- Region K CAC Board Meeting will be at 5:30PM on Thursday,
- January 23, 2020 at the Expo Center in Granville County.
- Kerr-Tar Executive Committee Meeting will be at 6:00PM on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at the Expo Center in Granville County.
- Kerr-Tar COG Board meeting will be at 7:00pm Thursday,
January 23, 2020 at the Expo Center in Granville County.
- KTRPO will hold its next meeting on Thursday, January 30, 2020. Members will receive information as the meeting date approaches.
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Announcing Focus 2020 - A Regional Economic Development Summit
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In anticipation of the 2020 Census, the U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting people to fulfill temporary jobs. If interested in applying and learning more about position qualifications, please refer to the following:
http://www.2020census.gov/jobs
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North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission is Accepting 2020 Grant Applications
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The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund is now accepting applications for the 2020 grant cycle. Supporting the agricultural industry, impacting rural communities, and stimulating economic development are key objectives for the 2020 NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission (NCTTFC) grant cycle.
Applications are due February 14, and you can find more information about these grants
HERE
. Funds will be awarded in the fall for selected innovative projects.
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DEQ Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant (CWRAR) Available
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The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is now accepting proposals for the 2020 grant cycle. The deadline to submit a proposal is
5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2020
. This recurring annual grant program provides funding to public recycling programs for projects that help communities build lasting capacity to divert materials from the waste stream and / or increase public awareness of recycling. This grant cycle is timed to correspond with local government budget cycles. Funding for the 2020 CWRAR Grant winners becomes available on July 1, 2020.
Download the 2020 request for proposals (RFP) by selecting one of the following links (
PDF
or
Word
). For more information or assistance please contact
Sandy Skolochenko
at (919) 707-8147.
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LWCF Webinar: 2020 Local LWCF funding cycle
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NC Division of Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with Recreation Resources Service, is hosting an informational webinar on Friday, January 24th at 9:30am, on this year’s Local Land and Water Conservation fund (LWCF) competitive grant program. This competitive grant program will be for North Carolina cities, towns, and counties as well as federally recognized Native American tribes are eligible to apply for the matching grants. The matching grants can be used to acquire new park properties or renovate/replace amenities at existing LWCF-funded parks. Local governments can request a maximum of $500,000 with each application and must match the grant dollar for dollar. Register
here
.
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Vance-Granville Community College to Offer Truck Driving Program
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Vance-Granville Community College, in partnership with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, will soon offer a
Truck Driver
Training Program
that gives students the training required to operate tractor-trailer rigs, obtain a Class A commercial driver’s license and become professional truck drivers.
Registration is going on now for the nine-week program, which will take place in early 2020, with a combination of classroom instruction, range driving and road driving.
After mandatory orientation on Thursday, January 23, 2020, classroom instruction will begin on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 in Building 7 (Room 7105) on VGCC’s Main Campus. Classes will meet Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., ending on April 16, with the exception of Friday, April 10.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have the opportunity to be employed by commercial trucking companies, become an owner-operator, or take advantage of local jobs. This Truck Driver
Training program
is certified by the Professional Truck Driver Institute.
Students must be at least 18 years old, have a valid
North Carolina
driver’s license, and be able to read and speak English well enough to take instructions from highway signs, to converse with officials, and to complete the required reports.
Tuition and fees for the entire class total $1,881. A payment plan is available, and there are opportunities for scholarships to partially defray the cost of tuition and fees. There are additional costs for the required DOT physical and drug screen, N.C. Motor Vehicle Record, permit and license.
The Truck Driver Training program is approved for funding by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the N.C. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Unemployed and underemployed individuals may qualify for tuition vouchers to take the course.
The deadline to register is Thursday, January 30, 2020. For more information about the
Truck Driver
Training program, contact Kyle Burwell at
burwellk@vgcc.edu
or 252-738-3276, or Gina Brewer at
brewerg@vgcc.edu
or 252-738-3324.
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NCGHSP Accepting Grant Applications
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The Governor’s Highway Safety Program is now accepting grant applications for eligible projects that would advance traffic safety in North Carolina.
Grant funds are now available for projects that would use data-driven measures to prevent traffic deaths and injuries. Those who are eligible to apply include local non-profit organizations, law enforcement agencies, hospitals and other groups.
In previous years, about 100 grants were issued to reduce impaired driving, reduce speed-related fatalities, encourage seat belt usage, promote pedestrian, bicycle and motorcycle safety, and other safety-related initiatives. Individual grants have ranged from about $20,000 and $1 million.
People can start applying for grants today! Application submissions must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31, 2020.
Grants awarded will be for the 2021 federal fiscal year, which begins Oct.1, 2020
Interested applicants may also call 919-814-3658 with questions.
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PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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2020 Tentative TCC/TAC Meeting Dates
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All meetings are open to the public and held from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments’ located at 1724 Graham Ave. in Henderson.
