Dear Friends, 

I hope my message finds you and your family healthy and well.

This month we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans who have inspired us and contributed so much to the state of North Carolina.

Please share our newsletter so your friends and family can stay up to date with the latest news, information, and resources relevant to the Cooper Administration. 

Stephanie Pigues 

Office of the Governor

On Monday, October 4, Governor Roy Cooper held a roundtable discussion to hear from health care and community leaders about the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Hispanic/Latinx communities and thank them for their dedication. The Governor also signed an Executive Order to extend the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs.

“This pandemic is shining a light on existing inequities in the Hispanic/Latinx community and having this Roundtable allows state government and me to hear first hand about the best ways to tackle these challenges,” said Governor Cooper. “We’re committed to addressing these disparities so we can build a healthier, more equitable future for all.”

BE IN THE KNOW

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have authorized and recommended "booster" vaccine shots. Boosters strengthen and extend protections against severe illness from COVID-19. There is ample supply of boosters across the state. 

For now, boosters are only for those that had the Pfizer vaccine. More information will be coming for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

You can get a booster if it has been at least 6 months since your second Pfizer shot, and one of the following is true: 

• You are 65 or older. 
• You are 18 and older and: 
• You live or work in a nursing home or other long-term care residential facility. 
• You have a medical condition that puts you at high risk for severe illness, for example obesity, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. 
• You work in a high-risk profession, meaning you come into contact with a lot of people, and you don’t know their vaccination status, for example, health care workers, first responders, teachers, food processing workers, retail and restaurant workers, and public transportation workers. 
• You live or work in a place where many people live together, for example, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, migrant farm housing, dormitories or other group living settings in colleges or universities. 

These are just examples and not meant to be a complete list—if you think you fall into one of these groups but aren’t sure, NCDHHS encourages you to speak with a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. People can self-attest that they are in one of these groups. Proof is not needed. 

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has now authorized the distribution of Pfizer COVID-19 boosters, which are available at most vaccine locations. 

To find a COVID-19 Pfizer booster visit MySpot.nc.gov, check “Pfizer-BioNTech (age 12+)” to search locations and ensure Pfizer is available.

Governor Cooper welcomed North Carolina’s 2021 Olympic and Paralympic athletes to the Executive Mansion on Tuesday, September 28, and congratulated them on their outstanding achievements. 

Governor, Legislative Leaders Reach Agreement on Major Energy Legislation

On October 1, Governor Roy Cooper, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, House Speaker Tim Moore, Senate Democratic Leader Dan Blue and House Democratic Leader Robert Reives have reached an agreement on key energy legislation. The bipartisan compromise is expected to move through the legislature this week. 

Governor Roy Cooper Proclaims October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month in North Carolina, kicking off a monthlong campaign by the N.C. Department of Information Technology to educate people about online threats.

“The pandemic is shining a bright light on how the internet helps us learn, work and get access to health care,” Governor Cooper said. “But the more we use it, the more cybercriminals find ways to disrupt our lives, so we must all take a role in security.”

With the theme of “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart,” Cybersecurity Awareness Month aims to shed light on these security vulnerabilities, while offering advice that anyone can take to protect themselves and their personal information.

HOPE Program serves more than 86,559 North Carolina households, ranks No. 2 nationwide

U.S. Treasury rankings highlight program's application process and fraud prevention

The N.C. Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) Program continues to rank No. 2 in the nation for number of households served and No. 6 for spending of federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program funding. The latest U.S. Department of the Treasury rankings, which reflect ERA program standings through Aug. 31, note the program has distributed more than $275.9 million or 53% of the first round of ERA funds since May. The HOPE Program, launched May 17, continues to accept applications for financial assistance with rent and utility payments.

“HOPE has helped more than 86,559 households with rent and utilities since May, and we have the funds to help many more,” said N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency Director Laura Hogshead. “If you have experienced a financial setback from COVID, please apply now to HOPE – don’t wait until you are facing an eviction notice.”

BE INVOLVED

U.S. Dept. of Energy Communities Local Energy Action Program Opportunity

Applications for this opportunity, which is open to communities, are due October 12

Request for Proposals for Community Vaccine Distribution Grants

We want to share an exciting opportunity for North Carolina community organizations that will increase equitable pandemic response in real-time. The Healthier Together: Health Equity Action Network, a public-private partnership between the NC Department of Health and Human Services and the NC Counts Coalition, is providing a second round of grant funding and is currently accepting Requests for Proposals (RFP) for Fall 2021.

Healthier Together’s primary mission is to “increase the number of individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and from other historically marginalized populations receiving COVID-19 vaccinations across the state of North Carolina.” They are currently seeking grant proposals from organizations committed to equitable vaccine distribution. Individual organization grants may range from $10,000 to $25,000. Multi-organization proposals will be considered up to $60,000. Up to $500,000 of total grant money for the program will be disbursed through February 28, 2022.

Requests for Proposals are due Wednesday, October 6^th at 11:59pm.

QUICK HELP LINKS

NC DHHS COVID GUIDANCE

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

VOLUNTEER NC

NC CARES GRANTS

NC STUDENT CONNECT

HUB OFFICE INFORMATION

NC DMV ASSISTANCE

NC GOV. OFFICE