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FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Alabama Association of Regional Councils recently held our Annual Meeting in Point Clear. This organization celebrated its 50th year of service to the citizens of Alabama and I'm confident that the many programs and services that Regional Planning Commissions offer and administer are vital to our states quality of life.
Also, the SARPC Annual Meeting will be held on Dec. 7th and 8th at the Grand Hotel. Over 100 elected officials from our three county region will gather to hear strategic planning programs from ALDOT, State Legislators, Economic Developers and Alabama Port Authority officials. Also, Alabama Chief Justice Lyn Stuart will be our luncheon speaker Friday. Join us!!
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TRANSPORTATION
There will be a meeting of the Mobile Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) on December 13th, 2017 at 10:00 AM in the SARPC Board Room at the GMO Building. Prior to that meeting, the Technical Coordinating Committee / Citizens Advisory Committee (TCC/CAC) will have met on November 29th, 2017.
Transportation Improvement Program( TIP) Now Online
The TIP represents a four year program (2016-2019) for improvements in the various transportation systems located within the Mobile study area as identified in the Mobile MPO's Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), the twenty-five year plan for the Mobile Urban area Destination 2040. The LRTP establishes the transportation programs that are needed to meet travel demand by the study year and study area. LRTP projects that become funded are moved into the TIP and submitted to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), where they are programmed into the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). For MPO projects, TIP project selection is based on priorities established by MPO member governments and the availability of funds through the Surface Transportation Attributable program. For other projects, ALDOT has discretion of project funding based on availability of funds from various types of funding categories. Most often, projects in the TIP are derived from the LRTP. The TIP guides ALDOT in its annual allocation of funds for transportation improvements and becomes a part of the STIP.
ArcGIS Online is now being utilized by MPO staff to map all federally funded surface transportation projects within our area. Check it out.
List of Authorized Projects for FY 2017
The Mobile MPO is currently advertising that the public can review all federally funded transportation projects that were authorized in Fiscal Year 2017 at the offices of the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission. Those interested in reviewing these projects can also view and download it online
HERE. In terms of dollars, there were over $51.5 Million worth of federally assisted transportation projects authorized in FY 2017 for the Mobile MPO Study Area.
Comprehensive, Cooperative, and Continuing Agreement Concerning Mobile's Transportation Planning Process
The Mobile MPO 3-C Agreement has been finalized and executed.
HERE.
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Coastal Zone Management Grants Awarded
Congratulations to the Town of Dauphin Island and the City of Citronelle.
They were both recently awarded a Coastal Zone Management Grant: Dauphin Island to prepare a dune protection plan and Citronelle to prepare a Comprehensive Plan.
I would like to remind everyone that the Coastal Zone Management Grant Application announcement will be occurring in January. These funds can be used for comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances. If you are interested in applying for a grant please contact us.
Most recently the Department has been involved with:
- Preparing a new zoning ordinance for Bayou La Batre
- Administering Atmore's EDA Grant
- Working with Citronelle on a new Comprehensive Plan
- Preparing an Economic Development Administration Planning Grant Application
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| Access road being constructed with EDA funds, for Brown Precision, in Atmore, Alabama. |
Click
HERE for a 4 min video that might interest you as it explains what EDA does.
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EMPLOYMENT & ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT
The latest of our Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) clients, have opened and are going gangbusters.
Southern National
What is Southern National?.....Their website tells the following: A casual community restaurant, Southern National is situated on the ground level of the restored historic Wilkins-Higgins building, a 4-story mixed-use staple of Mobile's popular Arts District. Chef Duane Nutter and restaurateur Reggie Washington bring world-class experience and a modern approach to classic Southern dishes to the Gulf Coast in this exciting new venture from Port City Hospitality Group, and are most eager to serve up their own take on heartwarming hospitality. Check them out!
Burris Farm Market (Stewart & Tolbert, Inc.)
has opened a new business located near the Wharf in Orange Beach. Get your fresh farm produce and fresh pies - made daily and upon request by Shannon Tiege.
When you are headed down to Orange Beach or are being a "beach bum", call the Chef and tell him what kind of pie you want, go shop for an hour or two and he will have it ready for pick up. You will love the taste and the quality. They aim to please!
Imagine This Events/Classic Events
It is that time of year when we are going from one party or celebration to another. If you need assistance with your event call Heather Pfefferkorn at Classic Events and she will make your event well.......CLASSIC! Whether you use her location at The Pillars or any other site, she is the one who will take the stress off the planning and execution of your special event. Call her today!
For more information on the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) contact Terri Pringle at (251) 706-4614 or email [email protected]
Senior Community Service Employment Program
For the Senior Community Service Employment Program's (SCSEP) quarterly meeting Tammy Lowe, Human Resource Manager of PCH Hotels and Resorts, conducted a PowerPoint presentation which included photos of the Mobile area and PCH properties throughout the state- including Robert Trent Jones Golf Courses.