- January 30, 2020
- February 27, 2020
- March 26, 2020
- April 23, 2020
- May 28, 2020
- June 25, 2020
- July 2020 - No Meeting Scheduled
- August 27, 2020
- September - No Meeting Scheduled
- October 22, 2020
- November 2020 - No Meeting Scheduled
- December 2020 - No Meeting Scheduled
*Meeting dates are subject to change in order to accommodate NCDOT deadlines. If a meeting date changes, members of the TAC and TCC will be notified
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Statement of Economic Interest (SEI) and Real Estate Disclosure (RED) forms will be available through the N.C. State Ethics Commission beginning January 15, 2020. All voting TAC members and TAC alternates are required to complete SEI and RED forms annually. The KTRPO is available to schedule appointments with TAC members and TAC alternates to assist with completing and filing of these forms.
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The
North Carolina
Department of Transportation is encouraging students to create posters around the theme,
Leaping into the Future
as it relates to future transportation needs in North Carolina.
All students who live in and/or attend school in North Carolina and were born between Jan. 1, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2014, are encouraged to participate by submitting their own artwork. All entries must be turned in or mailed and postmarked no later than Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. For more information and a list of permitted media, please refer to:
https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/Transportation/nc-2050-plan/Pages/poster-contest.aspx
We look forward to some great submissions from our region’s talented students!
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NC MOVES 2050 FUTURE NEEDS SURVEY
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The North Carolina Department of Transportation wants to build a transportation system people want, need and will use. So, what is it that
you
want? Now is the time to speak up.
Participate in the survey
to tell us what is important to you. Share this survey with your family and friends. Everyone’s voice is welcome.
Survey will be open through February 14, 2020.
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U.S. DOT Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success [ROUTES] Request for Information/Public Comments
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The U.S. DOT invites comments by all those interested in the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiative. The Department seeks comments that illustrate rural communities' needs and experiences with transportation infrastructure, including the condition of that infrastructure, its effect on safety, and how its use affects the community. The Department of has extended the comment period to
January 27, 2020
for request for information (RFI). See Federal Register Notice at the following:
[DOT-OST-2019-0167]
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N.C. Receives Good Transportation News as Deal Advances Southeast Rail Corridor
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North Carolina has received good transportation news as an important agreement reached will advance plans to improve the Southeast’s freight and passenger rail network.
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation announced a major deal with CSX. Part of the deal will enable the N.C. Department of Transportation to acquire a 10-mile portion of an inactive freight line in North Carolina so the line can be converted for use on the Southeast Rail Corridor.
The Southeast Rail Corridor is a network of passenger and freight rail from Washington D.C. to Jacksonville, FL. The rail runs through North Carolina roughly parallel to Interstate 85 and U.S. 1. The 10-mile section to be acquired runs from Ridgeway in Warren County to the North Carolina-Virginia border.
“This is a key step as we work to improve our rail system so we can move people and goods more efficiently between North Carolina and communities along the East Coast,” said Jason Orthner, Director of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division.
This deal will also enable the construction of a new Virginia-owned Long Bridge across the Potomac River, and acquisition of more than 350 miles of railroad right-of-way.
The deal comes as officials with North Carolina and Virginia work together on a strategy to acquire both in-service and out-of-service rail lines for enhanced freight and passenger services. North Carolina Sen. Tom McInnis is Chairman of the North Carolina delegation of the VA-NC Interstate High Speed Rail Compact and a Chairman of state legislative transportation committees.
“This agreement takes us a big step forward in our efforts to better connect North Carolina communities,” McInnis said. “And it will offer new connections between our state and our neighbors, providing lasting economic development opportunities for our state.”
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As we continue working with regional, state, and federal partners to explore the opportunities posed by the S-Line, we have realized many people have not ridden the NCDOT-sponsored
Piedmont
service. The
Piedmont
offers much of the same experience as commuter rail and a glimpse of what the S-Line could provide. Therefore, on behalf of the S-Line Stakeholder group, I invite you to participate in a special train ride and educational session about the commuter rail experience.
Please join us on Thursday, January 16, from 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
to ride the
Piedmont
train round-trip from Raleigh to Cary.
We will have a lunch meeting in Cary to update you on our continuing efforts on the S-Line and hear from a speaker that has successfully launched commuter rail services across the country.
Please contact a member of the KTRPO if interested in participating.
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Comprehensive State Rail Plan Update – Input Needed
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The NCDOT Rail Division is working to update the Comprehensive State Rail Plan. This plan will identify ways to make strategic passenger and freight rail investments that support safe and reliable rail transportation, while spurring economic development. The completed plan will be issued in 2020.
Stakeholder feedback is a key piece of this plan. The Department appreciates all the feedback received so far. To ensure a wide range of feedback, NCDOT has created an online survey site with questions about rail project needs and opportunities. The Department encourages you to participate in this survey. The survey is available via the following:
https://ncstaterailplan.metroquest.com/
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Announcing National Diesel Emission Reduction Program RFP
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The U.S. EPA is offering approximately $44 million in Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA) grant funds to support projects aimed at reducing emissions from the nation’s existing fleet of older diesel engines. The Agency’s DERA applications are being accepted nationwide for projects that represent significant reductions in diesel emissions from fleets in areas designated by the EPA as having poor air quality. Application packages must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
. The EPA will host a series of webinars to assist applicants in learning more about the program and grant guidelines. For further details, please visit
https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-national-grants#rfa
If interested in applying for a DERA grant, please contact a member of the KTRPO.
