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SEPTEMBER
2018 NEWSLETTER
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The
Annual Banquet will be Thursday, September 27, 2018 @ 6:30 PM
Penn's
Bar & Grill
913
Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue
Oxford,
NC 27565
I-85
Exit 204
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Three
Local Airports Receive Funding
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The N.C. Board of
Transportation has approved state and federal funds for
much-needed improvements to 27 North Carolina airports; three of
which are in the region. The $24.7 million in funding,
approved by the board during its July meeting, will be used to
provide improvements such as better runway lighting, new fuel
tanks and safer taxiways. North Carolina airports serve as a
vital economic engine connecting people and business enterprises
with the world. They are among the primary economic drivers in
their local communities.
The local projects the
N.C. Board of Transportation approved include:
· $2,484,000 for rehabilitation of the runway
pavement at Henderson-Oxford Airport.
· $513,000 to remove Runway 6 obstructions at Person
County Airport.
· $1,521,000 to rehabilitate airfield lighting at
Triangle North Executive Airport (Louisburg).
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New
Reports Released from the National Association of Area Agencies
on Aging
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Two new reports have
been released from the National Association of Area Agencies on
Aging that show how Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are responding
to shifting demographics and challenges in their communities. The
first article, Housing and
Homelessness: Services and Partnerships to Address a Growing
Issue, explores
how Area Agencies on Aging are addressing the difficulties that
older adults are experiencing as they try to find housing that is
safe, affordable, and meets their needs.
The second report, Rural AAAs Structure
and Services Information & Planning Issue Brief, focuses on the structure and programs offered by
AAAs that serve rural geographic areas and the unique challenges
they face in meeting the needs of older adults in their regions.
This report is based on data from the National Survey of Area
Agencies on Aging: 2017 Report.
For more information
on the Kerr-Tar Area Agency on Aging and the work they are doing
in our region, visit our website.
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Rural
Center's Rural Counts Program Coming to Henderson on September
25
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From its very
beginning, the Rural Counts advocacy program has been committed
to taking its lead from the wisdom of local champions and Rural
Center partners.
After collaboratively
developing our 10 strategies agenda in 2016, we spent a year on
the road hosting listening sessions and visiting with leaders
from each of the 80 counties we serve. Those conversations helped
us articulate the top economic development priorities facing
rural North Carolina: broadband, health, and small business
development.
Now, it’s time to put
meat on the bones of those issues and find solutions that will
work for our entire state.
We hope you will join
us for (at least) one of seven Zero Barriers Regional
Policy Roundtables this fall. These day-long sessions
will feature in-depth discussions about each of our three top
policy issues. We will present suggestions of policies that may
make a difference, and then we want your feedback on what is
good, what is bad, and what is missing. We will use your
feedback to shape specific policy recommendations for the NC
General Assembly to consider when it convenes for the 2019
session next January.
A roundtable is
scheduled for Tuesday, September 25, in Henderson at Perry
Memorial Library. We hope you will join us for part or all of the
day!
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Congratulations to the
Kerr-Tar Workforce Development Board for being awarded a 2018
NADO Innovation Award for the Pathways to Prosperity
Project. We are so proud of the Workforce Development
Team. The complete list of award winners is available
by clicking here.
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PLANNING
& ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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Upcoming 2018 KTRPO Meeting Schedule:
(Meetings are held from 3-5pm in the Kerr-Tar COG
Offices, 1724 Graham Avenue, Henderson, NC 27536)
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Thursday March 8, 2018 MEETING CANCELED
Thursday May 24, 2018
Thursday June 28, 2018
Thursday October 25, 2018
(Please note that additional meetings may need to
be scheduled to accommodate NCDOT deadlines)
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The next KTRPO P 5.0 Subcommittee, we meet prior
to the full TAC.TCC meeting. Both meetings will occur in late
September/early October. Members of the Committees will
receive more information as the meeting dates approach.
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The N.C.
Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program kicks
off its Fall Litter Sweep on Sept. 15, and will run through
Sept. 29. Volunteers are provided cleanup supplies such as
orange trash bags (reversible to blue for recyclables),
gloves and orange safety vests from local NCDOT county
maintenance offices. Last year’s fall litter sweep removed
76,995 pounds of litter from roads and highways. Volunteers
from local businesses, schools, non-profits and community
groups work alongside NCDOT to help keep North Carolina’s
roadways clean throughout the year. Groups are encouraged to
participate in the biannual litter sweeps in the spring and
fall, helping to increase cleanup and encourage the community
to be good stewards of the environment. Click here for more information.
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The COG is the
grantee of the Visit NC Farms Mobile App Project through the
NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This
mobile app, will assist with promoting agritourism throughout
the region. To highlight the benefits of this app, the COG
hosted two Interest meetings among members of the farming and
agritourism communities.