Ms. Lowe gave participants a list of positions available in the Mobile area and spoke about the process of applying for those positions with PCH properties (going on line and completing the application in addition to a questionnaire that required careful contemplation). She also spent time answering individual questions from SCSEP participants.
Mature Staffing Service
takes the frustration and cost of releasing employees and finding qualified workers off of you and on to us. We are responsible for Worker Compensation costs, payroll taxes, and removing an employee who is just not a good fit. Try it and see how easy it is.
Contact Shannon Raley at (251) 706-4639 or email her at
SAPA - South Alabama Purchasing Association
Do you are your staff get frustrated with the bidding process in trying to find the best price for supplies? Here is some good news...... If your organization is a non-profit or a government entity, you will want to check out the savings the South Alabama Purchasing Association can provide. SAPA has contracts with companies which provide: fuel, office supplies, vehicle parts and batteries, asphalt, pine straw, hay, etc.
For more information call Wayne Smith at (251) 463-1271 or email
[email protected]. You will be glad you did.
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AREA AGENCY ON AGING
2017 Senior Lifestyle Expos
The Area Agency on Aging's 2017 Senior Lifestyle Expos were a big success again this year with thousands of seniors taking advantage of a day of fun, fellowship and resources.
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Julie McGee, Director, pictured with the Azalea Trail Maids who greeted attendees at the Mobile Senior Expo on October 4th at The Grounds.
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Attendees at the Mobile Senior Expo on October 4th at The Grounds
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The Area Agency on Aging's annual Baldwin County Senior Expo was held at the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale on October 12th. Decorated in Fall colors, hundreds of seniors enjoyed the health fair sponsored by the South Baldwin Hospital, the Medicare Mall with Cigna-HealthSpring providing the Wheel of Fortune this year, shopping, lunch, grand prizes, giveaways, and dozens of community agencies offering local services and products. It was a fun, entertaining and educational day for all.
Congressman Bradley Byrne Visit to Wilmer Senior Center
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On Monday November 27th, Congressman Bradley Byrne visited Wilmer Senior Center to see how the nutrition program benefits area seniors. He pitched in to help serve meals and then went with the van driver to deliver meals to the homebound in the Wilmer community. The Area Agency on Aging provides 413,876 meals to 3,662 older adults in Baldwin, Mobile and Escambia counties annually. The majority of the cost of the meals is covered by the federal Older Americans Act grant received by SARPC. Other important sources of funding are State dollars, participant donations, and Community Development Block Grant funds. Approximately 56% of seniors participating in the meal program attend one of the 27 Senior Nutrition Centers funded by SARPC and our partner local governments and non-profits; and 44% are homebound and receive home delivered meals. The Wilmer Seniors were very excited to have Congressman Byrne visit to see how important funding is from the Older Americans Act and to see those tax dollars at work helping local seniors.
Congressman Bryne aiding in the preparation of meals to be delivered
Congressman Bryne meeting with Judy Wilmer (Left) and Larry Wilmer (Right)
Congressman Bryne delivering meals to the local community
Fostering a Dementia Friendly Community
The Area Agency on Aging received a mini-grant to develop a Dementia Friendly Churches project headed by our long term volunteer and Alzheimer's Advocate, Beth Reinert. Beth did several trainings with local congregations on how the faith community can include their members living with Alzheimer's disease or dementia and their care partners in the church community. The project culminated with an a community event that provided a safe and accepting outings for persons with early stage dementia and their caregivers.
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This Memory Café was held in partnership with the Mobile Museum of Art on September 18th. The caregivers and loved ones participated in a sing-along and painted still life subjects. A second Memory Café was held in conjunction with Art in the Park at the Mobile Museum of Art on November 6th.
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Dementia Friendly Alabama is part of the Dementia Friendly Community (DFC) movement, with a mission to provide a safe, comfortable, engaging environment where people with memory loss and their care partners can laugh, learn, and remain socially engaged with others traveling the same journey. For more information, contact Beth Reinert at 209-1555, or Della Sanchez, Alabama Cares Coordinator for SARPC's caregiver support program at 706-4650.
National Caregiver Month
This Fall was a very busy time for Caregiver programs and Alzheimer's Walks, with November being National Caregiver Month. The Area Agency on Aging conducted its first Caregiver College for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren on September 21, with a follow-up workshop due to demand on October 26. This specialized workshop will be held at least annually, and the next one is scheduled in Gulf Shores. Additional caregiver workshops were held in Atmore on October 24th and Mobile on November 2nd. An upcoming Caregiver Workshop will be held on January 12th at the Baldwin County Complex in Robertsdale. Contact Della Sanchez at SARPC, call 706-4650 for more information.
2018 Legacy Leadership Institute
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