Orange County NC Website
9 <br /> This project provides funding to expand broadband internet connections to rural and <br /> underserved parts of Orange County.The county has identified 4,234 addresses that are undeserved by <br /> broadband providers, with the vast majority in rural census tracts in the county.Additional updates are <br /> provided at the this link https://www.orangecountync.gov/2924/LumosARPA-Broadband-Project <br /> o FY 2020-21 Round 1: $5,000,000 <br /> o FY 2022-23 Round 1: $5,000,000 <br /> o Total Spent as of First Quarter FY 2023-24: $1,000,000 <br /> o U.S.Treasury Portal Status: Less than 50%complete <br /> Long Time Homeowner Assistance Program—Tax Administration and Housing and Community <br /> Development <br /> The project provides funding for a program to partially offset an increase on property taxes for <br /> income-eligible, long-time homeowners (must own and have lived on the property for at least 10 years) <br /> in Orange County following a revaluation of all property values during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds <br /> will also be used to create a communications and outreach strategy to share information about the <br /> program with County residents. Housing and Community Development Department staff will be <br /> primarily responsible for administering the LHA program—collecting applications and supporting <br /> documentation from applicants and verifying program eligibility for each applicant.The Orange County <br /> Housing Helpline will play a key role in assisting County residents with completing applications and <br /> compiling documentation.The Tax Department will provide some of the eligibility verification details to <br /> Housing and Community Development Department staff during application review. Once an application <br /> is approved for assistance, Housing and Community Development Department staff will coordinate with <br /> the Finance and Administrative Services Department and Tax Department to issue a credit towards the <br /> taxpayer's property tax bill. Orange County has provided assistance to 566 households through this <br /> program as of February 10, 2023. <br /> o FY 2021-22 Round 1: $250,000 <br /> o FY 2022-23 Round 1: $16,364 <br /> o Total Spent as of First Quarter FY 2023-24: $260,571 <br /> o U.S.Treasury Portal Status: More than 50%complete <br /> Youth Enhancement Fund—Department of Social Services <br /> This project provided additional funding to the youth enhancement fund to support enrichment <br /> programs for children living in low-income families. For several years,the Department of Social Services <br /> has paid the fees and other costs for children to participate in recreation,tutoring, and other social <br /> programs. Social Workers identify children who would benefit from these activities and work with <br /> numerous providers to secure slots for these services. Many of the children participate in camps or <br /> organized sports and benefit from the socialization, group membership or individualized attention they <br /> receive.The Department of Social Services (DSS) used the extra funds to serve more children, <br /> particularly given the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and youth. The Board of County <br /> 4 <br />