Podcasts about Community Development Block Grant

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Community Service Director John Storer about major construction projects underway and planned for Dover. The episode also features updates on City Council and Planning Board activities from May.Parker and Storer discuss the downtown streetlight replacement project, which began as a pilot program near Franklin Square and will expand along Central Avenue from the railroad tracks toward Broadway. The city is replacing 22 additional lights and hopes to complete the project by fall. They also cover the phased replacement of 15 downtown street trees, pedestrian safety improvements including bump-outs at First and Second streets, and lighting upgrades south of the Central Avenue Bridge.Major infrastructure projects include a $10 million Court and Union Street reconstruction starting this summer, water main replacements on Broadway and Oak Street, and the upcoming Henry Law to Payne Street reconstruction following Apple Harvest Day. Storer highlights the $20 million Central Avenue gateway project from Silver Street to Stark Avenue, which requires extensive right-of-way coordination and federal compliance.Brian Early reports on City Council activities, focusing on the proposed $20 million Dover High School athletic field improvements at Dunaway Field. The Council will hold a public hearing June 11 and vote June 25. Other Council actions included approving Community Development Block Grant funding and public art projects.Erin Bassegio summarizes Planning and Zoning Board decisions, including subdivision approvals, variance requests, and a housing development at 566 Sixth St. that was ultimately approved after an appeal.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with John Swartzendruber, a former Planning Board member who served from 2003 until the 2010s. This is the third episode in a series looking back at the Planning Board over the years. Swartzendruber discusses how he joined the board after his father-in-law, who had been a planning director in Portsmouth, suggested he get involved in the community. He reflects on the positive experience of working with a diverse group of board members and city staff, highlighting the camaraderie and teamwork. Swartzendruber mentions notable projects during his tenure, including Liberty Mutual's campus expansion in 2007 (from which he recused himself as a Liberty employee) and the Point Place development. He describes how planning board members received physical packets of materials delivered to their homes before meetings, a practice that has since shifted to digital delivery. Swartzendruber explains that he eventually left the board when his growing family commitments made it difficult to attend meetings consistently. He encourages listeners to consider volunteering for the Planning Board, emphasizing that no specific experience is required to make a valuable contribution.In This Week in Dover History, we hear from Brian Early of Media Services and Erin Bassegio from the planning department about recent city activities. They discuss April City Council actions including approval of new ballot counting machines, a water main replacement project, and a contract for natural turf maintenance on city fields. The Planning Board reviewed Community Development Block Grant funding, approved a project for five single-family homes, and conducted training for members on their roles and responsibilities. Various subcommittees are working on updates to the Transfer of Development Rights ordinance and addressing community housing needs. Other boards and commissions that met include the Conservation Commission, Zoning Board, Parking Commission, and Waterfront Committee.

Clark County has opened applications for the Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds starting today. Approximately three million dollars will be available for community development and housing activities. A pre-application workshop will help applicants navigate the process, ensuring that projects benefit low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. Learn more about this funding opportunity and its impact on local communities at https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/applications-for-2025-clark-county-cdbg-home-funds-available-starting-oct-1 #ClarkCounty #CDBG #HOMEfunds #communitydevelopment #localnews

Community Development Block Grant manager Lisa Krieg joins us in the studio this month to talk about her tenure with the City of Norman and some of the recent and upcoming projects she has been working on. For more information about the City of Norman, visit www.NormanOK.gov Questions or comments about the podcast can be emailed to PublicAffairs@NormanOK.gov Twitter - @cityofnormanok Instagram - @thecityofnorman Facebook YouTube

Each year Toledo's Department of Housing and Community Development disperses Federal grant money, known as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to qualified local applicants. Monica Brown discusses the logistics of the program, the process and available funds, and we are delighted to share how these grants work to make an impact on Toledo residents. Harvey Savage runs the MLK Kitchen for the Poor which is celebrating its 55th year of operation this year. Want to get involved? Join them for a fundraiser event May 4th.

From firefighters to fresh lettuce, Congresswoman Lori Trahan discussed local advances made possible with federal dollars on the 50th anniversary of Community Development Block Grants.During a visit Wednesday to WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, she told listeners she is impressed with how the YMCA used CDBG funds to help with its Freight Farm project, saying it's helping young students develop unexpected skills at school.“Highly interactive, experiential learning, biology, chemistry and business all in real time, and it's just great to see this program getting support from private sector partners like Beth Israel Lahey and the city in the form of nearly $33,000 in funding from the city's Community Development Block Grant award,”  she said.Trahan says she is a big fan of Community Development Block Grants, because of their flexibility.“So, it is a vehicle for federal funds to make their way directly to cities and towns. They don't go through the state, so they can use those funds on local initiatives, local projects. They can help nonprofits with capacity building. It's true that a city and town is closest to where the gaps are.”To emphasize her point, Trahan says cities and towns can make better decisions on how to dispense the money to address local needs. “Obviously a project like the Y's Freight Farm, providing students with such a cool interactive learning experience is just a great example of those funds at work.”Trahan told listeners she was given some lettuce and kale from the Freight Farm to take home to her family.As WHAV previously reported, Trahan is the Northern Essex Community College commencement speaker Saturday, May 18.“It's always an honor to go to speak to graduates as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. For me, it's so motivating and energizing to see the future of our country kind of move onto the workforce with all their aspirations,” she said.Support the show