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Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator
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The KTCOG and KTRPO are pleased to announce Malana Williams will be serving as the Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator. Originally from Halifax County, she now resides in Warren County. Malana received her B.S. from Elizabeth City State University and her MPA for Ashford University. Prior to joining the Council of Governments, Malana was a former teacher and member of the PTA.
The SRTS initiatives seek to highlight the many health benefits associated with walking and biking to school. Malana looks forward to working with our region’s school systems in advancing the goals of the SRTS program.
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Consumer Directed Vouchers
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Kerr-Tar AAA has initiated a new program of consumer-directed vouchers for caregivers, who may apply for a $750 voucher to pay a person of their choice to care for their loved one while they take a much needed break. This program is designed to alleviate caregiver burden, and we offer information and resources to help them develop a long-term plan to meet their caregiving needs. So far we have enlisted seven family caregivers in the program, and we have three more vouchers available this fiscal year. For more information please contact Harvey Holmes at 252-436-2040 or via email, hholmes@kerrtarcog.org
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Regional Aging Advisory Committee
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Do you have ideas and opinions about resources available to older adults in our region? Do you have the time and energy to be actively involved in our quarterly advisory committee? If yes, we would love to speak with you! We’re seeking committed, creative thinkers who can help steer the region’s aging plans and advocacy. Please contact Nancy Francis at 252-436-2040 or via email nfrancis@kerrtarcog.org.
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Support Groups for Family Caregivers
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Caregiver support groups are offered monthly in the following counties: Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren. If you are a caregiver, or know someone who is, we highly recommend attending! Our caregiver support groups offer information, assistance, guidance, and support for all caregivers! The following times for support groups are listed below. For more information regarding caregiver support groups, please contact Harvey Holmes, Family Caregiver Specialist at hholmes@kerrtarcog.org or call (252) 436-2040.
Franklin County Caregiver Support Group
Louisburg Senior Center
2nd Monday @ 7:00 P.M
(919) 496-1131
Granville County Caregiver Support Group
Granville Hospital Cafeteria Meeting Room
1st Wednesday @ 12:00 P.M
(919) 690-3273
Person County Caregiver Support Group
Person County Senior Center
4th Thursday @ 6:00 P.M
(336) 599-7484
Person County Caregiver Support Group
Cambridge Hills
2nd Tuesday @ 6:30 P.M
(336) 599-7484
Vance County Caregiver Support Group
Vance County Senior Center
3rd Tuesday @ 12:00 P.M.
(252) 430-0257
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New Aging Projects Coordinator
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Michele Brigandi, joined Kerr-Tar COG mid-November. She will coordinate the Senior Games, help with monitoring, plan and run events, participate in the RAAC and STHL for advocacy and initiatives, and serve as a community educator, and more. She is an experienced business woman, lives in Louisburg, and comes to us from Northern Wake Senior Center where she served as the Senior Program Coordinator.
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It's All About Giving Back
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NCWorks Career Center is here to make a difference in the lives of the citizen who live in the five county region of Kerr-Tar. In December, the Career Center staff banded together to make the holiday season a little brighter for some who are often overlooked. They decided to “adopt” a resident from a group home or nursing home in each county served by Kerr-Tar. They asked each home to identify one resident without family or support, and unlikely to receive gifts at Christmas. The center staff were given a profile of a resident and a list of items the resident needed or wanted. The career center staff shopped for presents and delivered them on December 19. In addition, all residents of the group homes and nursing home were given toiletry kits.
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The homes were:
·
Vance Adult Home
·
Franklin County Group Home
·
Warren County Group Home
·
Oxford Group Home
·
Maple Heights Rest Home
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Certified Career Pathways
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In an effort to bring more awareness to certified career pathways within our region, NCWorks customers visited two Advanced Manufacturing Employers on Wednesday, December 4th. Customers explored a variety of positions at Dill Industries in Oxford and Amcor Rigid Plastics in Youngsville. Theses tours provided an on-site Job-shadowing experience for skills sets in various occupations such as processing technician, quality assurance specialist, and engineer. Those who participated were treated to lunch following the tour.
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Click
here to view the January calendar of happenings at local career centers.
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Are you having a hard time landing a job and feel defeated or frustrated? NCWorks Career Centers have staff and programs that can assist you. To find your local NCWorks Career Center and see the upcoming events click
here.
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Communities Served:
Franklin County
Granville County
Person County
Vance County
Warren County
Town of Bunn
Town of Butner
City of Creedmoor
Town of Franklinton
City of Henderson
Town of Kittrell
Town of Louisburg
Town of Macon
Town of Middleburg
Town of Norlina
City of Oxford
City of Roxboro
Town of Stem
Town of Stovall
Town of Warrenton
Town of Youngsville
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Executive Director
Diane Cox
Planning & Development
Michael Kelly
Workforce Development
Vincent Gilreath
Area Agency on Aging
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MISSION STATEMENT
Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments aims to
promote regionalism that provides opportunities for
local governments to enhance and improve the quality
of life for our citizens through effective delivery of
services and programs.
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