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

Kerr-Tar Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is the recipient of funding from the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act. These funds are to support older adults and their caregivers who live in Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren counties in response to the pandemic. The AAA is available to help with a variety of needs such as access to meals, groceries, cleaning supplies, face coverings, incontinence supplies, assistive technologies, caregiver respite vouchers, emergency home repair (must be COVID-related) and more. Requests for assistance will be considered ONLY if the request comes through a referral agency or professional. Examples include social workers, case managers, Senior Centers, faith community, physicians' practices, DSS, etc. The AAA strives to be responsive to the changing needs of older adults, persons with disabilities and caregivers in our community and can help connect you with other community resources and services. Referral agents, please call the AAA if you need assistance or have questions at 252-436-2040, extension 2047.

The Kerr-Tar Area Agency on Aging is partnering with Dementia Alliance of North Carolina in offering a FREE Virtual Caregiver Workshop. This will be held on August 25th at 3:00 pm. For more information on how to attend, contact Harvey Holmes at 252-436-2040 or at hholmes@kerrtarcog.org.

The Senior Games State Finals will look a little different this year as they go virtual. Competition will be by age and gender. There are no travel expenses and a very affordable registration fee of $15. Registration will begin August 1st-September 1st. The Virtual Event Dates are September 27th-October 31st. For further information visit www.ncseniorgames.org or contact Michele Brigandi at 252-436-2040.

The Planning Department is pleased to announce the addition of Frank Frazier. Frank will be serving as the COG's Zoning Administrator for the Town of Bunn. Frank comes to the COG having worked in local government for 35 years, most notably as Henderson's City Manager. Frank was the recipient of the Outstanding City Manager Award at the COG's 2019 Annual Banquet. If Frank can assist your community with any programs or projects, let us know. Please welcome Frank to the COG!

Secretary of NC Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) and State Chief Information Officer Tracy S. Doaks are urging the public to participate in the new North Carolina Broadband Survey, launched by the NCDIT's Broadband Infrastructure Office.

"Reliable internet access is crucial for getting North Carolina back on its feet so that students can learn, teachers can teach, businesses can grow and communities can connect," said Secretary Doaks. "As communities begin to survey their citizens, we will gain a better understanding of North Carolina's internet speeds and need, which is critical for building strategies to achieve affordable broadband access for all."

The five-minute survey was created in collaboration with the Friday Institute at NC State University. The survey can be taken online for users with Internet access or by phone for users without service. This survey is available in both English and Spanish.

Information gathered using the survey will be used to provide context to the state's broadband picture, guiding funding opportunities through North Carolina's Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grant program, informing research and policy recommendations, and supporting strategic targeting of additional funding channels.

To access the online survey, click HERE.

Residents without Internet service may dial 919-750-0553. Governor Roy Cooper has made expanding broadband access a priority with the goal of affordable access for all North Carolinians.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Franklin County has face coverings/masks and 8 ounce bottles of hand santizer for farmers and farm workers. If you are in need of these items, please call the Franklin County Extension Office at 919-496-3344 to make an appointment to pick up these items.

Let other farmers know that these supplies are available for free for farmers and their workers. When you call, please provide:

Your kit will be prepared in a bag for easy pickup inside the foyer of the Agricultural Services Center.

The North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS) is taking further action to prevent and respond to COVID-19 outbreaks among the agricultural workforce, delivering critical personal protection equipment for use by agricultural workers across the state.

Farm workers are deemed an essential workforce and it is imperative that people who cultivate and harvest North Carolina's wide variety of crops are protected. To support prevention efforts that are proved to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, NCDHHS is implementing its plan this week to deliver over 900,000 masks and other infection control supplies to North Carolina Cooperative Extension County Centers across the state for distribution to farms and agricultural operations. In addition to masks, the deliveries included hand sanitizer and cloth face coverings for workers to take home.

Thirty one counties have been selected to receive the first delivery, including: Alamance, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Granville, Greene, Guilford, Harnett, Henderson, Johnston, Lee, Lenoir, Lincoln, Martin, Mecklenburg, Nash, Pender, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Wake, Wayne, and Wilson.

The North Carolina Schools Go Outside (GO) Grant is open to any NC K-12 school, including private, charter and home schools to offer students opportunities to explore and learn in a hands-on environment. GO Grants allow schools to bring learning outside of the classroom and into the natural environment. Grant applications are available for either on/off campus field trips and on-campus structures or equipment. Grans are reviewed and evaluated by the North Carolina Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council. Schools are eligible to receive one grant per class/grade per year.

More information on the GO Grant program is available HERE.

The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments continues to urge our region's residents to complete the 2020 Census. Residents can complete their 2020 Census safely in your home either online, by phone or by paper form.

Online: http://my2020census.gov/

Phone: 844-330-2020

According to the Census Bureau, Kerr-Tar's counties and the State of North Carolina have the following reported self-response rates as of July 28, 2020:

It's true that 2020 has been a remarkable year in so many ways, and the time has come to recognize the remarkable efforts of our community leaders with the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments Annual Awards. While this year's annual banquet will look quite a bit different, the 2019-2020 year, more than any other year, cast a spotlight on the dedication and commitment of the team in Region K.

In order to recognize those outstanding leaders, the 2019-2020 Awards nomination forms are linked below. The form is now an online, fillable document to make it even easier for you to respond. You will also find a link with the nomination criteria for each category as well as a list of former winners for your reference.

Please take a moment to think about the contributions and hard work of those around you, and nominate one of your fellow leaders for their efforts.

Completed nominations are due September 4, 2020.