My Weekly Update: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157851805591360/?t=26

Florida condo collapses/99 unaccounted for and one dead. We pray for the families and for Florida.  

To help India, please visit https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/how-to-help-india-during-its-covid-surge-12-places-you-can-donate. 

Visit Episode 8 at https://www.jc2ventures.com/chambers-talks/category/Podcast to hear John’s interview with Mukesh Aghi, CEO of US-India Partnership Forum. 

Biden and bi partisan leaders see a $953 billion Infrastructure Deal in Sight/Supreme Court upholds Obama Care and allows NCAA athletes additional compensation.  

VP Harris on her way to US Mexico Border for first time  

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/harris-make-politically-fraught-trip-u-s-mexico-border-n1272324

Join me on Friday evening at 7 pm on PBS Carolina Black Issues Forum for our roundtable discussion on his visit and other issues!  

President Biden visited Green Road Community Center in north Raleigh on Thursday afternoon to thank the people staffing a mobile vaccination clinic there, discuss the importance and ease of getting vaccinated and mobilize an outreach effort to get shots to nearby residents.

"Don't put it off any longer. Just do it. Just do it," he told a cheering crowd inside the community center.

Only 55 percent of adults statewide have received at least one vaccine dose, which is the same percentage as a week ago, according to DHHS statistics. Fifty-two percent are fully vaccinated. 

Nationwide, nearly 66 percent of adults have had at least one dose.

Join us this Saturday for a Summer Reception with Senator Wiley Nickel, where he will update us on the Session and talk about his Exploratory run for Congress!   

I am excited to have his endorsement to continue to serve as an At Large Member of the Council.  

RSVP please visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/210626Barn or contact Ryan Mulcahy ryan@wileynickelforcongress.com or (631) 278-1298.

Please join us at 1:40 pm for our conversation with NC Senator Wiley Nickel, where we will talk about the Legislative Session, the Presidents' Visit, the new legislative seats and his exploratory run for the United States Congress,

Streamed Live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao.
Aired on Radio Nyra on 99.9 FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM on Sunday. 

This week, my play of the week is that we encourage more entrepreneurs to bring sustainable innovation and smart city solutions to our staff as we continue to take the lead on doing our part to reduce carbon emissions in Morrisville.  Our Solar Array Launch is he first step in demonstrating that we are taking the lead on sustainability in Morrisville.  

As we look at developing our own Innovation District in Morrisville, and even incubators, we must also encourage, and develop a Smart City Campus, where more companies, and innovators can pilot their solutions at different Morrisville departments.   

More to come on this play in the next few weeks! 

My Message on the Solar Array at Fire Station 1: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157847149076360/?t=19

We were honored to be a part of the Flip the Switch event at the Fire Station 1 Solar Array on Tuesday.  The highlight of the event was to have the flip switched by elementary school student, Delya Regal, who won the MESC poster contest this past year.   

A special thanks to Sustainability Manager, Kimberly Conley, our staff, Duke Energy, Southern Energy Management, and all of the partners who made this happen.  

The Town of Morrisville’s strategic plan calls for the preservation of the Town’s natural resources and enrichment of residents’ quality of life through the innovative use of new technology, while maintaining the operational excellence and efficiency of the Town’s essential services.

A solar photovoltaic (PV) array on Fire Station No. 1 is one of Morrisville’s key Sustainability and Smart City initiatives. This 30 kW (kilowatt) array will generate renewable energy from solar panels which will help offset approximately 40% of the electricity consumed by the fire station. The project will save the Town operational costs in the form of lower utility rate charges, upwards of $300,000* over the next 30 years.

The project will also reduce the Town’s annual emissions by 22 metric tons. Emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) trap heat and make the planet warmer. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, humans are responsible for almost all the increases in GHGs over the last 150 years[1]. By reducing GHGs we are helping to improve air quality, slow climate change, and help conserve the earth’s natural resources.

Morrisville’s Fire Station No. 1 operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The station inherently uses more energy than a typical Town facility and is a good candidate for supplemental energy sources like solar Photovoltaics (PV).

The Duke Energy Rebate Program provides a rebate of 75 cents per Watt to qualifying non-profit organizations such as the Town of Morrisville, which adds up to more than $24,000 toward this project.

The Fire Station No. 1 Solar project will pay for itself in eight years, covering the initial capital expense for installation and saving the Town future energy costs thereafter, less array maintenance. Annual savings will start in the second year of the project.

Southern Energy Management (SEM): SEM, the project developer, is a Certified B Corporation. Businesses with this certification must meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. They are one of only two in the state of North Carolina currently operating. 

The Town of Morrisville welcomes participation from the Morrisville small business community at our July 3 Family Fun Fest! 

