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A LETTER FROM OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I am honored to have been named as the Executive Director of SARPC. This
position brings with it many challenges, responsibilities and of course many
opportunities. I look forward to serving and working with the 32 member
governments in our three County region (Escambia, Baldwin and Mobile). I
am excited about "Spreading the SARPC message" to the approximately
750,000 constituents in our Region.
Please know that I warmly welcome your
ideas, vision and visits as we work together to enhance the quality of life in
southwest Alabama.
John F." Rickey" Rhodes
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TRANSPORTATION
There was a MPO Policy Board meeting this month. Items on the agenda included a review the 2017 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), as it has been slightly modified to include the purchase of Inrix data to get a sample of truck Origin- Destination data. Also, we reviewed the 2016-2019 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and approved several amendments:
TAP FUNDS
- City of Satsuma; Sidewalk Improvements on Ryals Street, S. Vaughn Drive, Granada Avenue, Harrison Drive, Thomas Road and Powers Road; FY 2016; $399,080 (Fed)
- Mobile County; ADA Compliance Tap Project; FY 2016; $200,000 (Fed)
- City of Mobile; Sidewalks Along Bit and Spur from Old Shell Rd to University Blvd. FY 2016; $159,574 (Fed)
- The City of Mobile; Old Shell Rd Sidewalk Improvements from Union Ave to Hyland Avenue; FY 2016, $192,078 (Fed)
FTA 5310 FUNDS
- Independent Living Center; FY 2017; $32,000 (fed) for capital
- Independent Living Center; FY 2017; $40,950 (fed) for operating
- City of Satsuma; FY 2017; $21,397 (fed) for operating
- Mobile ARC; FY 2017; $47,695 (fed) for operating
INTERSTATE MAINTENANCE FUNDS
- I-65 NORTHBOUND/SOUTHBOUND BRIDGES (BIN #13807) OVER COTTAGE HILL ROAD MP 2.496 TO MP 2.728 PARTIAL BRIDGE DECK REPAIR/REPLACEMENT; FY 2016; $1,700,828(total)
HSIP FUNDS
- DELETE Projects: CN, UT and ROW for Interchange Modification on SR-17 (US-45) at SR-158 Ramps To Install Roundabout Design; FY 2017
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FTA 5310 FUNDING
The Mobile MPO is the Designated Recipient of the FTA 5310 Urban Area funding. Available this fiscal year was $110,042 (federal) for operating and $387,964 (federal) for capital. We had $342,500 applied for operating, although we only had available $110,042. We only had $32,000 applied for capital, which leaves a balance of almost $356,000 available this year! Please see Funding Opportunities below if you are interested in FTA 5310 URBAN capital as we have announced a second round of funding. The deadline is the same deadline as ALDOT's 5310 application, July 15th, TODAY. Congratulations to the applicants that were awarded operating funds; Independent Living Center, City of Satsuma, and the Mobile ARC.
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TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM (TAP) FUNDING
The Mobile MPO is also the Designated Recipient of Urban Area TAP funds. We had available this fiscal year $551,000 in federal funds. Congratulations to Mobile County for their ADA Compliance TAP Project, and the City of Mobile for Sidewalks along Bit and Spur form Old Shell Rd to University Blvd and Old Shell Rd Sidewalk Improvements from Union Ave to Hyland Avenue.
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ADA TRANSITION PLANS
The FHWA has required that every city and county in the state have an ADA Transition Plan, and Urban Areas will have a one year deadline (
July 20th, 2016
). Each City in the Mobile MPO Study Area and Mobile County now has an appointed ADA Coordinator which creates a nine member ADA Subcommittee of the MPO.
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The inventory is complete for all urban local governments within the Mobile MPO, and each City and Mobile County should have their draft ADA Transition Plan for Public ROW. We are on schedule and I want to thank everyone for getting these plans adopted as fast as you have been. Most of the plans are already adopted, and the deadline for Mobile County and the cities within the Mobile MPO to have an adopted ADA Transition Plan for public ROW, is this
July 20th
. It looks like we will make the deadline. If you have any questions, please call Kevin Harrison.
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GOVERNOR BENTLEY ANNOUNCES MOWA CHOCTAW SENIOR CENTER OPEN TO CITIZENS
OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2016
MT. VERNON (Governor's Office) - State and local officials were on hand for a Ribbon Cutting ceremony to open the new MOWA Choctaw Senior Center. The Senior Center is located at the former Calcedeavor Elementary School cafeteria and was made possible by a grant from the Alabama Department of Senior Services. The Senior Center serves nutritious meals and offers other helpful services to tribal elders who reside in rural north Mobile County.
