Michael Matthews
Legislative Director, Community, Economic & Workforce Development | Veterans and Military Services Committee
About Michael Matthews
Michael is the legislative director for community, economic and workforce development. In this role, Michael staffs NACo’s Community, Economic and Workforce Development Policy Steering Committee and works with county officials from across the country to set organizational priorities and policies for community, economic and workforce development issues that affect local governments. He also serves as the staff liaison to the NACo Veterans and Military Services Committee.
Prior to joining NACo, Michael worked for the Association for Career and Technical Education, Congressman Anthony G. Brown (D-Md.), and multiple political campaigns throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Salisbury University and a Master of Public Administration from Wilmington University.
House advances measure with resources for county veteran service officers
On November 18, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, on a bipartisan 389-9 vote, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (H.R. 8371), known as the Dole Act.
U.S. Department of the Treasury Issues Notice Regarding ERA Fraud Repayments
On October 4, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and Treasury’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) sent a joint notice to all grantees and subrecipients of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program stating that Treasury is requiring grantees to reimburse the agency or their own ERA programs for any ERA funds that were disbursed due to fraud or unallowable expenses – despite the fact that Treasury repeatedly and explicitly encouraged grantees to allow ERA applicants to “self-attest” to their eligibility for assistance without additional documentation.
Economic Development Reauthorization Act included in Senate NDAA “Manager’s Amendment”
On September 19, U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) filed a "manager's package" to be included into the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2025.
White House names county finalist for new Recompete Pilot Program funding
On August 5, U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), announced $184 million for six Recompete Pilot Program finalists. The Recompete Program, enacted as part of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, was created to provide renewed opportunity in economically distressed communities through good-paying, high-quality jobs and improve access to the workforce for Americans.