My Weekly Update: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/285643546401437/?t=22

Cricket Alert: Morrisville Cardinals advance to playoffs!  They will play this Saturday, Sept, 25th 2 matches and in match on Sunday!  All matches at Church Street Park!  

Times will be announced later this week.

For more than 50 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration has celebrated National Small Business Week (NSBW), which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. This year is one unlike the half-century that has come before.

We are facing unique challenges together. However, American small businesses continue to play a central role in building a strong country, prepared for any obstacles in the future.

More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create nearly two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. As part of NSBW, the SBA takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others who support entrepreneurship from all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and U.S. territories. 

Additionally, this year’s NSBW recognized the small businesses who have navigated the coronavirus pandemic while supporting their employees and communities. 

There were a number of presenters providing retooling and innovative practices for entrepreneurs as our nation’s small businesses look to pivot and recover towards a stronger economy.

The Town of Morrisville does intend to allocate a significant portion of the $1,045, 300 of ARP money (We are being allocated $4.2 million this year and another $4 million next year) to develop and implement a Small Business Recovery Program.  I would like your feedback on what should be included in a Business Recovery Program, so I can get this to staff as soon as possible. 

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/548701473030864/?t=20 

As we draw to a close on National SMALL BUSINESS Week, I want to say thank you to all those who have an entrepreneurial spirit, who are willing to take the risk to open and operate a small business.

During my tenure as the Town Council Member, I have been proud to advocate and champion our small businesses in Morrisville. I have especially been proud to work with our innovation and technology sectors to grow and advance their businesses here in Morrisville – the gateway to the Research Triangle Park.

Our efforts to foster IT companies demonstrates our commitment to help small business owners grown their companies and succeed – creating jobs and commerce for our city, our county, and our state. 

I worked to create HOTTovation … which was a Town of Morrisville collaboration with IT companies small and large to create an environment promoting research, innovation, and technology entrepreneurs. It was hugely successful, and I want to renew that program to expand our outreach to the IT community especially with major companies like Apple and Microsoft locating in our region.

I look working with the Wake Tech Launch Program to develop startups and help small businesses, along with establishing an Incubator in our Town Center.  

Bringing technology companies to Morrisville will build a better town, with a strong, highly skilled workforce and will open up commerce for other small and growing companies.  

I believe we can grow our economy, create high-paying, high-skilled jobs and manage our growth in a smart way that protects our quality of life.

Let’s support our small business owners and help them be successful in 

Morrisville.  

Please come out to the Start Up Summit on Sept. 22!  (See Upcoming Events) 

At the NC Vet Biz Procurement Summit, we received a nice summary from NC Director, Mike Arriola on the Status of SBA assistance and relief for Small Businesses. 

PPP is closed.  Forgiveness Process is in full swing. 

EIDL Applications will be accepted until Dec. 31, 2021. (up to $2 million in loans) 

Targeted Advance: Eligible Businesses can receive up to $10,000 in grant funding.  

Supplemental Targeted Advance: Eligible businesses can receive up to $5000.00 for EIDL. 

Shuttered Venue Operators Grant: Applications are still being accepted.  

Restaurant Revitalization Fund: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-fund

Debt Relief on SBA Loans ends Sept. 30, 2021. 

Community Navigator closed July 23.  

For more information on SBA Covid Relief, visit https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options. 

This week I visited small businesses across the Town, just to get their feedback on how they continue to deal with the Pandemic, but most importantly, to thank them for running their Small Business in Morrisville. 

Live Visit ---> : 

Congratulations to Arvind & the Mahajan family on the soft opening of the SafeSplash + SwimLabs - Morrisville/Triangle yesterday! Looking forward to the opening of My Gym Morrisville and Sharkey's Cuts for Kids - Morrisville, NC. Thank you for your investment in Morrisville and bringing these services to our Morrisville families.

Live Visit ---> :  

Great to visit Haridner Dinsa at Indian Restaurant, Swagat.  Wonderful Food, and eclectic environment!  

Live Visit ---> : 

Check out Meeples Brew!  Thanks to Sean Kim and his team for hosting such a warm and friendly place where you can play Board Games, have a Coffee, and try their delicious Waffles!  

