Welcome to SARPC's digital newsletter. Our goal is to publish a newsletter bi-monthly that provides highlights of projects and activities being undertaken at the agency. If you have any questions or would like to request additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us. |
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In This Issue
A LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
TRANSPORTATION
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
EMPLOYMENT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AREA AGENCY ON AGING
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STAY CONNECTED TO SARPC ON FACEBOOK
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FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I am delighted to report that SARPC’s 24th Annual Meeting and Strategic Session is all set for January 20-21, 2022 at The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Al. This year’s event will feature presentations by ALDOT Director Mr. John Cooper, Alabama Port Authority Director Mr. John Driscoll, Justice Jean Brown, Director of the Alabama Department of Senior Services, Legislators from Escambia, Baldwin, and Mobile Counties who will update priorities of the 2022 Legislative Session, Dr. Ted Mashburn of The University of Mobile who will present a motivational, inspirational warm up, area economic developers who will give updates on regional projects and much more. Many thanks to our Sponsors who help make this event possible. Please contact me (C-251-421-9400) or Paula McGlasker (O-251-706-4611) if you have questions or need sponsorship information.
John F. (Rickey) Rhodes
Executive Director
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TRANSPORTATION
Mobile MPO Updates
There will be a TCC/CAC meeting (subcommittee) of Mobile MPO on December 1st, and a MPO Meeting on December 15th. We have several projects to be amended into the Transportation Improvement Program, and other items to discuss. The CRRSAA projects, the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA), and potentially a discussion on the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project.
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Mobile Area Major Road Plan
There is a stakeholder on November 30th at 2:00 PM in the GMO Building in the SARPC Board Room. There is a questionnaire to be filled out by attendees, that you should have received. If you have not received the questionnaire, please contact Kevin Harrison.
The Steering Committee met last month and some topics discussed included identifying which municipalities have complete Streets requirements, and how to best go about identifying underground utilities and stormwater systems. The consultant and MPO Staff will be setting up individual meetings with leaders from each municipalities in the coming weeks to discuss the plan.
The Plan is for better integration and connectivity of land use and transportation planning, to ensure existing and future on-system corridors are managed and/or preserved as part of the long-range comprehensive planning efforts and as development occurs. A complete Major Road Plan to include regulatory components, current practices, case studies, and guidance for Mobile County and Municipalities within Mobile County. The Plan will include methods and tools for acquiring and preserving right-of-way in the context of expediting the environmental clearance process and review how corridors are prioritized, designated, and adopted for management or preservation. This will require coordination with all planning jurisdictions in Mobile County.
100 % Funding for Resurfacing of Local Roads Through the Mobile MPO with CRRSAA, LINK TO MAP HERE
In accordance with the Highway Infrastructure Program Funds Pursuant to the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) dated January 15,2021 from the Federal Highway Administration, the Mobile Transportation Management Area (TMA) through the Mobile Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is apportioned $3,193,942 (FY 2021). ln consultation with the State of Alabama, it is the intention of the Mobile MPO to use the Mobile TMA apportioned CRRSAA funding ($3,193,942) for a one time resurfacing program. This funding can be 100% federal funding with no matching requirements; this presents a rare opportunity for the Mobile MPO.
The cities of Creola, Satsuma, Saraland, Chickasaw, Prichard, Semmes and Bayou la Batre have provided a prioritized list of roads that need to be resurfaced within their jurisdiction. The PE projects (design projects) were sent to FHWA for fund authorization.
Neel Shafer has received the Notice To Proceed on the following seven Projects listed below:
CRSAMB-4921(251) $27,420.00
CRSAMB-4921(252) $32,285.00
CRSAMB-4921(253) $31,456.00
CRSAMB-4921(254) $65,000.00
CRSAMB-4921(255) $53,492.00
CRSAMB-4921(256) $31,124.00
CRSAMB-4921(257) $37,828.00
Soon, the cities will begin to see activities in terms of some survey work, geotechnical work, etc.. on the streets proposed for resurfacing. Also, Neel Shafer will soon begin the process of reaching out and working with the cities to provide the necessary documents required for the federal funds to be spent. This include documents such as the ROW certification, encroachment notices, etc…
As of now, due to the scope of these projects, the proposed letting date is sometime late spring/early summer in 2022, assuming no issues with the city certifications, etc.
Please call Kevin Harrison 706-4635 if there are any questions.
RPO Updates
The South Alabama Regional Planning Commission (SARPC) met recently using the GoToMeeting app.