I would like to introduce you to Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills. She had a decent childhood, for the most part. She was raped and also gang raped, but as she learned to be unstoppable and gained strength from these experiences, she grew into a fierce advocate for women and then later for other marginalized groups. Her story is quite amazing. To me, the most amazing thing is that she is quite willing to share her story if it will help others. She will tell us all about her philosophy on the subject.   For a time she worked in the insurance arena and then went into other endeavors. Over the past 20 years she has been a coach, trainer and consultant to over 2,000 companies and, as she says, she has assisted countless more in various ways.   Barbara's story and life lessons demonstrate how someone can make the choice to be unstoppable. She lives in Mount Loral, NJ with her family. If you ever meet her, don't mess with her as she is quite proficient in various martial arts styles as you can read in her bio. I hope you gain wisdom and knowledge from our conversation. Barbara Anne is a gem and a wonderful person to talk with. I hope you feel the same.   About the Guest:   Barbara Anne is a “Solutions Navigator” and servant leader who has directly assisted over 2,000 businesses in the past two decades and provided training, coaching, and technical assistance to countless more companies, teams, entrepreneurs, and individuals throughout her career. She is the founder and owner of Purpose-Filled Solutions and Evolutions LLC, a business consulting and leadership coaching company that partners with people, leaders, companies, and agencies to find their "why" (core purpose), identify resources, navigate challenges, change mindsets, and develop and implement plans to achieve their visions of success, with an emphasis on civility, inclusion, equity, and diversity (CIED), her unique alternative to current DEI approaches. Barbara Anne also serves as Director of Compliance & Engagement for Cooperative Business Assistance Corporation (CBAC) in Camden, NJ, and hosts “What The Why?!? with Barbara Anne,” a weekly talk show on RVN Television, Roku, and more. Before her current roles, she served as the Management Analyst and Community Liaison for the U.S. White House Promise Zone Initiative in Camden, NJ, stationed at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), and as Supervisor of Lender Relations and Economic Development/Women's Business Ownership Representative for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) New Jersey District Office, and in other leadership roles in the corporate, non-profit, and municipal government arenas. Barbara Anne holds an M.S. in Executive Leadership, a B.A. in Political Science/ Honors with concentrations in Pre-Law and Women's Studies, and an A.A. in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Business Communications. She has completed multiple professional designations and adult continuing education certificates, including her Professional Certified Coach (PCC) certification with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Certified Professional Coach in Executive Coaching from RCSJ, and certifications in talent optimization and implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. Barbara Anne serves in volunteer leadership capacities with ICF's NJ Charter Chapter and Braven, and she is a member of ICF Global, the Association of Talent Development (ATD), CDFI Women's Network, and other professional and civic organizations. The National Association of Women's Business Owners (NAWBO) – South Jersey Chapter honored her with their 2016 “Women's Advocate of the Year” award.  She is also a Second-Degree Black Belt and member of the Okinawa Goju-Ryu Kenshi-Kai Karate-Jutsu Kobu-Jutsu Association and trains in multiple other martial arts styles.   ** ** Ways to connect with Barbara:   Email: info@Purposefilledsolutionsandevolutions.com Phone: 856-313-0609 Website: https://www.purposefilledsolutionsandevolutions.com/  Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bgardenhiremills/ Purpose-Filled Solutions & Evolutions' Social Media Links Through LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/purposefilledcoach "What The Why?!? with Barbara Anne" On-Demand: https://rvntelevision.com/tv-show/what-the-why/        About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.     Transcription Notes Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Well, and hello, once again. Welcome to unstoppable mindset. I'm your host, Michael Hingson. Or you can call me Mike, it's okay. Just Oh, I hate to do the joke, just not late for dinner. But anyway, here we are. And today we get to talk with Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills. Barbara Ann is in New Jersey has an interesting story and things that she's doing as a coach and other work that she is doing. And also, I'm going to give it away and she'll talk about it anyway. Barbara has had a couple of bouts with COVID. And actually just got through with one but she has a lot of wisdom about long COVID And actually already and just talking with her before we started this I learned some things I didn't know. And knowledge is always useful thing to have. So Barbara Anne welcome to unstoppable mindset.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 02:12 Thank you so much. I am super happy and honored to be asked to be your guest today. I'm really looking forward to our conversation.   Michael Hingson ** 02:23 Well, then we ought to have one right. So tell me about maybe the the younger barber and growing up and all that let's start there. It's always good as they say to start at the beginning somewhere.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 02:34 Yes. Start at the beginning. So younger Pribram was born in the late 60s to Maryland and Joseph, a biracial couple. So when my parents got married, still wasn't even legal in some states. And I was born right here in New Jersey, Jersey girl my whole life. And my my five foot three Caucasian mom and my six foot three. Black dad, African American reef. Yeah, they met when they were in college. And while my mother's family was very, very not in any way any color in the family tree has recently improved by one to three me my father's family was always very integrated. And I was the first of four children. My mother and dad had me and my sister exactly 16 months apart on purpose. I think that's insane. I can't even imagine doing that these days. And, and then there was three other siblings that would come along the way. One of whom died shortly after birth because of complications. And it was interesting. I grew up in an apartment complex that wasn't then but is now officially designated as what you would call affordable housing. And a small little, I never thought of it as rural growing up, but they call it rural. It was Vineland, New Jersey. Ah, and it actually is the biggest city in the state of New Jersey in terms of land size, all 69 square miles of it. And but definitely in southern New Jersey. And this is at a time when a lot of the highways and systems that exist now didn't even exist in its parts of South Jersey. And it was like its own whole other world. Anybody who has any familiarity with North and South Jersey knows how vastly different the two are the right down to the accents. And you know, we you know, had a good upbringing, the Things were going well, when it's time for me to go to school, because of the time that it was was you talking about early 70s, I was bussed as part of a program to make sure that they were, you know, equally distributing children aka schools. Which was really interesting. When back in the days before there was cell phones, in fact, my parents had a party line. They accidentally put me on the wrong bus. That was fun when you're in kindergarten. Yeah. But probably one of the earliest tragic things that would happen to me what happened when I was seven. And it's interesting, because I, my mom said, I've always been a forward planner, I've always been very rational, but also very even tempered. And she likes to tell stories about how you know, at a time when I was 14 months, I spilled a bowl of popcorn and I sat there at 14 months old, individually picking up each piece of kernel of corn and putting it back in the bowl. And when I was when I started walking it at nine months, and around 1112 months, we were out walking, and I saw a dandy line and I bent over and I pulled it up, I had no idea that would kill it. I picked it up and I sniffed it, and proceeded to put it right back in its exact place where it was. And so all these years later, she still loves to tell that story because I was very methodical and particular and had my routines and my processes. And then 10 days before Christmas, just after my seventh birthday, my father was killed in a car accident. And here was my mother, at the age of 28, widowed with four biracial children, the oldest of whom was seven and the youngest of whom was only had just been born on October 27. And that would be one of many pivots, in terms of that would define my future going forward. Okay, how   Michael Hingson ** 07:09 did you how did your parents, your, your grandparents deal with you? Maybe at the beginning, you said that they on your mom's side, we're not really oriented toward having biracial or any color in the family did that mollify at all especially towards you as you grow older,   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 07:30 not till I was much older. In fact, when my dad died, my grandfather, who was an Episcopal priest, refused to let my grandmother even can be with my mother, her grieving daughter, because as far as he was concerned, she was dead to him.   Michael Hingson ** 07:51 I have just never comprehended, of course, I've been blind my whole life, baby. And I regard it as a blessing. But I've just never understood this whole issue of color, and skin color having any significance to anything. It's just crazy. But   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 08:09 for the most part, it wasn't even a thing until the mid 1800s. In terms of, you know, I can't think of his name right now, because I'm coming off of my long COVID relapse, but a British scientist, was the one who kind of artificially constructed and classified race. Yeah. And there were a number of people, including Alexander Graham Bell, who bought into some of those theories. Yeah. And but before that, it really was just more of a familial designation, in terms of what country you are from and royalty was royalty. So they intermixed all the time. You know, there was how we understand things now really, are an artificial construct, which is one of the foundational pieces of what I do in my work as it relates to civility, inclusion and equity and diversity. But in that time, my grandmother didn't come my aunt didn't come they were in Florida. My dad's family. My dad was the youngest of six and he was a sports person he had played for the Eagles, arm team and he played basketball and everybody knew who he was. And his family stepped up and stepped in by her family was non existent. I would finally meet her sister a few years after that, and we have a good relationship. I only ever met my one uncle on her side once and I have a necklace that's handed down to my mother was. Her maiden name was aptly As in former Prime Minister Attlee of England, and so they were very particular, he was very much. Interestingly, it was almost bad that he married my grandmother. He was very much a white Anglo Saxon Protestant male, who married my mother's mother, my grandmother, credibly beautiful woman, her name was Ruth Fogarty. And like, parents off the boat Irish, her dad was an Irish house in New Orleans. And, and they had three children, and my mother was the oldest of them. And so dad wasn't so thrilled and dad ruled the household. And I finally met my grandmother right before I turned 12, because there's a family necklace that's handed down through the Fogarty family line to the to the oldest female on their 12th birthday. And so she was permitted to come see us and, and transfer that to me. And then right around the time I turned 16, my grandfather decided to have a change of heart, and that he was wrong. And I would meet him a couple of times between 16 and 19. And then when I was 19, he passed us was very awkward, I agreed to go to the funeral for my mother. But that was probably actually one of the biggest fights we ever had to because I had very strong feelings about being forced to go and mourn someone that had done, what I now understood had been the things that he had done over the course of her life in mind. But I, you know, she she said, incredible person. So my mother, who I'm I've ever been, I don't know who it is, but I don't like she tends to be much more private. She watches everything I do. But I don't usually name her for her own privacy reasons. You know, she would raise all four of us on her own, she never remarried, she went back to school, because she dropped out when she married my dad, and then had me, you know, urina. She got married in February of 67. They had me in mid November of 68. So she decided to go back to school, she completed her associate's then her Bachelor's than her Master's. And she went on to teach at the college where she got her nursing degree. And all of that joined the military before age 40, to become a nurse. And for the US Army, reserve corps, so she did a lot of really amazing things on her own, with me, helping out along the way, as the oldest child. So I learned to do a lot of things very young, that I probably wouldn't really be able to do now, in terms of watching siblings, cooking and cleaning, and things like that, but things that were otherwise really common at the time. And another big part of our lives was the church that we raised in. And because the whole family, my dad's family, was involved on both sides, my family were involved in the clergy, but the brother and cousins that we were most close to, went to the church where we went to and so they became a huge support system for my mom. And in a very interesting indoctrination process for me, that I would spend the better part of my teens and early 20s trying to undo. So that's the very early I, you know, we went to a private Christian school on scholarship. And when my mom graduated, they said no more scholarships. So I went to public high school, and did really well. You know, but I felt like I had been kind of thrown into this weird alternative universe where I had been used to being one of the only children of color in an entire school. And now I was in a school that was pseudo integrated. Different kids tended to be tracked based on their intelligence, but also, in part based on their socioeconomic status and, and race. And on my very first day, when I went to go in with the few kids that I didn't know, into the school cafeteria, I was stopped at the door and I was told that only the white kids ate in there, I had to go to the other cafeteria with the black and Spanish kids. And I was like, what, what are you talking about? And they were like, You eaten here. And that that was not something that my high school fixed for almost another 15 years when they finally decided to assign cafeterias, and eliminate a lot of staff. But other than that, I did choir, I did drama, I did all the things that I loved to learn, had its really great friends. And then couldn't afford to go to college. Now that my mom was working, I didn't get enough aid, and I wanted to be a doctor. And so I ended up getting just enough grants to go to community college. And then I went to work full time, and we went to school full time at nights. I went to work for Prudential insurance company, and they paid 90% tuition reimbursement. And I worked there in policyholder services, answering questions for agents for 10 states. Here I was, you know, the ages of 1819 20 ensiling complex insurance questions back when everything was in these little books, we would have to pull the pages out. And to replace them to update them. We covered all of New England and most of the East Coast with the exception of New Jersey and Massachusetts along scope   Michael Hingson ** 16:36 guard. So this was like 1987 88. Yes, exactly.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 16:40 8788 89. And, and then one of the next major pivotal things in my life happens. Having been raised in a very fundamentalist religion, I had never been involved in any kind of a sexual relationship. And I got raped. And what was interesting about it, other than the fact that it was pretty bad and it was somebody I knew, I got angry. And that's, that pivoted me into advocacy. And I became a speaker. I spoke on college campuses, I spoke at my high school. I was like, oh, no, no, no, this is never going to happen to another woman. Right? Yeah. This is just not okay. And, and then I had this whole world of advocacy opened up for me. And it's funny, I'll never forget, I ended up changing my major. Because my political science class and my sophomore year of college, the professor has put a list of all of these different characteristics. He said, Well, what describes a typical politician and he was what in New Jersey, we now call commissioners, but back then we called them freeholders freeholders held land. And we put all these characteristics on a board of what a typical politician is. And he said, Georgia class, he said, Okay, everybody, if you aren't, at least, almost all of them, if not all of these, you never, ever, ever have a chance of holding any kind of high office or elected office in government. And I looked at him in my stereotypical, defiant way, when somebody says I can't do something, and said, Oh, really. And I changed my major to political science that week. And I would later tell him after I graduated from political science honors from what is now Rowan University, with concentrations in pre law and Women's Studies. I would eventually tell him go back and tell him that he was the reason why I changed my major. And he was just so blown away. He's like, Oh, wow, I'm so odd. Really told him why. And guess what, like many politicians, he ended up having an affair with a staffer and losing his his seat and his wife in the process. So I guess he was so much more like, far too many prostitutions back then, than what was listed on the board.   Michael Hingson ** 19:31 Do as I say, not as I do.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 19:35 When I go ahead, no, go ahead. I was gonna say when I finished college, though, my first job right out of college. As I had left Prudential to go back full time to finish, which was good because by the time I got done Prudential no longer existed. They had moved their job offices to Jacksonville and have the office that I would have worked at had I stayed there like so many people said I should. Of course they He told me he really shouldn't leave this great job. And I said, Okay, really well watch me. And so again, I answered an ad in the newspaper. And I ended up going to work for the city of Bridgeton, in my field, actually working for the city in a new role for called the Community Development Block Grant sub recipient monitor. And my job was to create the infrastructure for monitoring funds from a community development block grants that were distributed to organizations in the community as a whole host of other things. And that was the beginning in 1992, of my 31 year career, other than one, brief six year return to insurance after having my son, my otherwise 31 year career in community and economic development.   Michael Hingson ** 20:59 So you got married along the way?   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 21:02 I did, but not yet. I stayed for a while. Yeah. Which is a really great question. I, I just wasn't ready. Yeah, I, I was in this I was in this weird world of, I was too white for most black boys. I was too dark for most white boys. I was not Latina. But that was what I was most often mistaken for, because of my skin tone and where I grew up. And, and I was often just a novelty, somebody wanted to be able to say that they had tried being with a black girl. And in 2012, when I was 23 years old, that culminated actually, in a second, much more serious rape scenario with a guy that I had been seeing. Who knew about the first one, we'd had conversations about the fact that his sister had been through something similar. And then myself and a friend went to a party at his house, and they, I didn't even drink, because I didn't want to be in that situation. And yet, I felt like I was drunk. And it didn't. We didn't talk about things like being date rape drugs, and things like that. But yeah, it was, it was bad. And I remember bits and pieces, and they were just kind of joking that they all wanted to know what it was like to be with a black girl. And, um, so I was very protective of myself in many ways for many years. And when I met my husband, I was in a, I was long distance seeing someone he was seeing somebody else, we could care less. And then we would be reintroduced a couple years later. And I was at a point where I was like, I just not I can't get involved with. I've had all these bad experiences with white guys and black guys. I just know, I was seeing a guy from Puerto Rico at the time. And as my husband likes to say, he just had to convince me that he was the only thing missing from my life. So he did what every other guy who wants to be with somebody does, he became a really good friend. And then we would end up finally getting married three years after our first date, which was a disaster, by the way, because our first date was literally the day of the very first Million Man March. Oh, and I said to him, What were you thinking we had ended up getting into a political conversation and realized we were about as diametrically opposed as one could be. And that's what he thought about. What was he thinking when he asked out a young black urban professional, he said he didn't know because he didn't realize I was black. He thought I was lucky not then. And then one of the jokes of that evening that still gets repeated to this day, I said, oh, and I suppose you haven't marched? And I suppose you've marched in a militia too. And he says, well, not lately. Now he was he had been on the north on a Civil War reenactment militia militia, but my husband would really appreciate your sense of humor. So no, in spite of that disastrous first date, next month, we will have been married for 25 years and together for 28. Any he was so everything I was not looking for at the time, which is probably exactly why it worked because I after all of those other experiences I had decided to find out. And we did, we got married. And, in fact, I was executive director of a nonprofit housing organization at the time, and it was selling, it's celebrating its 25th anniversary. So we postponed our talk about understanding guy, he's always supported me and said, You go be you. We actually postponed our honeymoon, so that we could get the anniversary banquet and celebration out of the way, and then go on our honeymoon without having that hanging over our heads. So he knew what kind of person he was getting together with. And he was he was fine with that. And so yeah, and we would go on, and I would have, we would have one son. And that was another pivot. This year, I was, at this point, I'm now running an organization that the nonprofit that I was with helped start, I'm used to like going around the country, and conducting training classes in housing counseling, and homeownership education for housing counselor is for the federal government on going all these great places. And then along comes this son, who God purposefully gave me to prove I have absolutely no control over anything. I remember Oh, my gosh, it was it was something else. And remember, and of course, you know, being a slightly older mom, at this point, I'm 33. Having a geriatric pregnancy just didn't sound right. At all, I'm like, Oh, my God, I've I've tested I'm sitting there in tears one day, like, how is it that I could testify and in front of the state legislature and congressional hearings that I can't get this kid to go to sleep? What is wrong?   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 27:10 got through it. I went back to the insurance industry. took a pause. 911 happened. I remember you. I remember seeing interviews with you on Larry King. And you know, one of the reasons why we chose our son's name, Colin, which is, the original Greek word for courage was after that happened, because we had, as you probably I know, you can relate based on having heard your story. I worked in Trenton and so there were people, a lot of people would commute by train. So someone I grew up with was lost. Very, very close friend of ours, his cousin was lost. But then there were other people that were actually supposed to be there that I was friends with, for various reasons that, like interviews were cancelled. A friend of mine who worked in Jersey City was supposed to cross over to work for Wall Street Journal, he was supposed to be there that morning, it got postponed to that afternoon. So many people that had so many close brushes. And so Colin seemed like a really good name. And, but it also drastically affected our funding as a nonprofit, because all the organizations where we were basically redirected already committed funds to World Trade Center efforts. And which is why to this day, I'm still firmly believe in cash accounting, and not the cruel accounting. And I went back into the insurance industry for six years. And it was fun. And I was underwriting manager for a company here in New Jersey. And and then, we unmerged with our parent company merged with another company and a whole bunch of changes started happening. And I ended up going through my next major pivot. I decided to leave a role where I was having a lot of difficulty with someone who was actively sabotaging my work. And so I decided to take a lateral move left a team of 19, several of whom were in extreme tears to help go create another department. And that behavior continued constant, what we would now call bullying but there was no such thing as bullying in the workplace. Right? And that would culminate in him. physically assaulting me on the job in a conference room full of leaders in front of witnesses. And he herniated all the discs in my neck. And what was really interesting about that is all of the other things that I had been through. They were emotional, and it was easy to recover. But the physical injury that I went in for a while I, my neck got everything swelled up so much I couldn't walk, I couldn't feel my feet. I couldn't function it was was incredibly painful. All of my C spine discs, were either damaged or bulged. And you would think, with so many people having witnessed it, it would be a no brainer, he would get fired. That's not what happened. Yeah, I was gonna ask. Yeah. That's not what happened at all. I would later find out through notes that he was giving a an a one time final warning, but this person had had a history of inappropriate behavior. And everybody would just chalk it up as to being that person. And so he had been there 20 years I had been there, three, and they decided that I was the one that needed to go. And they did what we used to call an insurance terms and other corporate terms called circle the wagons, protect their jobs. And that got ugly, very, very ugly. And Lisa Halloran was my hero. She was my, she taking the job was supposed to be a director was downgraded to a manager, which then downgraded me from management to consultant. And so she had only been there six months when this happened, she had transferred from another office. And in full integrity, she stood by me. Even when she personally was threatened, she stood by me. One point, she was told by the Vice President, I'm trying to save our jobs, you need to get in line. And she said, I would rather lose my job and be able to sleep at night, and do what you're asking me to do. And fortunately, for me, even though that left knee permanently partially disabled, I was able to find specialists, they did pay for one disc to be replaced. I did, New Jersey has binding arbitration, and the company pays for it. So there's not really much of an incentive for a binding arbitrator to actually rule in the favor of an employee. And they had argued in court that assaults were not not considered eligible for arbitration, but then tried to argue, in arbitration, that assaults belonged in court and the judge saw right through it and sent them all and joined everybody together, inviting arbitration and what was interesting is they lost. Wow, they lost and what what the ruling basically was was that the assault aside the way I was treated, including having ignored blatantly and openly admitted to ignoring their own grievance procedures process, that they had made a bad situation worse. And the funny thing is, then they then filed an appeal. At which point the arbitrator scathingly said, what part of binding arbitration Didn't you understand when you asked for binding arbitration? And they would eventually shut down all New Jersey operations. I, there's lots of rumors, I won't speculate. But yeah, almost everybody lost their jobs, all the way up to the top, including the New Jersey president. And I went back into government nonprofit work, and that's where I've been ever since.   Michael Hingson ** 34:26 You know, it's the insurance industry is a fascinating place. The reason I said early on that you joined in the insurance world in 1987 1988. Something like seven years before around 1980, maybe 1979. Probably 1980. Somebody in the National Federation of the Blind, which is the largest consumer organization of blind people, was at a meeting of insurance people Sitting next to a person from Prudential and said to this person, I think it also had to do with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, but anyway said, you know, insurance companies won't provide life insurance for people who are blind. And this guy said, Yeah. And the person who I knew said, Well, why don't you do everything that you do based on evidence to actuarial statistics and evidentiary data? And you have mathematical models for everything? And the guy said, Well, absolutely. That's how we make all of our decisions. And my friends said, Well, can we see the evidence that says that blind people are a higher risk? And the guy said, Sure, no problem. Six months went by, without any indication that there was anything. And finally my friend said, so where's the evidence? And the guy from Prudential said, Well, we were working on it. We haven't found it yet, but it's there. And my friend said, you don't have any do you? You have been discriminating against blind people and other persons with disabilities is it eventually expanded. But you've been doing that simply based on prejudice, and a mistaken belief that we're a higher risk without any evidence to show for it. And on the other end, we as blind people know, we're not a higher risk. Well, what that eventually led to was a campaign in every State of the Union at the time, I was living in Massachusetts. So I ran the effort for the state of Massachusetts for the National Federation of blind in Massachusetts. But to get every state to pass a law that said, you can't discriminate against blind or other persons with physical disabilities, unless you can provide actuarial statistics or or evidentiary data. And to this day, of course, no one's been able to because it doesn't exist. Yeah. It wasn't scientific at all. It was prejudice. Yep.