RegionaL News You
Can Use
September
2019
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Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments Provides
Five Year Accomplishments Summary
The Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments’ (UCPCOG) Planning and Development Services Department presented a 5 five-year summary report to the Board of Directors, the US Economic Development Administration, and others at its regularly scheduled meeting on August 20th. UCPCOG is a 46-member local government authority representing Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton, and Wilson Counties and their municipalities. It is a federally recognized Economic Development District by the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. The Planning and Development Services Department (PDS) provides a wide variety of planning, economic and community development services guided by a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, “CEDS 2022”.
The PDS Director, Ron Townley, reported that since 2014 the department worked on 17 economic development projects leveraging $8,897,000 and supporting 1,284 jobs. This included community college campus building improvements in Wilson, Nash, and Halifax Counties as well as rail and tank infrastructure for industry, business relocation assistance, entrepreneurial support, rural broadband access, and more.
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Broadband discussed at Littleton meeting
LITTLETON
—
A discussion about broadband was a central topic during the Town of Littleton Board of Commissioners roundtable session Tuesday night. Two representatives from Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments spoke, including regional Executive Director Robert C. Hiett and his colleague, Planning and Development Services Director Ron Townley.
Hiett updated the commissioners and town staff on UCPCOG’s many projects in its five-county region of Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton and Wilson. “At the COG level, a lot of what we are working on right now is related to broadband, ”he said.” “We are heavily engaged in a lot of work-force related projects, because our region has had a lot of expansions.” “Broadband is something that is vital to all of our rural communities to help maintain growth,” Hiett added.
Townley said Assistant Town Clerk Holly Barcelo has been attending Broadband Task Force meetings. The task force — covering the five-county region, has about 46 member governments and about 27 members — had its first meeting in April, Townley said on Wednesday. The request for the task force came from UCPCOG Chairman Doug Hughes and board members. Townley said there was an initial local government one one-one workshop in February for elected officials and other representatives, training people on issues of rural broadband, along with a board survey.“We have been learning a lot,”
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Scotland Neck leaders address IT security concerns
Phillip Sayblack
RR Daily Herald
Scotland Neck town leaders are working to protect the town's government from ransomware attacks.
The town's board approved Tuesday night at its meeting, to sign a contract with Roanoke Rapids-based The Computer Guy & Company. The contract is to prevent the attacks caused by malicious software designed to block access to a computer until a certain sum of money is paid to the hackers who launch the attacks.
The $750 contract will have the company install hardware on the town's network that will prevent ransomware attacks on the town's computer systems, according to Scotland Neck Town Administrator Charles Baisey.
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NADO Announces 2019 Impact Awards
Congratulations to the 2019 NADO Impact Awards recipients! The Impact Awards program honors NADO members for their creative approaches to advancing regional community and economic development and improved quality of life. These projects have made significant impacts on their regions and demonstrate the diversity of services and program delivery provided by regional development organizations across the country.
Congratulations to the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments on their Regional Simulation Partnership and all the other recipients in North Carolina and all other States as well.
North Carolina
- Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments, Visit NC Farms Mobile App for the Kerr-Tar Region
- Land of Sky Regional Council, Building Regional Economic Resilience
- Land of Sky Regional Council, Mountain Area Careers
- Land of Sky Regional Council, Congestion Management Process (CMP)
- Lumber River Council of Governments, Dementia Friendly Communities
- Lumber River Council of Governments, Southern Coastal Plain Ground Water Monitoring Program
- Lumber River Council of Governments, Temporary Disaster Employment Program
- Mid-East Commission, Community Connections Network
- Mid-East Commission, RAMP East
- N.C. Department of Transportation, 2019 NCDOT Mobi Awards
- Piedmont Triad Regional Council, Diabetes Age Well Services
- Piedmont Triad Regional Council, Triad Talent Alignment Strategy
- Piedmont Triad Regional Council, Healthy Opportunities of the Piedmont
- Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments, Regional Simulation Partnership
- Western Piedmont Council of Governments, 2019 Catawba Early Head Start Community Assessment
- Western Piedmont Council of Governments, Western Piedmont Council of Governments Code Compliance Division
- Western Piedmont Council of Governments, Parenting the Second Time Around
Click the Nado News Link below to find out who all the 2019 recipients are (listed by State):
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NCC Announces Fifth President
With approval of the State Board of Community Colleges on August 16, 2019, Nash Community College has announced Lew Kyle Hunnicutt, Ph.D., as its fifth president.
Dr. Hunnicutt is currently the Assistant Provost and Campus Director for the University of Georgia - Griffin Campus which serves more than 32,000 students annually in academic, workforce, continuing education, and community service classes, programs and events.