For the complete article from Governor Bentley, visit Governor Bentley's website:
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INTEGRATED CARE NETWORK HEARINGS
The first round of public hearings on the proposed new Integrated Care Networks was held by the Alabama Medicaid Agency for South Alabama at SARPC on June 28th. The Integrated Care Networks will bring nursing homes and Medicaid Waiver Home and Community Based Services under a managed care model, similar to the Regional Care Organizations planned for 2017. The Integrated Care Networks are slated to begin by October 1, 2018 and the Alabama Medicaid Agency is holding hearing throughout the state to help them with the development of operating principles and policies for these new entities. Another round of hearing will be held in upcoming months, one meeting for providers of care and one for consumers and the public. These hearings are being overseen by Ginger Wettingfeld, Project Director for Money Follows the Person with the Alabama Medicaid Agency. The Area Agency on Aging operates 4 Medicaid Waiver programs and will be very involved in this transition to a managed care model. For more information visit www.alabama.medicaid.gov.
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JOE GRIFFIN RECOGNIZED FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM AS SUSAN BROADHEAD ANNOUNCED AS THE NEW NUTRITION COORDINATOR
Joe Griffin cuts his cake as the 27 Senior Center Managers and agency staff thank Joe for his 13 years of dedicated service to the Senior Nutrition Program. Joe is transitioning to work on a statewide project on Senior Hunger coordinated by SARPC.
Julie McGee, Area Agency on Aging Director, makes the announcement of the change in Nutrition Coordinators and Joe Griffin, Coordinator, talks about the many accomplishments and changes his has seen take place over his tenure. Joe talked about the many people he has had the privilege of meeting and working with through the SAIL Centers, especially the center managers and the seniors who participate.
Susan Broadhead addresses the SAIL Center Managers for her first time. The July 13 Center Manager training included Susan's introduction to the group as the new
SARPC Nutrition Coordinator.
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REVOLVING LOAN FUND
EEDS staff in addition to other activities, participated in the Small Business Week focus presented by the Mobile Chamber of Commerce. During the "Where Is the Money" event SARPC's Revolving Loan Fund was presented as an alternate funding source for small businesses.
Additionally, the Saraland Chamber of Commerce requested SARPC's staff to present Business Retention and Expansion to their Saraland Leadership Group. The Revolving Loan Fund was covered as well.
We continue to develop partnerships with other resources. SARPC staff works closely with Women's Business Center, SCORE and the area Chambers of Commerce. We maintain member ship in the Small Business Council, Alabama Microenterprise Network (AMEN), and the Growth Alliance Task Force (GATF). The latest partnership involves the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located at the University of South Alabama. SBDC is serving as a free counseling service for start-up and growing businesses. They will assist with preparing financials for loan review.
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SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM / SCEPP(SENIOR AIDES)
On April 6 the University of South Alabama sent six of their Human Resource students to conduct mock interviews with our SCSEP participants. This was done in preparation of the 18th Annual Business Expo/Jobs Fair. This is the largest event of its kind in the region, which is presented by South Alabama Regional Planning Commission.
First, the students presented two skits. The first skit was conducted in such a way as to show the seniors what not to do in an interview. The second skit revealed all the right things to do during an interview. Afterwards, each Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) participant had individual interviews. The participants were told what they did right and what they need to work on. The participants said the exercise was very helpful to their job search.
The program year-end reported six placements of SCSEP participants into unsubsidized employment.
On another note, Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) has indicated approval of level funding for SARPC and the same number of slots for the 2016-2017 PY.
Additionally, ADSS has requested all SCSEP programs refer their participants to the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ARDC) in their respective areas. SARPC staff has arranged for the area ADRC representative be the program for the next SCSEP quarterly meeting on July 20. At this meeting each participant will sign up to be individually assessed at their convenience. This will insure each participant is receiving the total amount of assistance they qualify for.
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"WELCOME TO MEDICARE" SEMINARS IN BALDWIN AND ESCAMBIA COUNTIES
The new location for the Baldwin County "Welcome to Medicare" monthly seminar is at the Spanish Fort Community Center and is held the 2nd
Wednesday
of each month. The new location in Escambia County is the Atmore Community Hospital and is held the first
Monday
of every month.
In Mobile the monthly seminars continue at SARPC's office in the GM&O building the 1st Tuesday of each month. All Welcome to Medicare seminars are held from
10 AM until noon
. For additional information, contact James Robertson at 706-4617.
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2016 OAAA SMALL GRANT AWARDED
The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance has announced that the University of South Alabama has been awarded a small grant to partner with SARPC. This builds on a partnership between USA and the Area Agency on Aging with Dr. Laura White who oversees Physical Therapy students at USA who have performed balance screenings and taught " A Matter of Balance" Fall Prevention classes at low income senior housing developments.
In partnership with the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission/Area Agency on Aging, the University of South Alabama aims to increase and sustain physical activity and reduce the fear of falling in older adults with Osteoarthritis who live in low income senior housing. Their project will use a model in which health professionals and students provide fall screenings, OA education, and the evidence-based falls management program, A Matter of Balance, which emphasizes practical strategies to reduce fear of falling and increase activity levels.
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AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER HAS NEW PHONE NUMBER
Notice a change when you call SARPC to reach the Area Agency on Aging? Our 1-800-AGE-LINE now directly connects to our Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and centralizes intake for all aging and disability programs. The direct line is 706-4680. If you need "Answers on Aging" give us a call!
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