicants must attend an Oct. 14 or Nov. 4 workshop. SCPRTOct. 9 —(75/25 match, no specific amount criteria: Hilton head 3.82m project awardee) SCFEMA FMA Swift Current via SCDNR SCDNR Flood Mitigation page NFIP communities with an approved hazard-mitigation plan can pursue flood-risk-reduction work. South Carolina’s submission deadline to SCDNR is Oct. 9. SCDNROct. 9 —(no award amounts given, $300m total funding) Federal FHWA PROTECT Competitive Grants FHWA PROTECT program High-value transportation-resilience funding for flooding, extreme weather, evacuation routes, coastal infrastructure and resilient roads/transit. Local governments are eligible; the competition closes Oct. 9.Oct. 10 / Nov. 10 (80/20 match up to $100k)— SCSC Park & Recreation Development Fund (PARD) SCPRT PARD page Recurring small-town-friendly funding for new or renovated public recreation facilities. 80/20 match; applications due the 10th of each month. SCPRTOct. 29 / Nov. 5 — ($4m total grant pool) NEW DOJ batch Veterans Treatment Court, Juvenile Drug Treatment Court & Paul Coverdell Forensics All three were posted Sept. 21. Local governments/courts are eligible depending on program. Grants.gov submissions are due Oct. 29, with final JustGrants applications Nov. 5. OJJDPOct. 30 — (up to $2.5m) NEW / BJA Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative BJA program page New Sept. 21 posting and particularly relevant to rural municipalities and small-town police departments. Cities, towns and counties are eligibleOct. 30 — (950k-2.5m)] NEWBJA STOP School Violence / Adult Treatment CourtsAlso released Sept. 21. Municipal/public-safety partners may have projects appropriate for school violence prevention, threat assessment and treatment courts. Bureau of Justice AssistanceAdult Treatment Courts (ATCs) combine judicial supervision, substance use disorder treatment, mandatory and random drug testing, case management, sanctions and incentives, and recovery support services to improve participant outcomes and public safety.Oct. 8 — ($50k-$1.2m) SCSC Recreational Trails Program SCPRT PR Local governments can fund trail construction, rehabilitation, trailheads and related infrastructure. Oct. 8 is the pre-application deadline; advancing applicants must attend an Oct. 14 or Nov. 4 workshop. SCPRTOct. 9 —(75/25 match, no specific amount criteria: Hilton head 3.82m project awardee) SCFEMA FMA Swift Current via SCDNR SCDNR Flood Mitigation page NFIP communities with an approved hazard-mitigation plan can pursue flood-risk-reduction work. South Carolina’s submission deadline to SCDNR is Oct. 9. SCDNROct. 9 —(no award amounts given, $300m total funding) Federal FHWA PROTECT Competitive Grants FHWA PROTECT program High-value transportation-resilience funding for flooding, extreme weather, evacuation routes, coastal infrastructure and resilient roads/transit. Local governments are eligible; the competition closes Oct. 9.Oct. 10 / Nov. 10 (80/20 match up to $100k)— SCSC Park & Recreation Development Fund (PARD) SCPRT PARD page Recurring small-town-friendly funding for new or renovated public recreation facilities. 80/20 match; applications due the 10th of each month. SCPRT<...

Topics:  In a world where small municipalities struggle to maintain election integrity, a recent legislative shift may turn everything upside down. Join hosts Karl McCollesterand Mark Partin as they unravel the critical changes in South Carolina's election laws that could redefine how local governments operate. This episode is a must-listen for municipal leaders and engaged citizens eager to understand the implications of these new rules.  Karl and Mark dive deep into the new law that eliminates the need for an election commission in municipalities with populations under 10,000, shifting the responsibility to county election offices. They discuss the five permissible election dates that municipalities must adhere to and the potential consequences of not aligning with these changes. You’ll discover why it’s essential for each municipality to review their election ordinances now, ensuring clarity and alignment with the new regulations before they take effect in 2027.  You'll hear insights on how this shift could streamline election processes but also pose challenges, particularly for smaller counties already stretched thin. Karl raises important questions about the transition period and what it means for current and future council members. Mark adds his perspective on workforce development within local governments, highlighting the pressing need for a new generation of public servants to step up as veteran employees retire.  Ignoring these changes could lead to confusion, miscommunication, and potential disenfranchisement of voters. This episode not only equips you with knowledge about the new election laws but also urges you to consider the broader implications for local governance and community engagement.  Tune in for essential strategies to navigate this legislative landscape. Perfect for municipal leaders, community advocates, and anyone interested in the future of local governance, this episode is your guide to understanding and adapting to change. Don’t miss out on this crucial conversation!Find Us:Mark Partin is Chief of Staff for the City of Sumter (https://sumtersc,gov).  Subscribe and Find more of Mark's Local Government Leadership Thoughts at https://localleadershipinsights.substack.com/Karl McCollester spent 20 year in strategic technology consulting for small municipalities in the Carolinas and George.  He is the CEO of GovPossible.GovPossible (https://govpossible.com) is a Public Benefit Corporation that provides software to help small municipalities manage their operations including finance, budget, licensing, permitting, planning, codes enforcement, cemetery, meetings, and website.