Get out and Support our Small Businesses, whether you go to Grace Park, Morrisville Square, Park West or McCrimmon Corners!  

I will be visiting a small business at least once or twice a month, as every week should be Small Business Week!  

Just shoot me an email to sr@steverao.com if you want me to drop by. 

Join me in congratulating my dear friend and NC House Member and House Deputy Minority Leader, Gale Adcock, as she received the Cary Citizen of the Year Award at the Cary Chamber Annual Meeting!  I am so very proud of all the great work she does for us in the General Assembly and the Community.  

Former Cary Mayor Koka Booth attended the celebration. We also wish Cary Chamber President, Howard Johnson, all the best in retirement and look forward to the leadership of incoming President Mark Lawson! 

The Morrisville Smart Shuttle, the Town’s newest public transit service, will be launching on Saturday, October 2! 

What makes Morrisville’s Smart Shuttle so smart? Riders will utilize the Smart Shuttle application on their smartphone to request a pick-up or drop-off from one of 15 nodes, or stops, located around the Town. Riders will be able to track the bus through the mobile application.

For details, frequently asked questions, and updates on the Morrisville Smart Shuttle service visit https://bit.ly/smartshuttle.

#Shuttle #MorrisvilleNC #transit #LiveConnectedLiveWell

Come this November 2, 2021, the Morrisville Town Council will provide voters the opportunity to vote on financing up to $37 million to accomplish these types of improvements in a strategic and fiscally responsible manner through a bond referendum. Wisely committing your tax dollars in this way will ensure the Morrisville community continues to live connected and live well.  I want this to be the highest turnout in Morrisville history!

Morrisville has an exemplary credit rating as a AAA community, giving us the ability to secure the lowest interest rates through voter-approved general obligation (G.O.) bonds. This form of debt financing is the best and least expensive of tax-supported debt resulting in significant savings to the taxpayer over the repayment period.

The Town anticipates an estimated 3 cents per $100 assessed property value to afford the three bond issues assuming voters approve.

There will be three ballot questions that Voters will consider separately: Public Safety Improvement Bonds, Streets, Sidewalks and Connectivity Improvement Bonds, and Parks, Recreation and Amenities Bonds!

Community Benefit: To improve public safety facilities in Morrisville.  Morrisville is dedicated to providing a safe and secure community through prevention, education, readiness, and responsiveness.

Bond Amount: $8,000,000

Community Benefit:  To make improvements to Pedestrian and Transportation related infrastructure, such as major thoroughfares, sidewalk and streetscape improvements, bridges, bicycle lanes, curbs, and drains; traffic controls, greenways; bus/train stations and shelter improvements; and the acquisition of any land, rights of way and equipment.

Bond Amount:  $11,700,000

Community Benefit: To improve and expand existing passive and active parks, and recreational facilities, acquire and construct new parks, and recreational facilities and preserve open space/tree canopy.

Bond Amount: $17,300,000

For more information on the Bond Referendum, visit www.townofmorrisville.org/MSVBOND2021 or call (919) 463-6906.

Election Day for Angier, Apex, Durham, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon is on Nov 2.  Please mark this day on your calendar. Make your Vote Count!

Register to Vote at https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/Pages/voter-registration-application.aspx.  Deadline to Register to Vote in November Elections is Oct. 8 at 5 pm.

Request an Absentee Ballot at https://www.wakegov.com/departments-government/board-elections/election-

information/absentee-mail-voting.

Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: 5 pm on Tuesday before election.  (October 25)

05/01 Precinct

1519 Morrisville Pkwy, Morrisville, NC 27560

05/03 Precinct

107 Quade Dr, Cary, NC 27513

05/07 Precinct

332 Parkside Valley Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560

05/08 Precinct

309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560

To Find County Vaccination Site, visit https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/where-can-I-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-in-my-county/19466004/.

For Testing Sites, visit https://www.wakegov.com/covid-19-information/free-covid-19-testing.

Unvaccinated individuals are 13.6 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than vaccinated individuals, when adjusted for age.

6% of all cases between January and the end of August were in unvaccinated people.

