Here is what you'll find in this month's newsletter:

The Kerr-Tar Council of Governments is excited to announce the appointment of two new COG Board Members.

The next Caregiver's Cup coffee club will be Friday, February 5 from 12:00-1:30 pm at Sadie's Coffee Corner in Henderson. If you provide care for an adult over age 60 and would like to join us for some non-structured social time and a good cup of coffee, join us! Call Austin with any questions at 252-436-2040, ext 6072. Newcomers welcome!

The Department is pleased to announce that Mary Lynn Baldwin has done such a good job in her temporary project role that we have hired her as a regular, permanent employee, as our Aging Specialist. She will be the point of contact for COVID-related referrals and will also support our Regional Aging Advisory Council (RAAC) meetings, state monitoring work, and will participate in several state-wide aging associations. Congratulations Mary Lynn!

Medicare covers the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to you, so if anyone asks you to share your Medicare Number or pay for access to the vaccine, you can bet it's a scam.

Here's what to know:

Con artists may try to get your Medicare Number or personal information so they can steal your identity and commit Medicare fraud. Medicare fraud results in higher health care costs and taxes for everyone.

The next KTRPO joint TAC/TCC meeting will be held Thursday, February 25, 2021 from 3:00-5:00 pm via Zoom. Further details, including the agenda will be provided to members as the meeting date approaches.

Are you a resident in the Kerr-Tar region in need of transportation to and from your COVID-19 vaccine appointment? The North Carolina Department of Transportation and Department of Health & Human Services are pleased to announce transportation assistance to COVID-19 vaccine appointments through local transit agencies. Residents in Vance, Franklin, Granville, and Warren Counties may contact KARTS at (252) 438-2573 and residents in Person County may contact PATS at (336) 597-1171.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce and the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center are pleased to announce the Community Economic Recovery and Resiliency Initiative (CERRI) for communities. The Council of Governments has partnered with the Department in this initiative to assist small towns and rural communities recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19 and build resilient local economies. The Department will work on creating individualized Community Economic Resiliency and Small Business Support Plans. This process will begin with site visits to respective communities along with identifying individuals to serve on Steering Committees. If your community is interested in taking part in the CERRI program, please contact James Cunningham at 252-436-2040 or jcunningham@kerrtarcog.org. We thank those communities who have already expressed an interest in participating.

The US Small Business Administration has announced a grant opportunity for small businesses that have been affected by the pandemic. The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) seeks to provide venues whose operations and operating revenues have been affected by COVID-19 with assistance. Venues may not have received a PPP loan. Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million or $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees. The SBA has yet to release the application, but any interested community with an eligible public venue within the Kerr-Tar region is encouraged to apply. More information on the grant is available HERE.

Thanks to four new contracts awarded by the NC Department of Transportation, totaling nearly $4.5 million, more than 70 miles of area roadway will be resurfaced.

This work will start by this summer and must be complete by August 2022.

The Creative Give Back is an award of up to $25,000 of consulting services for a unique economic development project. Creative Economic Development Consulting has given away one consulting project a year since 2014. The winner is selected through a competitive proposal process. More information can be found HERE.

Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (COG) is seeking licensed General Contractors to apply to be included on the approved bidders list. The COG administers the NC Housing Fiance Agency Essential Single Family Rehabilitation Loan Pool Program as well as the Urgent Repair Program (URP) in the counties of Franklin,Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren. Licensed General Contractors with experience in performing comprehensive housing rehabilitation on occupied units will be considered. Liability insurance is required and references will be checked. Those contractors added to the approved bidders list will be invited to bid on housing rehabilitation projects. Some projects may require contractors to be Certified Renovators working for a Certified Renovation Firm or be a Certified Lead Abatement Contractor. To receive more information or a Contractor's Registration Form, please call Diane Cox, Executive Director, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments at 252-436-2040.

The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages bidding by small, minority, and female contractors. The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin. The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments also encourages the participation of locally owned/operated companies and firms that provide employment opportunities to low-income individuals. This information is also available in Spanish or any other language upon request.

The Open for Business Loan is a non-forgivable interest free loan, ranging from $10,000-$100,000. Eligible borrowers are small to medium size (1-99 employees) businesses who have been in business for at least 12 months and must be located in Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, or Warren counties. Documentation providing evidence of a loss of revenue since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic is required. All loans will require a personal guarantee and additional collateral. Funds can only be used for working capital and/or equipment and require an application fee of $200. Standard loan terms of 5 to 10 years. To apply, CLICK HERE.

The Open for Business Loan Program is locally administered, funded by the US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration with funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Applications are available on the Kerr-Tar COG website, or by calling Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments at 252-436-2040. Applications should be completed as soon as possible as funding is limited.