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 37:00 Absolutely. Absolutely. And my husband had worked in that industry for a while. And yeah, and it both in the life insurance, but also in health and also in property and casualty. To be honest, at one point from in 95, and 96, I had gone back to insurance company, because I was recruited from a nonprofit specifically to help with a pilot program where they were reentering the urban environment to because they had stopped insuring in most cities, urban environments, because of flat roofs, and the fire risk that they support that they had. And my boss, an amazing person, his name was, Andre Howell had conceived of this idea that if we worked with people to help mitigate risk, we think that they'll actually perform well. And he was right. And we worked in a very specific target targeted neighborhood of Philadelphia, and offered like free inspections, and all kinds of things. And, and part of my job was to track the performance of that. Now, this was for all state at the time, and I will name them because at that time, they had lost more money in Hurricane Andrew than they had made in the history of the company. Yeah. And this is a program that they would eventually roll out across all the states. And I had been serving on the National Insurance Task Force which dealt with access, availability, and affordability, affordability of insurance and regional or in a metropolitan as well as rural areas, because there's a big issue with rural areas too. But interestingly, a division of theirs decided not long after I got there that they were going to start mass canceling and a non renewing policies in the state of New Jersey. And the actuarial logic behind it was they looked at all of the people who had had not an accident, apparently you get an accident every five years, they looked at all the people who had not had an accident within a five year period determined that they were due and decided that they were going to use a loophole in a tooth what was called the two for one law. For every two g non renewed you could take one new customer and they just started, guess what group hasn't had a car accident within a five year timeframe. Disabled people, seniors and those who only use vehicles for pleasure use. So here I was in the government relations divisions of a company whose state subsidiary was mass, non renewing disabled and non working individuals. We had agents that were losing clients like 90 a week, and of course, those individuals were taking other business with them, I've never. And this is on the heels of them having gotten in trouble because somebody had made a very inappropriate comment about why they wouldn't cover repairs to a property for a same sex couple. So it was a rough period for them that they would eventually overcome. But really just, that was some of the eye opening for me in terms of why my advocacy needed to be so much broader than just around women. So   Michael Hingson ** 40:28 is that what sort of really led you into dealing with the whole issue of inclusion and equity and so on?   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 40:36 Yes, because I had now at this point, I had worked. in Bridgeton, I had worked in Cherry Hill Township, I had worked in Camden, I had worked in Philadelphia, looking at all of this, I'm seeing all this happening, I'm looking at people use numbers in ways that they should never have to use them because they had their own proprietary insurance score. And I had to know that model. So I had to know what went into it, so I could teach it. And I realized that the problem was so much bigger than even the different things that I had in my life that were intersectional in terms of being a female being a woman of color, you know, I wasn't even dealing with the disability yet at that point. And, but just other things, and, and hearing the way people would talk about people, as groups and status as individual human beings.   Michael Hingson ** 41:34 You know, it's, oh, go ahead.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 41:36 No, go ahead.   Michael Hingson ** 41:37 It's amazing, just how, as I said, Before, people do as I say, not as I do, how people behave, you know, and most people don't think about their own disabilities, all of you who have eyesight, and I've said it several times on this podcast, have a disability as well, your light dependent, just wait till the power goes out in the building, and you got to go off and try to scrounge for a flashlight or a smartphone. The thing is that, because so many people think that eyesight is really the only game in town, our society collectively, has worked really hard to make light on demand, a fact of life everywhere. And so we've spent basically 145 years developing this technology to make light on demand available, pretty much in a ubiquitous sort of way. So most of the time, you have light on demand until you don't like when I was in a hotel in March. And I've seen it other times since then, before being a building and settling, the power goes out and people start to scream and they don't know what to do. And the fear comes in, and I'm sitting there going so what's the problem? The the issue is, you guys are light dependent. And the reality is disability should not mean a lack of ability, because it's not. Disability is a characteristic that every single person on the planet has. And what we need to truly understand and do is to recognize that the characteristic manifests itself in different ways for different people. It doesn't mean it's not there. So let light cover up your disability, but you still have it. And you can say all day long, you don't. But you do. But but we're too arrogant sometimes to really address that and deal with it. And it's so unfortunate, when that happens so much in our world today. But but the fact is, that's that's the way it is. And so I talk about it, probably more than some people would like on the podcast, because I want the message to be heard by everyone. That disability does not mean lack of ability, and everyone has that characteristic in one way or another. For my part.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 43:51 Yeah, go ahead. Go ahead. No, no, no, I was gonna say AB so lute Li and I loved hearing you talk about it, on the podcast that I listened to in the speeches that I listened to. Because disability disabled individuals are among some of the most discriminated individuals in this country. And that's planet. And, you know, when you were talking about what happened to you as a child in terms of what the doctors told your parents, you know, a lot of people don't realize that in this country in this country, till as recently as 1979. They were sterilizing women to keep certain women from being able to reproduce, because it will pollute the gene pool with disabled disability character, and   Michael Hingson ** 44:37 there were courts who backed that up. Yes. And supported eugenics like that. Yes, exactly.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 44:43 And so, you know, I mean, depending on it had I didn't born in a different state, God knows what would have happened. Yeah. But you know, in California was one of the biggest ones. And, you know, a lot of people don't know that because we don't talk About those parts of our history, but whether I was paying attention, I'm really good at listening. And I realized that it's naturally human beings tend to want to group things. They all want to be seen as individuals, but they want to put everybody else in groups. And you could say, you know, people talk about, you know, different immigrants being stupid. I'm sorry, How many languages do you speak? Because they may be struggling in English. But most, most people I know, who have immigrated here know at least one if not five, or six. My Spanish is terrible got Mexico, to for my honeymoon. I mean, people who have all these diverse people, we are all wonderfully and perfectly made, depending on whether or not you believe in God, we've written to flee imperfectly made in God's image. Yeah. And if the Bible says God makes no mistakes, who are we to think that any one else is any less? More superior, less, less superior? Or that we're more superior than anyone else?   Michael Hingson ** 46:19 Well, except that in Oh God, George Burns said that he made a mistake, because he made avocado pits too large. Yeah. Oh, my God to sneak that one in.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 46:34 Which is funny, though, only. But   Michael Hingson ** 46:37 I hear exactly what you're saying. The fact of the matter is, and kids especially I was talking with someone earlier today. And we were we were doing another interview, and we were talking about children and growing up and how kids are, are fun loving, they are full of adventure. And they don't have all of these agendas. And it's so unfortunate that we teach this in so many ways to children, and they grow up with these these horrible attitudes to a large degree, and there's no need for it. Children aren't evil. But we make them that way.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 47:17 Well, we could say that about a lot of things, right? I mean, a thing is a thing. It's, it's how we use it. Now, children are born a blank slate, it's what we write on it. Right. And the younger, we can undo that the better. And which is a huge part of you know, you know, like I said, my third pivot was was my most recent pivot after going to grad school. Because I was determined, I was going to get that master's degree before I turned 50. And then getting long COVID. I was like, Okay, you're still here. What are you going to do with this? And I said, well, since grad school, I've been talking about it, because here I am this black female who's been, you know, the first list the first you know, first black female here at first black female there because I was lighter skin, I was palpable, which gets into a whole other issue. And I didn't say quote, unquote, sound black or growing up, the black kids would say your family talks white. Half of my family is white, all my cousins are all interracial. That was my way my dad's family was three possible shade. So it was just normal to me. But then in the post Obama era, it was a little bit more normalized. For a while, oh, if I had $1 for every time somebody said, Oh, she speaks so well. I'd be very, very rich. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 48:45 if I had $1, for every time somebody said, you're amazing. And of course, what they're really saying is, especially for a blind person, you know.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 48:53 And so after getting COVID, and realizing I was still here, and seeing the spotlight shine on all things that were broken with our health care system, and then some, for anybody who was a person of color, who had an existing disability. Some of the things that I experienced. I actually had to I was like, Mom, you deal with the hospital, you're a nursing professor, you're Caucasian. They're not listening to me. You just deal with it, because they're not listening to me. Because there's so many of us continue to have to deal with ongoing symptoms before anybody would acknowledge that that was a real thing. The and so many people who are in the disability community, we're right in there with us. We're all in there together finding each other and social media and Facebook groups, because no one would listen to us. Mm. That's when I was like, Okay, it's, you're still here, you're here for a reason, it's time to get vocal about everything that's broken in this country about how we treat each other in general. And as the person of color in many organizations back when it was still called affirmative action. And having been part of integrating teams and corporate and government agencies, and seeing the narrative shift. Over the years, I was already getting concerned. And then when everybody was exposed to what so many of us knew, in the death of George Floyd and others, while everybody else said, Okay, stand up, this is a time for celebration, people are finally going to live, learn, change is going to happen, companies are issuing pledges everywhere, we're finally going to get the change that's been coming. And me, I'm on a webinar, still in very deep throes of long COVID with massive cognitive issues. And I said, here's my concern. And I meant to say backlash. I said, the black lashes coming. And that stuck. I see, I see, give it time. People know, when things aren't authentic. People know, when change is being shoved down their throat, people don't like being told that they're responsible for things that they didn't have happen. And saying, Now, you know, how it feels to be me is not the right response for that. And people started reading books about anti racism and all these things I said, I'm telling you, and then I repeat it, I said, I'm gonna keep using the word the black lashes coming since 2021, on record in a webinar. And now we have what we're seeing in Florida, and other states, and book burnings, and Supreme Court decisions. And all of these things as the pendulum swings back from one side to the other. And companies are eliminating diversity, equity inclusion programs, and people are leaving this fairly new kind of practice, for lack of better words. I mean, they've been, it's been slowly been evolving from diversity, diversity, inclusion, diversity, equity. And, and I've been saying for eight years, we're doing it all wrong. doing it all wrong. At no point, in over 20 years, if I ever brought a new hire into a situation without first addressing what needed to be addressed in house to create the environment that would make it possible for them to succeed, we should be doing it differently. And then, of course, after my assault, I was like, we have a serious civility issue. Just in terms of me, you can only legislate how people treat each other so much. But we have serious civility issues going on in workplaces that aren't being addressed, for all of the wrong reasons, across different groups. And it's time that we get our houses in order in terms of civility, then focus on creating the inclusive environment that it should be, then look at the equity issues within that environment, then you bring in the diversity hires that you want to bring in to help your company capitalize on the 30% return on investment that most companies that are diverse actually experience when they are run properly. In a truly, you know, culture add way, and then everybody can succeed. Otherwise, they're just hiring somebody that person comes in, they can't function, they quit. Everybody throws up their hands and says, Oh, well, we tried it didn't work, move on.   Michael Hingson ** 53:46 Tell me about purpose, build solutions and evolutions, if you would.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 53:49 Sure. It's a purpose built solutions and evolutions while I was in grad school, and I've been doing coaching internally and externally, since 1997. And I was asked, in grad schools, what as part of one of my classes to come up with a two or three word way to describe what I am from a professional standpoint. And I described myself as a Resource Navigator. And because so many of my roles involved, either giving the answers or putting people into the direction where they could find the answers. And so I had been doing everything that you're not supposed to do as a business as a side hustle. And Maryam with long COVID I go ahead, I finally get my international coaching Federation certification that I've been putting off for 12 years. And my coach says, When you get to start a business, you've helped like 1000s of others when you can actually do it yourself. And I figured, okay, so put was filled solutions and evolutions was originally going to be purpose filled solutions and evolutions navigators. But I've refiled the service mark to drop the the navigators, even though I still use it. Solutions navigator was already taken. So I was like, well, everything I do is coaching around the purpose. Once your why what is your core purpose? I know mine, mine is helping others figure out theirs, and then achieve it. And after about three weeks of analysis, paralysis, and finally settled on purpose built solutions, and evolutions, a company that would offer the coaching that I had been doing, but also capitalize on my years of experience in various leadership roles, from supervisor up to Executive Director, as well as my Masters of Science and executive leadership and all that I had learned in grad school with a big focus on fixing what I felt was broken with what I call civility, inclusion, equity and diversity. And my company's turned to in June. And I have a team of consultants that support me, and a young woman that I hired from a program that I served as a leadership coach in breathe and shout out to Braven, which is a fellowship program for college students. I brought her in as an intern, and then hired her as my team. And she was a young woman who came here at the age of three, as part of her parents trying to escape Mexico. And she's DACA. And she's going through the citizenship process. And she couldn't find a job in the DEI space. And so we after a number of things, I asked her apologize for the parking. After a number of meetings, I asked her, Okay, we've had all these conversations about what I feel is wrong with the tape all of the information that I gave you, and then I want you to go and I want you to research and I want you to come back and tell me how you would redo my inclusion, equity and diversity program. And she came back. And she said, I think we need to start with mental health and physical disabilities. So this young woman who herself was an immigrant, who had was given carte blanche to look at everything that we should be looking at as part of a program that focuses on inclusion, equity and diversity, had every reason to throughout her life to come back with any number of options. And that's what she came back with. And I said, Okay, would you like a job as consultant? And how would you like to help me take take the lead and developing this program, and that's how paving the way to civility, inclusion, equity and diversity was born. Wow.   Michael Hingson ** 58:09 Well, that is pretty cool. And, and you're even making enough to pay her and everything, huh?   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 58:14 I am. That's a blessing. Unfortunately, it works out she's she's part time consultant. She just had her and her husband just had their second baby. And she's on maternity leave right now. But we did our first official full public offering of the program in June, it was very well received, people were blown away. They learned things, of course, that they were never taught and about everything from how the messages are even being manipulated to you know, you know why it's so important to see every person as an individual being and someone who I love Louis Brandeis Griggs was the one who I stole the spelling of it from because I would always say people want to be human beings. And he would always capitalize the B E. In being and so paving the way to civility, inclusion, equity and diversity, a new way of be in, in workplace and in life is our our most comprehensive flagship training program, who   Michael Hingson ** 59:24 have been some of the people who had the most influence on you as you're going through life.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 59:31 My mom obviously has been one. I mentioned a couple of Lisa Halloran who stood by me when she had everything to risk. I have to ride or die. Best Friend's one. Unfortunately. Kathy Jagger passed actually. It'll be here next week. She was also a rape survivor and we met when I was 19. She was a little bit older too. She was 32. And we bonded and she was my best friend and mentor in so many different ways. She was the reason I went to work at Prudential. We went through all kinds of things together. And you know, she will she I referred to her as one of the greatest loves of my life. And the other one, her name is Maria Callahan, Cassidy, who she relocated to an amazing new position at Richmond University only weeks before Kathy passed. So I lost I fortunately didn't lose Maria, it's, it's hard because she's not here. But these are both people that I've known since my teens and have definitely shaped who I am. My son, actually, I've learned so much from him. My son is neurodiverse. He likes to say he's not on the spectrum. He broke the spectrum. Well, that's can and and, and he is hysterical and funny and incredibly talented and incredibly brilliant. And helping navigate the public schools where we live. And watching him continue to still get back up even when he was pushed down. Because in our school district, if you are not in the box, you're basically out of luck. So we had to get an attorney for our son when he was only in third grade, to fight for his rights, and the he knows himself. And really, his biggest challenge is he has something called dysgraphia. He can recite things verbatim, but you could give him that same thing to copy, and he struggles to copy it. And that was a very difficult educational experience for him. But now he's a mechanic, he's training to be a mechanic, he wants to own his own mechanic shop, he has a lovely girlfriend, Collins girlfriend is Ariel, they've been together since they were 14 and 16. And now they are 19 and 21. Going on 20 and 22. And she is the daughter I would have chosen. I call her the daughter I got to choose. And I've learned so much because of her a lot of her upbringing is very similar to mine, they say we've we're very careful to make sure it doesn't get weird. But they say you end up with somebody very similar to your parent. Ariel and I have definitely have a lot in common and and then I would be remiss if I didn't say my husband because even though we have a definitely have our different political beliefs. He has really just unleashed me. He, one thing he stands very firm on is equal pay for women after watching some of the experiences that I go through and he is constantly up, go do it. You got to do this, you got to speak up up, you've been offered a show. I should mention Joe Cole, Antonio, my coach, she is the one who did push me off the cliff to get my show by saying I'm booking you on a local talk show. So that you have two weeks, you have a couple of weeks to get ready to go announced your business is finally open. That's the other reason why purpose filled solutions and evolutions came in. But these are some really all unique but very interesting teachers in my life. So   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:36 tell me really quickly if you would about your talk show.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 1:03:39 My talk show was an offshoot of Joe pushing me off the cliff, ironically, and we joke because Joe is my husband. But Joe is my coach and also probably one of my closest friends at this point. To Joe to Joe's once God wants J O. And Jo booked me on this talk show called Morning Coffee and gave me a couple of weeks. She said I know you can incorporate a business within 72 hours. I've seen you do it. You're going to do it. And so sure enough, on July 2 of 2021, I went in there. My business was two weeks old. And I announced and introduced myself and my one intern to the world. Somebody else who my son's girlfriend and told them about what I was looking to do and how I was going to change the world and the narrative and be a coach and offer services that I couldn't offer in my day job. And they came back to me and said the response to your episode was so amazing. Do you want to do a show? I was like, I was like I've always been the person on answering the questions or writing for government officials who are answering the questions. I've never been on that side of the mic. They said, Well, what do you think I said, Let me think about it. And I was originally going to call my blog, what the why? Kind of like instead of WTF, WT w. And I said, I have an idea. If you give me full control over who my guests are, would you be interested in doing a show called What the Why, and it would be conversations with diverse leaders from all walks of life, all races, genders, disabilities, ages, and I would interview them about what their purpose in life was and how they figured it out. And the station manager said, huh, yeah, let's do it. And so right now I'm on a brief hiatus because the station is in the middle of a move, but I'm in my second season. Of what the why with barber and and I have, I'm hoping to have you on in like, third season because you are so friggin awesome. And not because you're blind. You're just freaking awesome. Period. You just amazing. I'm completely and utterly amazing. But I have interviewed the smallest of businesses. My oldest guests had been in their 80s. My youngest recently was eight. He is a he's a math genius who video of him doing complex math at the age of three went viral. He was invited to join MENSA fours. Mom submitted it and he was accepted at age five. He and She both have long COVID Cynthia, shout out to Cynthia ad Nagin her brilliant son, Aiden. They're both brilliant. And she founded a health equity agency. And he is officially the paediatric spokesperson. He does not know he does not know his IQ. So cute. He had literally just turned eight a couple of weeks before I interviewed him in August. And one second, he's telling me what I need to understand about quantum singularities. And then the next second is holding up pieces of clay saying look at the ribbon I made. And he's what's funny about the interview we did is all three of us were having a level of a COVID flare up. So all three of us were having cognitive challenges. So   Michael Hingson ** 1:07:24 it was like a fun show.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 1:07:25 It was fun. But you know, when you're with an eight year old, you roll with it. Yep. And we just kind of laugh with but he's, he's amazing. He is training to be a chess champion, because COVID has affected his ability to do outdoor sports. And he's homeschooled with a pod of other little young geniuses like Kim. And but I got to talk with the Sunni meet. One of the people I got to interview was the biker from the village people, ah, and the first woman to be the president of the National Association of government guaranteed lenders and, you know, some local elected officials. But then like, I found out a whole side to my hairdresser. And, and his story as a small business owner who's getting ready to hand it off to his daughter, now that he's in his 60s and I know what his journey was like and how his grandparents stood behind him as a black straight male wanting to do hair.   Michael Hingson ** 1:08:28 There you go. So you have lots of lots of people. I have one more question for you. This is a very crucial question. How tall are you?   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 1:08:38 five foot six.   Michael Hingson ** 1:08:40 And how tall is your husband?   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 1:08:42 five foot eight.   Michael Hingson ** 1:08:44 Ha we did not follow in our parents footsteps. Okay, I just wanted to check that out.   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 1:08:49 But here's the flip side to that though. Yeah, they were both named Joe. My dad was a Joseph. My husband is a Joseph.   Michael Hingson ** 1:08:57 There you go. And what's your son's name?   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 1:09:00 Colin   Michael Hingson ** 1:09:01 Cartwright. You said that Yeah. Well Colin Joseph. Okay. So there's a Joseph in   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 1:09:05 all of them in my dad was was rather dark for a mixed race man. All three of them are avid outdoorsman. In my husband's not into the same kind of football basketball. My dad was but all three of them were hunters. Okay. married to former vegetarian. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 1:09:24 there you are. If people want to reach out to you maybe learn about your coaching and and get in touch. How do they do that?   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 1:09:31 They can find me on LinkedIn. BGardenhiremills. And you spell it sure it's B G A R D E N H I R E. Mills. I'm on all forms of social media. And honestly, if they can get Barbara Anne garden Hire Mills if you Google that and What the Why it pops up the show airs on RVN R V N television.com as well as roku. And then I believe I forwarded you some some other links to the website. I'm not going to spell out our whole ridiculously long website because I'm actually I actually bought the URLs to shorten it. So   Michael Hingson ** 1:10:26 how do I find it on Roku?   Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills ** 1:10:28 I believe rvn because I don't have Roku that's why it's there. Yeah. But if you go on Roku you should be able to find the channel for RV and television is supposed to be on the Roku channels are and I'll check out under the Roku channels otherwise, RV and television or there's access to it directly from my website, which is my entire name spelled out a moment of weakness. It when I was having COVID Happy hypoxia which is really not happy. But I thought somebody said to me, Oh, let it you just name your website, your company and I thought, Oh, sure. Yeah, well, yeah, well, as if my name isn't long enough purpose built solutions and evolutions because you can't have an ampersand and a website.   Michael Hingson ** 1:11:08 No, that's okay. I'm gonna go hunted down on Roku though. That'll be kind of fun. Awesome. Well, I want to thank you for being here. And I want to thank you for listening. I love to hear your thoughts about today. This has been a lot of fun and firebrands, life and lessons are definitely worth paying attention to and I really value the time that we got to spend. I'd love to hear your thoughts, please feel free to email me Michaelhi m i c h a e l h i at accessibe A C C E S S I B E.com. Or go to www dot Michael Hingson H i n g s o n.com/podcast. To listen to more podcasts. But you can also find us wherever Podcasts can be found. And wherever you listen, please give us a five star rating. We appreciate it. We appreciate your insights and your comments and value them greatly. Now, of course, both Barbara Anne for you and for you listening. If you know of anyone who want to be a guest on our podcast, please let us know. We're always looking for more people to come on our podcast. I'm sure that Barbara Anne could talk to you about talk shows and in finding guests. So whatever. We'd love to hear from you and we really value your time and that you took the time to be with us today. And Barbara Anne one last time. T