September 21 – 6 p.m. CANCELLED Town Council Work Session

September 23 - 6:30 p.m. Morrisville Smart City Steering Committee

For Morrisville Carpenter Road Project updates Visit https://bit.ly/mcrcp1

The Morrisville Smart Shuttle, the Town’s newest public transit service, will be launching on Saturday, October 2! What makes Morrisville’s Smart Shuttle so smart? Riders will utilize the Smart Shuttle application on their smartphone to request a pick-up or drop-off from one of 15 nodes, or stops, located around the Town. Riders will be able to track the bus through the mobile application.

This free shuttle service connecting Morrisville will be operated by GoCary, the public transportation provider in Cary, and use the Via Transportation platform for requesting rides.

For details, frequently asked questions, and updates on the Morrisville Smart Shuttle service, click here.

The Morrisville Fire and Rescue Department will hold its annual Fire Safety Day on Saturday, October 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Target parking lot located at 3001 Market Center Drive. This free event for the general public will have fun for the whole family including games, activities, food, and door prizes! For details click here.

Sponsored by the Morrisville Environment & Stormwater Committee, the Annual Student Art Poster Contest invites children to showcase their artistic talent and their commitment to the environment.
Students in grades K-5 attending school in Morrisville or those who belong to a youth organization in the Town may enter the contest.

The overall winner will have a banner created from their poster which will be prominently displayed along Town Hall Drive. They will also receive passes for a family of four to visit the Triangle Rock Gym. First, second, and third place winners in each grade will each receive a certificate and letter from the Town’s mayor.

Submissions are due on Friday, October 8. Please click here for the fillable entry form and eligibility details.

Three separate Bond questions will be on the Ballot this November 2: Public Safety Improvements for $8M; Parks, Recreation, & Amenity Improvements for $17.3M; and Streets & Sidewalk Connectivity Improvements for $11.7M for future capital projects. Voters will decide “Yes” or “No” for each ballot question if the Town can use General Obligation Bonds (G.O. Bonds) to finance these future improvements that will benefit our growing community for years to come. G.O. Bonds are the most cost effective form of financing for a local government.

Get the facts and stay informed at the Town’s website: http://bit.ly/msv2021bond. View the Fast Facts and Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the bond referendum process and potential property tax impacts.

Registration for Morrisville 101 is now open. Morrisville 101 is an annual citizen's academy for residents of Morrisville interested in local government. This is a free program for citizens 16 years of age and up. The program begins November 3 and will be held from 6-8 p.m. once a week for five weeks. Sessions will take place at Morrisville Town Hall, located at 100 Town Hall Drive. Registration ends on October 15, 2021. For more information and to reserve your spot visit the Morrisville 101 webpage by clicking here

Registration for Teen Morrisville 101 is now open. Teen Morrisville 101 is an annual citizen's academy for teens interested in local government, specifically in Morrisville. This is a free program for youth in grades 9-12. The program begins October 6 and will be held from 4-6 p.m. once a week for four weeks. Sessions will take place at Morrisville Town Hall, located at 100 Town Hall Drive. While the program is open to all high school students, preference will be given to those who live in Morrisville.

Registration ends on September 24, 2021. For more information and to reserve your spot visit the Teen Morrisville 101 webpage by clicking here.

Sponsored by the Morrisville Environment & Stormwater Committee, the Annual Student Art Poster Contest invites children to showcase their artistic talent and their commitment to the environment.

Grades K-5 attending school in Morrisville or those who belong to a youth organization in the Town may enter the contest.

The overall winner will have a banner created from their poster which will be prominently displayed along Town Hall Drive. They will also receive passes for a family of four to visit the Triangle Rock Gym. First, second, and third place winners in each grade will each receive a certificate and letter from the Town’s mayor. Submissions are due on Friday, October 8. Please click here for the fillable entry form and eligibility details.

Take the Town’s Sustainability Survey!
The Master Sustainability Plan is currently in development. This plan will become the roadmap for the objectives and goals of the program. To best represent our community, we are looking for your feedback as we prioritize our strategic direction. From now until October 15, complete a short six-question survey with your contact information to be entered into a drawing for a rain barrel or a $30 gift certificate to Site One Landscape Supply on Church Street. To complete the survey (through SurveyMonkey.com) click here. To learn about Morrisville’s Sustainability Program, click here.