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Lord Granville Agricultural Heritage Association’s
12th Annual Harvest Show
Help Support our Scholarship Program
October 5, 2018 Noon – 5:00 pm
October 6, 2018 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
October 7, 2018 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Corner of 12th and G streets, Butner, NC
Daily admission $5.00
Three Day admission $8.00
Children under 12 free
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State
submits Volkswagen Settlement Phase 1 Plan
Raleigh, NC – North Carolina has submitted its
plan for the state’s $92 million share of a national
settlement with Volkswagen for unlawfully cheating on vehicle
emissions. The Volkswagen Mitigation Plan details how the
state will invest the first 33% of the funds in Phase 1 on
projects to significantly reduce NOx emissions and improve
air quality.
At the direction of Governor Roy Cooper, the
Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality
(DAQ) worked with stakeholders and people across the state to
shape the proposed plan for Phase 1. Based on public
feedback, there was overwhelming support for replacing school
buses with new, more efficient models.
“Putting cleaner school buses on the road is a
smart way to cut harmful pollution and improve air quality,”
Gov. Cooper said. “North Carolina has a plan to invest these
funds so kids get new buses to ride to school as well as
cleaner air to breathe for years to come.”
The Phase 1 plan includes:
• 40% (approx. $12.2 million) to be spent on
school bus replacements
• 20% (approx. $6 million) designated for
transit bus replacements
• 10% for heavy-duty on-road equipment
replacement projects
• 10% for heavy-duty off-road equipment
replacement projects.
Phase 1 funding will focus on public sector
needs. Eligible projects can be submitted by local, state and
tribal government organizations, public or private nonprofit
organizations, and public/private partnerships where the lead
applicant represents a public sector or a public or private
non-profit.
Based on feedback from the public, North
Carolina will also allocate the maximum allowance of 15% of
the funds toward zero emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure
projects. Public and private sector projects will be eligible
for the approximately $4.6 million available in Phase 1.
Once the plan is accepted by the trustee of the
Volkswagen Mitigation Fund, the Division of Air Quality will
put out a request for proposals. At that point, eligible
organizations can submit their projects with selections
scheduled for Spring/Summer of 2019. Beginning in Fall of
2019, DAQ will provide opportunities for public involvement
on the draft plan for Phase 2.
For a copy of the plan, and more information
about the Volkswagen Settlement, visit https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/motor-vehicles-and-air-quality/volkswagen-settlement.
If you would like to receive email updates about
this topic, please send an email with the word ‘Subscribe’ in
the subject line to daq.NC_VWGrants@ncdenr.gov.
You can find additional information regarding
the VW Settlement on our web page.
https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/motor-vehicles-and-air-quality/volkswagen-settlement/volkswagen
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The Mobility Manager is pleased to announce the
Elderly and Disabled Individuals Transportation program resumed
on August 27, 2018. This service is provided under The 5310
Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Program, a
N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) grant funded program
which is administered by the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of
Governments and is available to our region’s residents. The
service is designed to provide our elderly and disabled citizens
increased access to transportation for their medical
needs. This program shall provide medical
transportation for those individuals for which transportation services
are unavailable, insufficient or inappropriate.
Sharon Thomas, Mobility Manager will be attending
the NCDOT’s Public Transportation Division (PTD) Fall 2018
Conference in Chapel Hill later this month.
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The North Carolina Association of Rural Planning
Organizations held their quarterly meeting July 26-27th at the Blue
Ridge Electric Membership Office in Boone. Topics discussed
included NCDOT updates, autonomous vehicles, transportation
funding, and multi-modal issues. An additional meeting was held
in West Jefferson on July 25th to discuss
the role of Corridor Development Engineers for each district and
how they can coordinate and assist RPO staff. KTRPO Regional
Planner Stephanie Harmon has volunteered to serve on the newly
formed P6 Subcommittee: Assessing Measures of Transportation
Disadvantage for Public Transportation. This subcommittee will
provide feedback for a research project sponsored by NCDOT at NC
State University. The goal of this research project is to provide
more effective ways of representing the transportation
disadvantaged population in transit project scoring during the P6
round of STIP project selection.
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Governor Roy Cooper in June signed into law the
Build NC Bond Act of 2018, a new financing tool to help expedite
critical highway projects.
“For families trying to get to work and school
faster, for farmers and business owners seeking to get their
goods to customers, and for CEOs looking to grow in North
Carolina, transportation is essential,” Gov. Cooper said.
"Build NC is a bipartisan effort that pulled Republicans and
Democrats together to help deliver critical transportation
projects to communities more quickly, helping North Carolina
attract opportunities and stay competitive."