One item on the agenda was to amend the Fiscal Year 2021 Work Program to include assisting ALDOT by facilitating the public involvement process for ALDOT’s draft Public Involvement Plan for Statewide Transportation Planning.
The purpose of the plan is to implement effective ways for ALDOT to gather information from the public about their transportation needs. The plan is available on ALDOT’s website. All comments must be received on or before October 4, 2021.
ALDOT’s Draft PIP is posted here:
Other items on the agenda included:
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Review and Adopt the Fiscal Year 2022 Work Program which includes a new task of assisting ALDOT by hosting public meetings for the Statewide Long Range Transportation Process
We’re also building an online interactive map of all of the RPO projects. Once it’s complete we will send out a link to all the RPO members and they’ll be able to reference it for grant applications and the like.
Transportation Improvement Program( TIP)
The TIP represents a four year program (2020-2023) for improvements in the various transportation systems located within the Mobile study area as identified in the Mobile MPO's Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The LRTP establishes the transportation programs that are needed to meet travel demand by the study year and study area. LRTP projects that become funded are moved into the TIP and submitted to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), where they are programmed into the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). For MPO projects, TIP project selection is based on priorities established by MPO member governments and the availability of funds through the Surface Transportation Attributable program. For other projects, ALDOT has discretion of project funding based on availability of funds from various types of funding categories. Most often, projects in the TIP are derived from the LRTP. The TIP guides ALDOT in its annual allocation of funds for transportation improvements and becomes a part of the STIP.
ArcGIS Online is now being utilized by MPO staff to map all federally funded surface transportation projects within our area. Check it out.
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Funding Opportunities
$3B in EDA American Rescue Plan Act Programs
American Rescue Plan Technical Webinars Now Available
DOI Agricultural Water Use Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022 - Fostering District and Farmer Water Saving Partnerships
Sustainability, Agriculture
Through Agricultural Water Use Efficiency (AWUE) Grants, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to support stakeholder efforts to stretch scarce water supplies and avoid conflicts over water. The AWUE program also supports Reclamation’s priorities, including increasing water supplies, leveraging science and technology to improve water supply reliability, addressing ongoing drought, and improving water supplies for tribal and rural communities.
EPA Recreation Economy for Rural Communities
Rural, Travel & Tourism
The Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance program helps communities identify strategies to grow their outdoor recreation economy and revitalize their Main Streets.
1/11/22: NSF CISE Community Research Infrastructure
Research, Clusters
The CCRI program supports three classes of awards:
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Planning Community Infrastructure (Planning) awards support planning efforts to engage research communities to develop new CISE community research infrastructures. Such an infrastructure could be eventually funded through the CCRI program (Planning-C) or the NSF mid-scale research infrastructure programs (Planning-M). For the scope of mid-scale research infrastructure proposals, see the most recent solicitation NSF 21-505.
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Medium Community Infrastructure (Medium) awards support the creation of new CISE community research infrastructure or the enhancement of existing CISE community research infrastructure with integrated tools, resources, user services, and research community outreach to enable innovative CISE research opportunities to advance the frontiers of the CISE core research areas. The Medium award class includes New (New) and Enhance/Sustain (ENS)awards.
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Grand Community Infrastructure (Grand) awards support projects involving significant efforts to develop new CISE community research infrastructure or to enhance and sustain an existing CISE community research infrastructure to enable world-class CISE research opportunities for broad-based communities of CISE researchers that extend well beyond the awardee organization(s).
1/25/22: HHS Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program
Workforce, Healthcare
The purpose of this program is to educate and train future and current health professionals in the rural counties and parishes of the Mississippi River Delta Region and Alabama Black Belt (Delta Regional Authority (DRA) region) in the following critical administrative support occupations: medical coding and billing, claims processing, information management, and clinical documentation. This program supports HRSA’s collaboration with the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) to enhance healthcare delivery in the rural counties and parishes of the DRA region, and addresses a key area of need identified by DRA and rural healthcare organizations in the region.
1/28/22: NSF Broadening Participation in Engineering
Workforce
Through the Broadening Participation in Engineering (BPE) Program, NSF seeks to strengthen the future U.S. engineering workforce by enabling and encouraging the participation of all citizens in the engineering enterprise. The BPE Program seeks to support not only research in the science of broadening participation and equity in engineering, but also collaborative endeavors which foster the professional development of a diverse and well-prepared engineering workforce as well as innovative, if not revolutionary, approaches to building capacity through inclusivity and equity within the engineering academic experience.
To solicit the best ideas for these activities, both in formation and enactment, the BPE Program will support projects at various levels of readiness and complexity through the following four tracks: Planning and Conference Grants; Research in Broadening Participation in Engineering; Inclusive Mentoring Hubs (IMHubs); and Centers for Equity in Engineering (CEE).
