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

The Aging Department has been very busy with COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Disaster Relief funding, coordinating plans and procedures with the Division of Aging and Adult Services, other AAAs and our local providers. We have identified needs and priorities in our counties and are working to support our regions' residents during this difficult time. Our Aging Assistant has been setting up systems for our CARES resources to insure that we have a successful year with funds well spent. We have hired a specialist to coordinate CARES referral requests. The AAA is available to help with a variety of needs during the pandemic such as meals, groceries, cleaning supplies, face coverings, incontinence supplies, assistive technologies, caregiver respite vouchers, emergency home repair (must be COVID-related) and more.

The CARES funding has allowed KTAAA to provide frozen meals to a Section 8 senior community in Henderson. We are pleased to be integrating our services into the larger community. We are also providing Family Caregiver support through CARES funding, including increased respite vouchers, home care supplies, and robotic pets. Ten robotic pets were distributed to appropriate participants, and follow ups are regularly being made.

The Senior Games are being conducted virtually this year. All participants were disappointed the games couldn't be in person, but they adapted. Region K has participants in athletic events and in Silver Arts.

KTAAA continues to support the senior center providers in their important work with our region's older adults. While the centers are not currently conducting on-site activities, some are offering outdoor exercise classes, and all are providing food and other necessities. They are distributing hot meals on a daily basis to the participants who had been attending the daily congregate lunch, either via drive-by pick up at the senior centers, or via home delivery. The centers regularly include activity books, newsletters and other outreach materials in their lunch deliveries. Participants receive regular check-in phone calls from volunteers and staff. While they miss their visits to the senior centers, all are grateful for the ongoing connections.

The Coronavirus pandemic has changed every aspect of daily life. It is no different with the role of Advocates in Long Term Care. In lieu of the routine in-person visits, Kim Hawkins, Regional Ombudsman, is using a variety of virtual and contactless techniques to remain connected with the residents. She has conducted telephone and email reassurance check-ups with a limited number of residents and some of the administrative staff at the homes, as well as contacting the program volunteers. Kim has conducted virtual facility visits and contactless drop-off projects on current topics relevant to the residents. AAA staff have assisted with these ongoing projects.

In July, the Ombudsman staff provided "Activity Boxes" to each facility to support their activity programs. Each box included information that could be used as helpful resources (Medicare, resident rights, scams, family caregiver, elder abuse), as well as items that staff could use, such as prizes for Bingo. At a majority of the homes, each resident was provided with a cloth mask and hand sanitizer. Several homes thanked us for remembering their residents and staff during the pandemic. One facility, Franklin Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Louisburg used the coloring books in the box to make coloring packets for each resident. The Activities Director then conducted a coloring contest for the residents. The Ombudsman staff is glad to help address concerns of fatigue and isolation among the residents and staff and offer some encouragement during a challenging time.

Mary Lynn Baldwin has joined the Kerr-Tar AAA as the CARES Program Specialist. Referral agency requests for CARES support will be routed through Mary Lynn at 252-436-2040, extension 2036. The AAA is available to help with a variety of needs during the pandemic such as meals, groceries, cleaning supplies, face coverings, incontinence supplies, assistive technologies, caregiver respite vouchers, emergency home repair (must be COVID-related) and more. Call Mary Lynn with any questions!

The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (COG) has been awarded $200,000 by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) under the 2020 cycle of the Urgent Repair Program to assist residents in the counties of Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren. The Urgent Repair program finances emergency home repairs for homeowners who are elderly or have special needs and whose incomes are below 50% of the median for the area.  Only repairs that address imminent threats to the life and/or safety of occupants of the dwelling unit or accessibility modifications will be performed under the program.  A total of 18 households are projected to be assisted.

Applications are available starting September 1, 2020 and must be returned to the COG office by 5:00 pm on November 1, 2020. Clients to be assisted will be selected by January 1, 2021.     

The application and program information are available on the Kerr-Tar Regional COG website at www.kerrtarcog.org or by calling 252-436-2040. The funds provided by the NCHFA for the Urgent Repair Program come from the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund.

KTRPO Staff continue to work on a Pedestrian Plan for the Town of Norlina and begin work on an update to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans for the City of Oxford. KTRPO staff will provide updates on the plans as they progress.

As people across North Carolina are using greenways and trails in record numbers, their input is needed to develop the Great Trails State Plan. The Great Trails State Plan is a Department of Transportation-led effort to identify existing trails and define what actions need to take place to connect those trails statewide in all 100 N.C. Counties. The plan builds upon local and regional trails to identify one overall trail network that is focused on connections to state parks and populated areas. The public can provide feedback by taking an interactive map survey and a 10-question survey. Participants are encouraged to take both surveys. The deadline to complete the surveys is September 30, 2020.

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 NADO Impact Awards program honors NADO members for their creative approaches to advancing regional economic development and improved quality of life. These projects have made significant impacts on their regions and demonstrate the diversity of services and program delivery provided by regional development organizations across the country. The 2020 class of awardees consists of 79 projects from 48 organizations spanning 19 states, with Kerr-Tar COG being one of the recipients for the Focus 20/20 Regional Economic Development Summit. Congratulations go out to everyone who was a part of this Summit!

Looking for a job - Check out www.NCWORKS.gov 

The 2020 Census is at a critical point. North Carolina is severely under counted with only a few weeks left. Rural areas are especially behind. North Carolina--the 4th fastest growing and 9th largest--will lose $7.4 billion in funding with our current count. The consequences of that will be felt far into the future. This isn't abstract money--these are tax dollars, already paid and collected. If we these funds aren't claimed through a proper count, it will go elsewhere.

This will be felt most locally, in your hometowns (roads, schools, emergency services, veterans services, senior care, early education programs, parks, infrastructure, economic development, and on and on. Imagine where North Carolina can be in 10 years with that additional, much-earned $7.4 billion. Imagine where North Carolina will be without it.

The U.S. Census Bureau announced it will end all field data collections on September 30, 2020. All residents are encouraged to complete their census questionnaires.

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 August 24, 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.

Effective September 1, 2020, NC Medicaid will begin reimbursing COVID-19 testing costs for uninsured individuals enrolled in the NC Medicaid Optional COVID-19 Testing (MCV) program. To be eligible, you must:

A simple online application for the MCV program will be available in September, and individuals will be able to apply using the internet or mobile device. Until the online application is ready, we encourage Medicaid-enrolled providers who perform COVID-19 testing to download paper applications, available in English & Spanish, and collect them for mailing to the Medicaid address on the form. Paper applications are estimated to take 2-6 weeks for processing. CLICK HERE to learn more.

Many small and local businesses in the Kerr-Tar Region have been negatively affected by COVID-19. In an effort to provide support to those businesses, the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments is rolling out the Open for Business Loan Program. This loan program is designed to help small to medium size businesses recover from the economic effects of this pandemic.  

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, visit www.kerrtarcog.org and click on the “Open for Business Loan” tab.  

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 at www.kerrtarcog.org. 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.