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

The next Caregiver's Cup coffee club will be Friday, December 11 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!

KTAAA received federal grant funding through the CARES Act to support COVID-19 related needs of adults age 60 and older in the region. COVID related needs include food, PPE, assistive items for the home, medical alert devices, etc. These services are being advertised via our flyer, which is available through the senior centers and various community partners. Service referrals must come to us via a referral agent, such as the senior center, a care manager, social worker, physician's office or similar party. CARES services are provided at no charge to the older adult. For more information CLICK HERE or contact our CARES Specialist, Mary Lynn Baldwin at 252-436-2040, ext. 2036.

Have you noticed our billboards in the region? There are 3 billboards reminding everyone about Medicare Open Enrollment with our Kerr-Tar Area Agency on Aging logo. Medicare Open Enrollment will go through December 7th. After Open Enrollment has concluded, these billboards will rotate to information about our Family Caregiver services, so keep an eye out!

We are pleased to announce that Region K Community Assistance Corporation, a non-profit entity of the Council of Governments, was selected to receive a $25,000 Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant from the Duke Energy Foundation. The Region K CAC was one of 40 applicants selected from among 300 applicants across the State of North Carolina. These grant funds will assist the Region K CAC and the Council of Governments in providing training and workshops for our member governments' elected boards and citizen advisory commissions and councils. It is our goal that as a result of the trainings and workshops provided through this funding, there will be a greater cultural awareness and sensitivity of diverse groups living within the Kerr-Tar region. We look forward to collaborating with county and municipal administrators in providing this beneficial and relevant training to our member governments and community partners.

The KTRPO joint TAC/TCC will not meet during the month of December. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 25, 2021 from 3:00-5:00 pm via Zoom. Further details will be provided to members as the meeting date approaches.

Discover the latest and greatest in sustainable fleet technology, operations, and implementations at the 4th Annual Sustainable Fleet Technology Virtual Conference. The 2020 Conference will now be a series of webinar sessions on a variety of topics highlighting the leading edge of sustainable fleet practices and alternative fuel opportunities.

Each session, covering current technologies in the fleet industry, will feature several expert speakers from all around the country. Sessions will discuss the latest and greatest opportunities for biofuel, electric, natural gas, and propane fuels and fueling, with a strong focus on data-driven decisions, tools, and technologies. All webinar sessions will be offered free of charge. Save the dates and register below by clicking on the sessions you are interested in attending.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will begin accepting proposals in January for Level 2 charging projects to be funded by Phase 1 of the NC Volkswagen Mitigation Settlement Program. The agency has allocated 25% of the Phase 1 Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure allocation, or approximately $1.1 million, to Level 2 charging infrastructure projects.

A webinar will be held on December 11, 2020 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm for interested stakeholders and applicants. During this webinar, staff will show applicants how to request access to the DAQ Grants Management System and answer questions regarding the Request for Proposals. DAQ encourages anyone interested in applying for a rebate voucher to attend this webinar.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Level 2 ZEV Charging Infrastructure Program will assist interested parties in applying for funds using a first-come, first-served rebate process to install ZEV Level 2 charging infrastructure, as described in the North Carolina VW Mitigation Plans. The primary goal is to increase use of ZEVs in place of gas-powered cars to mitigate nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

NCDEQ anticipates awarding a total of approximately $1.1 million towards Level 2 charging infrastructure projects in Phase 1. Rebate applications will be prioritized by the urban-suburban/rural split described in the NC VW Mitigation Plan, with about 68% of the funds allocated for urban and suburban counties, and a minimum of 32% allocated for rural counties.

Those interested in attending the webinar must register by December 9, 2020. Registration is available via the following FORM. For additional information and documents regarding the RFP, CLICK HERE.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is making excellent progress on the Great Trails State Plan and is in the process of finalizing the draft trail network. The Department received over 13,000 responses from the public through the survey and online web map. The Department sincerely appreciates all the involvement and support of the draft network and plan.

To finalize the draft network, NCDOT would like to receive additional feedback from the public in response to the draft maps. A Public Input page has been created and can be accessed HERE. The deadline for public comments on the draft maps is Friday, December 4, 2020. It is anticipated the draft plan will be available for public review in January 2021.

EDA is excited to announce the FY 2020 Scaling Pandemic Resilience Through Innovation and Technology (SPRINT) Challenge. EDA is seeking applications from eligible organizations working to rapidly address the economic, health, and safety risks caused by the coronavirus pandemic through entrepreneurship and innovation.

This $25 million national competition is designed to support the development, creation, or expansion of programs that accelerate technology-based economic development in pursuit of vibrant, innovative economies and economic growth, and respond to the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic. SPRINT Challenge applications will be awarded under the EDA’s Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, which is authorized under Section 209 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (PWEDA) (42 U.S.C. § 3149).

Applicant organizations should articulate a clearly defined strategy to leverage grant funds to support one or more of the following activities to help address the needs of and unique operating environment necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic:

Applications are due Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 11:59 pm EST. Click HERE for more information.