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Brian Early from Media Services and Erin Bassegio from the Planning Department to discuss updates and activities for Dover's public boards, commissions, and committees in February. Brian Early highlights the City Council's ongoing fiscal year 2025 budget review, including upcoming meetings and workshops. He also mentions the Council's approval of a contract to rebuild the Portland Avenue retaining wall, the acceptance of a $440,000 grant from InvestNH to help increase attainable housing units, the allocation of federal Community Development Block Grant funding to local nonprofits, and the Council's directive for the Solid Waste Advisory Committee to evaluate the city's trash and recycling options. Erin Bassegio discusses the activities of various land use boards, including the Community Housing Needs Committee's discussion of a housing opportunity planning grant, the Conservation Commission's endorsement of environmental conditional use permits, and the Planning Board's approval of a two-phase project for a new building to house the city's Inspection Services and other offices. In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Captain John Riley, a prominent Dover sea captain from the 1800s, and his family's legacy in shipbuilding and maritime activities.

Todays guest is Margarita Gonzalez Macedonio, a Principal Community Planner with the City of Santa Ana Neighborhood Initiatives and Environmental Services Program.  Margarita has been a part of the City of Santa Ana team for over 16 years.   As an advocacy planner, Margarita is a solution-oriented leader focused on ensuring an inclusive process for delivering equitable outcomes in many communities. Margarita prioritizes strengthening her network of interagency and community stakeholders on public policy and community planning projects that bring light to  environmental health equity and perceived impacts to the built environment and neighborhoods' quality of life. Margarita facilitates capacity-building, collaboration, grant support, networking and project investments to bring about equitable resources to neighborhoods and community-based groups to accomplish their organizational objectives.   In her new role, Margarita has worked with City Management to create a new Environmental Justice (EJ) section in the Planning Division as part of the City Council's adoption of a new General Plan in April 2022. Margarita is the City's EJ staff person hired to manage and monitor the implementation of all of the City's General Plan EJ policies and actions, which include the formation of a new resident-focused team to guide and prioritize EJ actions.  Margarita continues to build her team to provide training and support to neighborhood leaders and delve into the research, education, and collaboration needed to address complex environmental justice issues working with departments, regulatory agencies, and community members from areas challenged by a combination of racial, economic, health, and environmental burdens. Prior to her work with the City of Santa Ana, Margarita administered affordable housing, strategic planning,community engagement initiatives in unincorporated communities, and Community Development Block Grant-funded programs at the Los Angeles Community Development Authority. Earlier in her career, she supported public housing resident and youth initiatives at the Housing Authority City of Los Angeles.  Margarita received her MA in Urban Planning and BA in History and Chicana/o Studies from UCLA. Outside of work, Margarita enjoys quality time with her family and channels her energy through live music with her band and church bands in her community. ---------------------------------------- Plan Dulce is a space for elevating projects, issues and initiatives taking place within Latino communities across the U.S. Episode co-hosts: Anna Vidal (featured in the previous episode) and Vidal Marquez, Chair of Latinos and Planning. Episode edited by Grecia White, Vice-Chair of Latinos and Planning Learn more about Latinos and Planning, a division within the American Planning Association. LUGARES, LAP's annual virtual conference will take place November 16-17, 2023 -- register here. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/plandulcepodcast/message

The city of Vancouver estimates there will be up to $2.2 million in Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships Program and HOME American Rescue Plan dollars available for local projects in 2024. https://tinyurl.com/4tada5ta #CityOfVancouver #CommunityDevelopmentBlockGrant #HOMEInvestmentPartnershipsProgram #HOMEAmericanRescuePlan #LocalProjects #2024 #GrantApplicationGuidelines #Homeless #LowToModerateIncome #VancouverWa #ClarkCountyWa #ClarkCountyNews #ClarkCountyToday

Dr. Frederick Hamilton, Jefferson County Director of Community Services, walks us through the process of the Community Development Block Grant and the eligibility requirements according to federal regulations.How do you apply for the county's CDBG funds. To apply for the county's CDBG funds you can attend one of the Department's Open Season meetings. The meetings schedule is presented below: October 10, 20236:00 p.m. November 2, 20236:00 p.m. December 5, 202310:00 a.m. Note:  You must pre-register to attend the meeting with the Department of Community Services no later than 12:00 noon by emailing ShaDel Nix Willaims at nixs@jccal.org or by calling 205-325-5761 Ext. 1926.    Have an idea for a County podcast? Contact the Director of Public Information, Helen Hays at haysh@jccal.org

The post The Rome Floyd Chamber Show – Molly Majestic with the City of Rome (Community Development Block Grant Coordinator) appeared first on Business RadioX ®.

Mayor Inman returns to the studio to talk about City of Macomb business including the Community Development Block Grant;  updates on the renovations and upgrades occurring in the Public Works Department, namely the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Water Treatment Plant, as well updates on the road resurfacing projects.  Mayor Inman also discusses the success of the Downtown Block Party that took place on August 25th, and looks forward to the upcoming Community Walkthrough with the WIU students. To stay up to date on events happening in Macomb, visit the City of Macomb and Downtown Macomb Facebook pages.

In response to the devastating wildfires affecting Maui and the island of Hawaii, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is stepping up in a big way. Today they've announced a robust package of regulatory and administrative waivers aimed at fast-tracking the island's recovery. The move follows HUD's initial support in the wake of the fires, reinforcing the agency's commitment to the residents of Hawaii. The relief package is comprehensive, extending across several key HUD programs, including the Community Development Block Grant and home investment partnerships, among others. So what does this mean on the ground? In practice, these waivers enable more flexible use of federal funds, including paying for emergency food and water, constructing new housing in disaster-stricken areas, easing tenant-based rental assistance requirements, and more, all via a new streamlined notification process designed to help where it's needed faster. The critical question is, as these funds are unlocked and deployed, will they be the turning point that these communities need to rise from the ashes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As families in Falls City return home from the first day of school there, they'll be preparing for a water outage. The city of Falls City plans to shut the water off tonight, Aug. 14, starting at 9 p.m. This is to install a new water main in front of the city's water treatment plant, said Public Works Supervisor Jeremy Mandel. This is the main pipe that allows treated water to be distributed out to the city's water system. The water main project is being funded by a 0,000 Community Development Block Grant. A new water main is in place;...Article Link

CTL Script/ Top Stories of July 15 Saturday Publish Date: July 14 Friday   Henssler :15 From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast    Today is Saturday, July 15th, and happy 67th birthday to guitarist Joe Satriani ***Satriani***     I'm Brian Giffin and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia Start of eligibility ‘redetermination' knocks almost 100,000 Georgians off Medicaid Georgia reports giant budget surplus despite June revenue drop And a Canton woman and teen charged with string of car break-ins     We'll have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast      Commercial:  CU of GA   Story 1. charges   Since the expiration of the federal public health emergency in April, nearly 100,000 people in Georgia have lost their Medicaid coverage, according to the Department of Community Health. The federal government had prohibited the disenrollment of Medicaid recipients for three years during the pandemic. Georgia began reassessing eligibility for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids in June, resulting in 95,578 individuals losing coverage, while 64,423 were renewed. The majority lost coverage due to procedural termination caused by a lack of information. The state aims to complete the redetermination process for all Medicaid enrollees by May 2024 and has implemented an information campaign to assist recipients.   ....……… Read more on this story at tribuneledgernews.com STORY 2: surplus   Georgia tax collections in June 2023 dropped slightly compared to the previous year, but the state ended fiscal 2023 with a significant surplus for the third consecutive year. The Georgia Department of Revenue collected $2.84 billion in taxes in June, a 0.4% decrease from the same month in the previous year. However, the total revenue for the entire fiscal year reached $33.13 billion, surpassing Governor Brian Kemp's revenue estimate of $28.4 billion, resulting in a surplus of nearly $4.8 billion. While individual income taxes decreased by 12.6% due to increased refunds, net sales tax collections increased by 4%. Corporate income tax receipts declined by 14.7% due to higher refunds for businesses. The surplus will trigger a debate on how to allocate the funds, with Kemp advocating for a conservative approach and using the surplus to fund income tax cuts. Critics argue that these cuts primarily benefit the wealthy and that the state should prioritize funding public education, healthcare, and economic mobility.   Story 3: canton   A woman and her 13-year-old stepson were arrested in Canton for allegedly breaking into numerous cars in the area. The Canton Police Department responded to multiple reports of car break-ins, with a total of 26 incidents reported. Some cars were unlocked, while others were forcibly entered. Blood found inside the vehicles was collected as evidence. Witnesses saw a red vehicle leaving the area, and later, the woman and teenager were found unconscious in a red car in a shopping center parking lot. Stolen items and a firearm were discovered in the car. The woman, Brianna Rogers, faces charges of entering auto and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, while the teenager faces similar charges. The investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be added.   Back in a moment   Break:  ESOG - Drake – Ingles 8   STORY 4: woodstock   The Woodstock City Council made several votes during a meeting aimed at improving the city's infrastructure. They adopted a resolution to apply for federal Community Development Block Grant funding from Cherokee County for the Dupree Road connection project. The city is seeking $685,000 in funding to create a safe connection with sidewalks and trail segments. They also authorized a supplemental proposal with Arcadis for the Paden Street Extension project and approved a contract for surveying the Market Street extension project. Additionally, the council approved an alcohol license request for H&M Food Mart, allowing the sale of wine and malt beverages at the convenience store.   Story 5: ballinger   Eric Ballinger, a lawyer from Canton, has been re-elected for a ninth term on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia. He will continue representing Cherokee County in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, a position he has held since 2007. Ballinger is the founder of The Law Office of Eric A. Ballinger, focusing on family law, criminal defense, general litigation, and small business representation. He obtained his law degree from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School and has been a member of the State Bar of Georgia since 1993. Additionally, Ballinger serves as a part-time judge for the Magistrate Court of Cherokee County. The Board of Governors is responsible for policymaking and consists of 160 members representing each judicial circuit in Georgia.   Story 6:  ATM   The Cherokee Sheriff's Office is seeking suspects involved in the theft of an undisclosed amount of money from an ATM machine at the Towne Lake Wells Fargo in Georgia. The incident occurred last week when the masked suspects allegedly confronted an ATM technician servicing the drive-through ATM. They forced the technician away from the machine and stole cash from it before fleeing in a white vehicle. The authorities believe the incident was specifically targeted at the ATM and not the bank's customers. As of now, the suspects remain at large, and the investigation involves the Cherokee Sheriff's Office, with no involvement from the FBI. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Cherokee Sheriff's Office. See some pictures at tribuneledgernews.com   Back with more after this   Commercial: Elon – Dayco - Story 7: Aaron   The Atlanta Braves will honor the late Hank Aaron during Hank Aaron Week, which will take place from July 25-30. The week will feature community-building initiatives and culminate in celebrations at Truist Park during the Braves' game against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 28. Additionally, the Hank Aaron Invitational showcase game will be held on July 30, featuring the top 200 high school-aged players from across the United States. The Braves will pay tribute to Aaron's impact as a player, executive, and entrepreneur with special pre-game and in-game content. Proceeds from the Atlanta Braves Foundation's 50/50 Raffle during the weekend series will support the Henry Louis Aaron Fund, promoting diversity in baseball.   Story 8:  All Star   Atlanta is being considered as a potential host for the 2025 All-Star Game, according to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. This comes after the city lost the opportunity to host the 2021 game due to controversy surrounding Georgia's voting laws. Truist Park, is being considered as a potential venue for the 2025 game. Other sites under consideration include Wrigley Field in Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston. Atlanta has previously hosted the All-Star Game in 1972 and 2000. The 2022 game will be hosted by the Texas Rangers, and the 2026 game will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Atlanta previously hosted All-Star Games in 1972 and 2000.   Story 9: BB Update   In an update on Cherokee ballplayers in the pros, Brennan Milone, a 2022 MLB draftee from Woodstock, has been promoted to the Lansing Lugnuts, the High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Milone has been performing well across multiple teams, hitting .303 with 70 hits, 11 home runs, and 43 RBIs. Etowah alum Drew Waters of the Kansas City Royals has a season average of .239 with 27 hits and three home runs. Hunter Gaddis, a Sequoyah alum in the Cleveland Guardians' organization, has struggled with a 7.12 ERA in Triple-A. Justin Wrobleski, a former Chiefs pitcher, has a 4-3 record and a 3.27 ERA with the Great Lakes Loons. Connor Pavolony, a catcher and former River Ridge standout, has been reinstated from the injured list by the Bowie Baysox, a Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.   Final thoughts after this   Henssler 60   Thanks again for spending time with us listening to today's Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast. Get more on these stories and other great content at tribune ledger news.com. Giving you important information about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.   www.cuofga.org  www.ingles-markets.com  www.drakerealty.com  www.elonsalon.com  www.henssler.com  www.gon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Grove Hill City Council held an abbreviated meeting Monday, attending to only two items of necessary business, applying for a Community Development Block Grant and approving the bid for the Love Road project. Other agenda items were postponed due to the death of Councilman Kossie Powell. Mayor Ross Wood noted Powell's passing and offered condolences to the family. The council will appoint someone to the position at some point in the future, in the time required by law. Pine Hill Contracting LLC' s bid of 7,097 for resurfacing and making other improvements to Love Road, from Highway 43 to...Article Link

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Sunday, May 28  Talk is abuzz about this growing industry in West Virginia -- learn more about the sweet art of beekeeping…Wheeling's small business program gets $500,000 funding…and Big Timber Brewing takes home a medal from the World Beer Cup…on today's daily304. #1 – From WBOY Clarksburg – What's the buzz about beekeeping in the Mountain State? According to a study by Lawn Love, West Virginia is ranked 33 on the list of 2023's Best States for Beekeeping. West Virginia is in the top 10 of states with the most support for beekeepers. The Mountain State also ranks No. 13 as one of the states with the most earning potential. Visit the West Virginia Department of Agriculture or the West Virginia Beekeepers Association to learn more. Read more: https://www.wboy.com/only-on-wboy-com/wboy-com-lists-and-rankings/is-west-virginia-good-for-beekeeping/ #2 – From WTRF Wheeling – A long-standing program in the City of Wheeling just received major support and that's great news for small businesses. Senator Joe Manchin's office recently announced the City of Wheeling Small Business Facade Program will receive $500,000 thanks to a congressionally directed spending request secured by Manchin as part of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The successful program was originally started under the Community Development Block Grant, but has recently been part of the general fund. Applications for the project can be found online at the City of Wheeling website. Read more: https://www.wtrf.com/wheeling/wheeling-accepting-applications-for-half-million-dollar-small-business-program/ #3 – From WBOY –  The Big Timber Brewing Company brought international attention to the West Virginia beer scene earlier this month at the World Beer Cup, a global beer competition that attracted 2,375 other breweries from 51 different countries. On May 10 Big Timber Brewing from Elkins won the bronze medal in the Robust Porter category for its Porter. This comes off the back of a silver medal in the same category at the Great American Beer Festival back in the fall of 2022. “It's pretty cool to place in that,” Matt Kwasniewski said, the brewery's founder. “I've always viewed them as the most in-depth and broadest competitions in the world.” Visit West Virginia Tourism to learn more about craft beer in West Virginia and plan your tasting road trip! Read more: https://www.wboy.com/news/west-virginia/west-virginia-brewery-medals-at-world-beer-cup/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