4/1/22: USDA Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Products Manufacturing Assistance Program
Business Assistance, Research & Development
USDA Strategic Economic and Community Development
Rural, Planning, Technical Assistance
SECD supports projects that promote and implement strategic community investment plans (such as CEDS). These plans use the unique strengths of rural communities to advance prosperity. USDA Rural Development helps finance these projects to build community prosperity by using community assets, identifying resources, convening partners and leveraging federal, state, local or private funding.
USDA ReConnect Program for Broadband Reopens on November 24
On November 24 USDA will begin accepting applications for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to expand the availability of broadband in rural areas. USDA is making the funding available through the ReConnect Program. The Department plans to make available up to $200 million in ReConnect Program loans, up to $250 million in loan/grant combinations, up to $350 million in grants with a 25 percent matching requirement, and up to $350 million in grants with no matching requirement for projects in tribal and socially vulnerable communities
To be eligible for ReConnect Program funding, an applicant must serve an area without broadband service at speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) (download) and 20 Mbps (upload), and commit to building facilities capable of providing broadband service at speeds of 100 Mbps (download and upload) to every location in its proposed service area. Once the application window opens, applications must be submitted through USDA Rural Development’s online application system on the ReConnect webpage.
To view a table of previously highlighted funding opportunities that are still open, please visit EDI’s Federal Assistance for Economic Development page on EDA’s website at www.eda.gov. This table represents a selection of opportunities available on Grants.gov that may be of particular interest to local and regional economic development stakeholders.
Events
11/30-12/1: CTE 4th Annual Summit on Workforce Development at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.
The Summit will bring together a variety of industry sector association representatives, workforce development professionals, and business leaders all focused on strengthening the partnerships between business and education. The Summit is being produced by the Association for Career and Technical Education in partnership with Ford Next Generation Learning. To learn more and/or register please visit: www.acteonline.org/wfd-cte
Tools & Data
ETA Publishes Second Quarter Unemployment Insurance Data Summary
Disaster Assistance Resources Sources
These announcement and opportunities are gathered from multiple sources including:
To learn more about EDA’s Economic Development Integration and Disaster Recovery Resources, visit www.eda.gov/edi, or email us at EDI@eda.gov.
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Employment and Economic Development Services
SARPC Staffing Service
The County EMA has partnered with South Alabama Regional Planning Commission through the Mobile County Commission to assist with shelter operations. What this means to shelter employees i.e. teachers, custodian, building engineer and cafeteria manager and assistant managers is they would become temporary employees of SARPC during a storm. The best part is if one of the individuals cannot work the storm you can get a list of qualified individuals school board or non-school board employees to work. We have completed the enrollments at Theodore High School. Over the next two weeks, we will complete Burns Middle School, Baker High School, North Mobile and McDavid School.
Additionally, we have partnered with the Area Agency on Aging to process payroll for their Vaccine Outreach program. This program will last approximately six months.
Our goal at SARPC Staffing Service is to streamline the payroll and hiring process, adding value back to your day. We offer high quality recruiting and payroll services to governmental and non-profit agencies.
For more information call 251-263-3907 or 251-652-0585. It is our desire to assist you with your staffing needs.
Please click here to view the SARPC Staffing Service brochure.
It is important that EEDS staff go to events to network/market our programs and support our community partners.
SARPC participated in the annual Mobile Chamber of Commerce’s Business to Business Expo on November 18th. There were over 100+ companies in attendance. We marketed our services to non-profit and governmental agencies.
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Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)
The Revolving Loan Fund program provides funding for start up businesses and expanding companies. The funds can be used for working capital, purchase of equipment, building, or renovatni of an exiting building.
The minimum loan would be $10,000 and the maximum would be $75,000.
Find out how the Revolving Loan Fund can be used to bridge the gap of the cash needed to complete business projects or provide small business funding through a direct loan.
Help us spread the word that we have the money if you have the time!
For more information call 251-591-6506.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
The Senior Community Service Employment (SCSEP) program is seeking to add more host agencies to the program. To be a host agency the entity must be a government entity or a non-profit organization. The host agency/organization would have a SCSEP participant on a job for 19.75 hours per week.
The host agency is requested to give an in-kind amount of $1,150 per participant. However, it is not required. The host agency provides the training, while the SCSEP program pays for the stipend of $7.25 per hour paid to the participant. SCSEP is responsible for worker’s compensation insurance and all related employment taxes.