Starting in October, the Town is moving to a new email service provider used to send Next Week in Morrisville. Depending upon your email’s client settings and security filters, you may have to add the new email client to your safe senders list. The new client will also allow you to update your communications preferences and individual profile. Next Week in Morrisville is sent from information@townofmorrisville.org. If you have any issues receiving the e-newsletter in October, contact the Town’s public information officer by email.

The Western Wake Farmers' Market (WWFM) offers healthy and fresh food, goods, and live music from small and local businesses from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday!

Visit http://wwfm.ag/ to see a complete list of local vendors and shop local!

We pray for our friend, Gracie Galloway and the entire family for the loss of Joseph Galloway.

Joseph Lee Galloway (November 13, 1941 – August 18, 2021) was an American newspaper correspondent and columnist. During the Vietnam War, he often worked alongside the American troops he covered and was awarded a Bronze Star Medal in 1998 for having carried a badly wounded man to safety while he was under very heavy enemy fire in 1965.

From 2013 until his death, he worked as a special consultant for the Vietnam War 50th anniversary Commemoration project run out of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and has also served as consultant to Ken Burns' production of a documentary history of the Vietnam War broadcast in the fall of 2017 by PBS.

He was also the former Military Affairs consultant for the Knight-Ridder chain of newspapers and was a columnist with McClatchy Newspapers.

A drone strike in Kabul last month killed as many as 10 civilians, including seven children, the U.S. military said on Friday, apologizing for what it called a "tragic mistake".

The Pentagon had said the Aug. 29 strike targeted an Islamic State suicide bomber who posed an imminent threat to U.S.-led troops at the airport as they completed the last stages of their withdrawal from Afghanistan.

After weeks of heated debate, an F.D.A. advisory panel voted against approving a booster shot for people 16 and older who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The panel did recommend a booster for Pfizer-BioNTech recipients who are 65 or older, or are at high risk of severe Covid-19.

Although the F.D.A. is not required to follow its advisory committee’s recommendations, it typically does. The agency will most likely make a final decision by early next week.

Over the next six weeks, Democrats will try to wrangle a bill through Congress that addresses the economy, education, immigration, climate and more. But its breadth — as if President Franklin D. Roosevelt had stuffed his entire New Deal into one piece of legislation — has opened divisions among Democrats.  If this legislation passes, it could define the Biden Presidency. 

The U.S. will begin swiftly deporting Haitians who have gathered in the thousands at the southern border in the past week after illegally entering the country.

More than 14,000 Haitians have crossed the ankle-deep river between Mexico and Del Rio, Texas, and are camping out under a bridge, awaiting processing.

The Biden administration has three flights planned for Sunday, and more could be scheduled for the coming days. The move is meant to relieve the overflow in Del Rio and deter more Haitians from trying to come to the U.S., a strategy that has drawn criticism from human rights groups and some Democratic lawmakers.

The U.S. and Australia went to extraordinary lengths to keep Paris in the dark as they secretly negotiated a plan to build nuclear submarines, scuttling a defense contract worth at least $60 billion. President Emmanuel Macron of France was so enraged that he recalled the country’s ambassadors to both nations.

State government will likely go into the fall without a new state budget providing employee raises and laying out major projects the state will undertake over the next two years, an assurance made by Senator Phil Berger. 

And that's if top state leaders come to an agreement at all.

Conversations now are primarily between House and Senate leadership, who plan to negotiate away their own differences before including Gov. Roy Cooper in earnest in negotiations that he'll ultimately have to sign off on unless Republicans can get a can get a number of Democrats to back their budget in opposition to their party leader.

Cooper vetoed the last several budget efforts, so the state is working off 2018 figures, plus a series of "mini budgets" dealing with some of the state's more pressing issues and issues with broad consensus. The new fiscal year, typically a deadline to enact a new budget, started July 1.

WCPSS announced that, due to the increased number of clusters and exposures involving high school athletics, face coverings will now be required for students unless they are directly participating in games, practices and performances. This applies to all sports teams, marching bands and other student groups including cheerleading and JROTC activities.