MDJ  Script/ Top Stories for May 12th Thursday Publish Date: May 11, Thursday   Henssler :15,  Bed Music fires From the Henssler Financial Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast    Today is Friday May the 12th, and happy birthday to the late great comic George Carlin ***highlight*** I'm Brian Giffin and here are the top stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia 2 students detained at North Cobb High after another phony threat Marietta gives developer 4 months to revise plan for downtown building And A Cobb teen reported missing is found safe We'll have all this and more on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.   Commercial : ESOG STORY 1  Threat   Two students from North Cobb High School were detained after the school was placed under "code yellow" due to threatening images being air-dropped among students for two consecutive days. However, investigations by multiple law enforcement agencies showed no actual threat existed. The school district stated that severe repercussions will be applied as per district policy, state and Federal law, for engaging in behavior that disrupts the school day. Prior to the air-dropping incidents, the district investigated two other rumors of danger to the school, which were found to be unfounded. The district has been investigating threats against schools, which have become a trend, and taking appropriate measures to keep students and staff safe. STORY 2: Bridger ** Christian Jamar Harris, a 32-year-old man from Acworth, Georgia,  was arrested on April 27 for possessing over 100 videos of The Marietta City Council has given Bridger Properties four months to revise its design for a seven-story, 135-unit building in downtown Marietta. The council asked Bridger to hold town halls to collect input from residents before returning with new plans. The historic board, which advises the council on building changes within Marietta's downtown historic district, had recommended denying Bridger's design. Bridger, which owns more than four acres of downtown real estate, does not need a rezoning to move forward with the project but requires a certificate of approval from the council due to the property being within the downtown historic district. The council is considering whether Bridger's design is in line with city guidelines on new construction in the historic district.Top of Form       Story 3: Missing   The Cobb County Sheriff's Office has located a runaway juvenile, Emorie Williams, in Atlanta on Tuesday. The 14-year-old had been reported missing on April 28 and an investigation was launched to locate her. After receiving a tip about her whereabouts, the investigators staked out the location and apprehended her. Parents whose children run away from home are advised to contact 911 immediately. The Cobb County Sheriff's App is also available on Android and iPhone devices for immediate updates on missing persons or to submit anonymous tips…..we'll be right back   Break:   CU of GA – Dayco   Story 4:  Life   Life University has announced a new scholarship program that provides a 20% reduction in tuition fees for eligible Cobb County residents who enroll as full-time undergraduate students starting from the 2023 Summer Quarter. The scholarship is available to students who maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher upon entry and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 throughout their studies at Life U. Transfer students are also eligible if they have a 2.75 GPA or higher upon entry and maintain the same GPA while studying at Life U. Athletic scholarship holders are also eligible for a 20% discount or the amount of their athletic scholarship, whichever is greater. .   STORY 5: History   The newly renovated Rosenwald School, built in 1924 with funding from philanthropist Julius Rosenwald to provide education for Black children across the South, has reopened in Acworth, Georgia. The school was replaced by the Roberts School in the 1940s, but was dismantled and rebuilt at its current location by Acworth's Black community. The building has undergone numerous renovations and now serves as a community center, owned by the city and rented out for private events. The recent renovations cost around $700,000 and were funded in part by Cobb's Community Development Block Grant program. The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by over 50 people.   STORY 6: Wiser   Paul Wiser, an 81-year-old veteran, received a standing ovation as he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in interdisciplinary studies from Kennesaw State University's Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences in May 2023. Wiser returned to KSU in 1985 to study business, but never completed his coursework until now. He shifted his focus to criminal justice and became the first in his family to earn a college degree, with a goal of addressing veteran homelessness. Wiser's senior seminar research project, “Local Community Initiatives Can End Veteran Homelessness,” focused on using local approaches to tackle the problem. He completed his coursework entirely online, showing that age is not a barrier to learning.   Story 7: Sentenced   Christopher Allen, an Austell man, has been sentenced to two years in prison and four years of supervised release for drug trafficking conspiracy. He was described as a “mid-level trafficker” and is one of eight people who have been sentenced as part of a multi-agency investigation into an Atlanta drug ring. The group targeted vulnerable communities in the southwest of the city, and Allen is one of four metro Atlanta residents who have been given prison sentences. The DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, and Georgia Bureau of Investigation worked on the case, seizing vehicles, guns, cash, and jewelry used or purchased with the proceeds of the crimes.…..back in a momentTop of Form   Break  Drake – Elon-JRM Teaser   Top of Form   Story 8: Walton The Milton girls lacrosse team defeated Walton 17-7 in the Class AAAAAAA state semifinals with the help of two big scoring runs. The loss brought Walton's season to a close with a 14-7 record, and Coach Amanda Ryan reflected on the team's history of reaching the final four, often against Milton, and their decision to strive for the next level or remain at the final four. Milton will play West Forsyth in the finals, seeking their 16th state title. Payton Kozina led Milton with six goals, while Anna Mellinger tallied six assists and one goal. The Eagles' speed and accuracy in passing made the difference….back with some final thoughts after this   Break: Ingles 3-Henssler 60 Signoff – ****Cobb Life bed**** Thanks again for hanging out with us on today's Marietta Daily Journal podcast. Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about your community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  Thanks to our sponsors Henssler Financial www.hensslerkennesaw.com Engineered Solutions of Georgia www.esogrepair.com Credit Union of Georgia www.cuofga.com Dayco Systems www.daycosystems.com Elon Salon www.elonsalon.com Drake Realty www.drakerealty.com JRM Management www.jrmmanagement.com Ingles Markets www.ingles-markets.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

December 20, 2022 Eden City Council MeetingAGENDA1. Meeting called to order by: Neville Hall, Mayor2. Invocation: Pastor Chris Burns, Draper Pentecostal Holiness Church3. Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Chris White, Fire Chief4. Proclamations and Recognitions:a. Recognition: Prowlers Football Championsb. Recognition: The Vacuum and Sewing Center for 51 years in businessc. Recognition: Quality Cleaners for 75 years in businessd. Proclamation: Year of the Traile. Proclamation: Martin Luther King Jr. Day5. Roll Call6. Set Meeting Agenda7. Public Hearings:a. (1) Consideration of an ordinance to adopt a zoning map amendment to rezone a 2.8-acre property on Main Street from Residential Agriculture to Light Industrial. Zoning Case Z-22-08. KellyStultz, Planning & Community Development Director(2) Consideration to adopt a resolution of a statement of consistency regarding the proposed mapamendment. Kelly Stultz, Planning & Community Development Directorb. Consideration of a program amendment to the City's 2018 Community Development Block GrantNeighborhood Revitalization program. Kelly Stultz, Planning & Community Development Director8. Requests and Petitions of Citizens9. Unfinished Business:a. Consideration of appointments to Boards and Commissions.Kelly Stultz, Planning & Community Development Director10. New Business:a. Mayoral appointments: (1) ABC Board (2) ABC Board Chair (3) Piedmont Triad RegionalCouncil (4) Rural Planning Organization Technical Advisory Committeeand (5) Eden Downtown Development Incorporated. Mayor Neville Hallb. Presentation of the Fair Housing Report for the Community Development Block Grant projects.Kelly Stultz, Planning & Community Development Director11. Reports from Staff:a. City Manager's Report. Jon Mendenhall, City Manager12. Consent Agenda:a. Approval and adoption of the (1) November 15, 2022 and (2) December 1, 2022 Council meetingminutes. Deanna Hunt, City Clerkb. Approval of the re-organization of Administration and Police Departments for 2023.Jon Mendenhall, City Managerc. Approval and adoption of an amendment to the City-County Utilities agreement.Erin Gilley, City Attorneyd. Approval and adoption of Budget Amendment #1. Tammie McMichael, Finance & Personnel Directore. Approval and adoption of Budget Amendment #2. Tammie McMichael, Finance & Personnel Directorf. Approval and adoption of Budget Amendment #3. Tammie McMichael, Finance & Personnel Directorg. Approval and adoption of an easement for the Draper Volunteer Fire Department.Erin Gilley, City Attorneyh. Approval to initiate a zoning map amendment to rezone property at 1711 Mill Avenue.Kelly Stultz, Planning & Community Development Director13. Announcements14. Adjournment###

‘Crypto bros' donated to Iowa Democrats in 2022The Iowa Democratic Party said Wednesday it is looking into a $250,000 campaign donation from Nishad Singh, a former executive of the cryptocurrency company FTX. Singh's large donation was first reported by the Des Moines Register.But that was not the only donation Iowa Democrats received from FTX leaders in 2022.A separate $10,000 donation from Singh to the state party on the same date is recorded in federal campaign finance records.Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX's founder and CEO, donated $9,756.20 to the Iowa Democratic Party on Aug. 31, $2,900 to Democratic Representative Cindy Axne, on Oct. 17, and $5,000 to a PAC that supported Axne on Sept. 28 according to federal campaign finance records.Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas recently and faces myriad charges of fraud and money laundering.Singh donated more than $8 million to Democratic candidates and causes in 2021 and 2022, according to federal campaign finance records. Bankman-Fried donated more than $40 million to various political candidates and causes, from both major political parties, according to federal records.Pearson lays off 50 in Iowa City, closes officePearson is laying off 50 employees at its Iowa City facility on North Dodge — an office it recently closed “and opened opportunities for employees to work in one of our Cedar Rapids facilities,” a spokesman for the company said.The Iowa City layoffs were part of changes Pearson is making “to invest in priorities that will better serve our customers and drive growth in a rapidly changing market,” Dan Nelson, vice president of Pearson's global media relations, told The Gazette on Wednesday.“We understand that these changes are difficult for those whose jobs are affected,” Nelson said in an email. “We have been transparent with all impacted employees, offering ample notification, a generous severance package, and outplacement services.”Marion Methodist Church project may be among CDBG grant applications A renovation that seeks to breathe new life into Marion Methodist Church — a historic building that was saved from demolition through a last-minute deal this year — is among several projects looking for city support letters to apply for a Community Development Block Grant program.The Marion City Council will vote Thursday night on approving letters of support for the five projects that are looking to submit applications.The federal block grant disaster funds are allocated to the Iowa Economic Development Authority through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Linn County will receive 80 percent of the overall $57.6 million, while the other 20 percent — about $11 million — will be used in Marshall, Tama and Benton counties. The IEDA has six years to fully spend the funds.

At the Oct. 11 meeting of the Jackson City Council, Mayor Paul South reported that the city received 3,000 in grants the previous week. A 0,000 unmatched Community Development Block Grant will be used for a drainage project on Valentine Street. Delta Regional Authority awarded 3,000 in funds for the completion of the Cleveland Street project. The city's contribution to the project will be ,629. The council approved an application authorizing the formation of the City of Jackson Health Care Authority. Applicants for authority directors are Bobby G. Brooks, Seat 1; Hassell C. Bounds Jr., Seat 2; and Grady Bedwell,...Article Link

Welcome to the 214th day of the year, which means we are now 58.6 percent of the way through 2022. There’s still plenty of time to improve your averages, or lower them, depending on the rules of whatever game you may be playing in your head. On paper, today is August 2, and there’s five months left until Charlottesville Community Engagement will devote its attention to 2023, declared already by the United Nations as the International Year of the Millets. Are you ready? Sign up for a free or paid subscription to get articles about what’s happening in the area. See below for an offer from Ting that could help us both!On today’s program:Charlottesville is taking precautions in preparation of the five year anniversary of the Unite the Right rallyA federal judge has dismissed a second lawsuit seeking a House of Delegates race in 2022Area law enforcement agencies had a recent crackdown on speeding on U.S. 29 Charlottesville’s Fire Department is deploying more medical equipment The Albemarle Board of Supervisors authorizes a lease for the county to lease a portion of a former department store for public safety vehiclesFirst shout out: Soul of Cville to mark Fifth Anniversary of A12In today’s first shout-out: Three groups are preparing to hold the second annual Soul of Cville festival to celebrate Black excellence in Central Virginia. Chic & Classy Image Consulting, 101.3 JAMZ, and the Ix Art Park Foundation will host the event will be held on August 12, August 13, and August 14 and will feature: Live music and performancesA fashion showA Black artisan market featuring local vendors, Food from local Black-owned restaurantsA pop-up skate event with De La Roll, An art show called There Are Black People in the Future with The Bridge PAI. On Friday there will be a screening of the 1989 film Do the Right Thing, with an afterparty in the Looking Glass hosted by 9 Pillars Hip Hop. For details, visit www.ixartpark.org/soul-of-cville.City on alert for fifth anniversary of A12This week marks five years since the Unite the Right rally and violent conflicts in downtown Charlottesville. Yesterday the city sent out a press release stating that there is no “specific credible threat” but that precautions will be taken. “CPD is maintaining a status of heightened situational awareness and monitoring chatter from intelligence sources to be prepared to increase available coverage Downtown and in parks, which can be activated quickly in response to any pop-up emergencies that might occur,” reads that press release.The eastern vehicular crossing of the Downtown Mall at Heather Heyer Way will be closed from Thursday August 11 at 6 p.m. until Sunday morning August 14 at 6:30 a.m. There is a planned event at the Ting Pavilion for Fridays after Five on Friday. No House of Delegates race in 2022If you’re a candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates, it’s now pretty much certain you’ll be on the ballot in 462 days if you get the nomination or otherwise qualify. Judge David Novak of Virginia’s Eastern Federal District Court has dismissed a second lawsuit seeking an election this year. (read the ruling)“Like just about everything else in our society, the unprecedented COVID-19 global pandemic impacted the work of the United States Census Bureau, delaying the sending of the results of the 2020 Census to the states,” states the introduction to Novak’s order to dismiss the case. That delay meant Virginia did not have updated boundaries for the General Assembly or the House of Representatives until the end of 2021. At the time, Richmond attorney Paul Goldman had an active suit against the State Board of Elections arguing that the 2021 elections were unconstitutional because they were based on data from the 2010 Census. After several months of legal proceedings including an appearance before the Fourth Circuit of Appeals, Judge Novak and two other judges ruled that Goldman lacked legal standing to have brought the case. A few days later, Richmond author Jeffrey Thomas Jr. filed a second suit based on Goldman’s main arguments. Novak’s order recounts the long legal saga to this point, including the failure of the Virginia Redistricting Commission to reach consensus on new maps as well as the COVID-related delays.“Because Plaintiff’s attempts to lay blame on Defendants for the delays caused by the unprecedented pandemic fails, Plaintiffs are unable to trace their injuries to Defendants,” Novak writes. Judge Novak’s order is made without prejudice, which means a new suit could be brought, but there are 98 days until election day. Efforts made to crack down on distracted drivers on U.S. 29Vehicular crashes are up on Virginia roads this year and late last month area law enforcement agencies teamed up on to enforce speeding and distracted driving laws on U.S. 29. On July 21, Albemarle County Police, Charlottesville Police, and the University of Virginia police were out in force from the Greene County border to the Nelson County line. “We usually see at least 700,000 vehicles daily on that stretch of roadway,” said Albemarle Master Police Officer Kate Kane. “Consequently it adds up to a lot of crashes unfortunately.” During the one-day initiative on July 21, there were 197 traffic stops and 201 summons were given out. Just over half of those were for speeding. The chances of surviving are dramatically diminished the faster you go.“Logic would tell you that when speed goes up, survivability goes down,” Kane said. “We don’t realize how fragile we are. Even with the seat belts, even with the air bags, even with the best protection technology, we cannot avoid all crashes. If you’re traveling at 75 miles an hour or higher, your body just can’t take that kind of impact.”As of today, there have been 527 fatalities on Virginia roads in 2022 according to a dashboard on the Virginia Department of Transportation’s website. Charlottesville Fire Department to deploy more devices on medical callsSome vehicles used by the Charlottesville Fire Department on medical calls will soon carry additional devices intended to increase the chances of a patient surviving a cardiac arrest. The Department secured $64,000 from a Community Development Block Grant in the last fiscal year to purchase four chest compression devices to assist in the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). They’ll be placed on two fire engines and two ambulances.“Based on Neighborhood Risk Assessment data, residents in all nineteen (19) neighborhoods are expected to benefit from deploying these devices, most notably Tenth and Page, where the data highlights the significant importance of timely interventions,” reads a press release sent out on Friday. The department will also begin to implement video laryngoscopes, which are devices that assist with the intubation of patients. “The [Airtraq] devices have been used in pre-hospital systems and in emergency departments to improve success in airway management,” the release continues. Yesterday was the first day that Scott Carpenter will serve as the Deputy Chief of Operations. According to a July 15 press release, Carpenter has been with the Charlottesville Fire Department for 22 years. Second shout-out: The Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign Since the very beginning of this newsletter, one long-time Patreon supporter has used his shout-out to draw your attention to the work of the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign. The campaign is a coalition of grassroots partners including motivated citizens and volunteers, partner organizations, and local governments who want to promote the use of native plants. Summer is in high gear and pollinators are active! Want to learn more? Visit plantvirginianatives.org to download Piedmont Native Plants: A Guide for Landscapes and Gardens. Albemarle Supervisors approves rent former J.C. Penney as public safety operations centerAlbemarle County will move forward with the lease of a former department store at Fashion Square Mall to serve as a new operations facility for fire and police. “It does have a central location, it’s got a very large warehouse, with a great loading dock,” said Lance Stewart, the county’s director of facilities and environmental services.  “All together it's about 33,000 square feet which is almost a third of the J.C. Penney site. On July 20, Supervisors authorized a lease and signaled a willingness to pay over $3 million in capital costs to get it ready for public safety work. “This has been a known and growing need for many years including capital requests that were submitted for new construction in the past but not funded,” said Lance Stewart is the director of the Facilities and Environmental Services Department in Albemarle County. David Puckett, the Deputy Chief of Operations at Albemarle Fire Rescue, reminded Supervisors that they have hired several personnel in recent years to expand capacity. “While the vast majority of those positions are out in the field directly providing service there are a number of administrative positions added to make sure we could successfully on-board, train, and support those personnel long-term.” Puckett said. Puckett said space is full at the county’s offices on Fifth Street Extended.  The Department also now has its own dedicated fleet manager as well as a mechanic to conduct in-house repairs. All that work also requires space, and the J.C. Penney used to have a tire shop. “The lack of a centralized facility has required us to store parts and equipment in fire station closets and storage rooms throughout the county,” Puckett said. “This has resulted in loss productivity. As an example, if a mechanic is out working on a truck only to determine that the part needed to complete the repair is halfway across the county, it requires more time and energy to go get the part before they complete it.”Puckett said stations themselves are not really set up for vehicle repair.Albemarle Police Chief Sean Reeves said more space has also been a capital need requested by law enforcement. “Some of the capital improvement projects from over ten years ago, from two chiefs of police ago, called for a site that we could use to expand stored evidence, store vehicles that are in evidence, and an evidence processing bay that we do not have,” Reeves said. Colonel Reeves said using the J.C. Penney site would cut down on the capital cost to build such a place. He also said the traffic unit would move to the new location, freeing up space at the County Office Building on Fifth Street Extended.“And that space that’s freed up at COB-Fifth, what that would do is go toward supporting the mental health unit, the officers that are going to be picked and selected as staff for the new mental health unit,” Reeves said.  The J.C. Penney site is owned separately from the rest of Fashion Square Mall by a subsidiary of Seminole Trail Properties. Stewart said this use would not preclude redevelopment of the site in the future. The project is also outside of the jurisdiction of the Albemarle Architectural Review Board. The lease would be for ten years with options to extend that as well as to expand to more of the J.C. Penney site in the future. The rent of $558,000 a year is based on $12.50 per square foot, and the rent would increase by 3.5 percent each year. “And I can tell you that having looked at a number of industrial and commercial properties that we thought might be suitable options, that is well below typical for the market,” Stewart said. Final details will be worked out as the lease is negotiated. Supervisor Ned Gallaway lauded staff for negotiating a good price and said this was a good location for this use. “This is an area where the Rio Road Small Area Plan is,” Gallaway said. “When we think of the county investing in this location, we can be a vibrant anchor tenant to an area that needs redevelopment and needs activity.Housekeeping notes for edition #414If you’ve been wondering if there is going to be a summer break for Charlottesville Community Engagement, we’re sort of in it. I am hoping this week to write up as much as I can before cutting back to almost no newsletters and podcasts for next week. I’ve got a rare opportunity to go on a vacation, and I’m tempted to try to not pay attention. But that’s the difficult thing - I don’t want to stop paying attention to the items happening in the area in and around Charlottesville. In fact, I’ve set up Town Crier Productions to harness my curiosity about what’s happening and a passion for documenting what’s going on. We’re now in the third year of this experiment, and I’m grateful for everyone who has helped with a financial contribution to keep it going. The best way to make a financial contribution is by purchasing a subscription through Substack. if you do so, Ting will match your initial payment! And, if you sign up for their services through this link you’ll get a free standard install, your 2nd month free, and a $75 downtown mall gift card! Enter the promo code COMMUNITY for full effect. Music on the podcast version of the show comes from the D.C. sensation Wraki, and you can support their work by paying whatever you want for the album regret everything on BandCamp. Finally, if you’ve missed anything or want to do a deep dive on a topic, take a look at the Information Charlottesville archive. Want to read articles on land use in Albemarle? Click here!What about information on Virginia elections? Click here!What about uncategorized articles? And what category should they be in? Please send this on to someone else so we can continue to grow the audience. Thanks for reading and listening! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

