Local Governments and 2020 Census Data: What to Expect, How to Prepare

Posted on May 4, 2021 by Kerr Tar COG Staff

On May 26 from 1:00-3:00 pm, the NC Office of State Budget and Management is hosting a free, virtual event on the topic of Local Governments and 2020 Census Data: What to Expect, How to Prepare. We know how vital Census data is to our tribal and local governments. And we also know the 2020 Census ushered in numerous policy changes and unexpected challenges. Now that the first Census 2020 data has been released, we want to help local leaders in North Carolina understand what to expect from the coming data releases and what recourse is available to them if they have concerns about their local data.

The event features 3 speakers from the Census Bureau, addressing these issues and more. Feel free to share this information with your network and encourage them to register. To register for the event, click HERE.

I-85 Welcome Center, Rest Area near Virginia State Line Closed for Renovations

Posted on April 14, 2021 by Kerr Tar COG Staff

Facilities to reopen in time for July 4 holiday travel

The N.C. Department of Transportation has closed a pair of facilities along Interstate 85 near the Virginia State Line for renovations. The Welcome Center on I-85 South in Warren County and the rest area on I-85 North in Granville County closed today for renovations that are expected to take up to 12 weeks to complete. The department plans to reopen the facilities in time to accommodate travelers for the July 4 holiday weekend. NCDOT operates 58 rest areas along interstate and primary highways throughout the state and nine Welcome Centers.

Warren County Intersection Converts to All-Way Stop

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Kerr Tar COG Staff

The N.C. Department of Transportation will install new signs tomorrow to require traffic to stop on all four sides of a Warren County intersection.

Crash analytics led NCDOT engineers to pursue a safer configuration at the junction of U.S. 158 and Warren Plains Road just north of Warrenton. Currently, only Warren Plains Road traffic has stop signs at the intersection. At 10 a.m. tomorrow, crews will begin adding stop signs, stop ahead warning signs and pavement markings in both directions of U.S. 158.

These improvements are being made through NCDOT’s SPOT Safety Program, which identifies safety projects that are expected to be the most beneficial and feasible and address departmental goals.

Drivers should slow down, obey workers controlling traffic and proceed through the intersection with caution during its reconfiguration. The work should be complete by 2 p.m., weather permitting.

Converting intersections into all-way stops has been shown to reduce fatalities and injuries by 77%.

People can visit the department’s all-way stop webpage to learn more information, including what to do when encountering one.

Request for Letter of Intent to Bid: One-Stop Operator

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Kerr Tar COG Staff

The Kerr-Tar Workforce Development Board (Kerr-Tar WDB) is currently accepting Letters of Intent to Bid from entities to serve as One-Stop Operators for the local certified NCWorks Career Centers services which cover Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren counties. There are three certified Career Centers in the region in Granville, Vance and Warren Counties. The one-stop operator will also be responsible for coordinating services at access points in the other two counties in the region.

Purpose: The Kerr-Tar WDB is seeking Request for Proposals for the purpose of selecting organizations with the capacity and expertise to design, administer and implement an innovative and compliant system of one-stop workforce development services for the benefit of business and job seeker customers as designated One-Stop Career Center Operators.

Timeline: The Kerr-Tar WDB will release this request for Letters of Intent (LOIs) on April 1, 2021. The deadline for submission of LOIs is 12:00 PM EST on April 9, 2021. The initial period for performance is July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Funding available shall not exceed $25,000 per center for annual contract. A fully-executed contract must be in place within the first 30 days of the new program year with the successful respondent.

Organization Qualifications: Who may be a One-Stop Career Center Operator? Eligible entities include [WIOA Section 121(d) (2) (B)]:

A public, private, or non-profit entity, or
A consortium of entities that must include at least three (3) or more required one-stop partners located in the local area

It CAN be:

An institution of higher education
An employment service State agency established under the Wagner-Peyser Act [29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.] on behalf of the local office of the agency
A community-based organization, nonprofit organization, or intermediary
A private for profit entity
A government agency
Another interested organization or entity, which may include a local chamber of commerce or other business organization, or a labor organization

It CANNOT be:

An elementary or secondary school, or
Staff of the local workforce development board

LOI Guidelines and Requirements: Interested agencies shall complete, sign and return their Letter of Intent (see Attachment A for suggested format). The LOI will be considered complete when the following areas are addressed:

The type of organization intended to bid;
The identification of the county and program/opportunity that the entity is responding to;
The location of the agency intending to bid;
An acknowledgement that the period of performance begins on July 1, 2021 and must be completed by June 30, 2022;
The LOI is signed by the authorized signatory for the agency;
The completed and signed LOI is received by the Kerr-Tar Workforce Development Board by the required time/date.

Contact Information: Completed Letters of Intent may be emailed to info@kerrtarcog.org

Please note the attached MEMO with detailed information regarding this process. Please contact Lou Grillo, lgrillo@kerrtarcog.org, or Diane Cox, dcox@kerrtarcog.org, with any questions.

Memo
Sample/Template