Under Gov. Cooper’s direction, the N.C. Department
of Transportation has accelerated 350 highway projects and made
room for an additional 144 projects in the current 2018-2027
transportation plan. NCDOT pushed for Build NC as an added tool
to expedite more infrastructure projects for quicker delivery.
“Transportation is the backbone of our state’s
economic competitiveness and our quality of life,” said
Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon. “Build NC is a tool that
will allow us to continue strong project delivery.”
Build NC will only be used if NCDOT is able to
maintain its strong project delivery pace, which increases
expenditures and decreases its cash balance. If that balance
reaches a certain level, the department can ask the state
treasurer to issue up to $300 million in bonds annually over the
next 10 years to maintain project delivery at current levels.
Build NC bonds will be applied to projects
consistent with the Strategic Transportation Investments Law that
requires projects be selected through a data-driven scoring process.
These are projects in the regional and division tiers.
Repayment of any bonds sold will come from within
the state Highway Trust Fund.
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Virtual
Dementia Tour
The AAA conducts the Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT)
within the following counties: Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance
and Warren. The VDT is a ground-breaking, evidence based and
scientifically proven method of building a greater understanding
of dementia through the use of patented sensory tools and
instruction based on research conducted by P.K. Beville, a
specialist in geriatrics and the founder of Second Wind Dreams.
The goal of this program is to provide needed knowledge about
dementia so we can provide better person-centered care and
attention for those living with the disease. If you are
interested in having this unique program conducted at your
facility or organization, please contact Family Caregiver
Specialist, Harvey Holmes, at (252) 436-2040 or hholmes@kerrtarcog.org
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Caregiver
Support Groups
Within our Region,
caregiver support groups are offered monthly in the following
counties: Warren, Granville, Person and Franklin. If you are a
caregiver, or know someone who is, we highly recommend attending!
Our caregiver support groups offer information, assistance,
guidance, and support! The following times for the meeting are
listed below:
Franklin County Caregiver Support Group
Louisburg Senior Center
2nd Monday @ 7:00 P.M
(919) 496-1131
Warren County Caregiver Support Group
Warren County Senior Center
2nd Tuesday @ 3:00 P.M
(252) 257-3111
Granville County Caregiver Support Group
Granville Primary Care Education Classroom
1st Wednesday @ 12:00 P.M
(919) 690-3273
Person County Caregiver Support Group
Person County Senior Center
4th Tuesday @ 6:00 P.M
(336) 599-7484
Person County Caregiver Support Group
Cambridge Hills
2nd Tuesday @ 6:30 P.M
(336) 599-7484
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Governor Roy Cooper visited Piedmont Community
College (PCC) in Person County to promote a new $7 million grant
program for community college students across the state. The
Finish Line Grants program, will assist students who face
unforeseen financial emergencies complete their education during
the 2018-2019 academic year. For many students across North
Carolina, not being able to finish your degree of certification
that they have been working so hard to achieve is a reality. As
part of the program, recipients will receive a maximum of $1,000
per semester to help pay for course materials, housing, medical
needs, dependent care, or other financial emergencies students
may face. In order to qualify, student must be in good academic
standing and have completed 75% of their degree or certification
to apply for the Finish Line Grant. More information is available
at:
http://www.nccommerce.com/workforce/workforce-professionals/finish-line-grants
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Below: Gov. Roy Cooper, center, talks with Beth
Townsend during Cooper’s visit to PCC. Walking beside Gov. Cooper
is North Carolina Sen. Mike
Woodard.
Photo Courtesy: Anna Fletcher, The
Courier-Times
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Above: Gov. Roy Cooper, center, talks with PCC
Vice President Dr. Barbara Buchanan, left, PCC Coordinator for
College High School Programs Leia Gaskin-Sadiku Rollins and
Trustees Chair Bayard Crumpton.
Photo Courtesy: Anna Fletcher, The
Courier-Times
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Luggage of Hope is
designed to give children coming into foster care luggage and
toiletries and opposed to having put their items in trash
bags. Pictured: Luggage was delivered to Toni Richardson at
Granville County DSS. She was extremely excited to receive
the donation. She said that they see many, many
children who are being place in foster care with
no luggage or basic care items. She has a 17 year old
girl who she is placing today who is in dire need of the
suitcase and toiletries, so our donation was timely as well
as necessary. She said that we made her
day!
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Are you having a hard
time landing a job and feel defeated or frustrated? NCWorks
Career Centers have staff that can help assist you. If you
need a little inspiration, read this success story and how an
individual who was living in a shelter and trying to go to school
has now gained employment. Click here for the entire story.
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MISSION
STATEMENT
Kerr-Tar
Regional Council of Governments aims to
promote
regionalism that provides opportunities for
local
governments to enhance and improve the quality
of
life for our citizens through effective delivery of
services
and programs.
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Kerr-Tar Regional
Council of Governments
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