Towns Secure Funding for Safer Streets with Help from MAS Grant-Writing Program

Seven towns across North Carolina are set to improve their streets after participating in the NCLM’s Municipal Accounting Services (MAS) grant-writing program and receiving grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) initiative. Farmville, Hope Mills, Huntersville, Kings Mountain, McAdenville, Marvin, and Winterville were each awarded grants ranging from $57,000 to $240,000. 

The SS4A program provides funding for the planning and development of safer streets in our communities with a goal of stopping preventable deaths on our nation’s roadways. This latest round of funding, set to distribute over $1 billion in grants nationwide, is allocating approximately $5.5 million to entities within North Carolina. Notably, $758,400 of those awarded funds resulted from the assistance of the MAS grant-writing program. 

In collaboration with Witt O’Brien’s grant management team, the League has supported towns throughout the state by guiding them in the preparation and submission of successful grant applications. This partnership ensures that local governments have the expertise and resources needed to secure critical funding for their infrastructure projects.  

For Hope Mills in Cumberland County, the SS4A grant of $96,000 will be used to develop a new Comprehensive Safety Action Plan that will help jumpstart making significant improvements to several of the town’s streets. Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin emphasized the importance of the MAS grant-writing program as it has opened funding opportunities that would have otherwise been out of reach.  

“Our experience has been nothing short of remarkable simply because this program allows us to go after ... funding in a way that we were not aware of,” McLaughlin said. “[It] puts us in a situation where we have a stronger platform to meet the needs of our residents. That is the power of this, because we are now being put in a position to better serve the public in a way that does not kill the general fund.” 

McLaughlin shared how the program has put the town in a much better position to be successful in their grant submissions and desires for Hope Mills to be an example to state leaders by showing the efficacy of this program, and to other towns who may benefit from similar assistance. 

Chancer McLaughlin, Hope Mills Town Manager

"I am sincerely hoping that our success is a message to the state [legislature] that this program does work and that we are looking for more programs like this," McLaughlin said. “People are benefiting from these grants and I want [others] to know what we are doing with these grants so that they can benefit as well.” 

The League’s MAS program was established with funds from the American Rescue Plan and goes beyond grant-writing. It also offers a range of services, including financial software conversion, accounting mentorship, legal assistance, cybersecurity analysis, and communications consulting. This comprehensive support reflects the League’s ongoing commitment to helping North Carolina’s municipalities improve the quality of life for residents.  

SS4A Grants Awarded from MAS program:

  • Farmville: $100,000 
  • Hope Mills: $96,000  
  • Huntersville: $240,000  
  • Kings Mountain: $140,000 
  • Marvin: $57,600  
  • McAdenville: $48,000  
  • Winterville: $76,800  

In total, towns that have participated in the MAS grant-writing program have been awarded $2,003,163.59 in grants.

About the author

Stephanie Hughes

Communications & Multimedia Strategist - ARP

Supports the League’s communication strategies as to improving awareness of the American Rescue Plan.