Covid 19 in NC Positivity Rate Reaches 10.1 %

Governor Cooper says a free Covid Vaccine will be available to anyone in NC who wants it.   

(See NC Vaccine Section)

Moderna follows Pfizer to seek FDA Emergency Use Authorization.  Vaccines could be available for use by Dec. 13.

India Restricts International Travel until Dec. 31 (Read Below for more Detail)

Morrisville Town Council Member Steve Rao hosts a Fireside Chat with Jeremy Robbins, CEO of New American Economy and other elected leaders to discuss immigration policy in a Biden Administration and our plans for the future.

During this Fireside chat, we will be looking at the economic impact of immigrants in NC, their contributions during a pandemic, and what specific actions we can take to ensure that we have an immigration system, which continues to lure the best and brightest to our nation, creates jobs, and strengthens our economy.

The Fireside Chat will be Streamed on Radio Mirchi on 99.9 FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM and https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao.

The Fireside Chat starts at Noon EST on Wednesday, December 2, 2020.

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_D2b4icN9QyitLxmJVx_XmQ

DEC 3 11 am Reigniting the American Economic Engine: Immigration Solutions for 2021

Join elected leaders, community leaders advocates and Senators Chuck Schumer (D- NY) and Jon Cornyn (R- Tx) for an engaging discussion on how we achieve comprehensive immigration reform.

RSVP:  bit.ly/ABICSUMMIT

On Tuesday, I hope you were able to donate to a non profit for Giving Tuesday.  

Please continue to celebrate Giving Tuesday with the New American Economy to support our Immigrant Entrepreneurs at the New American Festival! 

Find and support a local entrepreneur!

Congrats to Tim Humphrey for his selection by the NC Tech Association as Tech Exec of the Year.  Tim is a community driven leader, and is doing great things at IBM as the Site Manager for RTP.  We are working to schedule a Radio Interview with him in a few weeks.  

Congratulations Tim! 

Check out Awards Winners at 

President Elect Biden appoints Neera Tanden as the Director of Office of Management and Budget and Cecilia Rouse as Chair of White House Council of Economic Advisors. 

Supreme Court sides with religious organizations 5-4 over NY Covid Restrictions.

Deadline for Elementary School Students for Virtual Academy is Dec 2- Dec.9th.  

Wake County makes it easier to Get Covid Testing.  (See Testing Section) 

International flights to and from India have been suspended till December 31 this year in view of the coronavirus pandemic and planes will fly only on select routes on a case-to-case basis, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a circular on Thursday. The restrictions, however, are not applicable to international all-cargo operations and flights specially approved by the DGCA, it added. 

The extended suspension comes at a time when the country’s Covid-19 tally has soared past 9.26 million while 135,223 people have died of the disease.

At his Press Conference today, Governor Cooper announced that the Covid 19 Vaccine will be free to anyone who wants it.  

As soon as the FDA grants approval for the use of any vaccine, the state is expecting to receive more about 85,000 doses.

It will first be given to health care workers in hospitals and long-term care facilities who treat or work with COVID patients and those who clean areas where COVID patients are present. The state estimates that population at up to 161,000 people.

As additional vaccines are approved, the state will get additional allocations and will expand distribution to others.

The second group targeted by the state will be residents of long-term care, people over the age of 65 who live in crowded situations such as jails and homeless shelters, and other adults who have two or more chronic conditions that put them at greater risk for a severe case of the coronavirus. That group is estimated to number up to 951,000.

Vaccinating the rest of those at high risk for exposure to COVID-19 will encompass another 1 to 1.5 million people – everyone over 65, those under 65 in crowded situations or who work in frontline jobs and don't have two or more chronic conditions.

The third phase makes vaccine available to anyone in an essential position, according to the state "workers in industries critical to societal functioning," and students in K-12 schools and colleges and universities.

The final phase would include the remainder of the North Carolina population.

As temperatures drop, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will issue automated payments to help seniors and those with disabilities keep the heat on. The state's Low-Income Energy Assistance Program will help eligible households pay their utility bills. The program begins Tuesday, Dec. 1, and is available to those who:

To learn more, please visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/low-income-services/low-income-energy-assistance. 

The new guidance says masks should be worn at all times when indoors in public places. Those exercising in gyms will now have to wear masks while working out. In restaurants, masks should be worn at all times except when eating or drinking. Previously, masks only had to be worn if keeping a six-foot distance from other people was not possible.

Our facility plans to reopen Friday, November 27, following the Thanksgiving holiday, and it is expected that all members abide by these new policies beginning that day.

The new rules are as follows:

Wake County Schools will be meeting today to discuss the Spring Back To School Program.

All Wake County public school students will be back in the classroom starting spring semester.

The Wake County Board of Education approved the following plan this week:

For guidelines on Social Distancing and Covid 19 Safety measures, please visit https://www.wcpss.net/.

Message from Chris Heagarty:

Join me at 4 pm on Radio Mirchi for a Fireside Chat Interview with Clarence Anthony, CEO, National League of Cities.   99.9 FM, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!  

Join me Monday at 10 am on International Broadcast Media TV for a global for World Edition, an update on global politics.    

Register at https://business.morrisvillechamber.org/events/details/virtual-state-of-morrisville-2020-2366

DEC 2 NC RIOT Accelerator Program Information Session at 4pm  

https://www.meetup.com/RIoT-NC/events/274365480/

North Carolina Municipal Services, a Bernhard Capital Partners company, is partnering with municipalities across the state by investing in their local infrastructure, supporting important environmental and social initiatives, and developing innovative solutions in the face of pressing budgetary challenges and needs.

Attend their webinar Dec. 3 to learn about the innovative funding solutions they provide for infrastructure through Public Private Partnerships with cities and towns.

Register at:

Join the second annual Cleantech Innovation Awards, celebrating the individuals and organizations driving cleantech innovation and deployment.  

Register at http://members.researchtrianglecleantech.org/events/details/rtcc-annual-meeting-2020-cleantech-innovation-awards-154

It is my pleasure to announce that Morrisville has been selected as a finalist for the 2020 Global Smart Cities Readiness Challenge. Morrisville was named as 1 of 10 finalists and will potentially have the opportunity to lead a Readiness Cohort in 2021. We are working with the Communications Department to get this information out to the community so that they can vote for our submission. You can find more information at the link below.

To vote on our submission, you can click on the ‘begin rating process’ button and use the stars under our video on the following page (BIG thanks to Communications for helping put together our finalist video). The rating will submit once you exit the page. Voting is allowed once per day and closes on January 5. Please let me know if you have any questions.