In his position, Dr. Hunnicutt develops and manages academic programs, oversees the Griffin Campus budget and develops and implements enrollment strategy for nine undergraduate and seven graduate programs. Additionally, he manages campus employees, leads facilities projects and executes fundraising efforts.
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EDA Launches Opportunity Zones Resource Webpage
The
U.S. Economic Development Administration
(EDA) is
encouraging its economic development partners to find ways to highlight Opportunity Zones in their regions in order to attract investment and encourage public-private partnerships.
EDA has created an
EDA Opportunity Zones Webpage
for economic development stakeholders and others to use as a resource to help them foster job creation and attract private investment.
Click
here
to access the EDA resource page.
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EPA Now Accepting Applications for the Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance Program
The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
invites communities interested in revitalizing neighborhoods through development of local food systems to apply for
Local Foods, Local Places
technical assistance. Local Foods, Local Places supports projects that create livable, walkable, economically vibrant main streets and mixed-use neighborhoods; boost economic opportunities for local farmers and main street businesses; and improve access to healthy, local food, especially among disadvantaged populations. Eligible applicants include local governments, Indian tribes, and nonprofit institutions and organizations proposing to work in a neighborhood, town, or city of any size anywhere in the United States. Communities with projects located in
federally designated Opportunity Zones
will receive special consideration. Highest consideration will be given to those communities who can identify how Local Foods, Local Places assistance will leverage the Opportunity Zone designation to support implementation of the resulting action plan.
The deadline is
September 30, 2019
. Complete application instructions are available
here
.
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This new resource was created by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy and the Health Centers program at the Health Resources and Services Administration. It discusses how rural providers can work together to identify health needs in their communities, create partnerships to address those needs, and develop a “community-minded” approach to health care. The guide illustrates through case studies how providers in two communities created networks and partnerships to improve the efficiency of care, optimize resources, and improve the lives of their residents.
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The National Rural Health Resource Center and Stroudwater Associates, supported by FORHP, developed a guide on the community and patient benefits for implementing pulmonary rehabilitation services. Rural hospitals and clinics can use this guide to identify areas for improvement within their diagnosis, treatment and long-term care of COPD patients in their communities.
A University of Minnesota report
highlights that while the COPD prevalence rate is the prevalence of COPD is higher for individuals living in rural areas, Critical Access Hospitals are less likely to employ any respiratory therapists. This guide is developed as part of the
COPD National Action Plan
, with the goal of developing resources for improving the lives of individuals living with COPD symptoms in rural communities.
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The Rural Center delivers critical resources to support existing businesses and enable the emergence of successful, new entrepreneurs. The Rural Center works with individuals trying to start or expand a small business by connecting them to the critical capital, coaching, and connections they need.
Rural communities will prosper only to the extent they can build and sustain a strong private sector. The Rural Center believes equitable economic growth across our state depends on sustaining rural small businesses and nurturing small-town entrepreneurs.
Learn more about how the Rural Center is helping North Carolina’s small-business community.
Click the icon link below to learn more.
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Opportunity for Natural Disaster Grants from EDA
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has made available $587 million to eligible grantees in communities effected by natural disasters in 2018 and floods and tornadoes in 2019. Applications should provide long-term, regionally-oriented, and collaborative development strategies designed to generate economic growth and resilience. No application deadlines apply and the EDA will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis. For more information, go
here
.
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USDA Accepting Applications for Rural Economic Development and Job Creation Loans and Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is accepting applications for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Program. Through the REDLG Program, USDA provides zero-interest loans and some grant funds to rural utilities, which they in turn pass through to local businesses for projects that will retain or create employment opportunities in rural communities. The funding may be used to assist with business start-up and expansion costs; business incubators; feasibility studies; advanced telecommunications and computer networks for medical, educational, and job training services; and community facilities that spur economic development. Rural Development anticipates a maximum loan amount of $2 million and a maximum grant amount of $300,000. Awards are made on a competitive basis to utilities that will relend the funds for local economic development efforts. Applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. Pacific time on the following dates:
- September 30, 2019 (first quarter)
- December 31, 2019 (second quarter)
- March 31, 2020 (third quarter)
- June 30, 2020 (fourth quarter)
More information on this program is available
here
.
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Training/Workshops/Webinars
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How to Visualize Data for Your Area on data.census.gov
Looking for an easy way to start exploring Census Bureau data? Discover how to visualize the most popular statistics for your area through the data visualization profiles on
data.census.gov
.
Data Gems
A series of "how-to" videos available for data users who are looking for an easy and quick way to enhance their knowledge of Census data.
They will introduce you to various concepts and techniques to improve your ability to navigate our website and use our data-access tools.