The event will run from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. with spots available for small businesses to present themselves to the community through demonstrations, samples, or the giveaway of marketing materials. All participating businesses are encouraged to have at least one interactive activity all ages can enjoy. Space and participation will be limited. Submit your interest on the form linked below by Friday, June 25 and a Town representative will contact you. 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z7PNZBY 

For current event details on Morrisville’s July 3 Family Fun Fest, visit www.townofmorrisville.org/july3. 

If you have questions, email Ben McQueary at bmcqueary@townofmorrisville.org

On Friday evening, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that due to a recent court case, they were forced to suspend payments to Restaurant Revitalization Fund (R.R.F.) grant recipients who qualified under the “Priority” designation of the Restaurant Act.

 

 The “Priority” designation is self certification for small businesses owned by women, veterans, or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. If you received an email before May 26th from the SBA stating that your application was approved, then currently this change does not affect your grant and payment. 

 

However, if you are a priority applicant that HAS NOT received an email stating that your application was approved, or you are a priority applicant that submitted your application on or after May 28th, the SBA will not be dispersing funds to your business until all non-priority applicants have been processed . SBA has announced that 2,965 approved applicants from the priority group awaiting the transfer of a R.R.F. grant fund will no longer be receiving those funds until further notice. 

It is advised that you reach out to SBA at 844-279-8898 for further guidance and other potential resources. 

Come this November 2, 2021, the Morrisville Town Council will provide voters the opportunity to vote on financing up to $37 million to accomplish capital 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.  

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.

View the Quick Links for Fast Facts and Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the bond referendum process and potential property tax impacts.

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157828690776360/?t=21

Our Council approved a $42,200,000 Annual Operating Budget & Capital Investment Program for Fiscal Year 2022 at our June 8 Town Council Meeting. The tax rate remains at $.36. The FY2022 budget relaunches Morrisville’s pre-COVID efforts to fulfill existing commitments and essential investments, and allows the Town to keep pace with the dynamic growing service needs while responsibly safeguarding the Town's financial condition.  Now that the Budget is behind us, we can focus our efforts on the Bond Referendum, which will be a focus on my next newsletter!

The FY2022 budget relaunches Morrisville’s pre-COVID efforts to fulfill existing commitments and essential investments, and allows the Town to keep pace with the dynamic growing service needs while responsibly safeguarding the Town's financial condition.

Fiscal Year 2022 will be transformative, with brisk activity in several core programmatic areas in addition to new forward-thinking interests and initiatives,” said Town Manager Martha Paige. “We are at the launching pad for moving our town and many capital projects forward.”

The budget includes anticipated distributions to Morrisville from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), recently approved at the federal level to lessen pandemic related revenue losses and allow for support of some expenditures.

These operating and capital initiatives represent a significant commitment to Relaunch Morrisville and continue to move the community forward with expanded programs and innovative services.

The Vehicle Decal Fee remains at $30 per vehicle per year, and the Stormwater Fee remains unchanged at $25 per ERU. The budget includes some moderate user fee adjustments to reflect additional costs to provide services, as well as utilization of general fund balance appropriations for one-time expenses.

The budget process included outreach to the public and a public hearing on May 25. The annual Budget Portal was open from May 4 through May 25 to collect feedback. Council reviewed all feedback as part of the budget process.

Visit https://www.townofmorrisville.org/government/departments-services/finance/budget/-fsiteid-1 for details about the FY2022 budget.

The North Carolina Senate advanced a state budget Thursday built on a major tax cut and federal stimulus money.

The state’s personal income tax rate would fall from 5.25 percent to 3.99 percent over the next five years under this plan, and North Carolina's 2.5 percent corporate rate would phase down to zero over the same period. Altogether, this would save taxpayers – and cost state coffers – $13.9 billion.

The Senate budget also includes $1.5 billion in federally funded grants for businesses impacted by the pandemic, more than $1 billion in water and sewer rehabilitations around the state and $700 million to expand rural broadband.

The plan, largely written by the Senate’s Republican majority, generated some bipartisan support. Four Senate Democrats voted for it, despite Gov. Roy Cooper’s repeated criticisms. The 32-18 vote would be good enough to override the governor, should he ultimately veto this budget, but it's not unusual for a few Democrats to vote for a Republican bill at first, then come back into their party's fold after the governor vetoes.

The legislative process at this point requires one more vote in the Senate, slated for Friday morning. Then this 2-year spending proposal moves to the House, which will make changes.

"Your Shot at $1 Million" is the name of North Carolina's COVID-19 vaccine lottery. The program will award four people with $1 million (as well as four teens with $125,000 in scholarship money). There have been 4.9 million entries into the $1 million drawing and 348,000 entries into the scholarship drawing.

Anyone who has been vaccinated has had their name automatically entered into the drawing. If you got your vaccine on or after June 10, your name was entered twice.