Additionally, we are seeking seniors interested in enrolling in the program in all three counties: Baldwin, Escambia, and Mobile.
To be eligible persons must be 55 year or older, who are not currently working and fall within the 125% Federal poverty income level.
If you are interested in becoming a host agency or you know of someone who may benefit by being in the SCSEP program, please call 251.591.6506 or 251.263.3907 for more information.
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Area Agency on Aging
COVID-19 Vaccine Access Project
Escambia County: SARPC’S Area Agency on Aging has partnered with USAging on the RISE project to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates among older adults in Escambia County, AL, which is targeted for intervention due to lower than average vaccination rates among older adults. The Area Agency on Aging will partner with local organizations to provide wellness education including COVID-19 vaccination recommendations and offer 1) vaccinations for homebound individuals and 2) $50.00 gift cards for person’s age 60+ coming to vaccination clinics for 1st or 2nd COVID-19 vaccinations.
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The Area Agency on Aging is also assisting older adults throughout South Alabama to obtain vaccinations and needed information. This project’s goal is to help our community reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus and protect the health of older adults. Services include 1) an up to date list of where vaccinations are available; 2) help with registration for vaccinations and on-line portals; 3) resources for questions about vaccine safety or COVID-19; and 4) services for persons who have barriers to vaccination such as the homebound, or those needing help getting to vaccination appointments, including transportation. If you are homebound or otherwise have not been able to get vaccinated, give us a call.
Free Lyft Rides Available to Obtain COVID-19 Vaccinations Including Boosters
Back in May, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and Lyft teamed up to provide free rides up to $25 each way to help older adults receive their COVID-19 vaccine. NCOA announced that Lyft is offering additional support to older adults who want to get vaccinated or receive their booster shot through the end of the year.
The new Lyft promo code (NCOABOOSTER) can be used for rides to and from each dose of the COVID vaccine, to a booster shot appointment, or any other need serving an older adult during the pandemic. Like the previous ride codes, the new code below covers up to $50 each trip ($25 to an appointment and $25 back home). There are no location restrictions, and the ride code is valid until funding lasts or through December 31, 2021.
Persons could also schedule their annual flu vaccinations during the same visit if desired.
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Due to Alabama’s Long Term Care rebalancing efforts, the Elderly and Disabled Medicaid Wavier program operated by Alabama’s Area Agency on Aging has been expanding over the past 3 years. The Build Back Better Act will further expand the option to receive help at home and delay or avoid long term care in a nursing home in all states. The Act has provisions to deliver affordable, high-quality care for older Americans and people with disabilities in their homes, while supporting the workers who provide this care. Right now, there are hundreds of thousands of older Americans and Americans with disabilities on waiting lists for home care services or struggling to afford the care they need, including more than 800,000 who are on state Medicaid waiting lists. A family paying for home care costs out of pocket currently pays around $5,800 per year for just four hours of home care per week. The Build Back Better framework will permanently improve Medicaid coverage for home care services for seniors and people with disabilities, making the most transformative investment in access to home care in 40 years, when these services were first authorized for Medicaid. The framework will improve the quality of caregiving jobs, which will, in turn, help to improve the quality of care provided to beneficiaries.
Home and Community Based Services have medical and financial criteria. SARPC’s Area Agency on Aging is able to enroll eligible persons on an on-going basis. A Personal Choices option is available allowing eligible persons to hire their own workers. Contact us at 251-706-4680 to apply or get additional information.
Medicare Open Enrollment Ends December 7, 2021
Call the Area Agency on Aging’s State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) at 251-706-4680 for an impartial review of your Medicare options and advice by December 7th for plans that begin January 2022. New to Medicare? Call us anytime with your questions.
Circle of Friends Promotes Social Connections
The Circle of Friends program will launch January of 2022 in Mobile County to work with older adults experiencing a lack of social connectedness and are feeling lonely, a frequent experience of many older people that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Services include short-term case management, home visits, friendly calling and check-ins by staff and volunteers, and workbooks and on-line resources that offer tips on how to stay better engaged and socially connected with others. Comforting robotic pets are also provided for those with dementia who may benefit.
Evidence Based Health Promotion Classes Resume
In-person classes are resuming in January, with A Matter of Balance Fall Prevention Classes beginning at the Mobile Diagnostic Center @ The Commons in Mobile and at the Nix Senior Adult Activity Center in Fairhope; and Chronic Disease Self Management Classes at the Parkway Senior Center and the St. Elmo Seventh Day Adventist Church. Home bases classes are also available for the Chronic Disease Self Management course. For information, call us.
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