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How do local governments use public-private partnerships and finance tools to stimulate private investment and revitalize Main Street?
How do local governments use public-private partnerships for development? What finance tools are available to local governments to revitalize Main Street? North Carolina communities can select from a wide array of financing tools in their efforts to attract and grow businesses, improve real estate, and build community assets. In order to select the right approach for your development project, it helps to understand the options. Participants in this course will learn the basics of development finance tools used by North Carolina local governments to achieve their community and economic development goals.
Program Topics:
·
Opportunity Zones and the Local Government Role
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Federal financing programs and tax credit financing
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Local government capital financing
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Tax increment financing (TIF) and synthetic TIF
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Business improvement districts
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Attracting private investment to Main Street
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Public-Private Partnerships for Redevelopment
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Pre-course workshop: Fundamentals of Developer Real Estate Financing
The pre-course workshop (held on the first morning of the course) is included in the registration fee. The workshop content is designed specifically to help you learn basics of calculating an estimated return on investment and different ways of thinking about debt and equity, so you can heighten your intuition about worthwhile projects. The workshop lays the foundation for the rest of the course, so attendance is strongly encouraged.
W
ho Should Attend:
Elected officials; city and county managers, assistant managers, and clerks; and community and economic development professionals seeking a greater understanding of the development finance options available to North Carolina local governments.
Scholarships:
Thanks to the generous support of Duke Energy, a limited number of partial scholarships will be awarded to managers who attend the entirety of the Development Finance Toolbox program together with an elected official from the same jurisdiction.
Registration:
For more information:
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The 10 Mistakes You Make on Social Media
Most small businesses use social media for marketing purposes, but do they do it right? This workshop covers the do’s and don’ts of effective use of social media sites for your marketing effort.
Speaker Biography
Ashley Morrison is passionate about serving small business owners and helping other business owners reach their goals. As for her company, she has two clear visions for her company: (1) Create a phenomenal marketing company that helps small business grow, not only in Raleigh but around the country, and (2) Establish a workplace that employees will love to come to and love to serve their customers. Every day, she gets up and strives to reach those two goals more than she did the day before! Ashley Morrison founded Abundant Marketing in 2014 to help small businesses grow their business. Early in her career, Ashley was very involved with DECA from her high school days winning awards for her internet marketing business plans. After graduating from NC State and working with small companies she started Abundant Marketing.
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AmericaWalks to host webinar on community outreach strategies for health
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Join us for the 2019 Landscape, Race, and Culture Conference
September 26-28, 2019
Featuring: Dr. Kofi Boone, ASLA, Professor of Landscape Architecture, North Carolina State University College of Design
Flora Ann Bynum Keynote Lecture and Reception
"Black Landscapes Matter"
Presenter: Kofi Boone
This presentation, Black Landscapes Matter, borrows language from the Black Lives Matter movement to frame three challenges for the future of including Black landscapes into our broader narratives; these landscapes stand as examples of what it meant “to be seen, to live with dignity, and to be connected”. Through research, case studies, and current work, the presenter will explore these challenges and their implications for the future of landscape history.
The rapid growth in interest in gardens, landscape architecture, and environmental history has the potential to capitalize on the diverse cultural currencies of the people and places contributing to our shared landscape. However, mainstream research, practice, scholarship, and messaging of landscape values is often exclusive and focused in the preferences and aesthetics of a narrow band of humanity. In particular, the context of the American South, the contributions of Black people are often relegated to other disciplines and not addressed as essential components of our landscape legacy.
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Information specialists are available to help answer your cancer-related questions whether you are a patient, family member or friend, health care provider, or researcher. (From NIH's NCI)
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n4a is a proud supporter of National Medicare Education Week, Sept. 15 – 21, which has the goal of helping Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers make confident, informed Medicare decisions—just in time for Medicare Open Enrollment, which starts one month later (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7). This campaign perfectly aligns with the work AAAs already do to educate consumers about Medicare and offers additional tools to make your outreach easier and more successful.
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Grandparents are the most awesome and loving people and often get left out as children grow older or life throws it's snares so I am leaving you all with this heart warming story of a Grandson and Grandmother that will leave you with a smile in your heart and hopefully stir up some more stories like this one from your own adventures.
Meet the grandson taking his 89-year-old grandmother to all 61 national parks
B
rad Ryan and his 89-year-old grandmother Joy Ryan are taking the country by storm, visiting U.S. national parks on an epic road trip. But it hasn’t always been such a smooth journey for the pair.
Ryan, 38, and his grandmother had been very close when he was younger but their relationship became strained when his parents divorced in 2001. “It kind of ripped our family in two,” he explained to TODAY. “I didn't talk to her for ten years.”
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