July 26, 2022 — The Fort Bragg City Council swore in a new chief of police and hired another retired public employee as an interim city manager Monday night. Last month, the council bid farewell to Interim Police Chief John Naulty and Interim City Manager David Spaur, who were both serving for a limited time due to their retirements from public service. Last night, Neil Cervenka, formerly of Turlock, took his oath of office as the new chief. Cervenka thanked family and friends and pledged his loyalty to his new community, saying, “I commit to concern for this community and all the issues that affect it. I commit to compassion for all segments of this community regardless of status. And I commit to courage, to do the right thing, no matter if it's difficult.” In another key position, Peggy Ducey can put in 960 hours a year as Interim City Manager, in keeping with the rules of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). She will receive no benefits or any other form of compensation outside of an hourly rate of $76.30, starting July 26. And the council adopted a resolution to declare a Stage 1 water alert, asking for a citywide water conservation goal of 5% to 10% and prohibiting wasteful water use. Water customers are only supposed to irrigate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays before 9am and after 6pm, and restaurants will only serve water upon request. Operations Manager John Smith told the council that water in the Noyo River, one of the city's three water sources, is diminishing. “The Noyo River is currently at 6 cubic feet per second,” he told the council on Monday. “It was 6.75 when I wrote this, which is still 4.3 million gallons a day, which sounds like a lot, but it's dropping about 1.5 cubic feet per week.” Smith added that the city's small desalination plant is ready to go as a last resort, and promised to keep working on the city goal of storing 60 million gallons, an estimated four months' supply. And officials are preparing for the next election, just a month after publishing results from the last election. City Clerk June Lemos told the council that the deadline to return nomination papers to run for Fort Bragg City Council has been extended to August 17, because Vice-Mayor Jessica Morsell-Haye is not seeking re-election. Council member Lindy Peters' papers have been certified, and he is qualified to be on the November ballot. The Council heard a number of reports, among them a draft of a feasibility study to diversify the local economy by developing the former Georgia Pacific Mill site. As its tourism-based economy crashed during COVID, the city received $137,000 in CARES Act money from the U.S. Economic Development Agency, plus a $10,000 California Sea Grant for the Blue Economy Symposium to develop new ideas to create sustainable jobs and industries. However, as Morsell-Haye pointed out, the former Georgia-Pacific mill site is not public property. “This study was initiated at a time when we were in negotiations for that property,” she said. “We're talking about uses on property that we do not control.” Last year, Mendocino Railway, or the Skunk Train, won an eminent domain case against Georgia Pacific and purchased 272 acres of the mill site property according to the terms of a stipulation for $1,230,000. Though the Skunk Train does not engage in interstate commerce, its lawyers claim that its status as a railroad means that it is subject to federal jurisdiction, which exempts it from local and state permitting regulations. In 2019, the company declared that it would not be seeking permits from the city of Fort Bragg to do work on the property, but that it was happy to make a donation to the city equal to the cost of a building permit. The City sued the Skunk, asking a local judge to declare that the railway is not a public utility, and to command it to comply with all city ordinances. The First District Court of Appeals briefly placed a stay on the case after Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Clay Brennan declined to throw it out, but the stay was dissolved after about five weeks. The City and the Skunk are scheduled to be back in court for a case management conference in September. On Monday night, Chris Hart, of Mendocino Railway, called in to the City Council meeting to complain that his company made only a brief appearance in a document concerning land it owns. “I do feel that Mendocino Railway's perspective could have been more incorporated,” he said. “It is concerning that even though we are a local company that owns much of the land and is trying to invest millions, we're not considered a stakeholder or an asset. Instead we're shown as an obstacle. The study states that we interfered with the City's verbal agreement with GP when we used eminent domain in the summer of 2021. It makes no mention of the City's interference five months earlier.” Last year, the City Council wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation, urging it not to award a railroad rehabilitation and improvement financing loan to Mendocino Railway. Skunk Train lawyers sent the City a cease and desist letter, threatening to sue for defamation. In another update, the council also heard from Parents and Friends Incorporated, a non-profit organization that is building a four-bedroom residential care facility on Cypress Street for people with developmental disabilities or age-related disabilities like Alzheimers or dementia. The organization received a $3.6 million Community Development Block Grant for the project, which started construction in April of this year. The deadline is May 31 of next year, and they expect to be finished in February. The Council also heard a report from consultant Marie Jones about the Eagles Hall, a well-loved venue that is currently in escrow with an unknown potential buyer. Council member Tess Albin Smith was concerned that the building could be “razed to the ground,” but Jones told her that it would probably be expensive to tear down, and it's a historical landmark, which means the city's planning department and council would have to sign off on a demolition. There is enough parking for four living units, but, like so much else about the status of the property, nothing is known about the plans for its future.

North Central Florida is rich in superstar talent, and we've got 'em on this week's Bob Rose Rewind. Segment 1 - Alachua County Sheriff's Office Public Info Officer Art Forgey is tracking the latest crime trends, honoring fallen law enforcement, homicide training and scams to watch out for.  Segment 2 - Ocala and Marion County is the "Horse Capitol Of The World," and Louisa Barton from "The Horse Talk Show" on the SKY has the inside track on the amazing 13 horses with local ties in this year's Kentucky Derby. Segment 3 - Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods outlines cooperative efforts with Ocala Police that are making a true dent in the number of shootings. Woods is working with federal authorities to get fentanyl-laced drugs off the streets, from marijuana to cocaine. And there is a need to increase manpower to keep up with unprecedented population growth. Segment 4 - Marion County Commissioner Carl Zalak highlighted the Kimberly Center's services to help abused and neglected children. Gov. Desantis presented Community Development Block Grant funding for the center in an appearance this week. Zalak also discussed increased county tourism, and the "Festival Of Speed" event at the World Equestrian Center, and the annual Mother's Day "Symphony Under The Stars" presented by Fine Arts For Ocala.

What’s shaking? Sounds like an appropriate greeting for Richter Scale Day. Have yourself tied in knots? An appropriate pose for National Pretzel Day. I know I am able to tell you this is the 369th edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement, a clear sign of how I honor Get Organized Day. I’m Sean Tubbs, the host of this regular newsletter and podcast about things both trivial and of massive importance. Help spread the word by sharing this installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement!In today’s edition: The Virginia Solar Initiative has the first ever survey of how localities in the Commonwealth regulate solar installations large and small The Village of Rivanna Community Advisory Committee in Albemarle will not be reappointed anytime soonCharlottesville City Council ratifies the issuance of $23 million in revenue bonds for Midway ManorAnd the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors get an update on Southwood in advance of a public hearing tonight for a rezoning for the second phase Shout-out to Camp AlbemarleToday’s first subscriber-supported public service announcement goes out to Camp Albemarle, which has for sixty years been a “wholesome rural, rustic and restful site for youth activities, church groups, civic events and occasional private programs.”Located on 14 acres on the banks of the Moorman’s River near Free Union, Camp Albemarle continues as a legacy of being a Civilian Conservation Corps project that sought to promote the importance of rural activities. Camp Albemarle seeks support for a plan to winterize the Hamner Lodge, a structure built in 1941 by the CCC and used by every 4th and 5th grade student in Charlottesville and Albemarle for the study of ecology for over 20 years. If this campaign is successful, Camp Albemarle could operate year-round. Consider your support by visiting campalbemarleva.org/donate. Survey released on solar rules across Virginia localitiesIn six years, the amount of electricity generated by solar panels in increased by 12,150 percent. That’s according to data cited in the first ever survey of Virginia localities on their policies related to permitting large utility-scale installations as well as rooftop panels. The survey was conducted by the Virginia Department of Energy and the Weldon Cooper Center at the University of Virginia and asked a series of questions to officials in Virginia’s 133 localities. “In Virginia, the permitting and siting of solar energy and energy storage facilities is heavily informed by local governments,” reads the report. “Therefore, to realize the full potential of solar energy development in Virginia, it is important to understand and support the solar experience, concerns and priorities of local governments.”One hundred and nine localities responded to the survey, which was conducted a year after the General Assembly passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act which among other things mandates that Virginia’s largest two investor-owned utilities be 100 percent carbon free by 2050. “The VCEA also deems 16,100 megawatts (MW) of solar and onshore wind to be in the public interest, greatly reducing the barriers for project approval with the State Corporation Commission,” the report continues.The survey is intended to help inform policy across Virginia, given that localities set the detailed rules for siting and zoning of solar facilities. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, electricity generated through solar in Virginia increased from 30 megawatts in 2015 to 3,675 megawatts in 2021.Smaller installations on homes and businesses are called “distributed” solar projects. That number has risen from 948 net-metering installations in 2011 to 26,237 in 2021. No plans to reappoint VORCAC There are eight vacancies on the Village of Rivanna Community Advisory Committee and the Albemarle Board of Supervisors has no intention of filling them any time soon. That’s according to Emily Kilroy, the county’s director of communications and public engagement. “The Board will not seek to make reappointments at this time, as Committee support right now is in a transition,” Kilroy wrote in an email to Charlottesville Community Engagement on Monday. The previous appointees resigned en masse in April after their April 11 meeting was canceled by the county for a lack of pressing issues. Committee members disagreed and announced their resignation in an April 19 Substack post. Albemarle County is currently reviewing the Comprehensive Plan, of which the Village of Rivanna Master Plan is a component. As part of that work, staff resources in the Community Development Department are not as available. “Recently, the Community Development Department’s long range planning staff have traditionally managed all CAC meetings and scheduling,” wrote Charles Rapp, the deputy director of community development, in a March 1 email. “To transition the primary focus to the comprehensive plan, staff is proposing a structured schedule for the CACs for the remainder of the 2022 calendar year.”That did not meet the favor of the former members of the Village of Rivanna Community Advisory Committee. Today, the Free Enterprise Forum is calling for the county to disband all of the Community Advisory Committees.To learn more about the Comprehensive Plan project underway, visit the AC44 pages on the Albemarle County website. This is not to be confused with the Air Canada flight between Vancouver and Dublin. What do you think? Leave a comment!City Council signs off on bonds for Midway ManorAt their meeting on April 18, City Council agreed with the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s decision to issue $23 million in bonds for a third-party to refurbish the Midway Manor housing complex in downtown Charlottesville.“It is assistance with the financing for the substantial rehabilitation of Midway Manor Apartments by Standard Communities,” said Michael Graff, a bond counsel with McGuire Woods. The funding will flow through the CRHA as a conduit for tax-exempt bonds, which requires the city to also issue its approval. “At a high level we will be ensuring that this property continues to provide affordable housing for at least the next 30 years through partnership with Virginia Housing and an allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits as well as renewing the subsidy contract that provides the current residents with a rental subsidy that is set to expire in two years,” said Steven Kahn of Standard Communities.Kahn said Standard is working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to extend that contract for 20 years. He said that’s the maximum length HUD will allow. He also said there will be a substantial renovation of the units. “Sixty-plus thousand dollars per unit,” Kahn said. “Very little will be untouched. The things you typically think of for renovations is kitchens, bathroom, flooring, and electrical systems, absolutely. But also some of the behind the scene elements that can also plague older buildings if they are not invested in. Façade, windows, roofing.”Paragraph below updated on April 27, 2022Kahn said work on the elevator systems is currently underway.  More details was provided in a statement sent to Charlottesville Community Engagement on April 27.“We continue to plan for a comprehensive renovation and upgrade of Midway Manor, which is expected to begin later this year in conjunction with the implementation of extended affordability protections for the property. Recognizing that the elevators were in need of more immediate attention, we have accelerated the modernization of both elevators at the property, with on-site work currently underway. In efforts to minimize disruption to residents, one elevator car is being worked on at a time, with the entire project expected to be complete within the next 8 weeks.” - Steven Kahn, Director, Standard CommunitiesCouncilor Michael Payne also sits as a voting member of the CRHA Board. He voted to approve the bonds on February 28, but said he would vote on Council with “unease.” “There’s not a way for City Council to have baked in our approval a lock-step assurance for example when and if the elevator get renovated, how is this process going to go, so I will certainly be trying to watch it as closely as I can and be talking to residents throughout this process,” Payne said. Midway Manor sits on 2.32 acres and was built in 1981 according to city property records. Standard Communities paid $16.5 million for the property on January, 13, 2022. Today’s second shout-out goes to LEAPWe’re now well into spring, and many of us may have already turned on our air conditioning units for the first in months. To see what you can do to get the most out of your home, contact LEAP, your local energy nonprofit, to schedule a home energy assessment this month - just $45 for City and County residents. LEAP also offers FREE home weatherization to income- and age-qualifying residents. If someone in your household is age 60 or older, or you have an annual household income of less than $74,950, you may qualify for a free energy assessment and home energy improvements such as insulation and air sealing. Sign up today to lower your energy bills, increase comfort, and reduce energy waste at home!Albemarle Supervisors briefed on Southwood RedevelopmentTonight the Albemarle Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the rezoning of the second phase of the Southwood Mobile Home Park being overseen by a local nonprofit. (meeting info)Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville purchased Southwood in 2007 and entered into an agreement with the Board of Supervisors in 2016 to work with the nonprofit. A performance agreement for a public private partnership was signed in 2019 to govern $3.25 million in county investment. Supervisors got an update at their meeting on April 20, 2022. “That was shortly followed by approval of the phase one rezoning application and just to let you know, the rezoning application for phase two was submitted to the county in 2021,” Pethia said. Phase one is for 34 acres on the eastern and southern edges of the property, with a maximum of 450 homes, 270 units of which will be made affordable to residents through various interventions. There’s also a maximum of 50,000 square feet of non-residential space. Before describing phase two, Pethia gave an update on how the site plan for phase one has turned out. “The approved site plan will provide a total of 335 residential units, 211 of those are affordable,” Pethia said. “The affordable housing units include approximately 121 low-income housing tax credit units which will be located along Hickory Drive, 86 Habitat built units to be located in villages one and two as well as in block ten. Habitat units include condominiums, townhomes, and single family attached and detached units.”Pethia said Habitat has currently identified 37 Southwood households who are ready to move forward with purchasing their homes in phase one. Phase 2 extends the rezoning to the existing mobile home park. “If approved, phase two will approve 527 to 1,000 housing units, 227 of which will be affordable, including a potential sixty additional Low Income Housing Tax Credit units,” Pethia said. Phase 2 would allow for a maximum of 60,000 square feet of nonresidential space. The Planning Commission will review this rezoning tonight.Funding overviewIn addition to $3.25 million associated with the performance agreement, Albemarle has used $675,000 from the housing trust to help pay for costs associated with the first phase of the rezoning as well as the equivalent of $175,000 in county staff time. “Additionally, the county applied for and was awarded a little over $2.4 million in grant funding including a $40,000 Community Development Block Grant,” Pethia said. Pethia said Habitat estimates the total cost to develop Southwood will be $154.7 million, including the cost to prepare the sites and to engage with residents. “Habitat anticipates securing $131.1 million to cover the project costs,” Pethia said. “This amount includes funds that have already been received and that will be expended by the end of this fiscal year. The balance of total project funds include donations received through Habitat’s capital campaign, revenue generated through mobile home park operations, proceeds from the sale of land for market-rate housing, and funds Habitat anticipates receiving through federal and state grants, local government, and foundations.” Pethia said there’s a current $16.6 million revenue gap and county staff are looking to close it. Many sources will include a local match from Albemarle taxpayers. Another option would be increased funding from the housing trust or development of a new public private partnership. In March, MacKenzie Scott gave Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville $5.75 million. Habitat CEO Dan Rosensweig said the deficit already includes that spending. (Daily Progress story)“It’s a blessing and a curse because it’s already baked into this,” Rosensweig said. Another expense has been and will be removal of oil tanks under trailers as well as failing septic systems. “There were two areas of the mobile home park that are on failing septic right now and there is one area of the park that was draining directly into the part of the park that we are trying to develop and that was obviously a catastrophe,” Rosensweig said. “One of the things that we’ve had to do earlier than we thought was scramble to create trailer pads on the other side of the park that’s on [public] sewer. We’ve been moving people. Some folks moved out over the years and we purchased mobile homes and rehabbed them. So the first 80 or so families, we’re about halfway through moving them out of the park so we can decommission all of that septic.” Rosensweig said another 170 trailers are on failing septic and it is directly pouring into Biscuit Run and into the watershed. They’re applying for funding to install a sewer line into the park, but that cost is $6.5 million and the county will be asked to cover some of the cost. “It would also be infrastructure that we’re designing to be part of the second phase so it would be infrastructure that’s not temporary infrastructure, but permanent infrastructure,” Rosensweig said. The Planning Commission takes up the second phase of the rezoning tonight. Support Town Crier Productions through Ting!Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