One lucky North Carolinian is $1 million richer today but that person's identity remains a mystery. Officials used a random number generator to pick a winner from the pool of people vaccinated against COVID-19.  

State health officials then had to figure out who corresponds with that randomly generated number and double check that the person is eligible to win the money. The state will contact the winner via email or phone when this process is completed. 

The process could take several days, but whoever does win will be required to let the state publicly identify them.

Next drawing is on July 7th, and runs every other Wednesday until August 10th. 

NCDHHS is expanding the number of locations providing $25 Summer Cards for getting vaccinated.

Beginning this week, participating vaccination sites in 38 counties will offer the cards to anyone 18 and older who gets their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine - or drives someone to their vaccination.

The $25 Summer Card program is available at participating vaccination sites in the following counties: Alleghany, Ashe, Beaufort, Bertie, Buncombe, Caswell, Cleveland, Cumberland, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gaston, Greene, Guilford, Harnett, Hertford, Jackson, Johnston, Lee, Lenoir, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, New Hanover, Orange, Pamlico, Pender, Person, Pitt, Robeson, Rockingham, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Wake, Watauga, Wayne and Wilson. More information here.

The expansion builds on the pilot program launched in May in Mecklenburg, Guilford, Rowan and Rockingham counties.

During that program, 1,700 Summer Cards were given to vaccine recipients and more than 700 cards were given to drivers, according to the health department.

Weekly Update: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157851805591360/?t=26

Morrisville Carpenter Road Improvements

For current project details visit: https://bit.ly/mcrcp1

The Town of Morrisville is accepting applications for citizen advisory committees through Friday, July 2. While applications for all advisory committees will be accepted during this period, the following committees have vacancies or expiring terms that may be filled during this appointment process:

To submit your application, visit https://bit.ly/msvadvisorycommittee.

During their June 8 meeting, the Morrisville Town Council recognized June as LGTBQ+ Pride Month in support of the celebration of diverse communities and treating each other with respect and dignity.

The Town of Morrisville’s Family Fun Festival will be held on July 3, from 4 to 9 p.m. The plan is to hold this year’s July 3 event on Town Hall Drive. With COVID-19 restrictions being lessened recently, Town staff is creating a more extensive family-oriented event than in previous years. Ideas being planned include live entertainment, food trucks, family-friendly games, prize giveaways, small business representation and an opportunity to display Town projects. A laser light show will be conducted to conclude the evening. 

Come out to the Western Wake Farmers' Market (WWFM) every Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., for healthy and fresh food, goods, and live music from small and local businesses! Visit http://wwfm.ag/ to learn about the WWFM, to see a complete list of local vendors, for special event dates, and to learn more about how you can support your community by shopping local. Sign up for the weekly WWFM newsletter sent out on Friday mornings! Email debbie@wwfm.ag to subscribe!

To Secure an appointment, please visit https://myspot.nc.gov/, https://covid19.wakegov.com/vaccine/

Find a County Vaccination site at https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/where-can-I-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-in-my-county/19466004/

Find a Wake County Testing Site: https://covid19.wakegov.com/testing/

Wake County: Wake County Public Health Vaccine Hotline 919-250-1515.  It is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit website at https://covid19.wakegov.com/vaccine!

Durham County: 919-635-8150 or email at DCoCOVIDvaccines@dconc.gov. 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162.

Make your Appointment here:  https://www.dcopublichealth.org/services/communicable-diseases/coronavirus-disease-2019/covid-19-vaccines/vaccine-appointments

Duke Raleigh Hospital at (919) 620- 5167.

Process is to Call or visit website, join the waiting list, receive notification, and get your Vaccination Appointment!

To set up an Appointment with any County Department, please visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov/findyourspot

Walgreens will offer Covid 19 Vaccine in 300 Stores (31,200 doses) in North Carolina starting on Feb 12 as a distributor under the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program and is planning to distribute 1 million doses of the Moderna Vaccine.  For more information, sign up at walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19.

Join us this Saturday for a Summer Reception with Senator Wiley Nickel, where he will update us on the Session and talk about his Exploratory run for Congress!   

I am excited to have his endorsement to continue to serve as an At Large Member of the Council.  

RSVP please visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/210626Barn or contact Ryan Mulcahy ryan@wileynickelforcongress.com or (631) 278-1298.

The Town of Morrisville’s Family Fun Festival will be held on July 3, from 4 to 9 p.m. The plan is to hold this year’s July 3 event on Town Hall Drive. With COVID-19 restrictions being lessened recently, Town staff is creating a more extensive family-oriented event than in previous years. Ideas being planned include live entertainment, food trucks, family-friendly games, prize giveaways, small business representation and an opportunity to display Town projects. A laser light show will be conducted to conclude the evening. 

Join me Sunday 4 PM on Radio Nyra for another update on local issues.

99.9FM HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

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.