This rule affects all grade levels and means face coverings will be required on the sidelines and wherever staff and students congregate. Face coverings and social distancing are strongly recommended for spectators.

Wake County and City of Raleigh - Government have teamed up to provide eligible renters who are behind on their monthly payments help towards unpaid balances since April 2020.

To qualify, you must be a Wake County renter, have suffered financially due to COVID-19, meet income requirements and be at risk of becoming homeless if rent or utility bills remain unpaid.

Get all the details at wakegov.com/housing or call 919-899-9911.

WCPSS announced it is making updates to its COVID-19 safety practices. The changes take effect Aug. 16:

On Thursday, I attended the Morrisville Chamber Coffee and Connections Program, for great networking and interaction at the Sonesta Hotel in Durham!   

I was honored to kick of the Youth Education 5K Run for Meals and Wheels. Thanks to Anish Gottikumulla and all of the Youth Leaders for hosting this event to feed the homeless, the hungry and the elderly. They are also working on many other issues and are truly an inspiration to all of us, for working so hard to change our communities.

As I continue my listening tour and celebrate the accomplishments of the last decade, I have been having some very engaging conversations with many neighborhoods and communities in Morrisville.  

We usually only hear from residents from a few communities, but I plan to have reached over 30 communities over the next few weeks.  

 

Thanks to everyone who are coming out to meet and talk to me on this Decade of Service Listening Tour.  

Let me know if you want me to come and provide an update. Just email me at sr@steverao.com.

This week I was honored to receive the endorsement of US Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC D-02). I look forward to working with her to secure federal grants and money for Small Businesses in Morrisville, and to also work on targeting federal dollars to transportation and transit dollars to our Town to help us deal with traffic congestion.

- Congresswoman Deborah K. Ross, NC-02

I am proud to have the endorsements of of Congresswoman Ross, North Carolina State Senator Wiley Nickel, Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchison, Wake Forest Mayor Vivian Jones, Wake County School Board Member Sig Hutchison, Council Member Satish Garimella, and Fuquay Varina Commissioner, Bill Harris. I am looking forward to endorsements more over the coming weeks.

I also look forward to getting the support Independents and Republicans as we lead an engaged, and non-partisan Town! Let’s keep the Partisan Politics on Jones Street or in Washington D.C!

Thanks to everyone who came out for my visit to Northwest Park.  I was honored to take the lead with Satish Garimella, Mark Stohlman and Robert Crawford to get this Park approved and developed in 2013 and 2014!  It shows what we can all do when we come together to make things happen!  Just Get it Done! 

Last week, I visited the Wake Competition Center!  It was so amazing to see where the Canes Practice (I think there were some Team Members there, of course, I visited the Soccer and Gymnastics.  

Thanks to Jeff Ammons and his team for working with Wake County to bring this Facility to Morrisville!  

Jeff and his team have invested over $25 million into Morrisville, and have plans for another $5 million expansion.  Just Get it Done! 

Livestream: (Sai Kiran).

Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships Sept. 12- Sept 19th

Tickets at:

Apply for the Hum Sub Youth Achievement Award.

TYE is an enriching experience for high school students, where they will have the opportunity to learn to solve problems through business principles. As part of the program, they will have the opportunity to work with our incredible mentors, who will foster the potential of their team’s ideas. The deadline to sign up is September 30th, 2021.

Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1DXidReV7HZsjhvJXVwqwzg82vJD7XsLlnc8DuyeRp74/viewform?edit_requested=true.

Save the Date Start Up Summit! Sept. 22

Morrisville Chamber Hosts East Meets West Festival  Sept. 1- Oct. 10

The East Meets West Festival celebrates Morrisville, Wake County’s most diverse community, with food, culture, and music from around the world.

Join us every Friday on World Edition at 10 am for the Great America Project Panel where we discuss how we rebuild Americas' image with leaders from around the country and world.

Public Open Dialogue TV is a worldwide multilingual, multi-demographic network focused on inspiring, educating and entertaining the global community. We provide unique programming in areas not covered by traditional media, and provide a platform for the audience to engage with those shows. Formerly IBMTV.