This is Day 365, the final 24 hour period of 2021, and the eve of another Day 1. Today takes on many themes for many people, with some choosing reflection, some looking forward, and others simply existing. For me it’s another opportunity to write another installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement, a program and newsletter that seeks to bring you as much information as often as possible. I’m your host, Sean Tubbs, ready to get to it.Charlottesville Community Engagement is free to sign-up and you can decide later if you want to pay whatever you can to keep it going! On today’s program:The pandemic surge continues with three days in a row of record new cases, and Virginia’s emergency physicians want a new state of emergencyAttorney General Mark Herring has sued a small town outside Suffolk for a pattern of racial discrimination in traffic stopsCharlottesville City Council briefed on how the city’s affordable housing fund is used and agrees to cancel a sidewalk funded paid for through federal housing fundsMore new bills are filed, including a prohibition on COVID vaccine mandatesIn today’s first subscriber-supported public service announcement, Stitch Please if the official podcast of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. Stitch Please centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. Weekly discussions, interviews, tips, and techniques celebrate and contextualize Black creativity. To support the program, creator Lisa Woolfolk has created a 2022 Black Women Stitch wall calendar with four fusable applique patterns based on original art by Black women artists. Visit Black Women Stitch now to purchase it today! Pandemic updateFor the third day in a row, the Virginia Department of Health has reported a record number of new COVID cases with 17,618. The percent positivity has increased to 21.5 percent. These are numbers that have not been seen at any point during the pandemic. In the Blue Ridge Health District there are 365 new cases reported, which is not a record but it’s close. The seven-day average for new positive tests is 15.2 percent. Yesterday the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians called on Governor Ralph Northam to declare a state of emergency in order to assist emergency rooms across the Commonwealth. Northam’s previous emergency expired on June 30. “Emergency departments are considered a safety net for those patients in need of care, regardless of insurance status, and are federally mandated and morally obligated to provide care to all those who seek it,” reads their press release. “However, Virginia’s emergency medicine system is under threat of collapse due to excessive patient volume.”A declaration would allow access to federal funding, allow hospitals and ER’s to enact triage protocols, and more flexibility in allocating resources. The group also wants the Virginia Department of Health to provide more testing sites. The release notes that hospitalization numbers are below the levels of the winter peak earlier this year and that the majority of patients are unvaccinated.  You can confirm that fact on the Virginia Department of Health’s website. The high number of cases are causing some to alter their plans. The IX Art Park has canceled their Studio 51 New Year’s Eve party due to staffing and safety concerns. Outgoing Attorney General sues town of WindsorWith only two weeks remaining in his second term, outgoing Attorney General Mark Herring has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Windsor for violations of the Virginia Human Rights Act and the Virginia Public Integrity and Law Enforcement Misconduct Act. The latter passed the General Assembly in 2020 and allows the attorney general to sue when evidence is gathered that a law enforcement agency is “engaging in a pattern or practice that deprives persons of rights, privileges, or immunities.”The suit filed in Isle of Wight Circuit Court argues that the town’s police department disproportionately pulls over Black drivers.“From July 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021, the Department conducted 810 traffic stops of Black drivers—representing approximately 42 percent of the stops conducted by the Department,” reads the pleading. “Consequently, the Town stopped Black drivers between 200 percent and 500 percent more often than would be expected based on the number of Black residents in the Town or Isle of Wight County.” The suit goes on to argue that Black drivers were searched more often than white drivers. It also cites an incident of December 2020 in which an officer claimed he was making a “felony stop” when he pulled over an off-duty police officer. “The Department does not have a policy on what constitutes a felony stop,” the argument continues. The suit also accuses the Town of inconsistent reporting and demands the Town adopt policies  to address the violations. Resources:Read the filing Read the Virginia Public Integrity and Law Enforcement Misconduct Act Read the Virginia Human Rights ActRead Herring’s press releaseBills filed to limit voting, prevent COVID vaccine mandates The General Assembly session begins in less than two weeks, and bills continue to be pre-filed. Incoming Delegate Tim Anderson (R-Virginia Beach) has filed a bill prohibiting COVID vaccines from being mandated and prohibiting people from being dismissed by employers for refusing to be vaccinated. (HB27)Delegate Ronnie Campbell (R-Raphine) filed a bill to add 23.2 more miles of the Maury River to be added to the state’s list of Scenic Rivers. (HB28)Another bill from Campbell would rename and reroute a position of U.S. 60 in Lexington and create a new U.S. 850 for a section of the current route. (HB31)Campbell also filed legislation to allow Bath County to be added to the list of localities that can charge a fee for disposal of solid waste. (HB32)Campbell filed another bill to require vehicles that claim to be for Farm Use to obtain a placard from the Department of Motor Vehicles, at no charge. (HB33)Campbell would also prohibit Virginia from allowing absentee ballots to be dropped off at additional locations outside of registrars’ offices. (HB34)Campbell would also end no-excuse absentee voting. (HB35)Campbell would also abolish the right to be added to a permanent list for voting absentee. (HB36)Campbell also wants to call for a Constitutional Convention to put limit the power of the federal government. (HJ3)Harambe calendarA local educator has released the latest version of a calendar to help people find out about African American cultural events in the community. Alex Zan has been producing the Harambe Family Events calendar for many years. City Councilor Sena Magill made an announcement at last week’s City Council meeting. (download the calendar)“Harambe, Swahili for ‘all pull together,’ cultural events objectives are to inspire and unify area citizens to communicate more effectively and create and maintain a positive environment for change and civility,” Magill said. The calendar can be downloaded as a .PDF and can help map out 2022. “The calendar also strives to strengthen family relationships and nurture cultural awareness, particularly among African Americans who have experienced a lack of inclusion in many area events,” Magill said.Magill said physical copies of the calendar will be distributed throughout the community. *You’re reading Charlottesville Community Engagement!In today’s shout-out, a shout-out to the shouters-of out! I want to thank all of the individuals and entities that have supported this newsletter and podcast through a $25 a month Patreon contribution or through some other combination of support. Thanks to:The Charlottesville Jazz SocietyCode for CharlottesvilleLEAPThe Rivanna Conservation AllianceLonnie Murray and his penchant for native plantWTJU, The Albemarle-Charlottesville Historical Society, Jefferson Madison Regional LibraryCharlottesville Area Tree Stewards, Cville 350Piedmont Master GardenersThe Valley Research Center (may not actually exist)  *Council briefed on affordable housing fundsA firm hired to conduct an audit of the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund presented preliminary results to City Council at their final meeting of the year in the early morning of December 21. HR&A had already completed an affordable housing plan as part of the Cville Plans Together initiative but Council paid an additional $165,000 to the firm for that audit, as well as creation of a program to ensure that the upcoming rewrite of the zoning code is inclusionary. The adopted plan called for the city to spend $10 million on housing for at least ten years. The Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund was created in 2007 as one tool for the city to increase the number of subsidized housing units. No audit has ever been conducted, and the city has struggled to hold on to housing coordinators, a position which has been vacant since the summer of 2020. “We went back to records going back to 2010 and we’re talking about just shy of $47 million here, the vast majority of $38 million being local and city housing trust fund money,” said Phillip Kash of HR&A. Kash said there are three major areas funded by the CAHF. They are development of new units and rehabilitation of existing ones, programs and operations of housing nonprofits, or city administration. The main beneficiary of city funding has been Piedmont Housing Alliance, followed by the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. “That’s really tied to the Friendship Courts project in particular, and this really moves their position on this pretty significantly,” Kash said. The analysis also broke down how much return the city got on its investment. Rehabilitation and construction of single family homes are the most expensive per unit. New construction has been subsidized at a range between $20,000 and $45,000, with rehabilitation between $3,000 and $25,000 a unit. Kash said there are some initial lessons that can be learned. “Funding that was authorized by the city was not spent or followed up on,” Kash said. “While it was awarded, what it was awarded for was not necessarily ending up happening or wasn’t actually used. There are a couple of examples of projects being delayed or projects not being built yet. There were projects actually located outside the city. There’s a clear pattern of needing better reporting or monitoring.” A final report will be developed early next year. Recommendations will inform the next capital improvement program. Outgoing Mayor Nikuyah Walker said she wants funding to go be producing housing and not to support nonprofits.“Keeping an organization afloat should not be our goal if they’re not delivering,” Walker said. “I think what ultimately once this report is finished, the community will see that we haven’t been mindful at all regarding the funds that we are allocating and we need to be more mindful.” Council cancels CDBG-funded sidewalk on Franklin StreetIn their final item of the year, Council agreed to cancel a project to build a sidewalk on Franklin Street using federal funds that come through the Community Development Block Grant process. The project had been selected by a task force but was defunded earlier this year because it could not be completed by a federal deadline. Deputy City Manager Sam Sanders recommended Council consider moving away from the task force model. “Routinely, a task force model doesn’t necessarily help to meet the regulatory conditions because typically what you’re doing is simply allowing community members to pick projects and they don’t necessarily always know the details that go into executing,” Sanders said. In 2017, the city selected the Belmont neighborhood to be the recipient of CDBG funds and a task force recommended $204,263 funding go toward the Franklin Street sidewalk. This spring, staff said they would seek to reallocate funds back to the project, but Sanders had concerns it would once again not be completed in time to meet a May 2022 deadline. “Engineering complications exist today in order for us to be able to move forward,” Sanders said. “The reality is it should not have been selected.” Sanders, who has only been with the city since August, said the process is flawed. In addition, Sanders said this project did little to address low-income residents. Council agreed to cancel the project. Sanders will return with an update to the city’s ordinance to eliminate the task force’s role in favor of a staff advisory body that would seek input from the Planning Commission and Council. Resources:Minutes of the Belmont CDBG Task Force, November 7, 2018Minutes of the Belmont CDBG Task Force, February 12, 2019CDBG-funded Franklin Street sidewalk to be delayed, February 22, 2021An update on Franklin Street sidewalk, April 19, 2021Year in Review relegated to TwitterThis has been a very busy year for Town Crier Productions with 163 newsletter, 51 Weeks Ahead, and a whole lot of reporting and research. I had intended to create a Year In Review, but 2022 is going to begin with a bang so my concentration is going there.However, I am continuing to do a Year in Review on the cvilletowncrier account on Twitter. If you want to review the year, take a look there. After about 16 hours of work reviewing previous installments of this newsletter, I’ve only gotten as far as March. So, take a look there, and please retweet and like and share. Thanks for all of your support this year, and let’s see what 2022 brings us. Stay safe! Support the program!Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona – Prescott Valley is seeing continued improvement to serve area youth. On Thursday, Nov. 18, Town Council approved a contract that will allow for completion of a remodel of the original building. The Town currently owns the BGCCAZ building at 8201 Loos Drive, which previously served as the CASA Senior Center, and leases it to the organization. In 2017, the Town used a Community Development Block Grant (combined with donations from the Fain Family, Phoenix Suns Charities, and the Boys & Girls Club) to expand the building with the addition of a... For the written story, read here >> https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/town-approves-completion-of-remodel-on-boys-girls-clubs-of-central-arizona/

In this episode, we discuss economic development strategies in Lincoln, building well-distributed affordable housing, homeless prevention efforts, and using data to drive decisions.About Dan MarvinDan Marvin serves as the Director of the Urban Development Department for the City of Lincoln, Nebraska.Dan Marvin has served as an At-Large member of the Lincoln City Council (2005-2009), a member of the Lincoln/Lancaster County Planning Commission, worked on the City of Lincoln Infrastructure Finance Committee, and the Lincoln Economic Development Task Force.During his service on the Lincoln City Council, Dan served on the Railroad Transportation Safety District, Community Development Task Force and the City Council Internal Liquor Committee. Dan reorganized city government through an early retirement plan that lowered the cost of government, helped craft financing plans that provided over $200 million dollars toward water and sewer utility infrastructure and $68 million dollars for road infrastructure. Dan also worked with the Lancaster County Board to help craft the financial plan for a new $70 million dollar jail facility.From 2009 to 2013 Dan served as the Secretary / Executive Director of the West Haymarket Joint Public Agency (WHJPA). Dan played key roles in the development of the political and financial structure of the WHJPA. The WHJPA project is the single largest project of its kind in Lincoln's history. It is a $350 million public investment project that includes roads and utilities, private land acquisition, district energy system, parking facilities, and a 16,000 seat multi-purpose arena. This project will eventually spawn well over $300 million dollars of additional private development.In 2014 Dan served as the executive director of the Nebraska Democratic Party. As the ED, he managed a budget of over one million dollars. uring the year Dan was responsible for directing a number of operations including the State Convention and assisted in a successful statewide petition effort to raise the State's minimum wage.In 2019 Dan became the Director of Urban Development for the City of Lincoln. The Urban Development department is responsible for managing Lincoln's share of federal Community Development Block Grant funds, serving as the City's Redevelopment Authority, coordinating the acquisition of Right of Way and sales of City property, and managing public parking resources.Prior to 2019, Dan owned and operated Marvin Investment Management Company, a registered investment advisory firm. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 1981. Dan and his wife, Donna, have lived in Lincoln for over 30 years. They have three children.

