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

The next Caregiver's Cup coffee club will be Friday, March 12 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 application period for the 2021 AARP Community Challenge is now open! This challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Applications are accepted for projects to improve public spaces, housing, transportation, civic engagement, coronavirus recovery, diversity and inclusion, and more. Applications are due by 8:00 pm (EST) on April 14, 2021.

Find the application HERE.

Cardinal Innovations will be providing a free webinar on March 19 from 10:00-11:00 am entitled "Care Giving for Our Loved Ones with Love" by Nancy Hux, Community Engagement Specialist. This presentation will cover the following topics:

Please join us for this informative and interactive event. For further details, check our Kerr-Tar AAA Facebook page or call Austin Caton, Family Caregiver Support Specialist at 252-436-2040 ext. 6072.

The next KTRPO joint TAC/TCC meeting will be held Thursday, March 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.

The Council of Governments along with our Cooperative Extension Offices are still accepting applications for inclusion onto the the region's Visit NC Farms Mobile App. Since the pandemic, many of our region's farms and Farmers' Markets have adapted the ways they conduct business or offer products.

If you are a local farmer, local food producer, a restaurant using local foods, or offer local goods, please contact your local Cooperative Extension Office or Council of Governments for details about being included onto the mobile app.

The app is available to download for free in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

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. Any local government interested in participating in CERRI, please contact James Cunningham at 252-436-2040 or jcunningham@kerrtarcog.org. Participating communities will receive individualized Community Economic Resiliency and Small Business Support Plans.

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.

Join UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Professors Dr. James "Jim" Johnson & Jeanne Milliken Bonds for a series of Zoom Meetings entitled: Lean In To 2021: More Equitable, More Resilient. The sessions will be held on March 19, April 16, May 21, and June 18 starting at 1:00 pm. Register for the series by clicking the button below.

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund was created with the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. Because the DWSRF is federally-seeded, the loans are subject to additional federal regulations regarding environmental review, outreach for disadvantaged business enterprises, payroll (Davis Bacon and Related Acts), etc.

The types of funding available are low-interest loans (1/2 of market interest rates) and a limited amount of principal forgiveness loans. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

We are excited to share the NC Moves 2050 Plan, adopted by the N.C. Board of Transportation on Feb. 4, 2021. NCDOT also launched an interactive webtool that presents the plan’s findings and outlines the steps North Carolina needs to take to be prepared for the next 30 years and beyond. You can download the NC Moves 2050 Plan and explore the interactive webtool at www.ncmoves.gov. 

Mr. Cooper reached out to NCWorks in December seeking assistance with his job search. He was particularly interested in working for one of Kerr-Tar's premier manufacturers, Bridgestone-Bandag. Their Human Resources Manager Kimberly Burnett is a close and valued partner with NCWorks. She was seeking excellent candidates for night-time Production Technicians. Her process requires applying through NCWorks, answering screening questions and then being referred by Center staff. Applicants would then be provided a link to the online application.

This multi-step process requires a high level of computer literacy, and Mr. Cooper possessed the computer skills, but did not have access to a home computer. At this time, due to COVID-19, many public computer labs were closed, including the public libraries, as well as NCWorks. Mr. Cooper worked closely with Business Services and his Career Advisor to complete all the steps of the application, using his cell phone to log in for each step. He followed up daily straight through the Christmas and New Year's holidays. After the holidays, Mr. Cooper toured the plant, interviewed, and was offered the position. He happily accepted, and is excited to start on a new career pathway in Advanced Manufacturing with Bridgestone-Bandag.

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.