An Assessment of Local Governments Strategies and Shortfalls with Clean Water Management Trust Fund Grants in Six North Carolina Counties
Creators: name: Osland, Anna Christine
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2005

description: The Clean Water Management Trust Fund is a program created in 1996 by the North Carolina General Assembly to "clean up pollution in the state's surface waters and to protect and conserve those waters not yet polluted" (Annual Report 2003, p. 1). Currently the Clean Water Management Trust Fund offers grants for land acquisition or easements, septic and sewer repair, stream and wetland restoration, and stormwater control projects. The Clean Water Management Trust Fund provides grants to local governments, conservation non-profits, and state agencies. The local government designation includes city governments, county governments, municipal governments, sewer and water authorities, and small regional governments. Local governments receive almost 50 percent of the grants provided by the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and make up the group with the largest number of grants not completed or withdrawn. The goal of this project was to determine how to make local governments effective partners for the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and increase the efficiency of grant implementation. In order to reach the larger study goal, local governments in counties six counties were studied. The six counties chosen had the highest number of total grants and the highest percentage of grants to local governments through the end of the 2003B funding cycle. The counties selected for study include Montgomery, Lenoir, Robeson, Johnston, Nash and Pitt. Local governments in these six counties received 40 grants during the 1997-2003B funding cycles. The evaluation used a mixture of surveys, project case file reviews and short interviews to assess the grant implementation in each of these counties. The 40 grants to local governments in the six counties had 27 different grant manager contacts; several local governments had received more than one Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant. Each of the 27 contacts received a survey and all 40 project files were reviewed. Additionally, the evaluation included short interviews with grant managers in areas that received several grants and follow-up interviews with grantees who had provided unclear information. After completing the surveys, project file reviews and short interviews the evaluation found that local government grantees are successful at applying for grants, yet programmatic hurdles may prevent on-time grant completion. Additionally, consistent managers that stay through the life of the grant coupled with a great deal of community support and awareness for Clean Water Management Trust Fund grants contribute to local government success. However, while most local governments applied with matching funding, several grantees cited the need for additional funds to complete the grant. Finally, the lack of a consistent progress report to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund by all grantees hindered understanding of the factors that effect all local governments as they progress throughout the grant implementation process. Finally, the assessment was completed by comparing Clean Water Management Trust Fund with programs in North Carolina and in other states. This final aspect illustrated three factors contribute to local government success in other area. These factors include the following: (1) a more detailed progress reports that include timelines and progress along the timeline, (2) workshops for local governments run by previous grant recipients or staff specifically assigned to local governments, and (3) community involvement in all grants.