DEI, or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a subject that often comes up but is not fully addressed. We can all agree that there is no room for racism or exclusion in our world today, but could we be doing more? What is DEI? Why is it important? How does it affect my nonprofit? Those are some of the questions we are going to answer on this episode with our guest Riley Randolph. Riley holds an undergraduate degree in Communications with a minor in Interdisciplinary studies, of which she had a focus in Critical Race Theory. Riley is the Grants Manager at Soukup Strategic Solutions. Riley not only writes grants but also undertakes extensive grant research as well. Riley has written millions of dollars in grants and the largest award to date was earlier this year when her Community Development Block Grant was approved for just shy of $1million. This podcast comes to you from IMPACTability™ powered by Soukup Strategic Solutions. IMPACTability™ is an online coaching program that helps nonprofit leaders maximize their impact. With Impact Coaches, nonprofit leaders can achieve career goals and have a greater impact on the world around them. Impact Coaches will help you address real-world challenges that you experience in your own nonprofit. By focusing on your strengths as a leader, Impact Coaches can help you apply your knowledge and skills to have a greater impact. Nonprofit Coaching: https://impactability.net (https://impactability.net) (Learn more about IMPACTability™ and how to work with a nonprofit coach). Soukup Strategic Solutions, Inc. was founded in 2012 by the company's president, Sheryl Soukup, to provide nonprofit organizations with expertise in fundraising and nonprofit management. The company offers consulting, coaching, and full-service grant writing, marketing, donor database management, strategic planning, and much more. Nonprofit consulting and outsourcing solutions: https://soukupstrategicsolutions.com/services (https://soukupstrategicsolutions.com/services )(Learn more about the services offered by Soukup Strategic Solutions to nonprofit organizations.) Have a question for Coaches' Corner? Email IMPACTCoaches@IMPACTability.net Visit our websites at: https://soukupstrategicsolutions.com/ (https://soukupstrategicsolutions.com/) (www.SoukupStrategic Solutions.com) https://impactability.net/ (https://impactability.net/) (https://impactability.net/) Follow us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoukupStrategicSolutions (https://www.facebook.com/SoukupStrategicSolutions) (@SoukupStrategicSolutions ) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soukupstrategicsolutions (https://www.linkedin.com/company/soukupstrategicsolutions) (Soukup Strategic Solutions) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soukupstrategicsolutions (https://www.instagram.com/soukupstrategicsolutions )(@SoukupStrategicSolutions) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoukupStrategic (https://twitter.com/SoukupStrategic) (Twitter: @SoukupStrategic)

Using $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding from Cathedral City, the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission has extended its human services support to the homeless population in the West Valley city with two mobile shower stations. It's just one of the many services that CVRM offers to the disadvantaged population in trying to help them maintain dignity and seek to better their lives. Learn about this and the many other outreach services the Rescue Mission provides across the desert cities region and how you can volunteer or provide other assistance and make the lives of people less-fortunate better.Coachella Valley Rescue Mission's Program Coordinator Mark McGowen talks with Radio111's John McMullen about the organization's outreach.On the Web: Coachella Valley Rescue Mission

In today’s Patreon-fueled shout-out:WTJU 91.1 FM is a different sort of radio station. It's dedicated to sharing the transcendent experience of music while raising funds from listeners across the world. From October 4th through 10th, WTJU airs its annual Jazz Marathon. Tune in for a deep dive into everything from bebop to blues. WTJU's Volunteer DJs will play the spectrum jazz – from Billie Holiday to Cannonball Adderly to Pharaoh Sanders. Plus live, local jazz performances throughout the week. Visit the Jazz Marathon schedule now to plot your listening schedule!On today’s show:Catching up with Charlottesville City Council with info on the police chief search, a lease for a garden in McIntire Park, and moreA major convenience store franchise is pursuing a fourth store in Charlottesville’s urban areaAn update on the pandemic from Governor Ralph NorthamSince the last newsletter on September 23, 2021, COVID’s late summer surge in Virginia is showing signs of slowing down. The seven day average of new cases has decreased down to 3,003 and the seven-day percent positivity is down to 9.1 percent. That figure was 9.7 five days ago. In the Blue Ridge Health District, there have been 392 cases reported today since the last newsletter and and another four fatalities. The seven-day percent positivity is 7.2. Governor Ralph Northam held his first pandemic press briefing in some time yesterday and said this trend is encouraging.“In the past few days, case numbers have started to move down and hospitalization numbers are leveling off and that is a hopeful sign,” Northam said. “But the numbers are still way too high.”Northam reminded Virginians that at one point at the beginning of the summer, there was a day with less than a hundred new cases. As of today, 60.1 percent of Virginians are fully vaccinated and 71.5 percent of the adult population is now fully vaccinated. “The data show that nearly everyone who is getting COVID is unvaccinated,” Northam said. “I want to repeat that. Nearly everyone who is getting COVID is unvaccinated.”You can check the data here. The Delta variant began widespread transmission in early June and Northam said the current surge could have been avoided if people had gotten their shot or shots. He said the cost of hospital care for this summer’s surge is $5 billion and rising. Northam said at this point, there is little he can do to urge people who refuse to get the vaccine, but he brought up his personal experience contracting COVID.“Believe me, you don’t want to get it,” Northam said. “My case was back in September, and a year later I still can’t smell anything or taste anything and now the COVID variant that’s going around is a lot worse than the one in September.”You can watch all of Northam’s briefing on YouTube. He has updated on booster shots and more. (watch)Albemarle County will soon begin a search to find a new county attorney. Greg Kamptner has been in the position for nearly six and a half years and will retire next year, according to materials for Wednesday’s closed door meeting of the Board of Supervisors. Kamptner began working for the county in 1995 and became deputy county attorney in 2007. If you’re interested in land use law in Albemarle and Virginia, Kamptner literally wrote the handbook. (Land Use Law Handbook)A site plan has filed for a Wawa gas station within the city of Charlottesville on 5th Street Extended. If approved and constructed it would be either the third or fourth franchise within the urban area around Charlottesville. Plans have also been filed for a Wawa at the corner of Route 29 and Greenbrier , just over the line in Albemarle. The property in Charlottesville is currently a Hardee’s restaurant. A virtual site plan conference is scheduled for October 20. Materials for that meeting sent to neighborhood associations do not identify the 5,300 square foot gas station as a Wawa, but the agenda for the September 14, 2021 Planning Commission identifies Wawa as the subject of a future consideration by the Entrance Corridor Review Board. That will be the only legislative approval required for the project as the property is zoned for Highway Mixed Use Corridor. In today's subscriber-fueled public service announcement: Lovers of used books rejoice! The Friends of the Jefferson Madison Regional Library will resume the tradition of their annual Fall Book Sale this October 2nd through October 10 at a new location! The Friends of the Library sale will take place at Albemarle Square Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Half-price days on October 9 and October 10. Questions? Visit jmrlfriends.org for more information.To celebrate my high school reunion this weekend, I took a few days off last week. That means there will be a lot of segments this week about a lot of different meetings I missed. There’s a lot to get through so we’re all caught up. Let’s go back first to the City Council meeting from September 20, 2021. City Manager Chip Boyles brought up an op-ed column he wrote for the Daily Progress regarding his decision at the beginning of this month to fire former Police Chief RaShall Brackney.“While standing firm on the decision I did make, the fact is I could have handled the decision quite differently,” Boyles said. “I could have and should have engaged Council and my leadership team in more deliberating and on my intended actions so that I not only had their input but also had a broader perspective of the community’s response.”Boyles said he could not talk about all of the reasons for the firing at this time due to confidentiality but did say he did meet with representatives of the Police Benevolent Association about their survey. He said the August 20 press release that went out unsigned was approved by him, and that the briefly retired Major Jim Mooney will serve as assistant chief only until an interim police chief is hired. “Procedures are in place to create a committee for both the interim police chief search and to fill the permanent police chief position,” Boyles said.That will consist of one City Councilor, representatives from the city manager’s office, the Police Civilian Review Board, the Human Rights Commission, and three other members of the public. Later, Council voted 4-1 on a resolution to approve the report for how the city spent its Community Development Block Grant and HOME funding for fiscal year 2020 which ran from July 1, 2020 to June 30 of this year. Mayor Nikuyah Walker voted against what’s known as the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). (staff report)“The CDBG and the entitlement portion of what’s in here, I think there are some things we could do differently,” Walker said. “And I have questions that I have expressed the entire time I’ve been here about the HOME funds are used and whether the citizens are receiving the best services possible.”After that, Council held the first reading of entering into a ground lease with the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, a nonprofit that has been working with the city to use a portion of land in the northeast corner of McIntire Park.“Documentation previously approved at the Council level goes back to September of 2012 with a master plan of McIntire Park,” said City Manager Boyles. “There have been conceptual designs, resolutions for agreement, a [memorandum of understanding] with the McIntire Botanical Garden, and then most recently in 2017 a final site plan approval for McIntire Park.”Under the terms of the MOU, the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont would cover the costs of any buildings or structures in the site. Under the terms of the lease, they would have to begin construction within five years of it being signed. “This would be a landlord/tenant lease and not a partnership with the botanical garden,” Boyles said. “The city is not asked to contribute any financial resources to this other than once complete, Parks and Recreation would be asked to maintain the parking lots and the sidewalks of the parking area.” The project will include a stream restoration and a pedestrian trail through the area. The proposed ground lease will be updated to provide more clarity on this item before the second reading and public hearing on Council’s October 4 meeting. There will be no cost to visit the park but there will be a fee to reserve function space. (9/20 edition of the ground lease)Next, the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (CRHA) briefed Council on the way several public housing construction projects are being financed. But, we’re going to hold off on that one for today until a future installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement.  This week I’m hoping to get one out each day so I can get caught up with what I’ve missed. I hope my writing continues to be of benefit to you. Please send it on to someone else you think might be interested! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

August 19, 2021 Yesterday the Special Investigations Unit of the Glynn County Police Department executed a search warrant for illegal narcotics at Room #118 of the Super 8 Motel on Palisade Drive near I-95 Exit 29 in south Glynn. Police arrested 36 year old Chaz Trammell and 39 year old Alfred Smith and charged them both with felony possession of narcotics. A search of the room and their vehicle turned up approximately 24 grams of Fentanyl, approximately 17 grams of marijuana, a 9mm firearm and approximately $3,500 in cash. If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact Investigator Stagner at 912-554-7556 or silent witness at 912-264-1333. Frat Beach, the Friday afternoon beach party that precedes the annual Georgia / Florida game at the Coast Guard Station on St. Simons, may be coming to an end this year. The County Commission discussed the event during Tuesday's work session and the tone of the conversation was not in favor of allowing it to proceed this year. In recent years the county has provided on-site safety and medical personnel but that may be over. Several years ago the University of Georgia administration made it clear that they did not want the college's name associated with the beach party. Commissioner Bill Brunson said one of the issues this year was the spike in COVID cases could cause problems. He was concerned about sending county staff to work in those conditions. He added that the Ahmaud Arbery trial would be in progress, so many of the county's police officers, along with the Sheriff's officers would be tied up providing security for that. In addition, Brunson noted that both the police department and Sheriff's office are already shorthanded. Sheriff Neal Jump spoke to theh commission agreeing with Brunson. Jump said the Arbery trial would proceed as scheduled, adding that if necessary he would contact sheriffs in surrounding counties for assistance with manpower. Convention and Visitor's Bureau Director Scott McQuade said it was a big weekend for the local hospitality industry but the owners he had spoken to understood the difficult position the commission was in this regarding Frat Beach. Since Island Commissioner Cap Fendig was absent from the work session, the commission agreed to add it to the agenda for tonight's meeting for more discussion. Also during Tuesday's county work session the county commission got an update on a Community Development Block Grant for the local Second Harvest Food Bank project. According to the Chief Executive of America's Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Mary Jane Crouch, the organization received a $2 million federal Block grant for the expansion of their Brunswick facility. They have outgrown their current 5,000 sq. ft. space on Indigo Dr. and, with assistance from the Golden Isles Development Authority, have located a new 53,000 sq. ft. building on Sidney Lanier Dr. The current tenant in the larger building is also looking to relocate with help from the Development Authority. Crouch, said Second Harvest was required to raise $1 in matching funds and have a pledge of $500,000 from Sea Island and The Anschutz Foundation. They will raise the other $500,000 from the community. Expanding the Brunswick facility will allow Second Harvest to build capacity and provide food assistance to even more of those in need in Glynn County. Crouch said there are 19,054 children in Glynn County and 64% of students enrolled in local schools are eligible for free or reduced meals. Last night the Brunswick City Commission agreed to ask the Glynn County Board of Commissioners to sign a joint resolution to strongly encourage the community to get the Covid vaccination. Also for the first time the city will participate in Georgia Cities Week sponsored by the Georgia Municipal Association. The celebration is planned for October 3 through the 9th. Planned activities include art and essay contests, a scavenger hunt, a walking tour of downtown and a city wide cleanup. The County Commission meets at 6:00 tonight in the historic courthouse. Among other things they will consider enacting a moratorium barring the acceptance and / or receipt of applications for sign permits and building permits for signs for unzoned railroad right-of-way until February 3, 2022. The county will also hold a public hearing on the millage rate. Audio from WGIG-AM and FM in Brunswick, GA

In today’s Patreon-fueled shout-out: With the summer heat in full swing, your local energy nonprofit, LEAP, wants you and yours to keep cool. LEAP offers FREE home weatherization to income- and age-qualifying residents. If you’re age 60 or older, or have an annual household income of less than $74,950, you may qualify for a free energy assessment and home energy improvements such as insulation and air sealing. Sign up today to lower your energy bills, increase comfort, and reduce energy waste at home!On today’s show:A new nonprofit launches to promote regional entrepreneurial activitiesA quick review of a recent stakeholder meeting on increasing transit in urban AlbemarleSeveral area destinations receive state funding for tourism marketingAlbemarle County seeking a consultant to help lead upcoming rewrite of the zoning ordinanceThe Virginia Department of Health today reports 2,117 new COVID cases, the highest one-day count in four months. The percent positivity is now at 7.5 percent. The seven day average for new cases is now at 1,733. The Blue Ridge Health District reports another 52 cases today. The percentage of Virginians fully vaccinated is now at 54.8 percent, a number that includes children. The number of adult Virginians fully vaccinated is now 65.8 percent. The seven-day average of shots per day is now 14,124. Source: Virginia Department of HealthNext week, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will open a window in the Scottsville Town offices. The DMV Select will open on August 16 in the second floor of Victory Hall at 401 Valley Street. DMV Select offices allow for limited transactions such as picking up registration decals, but do not issue driver’s licenses. For a full list of services, visit the DMV website. You’ll need to schedule an appointment and masks are required. (schedule an appointment)Speaking of Scottsville, repairs have been made to the library following heavy storm damage in late July. The library reopened yesterday at 1 p.m. A new nonprofit is launching in the Charlottesville area to support regional entrepreneurship. Venture Central is to be a partnership between the city of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, the University of Virginia, and the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce. The group has announced the first members of the Board of Directors and will begin a search for an executive director. According to a release, Sarah Rumbaugh of the firm Relish will serve as the chair. Other board members include the economic development directors of both Albemarle and Charlottesville. Governor Ralph Northam has announced the award of $861,080 in matching grants through the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Recovery Marketing Leverage Program. The initiative exists to help expand the Virginia is for Lovers brand and to encourage new tourism marketing partnerships. (see a full list of recipients)The Charlottesville Convention and Visitors Bureau will get $10,000 for Birthplace of Virginia Wine programDairy Market will get $20,000 for Charlottesville’s Bite-Sized Adventures: A Foodie Bucket ListFront Porch Cville will receive $19,980 for Rivanna Roots: A Riverfront Concert Series 2022Blackburn Inn and Conference Center in Staunton will receive $20,000 for Sip, Stay, and Explore: Hiking Trails and Virginia WinesThe Heifetz International Music Institute at Mary Baldwin University will get $2,182.50 for a marketing programWaynesboro Economic Development and Tourism will receive $10,000 for EXPERIENCE WaynesboroWayne Theater Alliance will get $10,000 for an outdoor production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatPicking back up from the August 4, 2021 meeting of the Albemarle Board of Supervisors, that body agreed to apply for $314,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding for a food security program. Stacy Pethia is the county’s housing policy manager.“The proposed project would serve a total of 470 individuals and households through three distinct programs,” Pethia said. These are $110,000 for a grocery card gift program to serve up to 220 households, and $144,000 for the Local Food Hub’s Fresh Farmacy program to provide fresh produce for 18 months to 100 households. The funding would come specifically from a COVID relief program. Supervisors also agreed to amend a special use permit that allows the Monticello United Soccer Club to operate on land off of Polo Ground Road. Scott Clark is a planner with Albemarle County. “The proposal would increase the number of total number of fields to seven although only four would be used for play at any one time,” Clark said. “This is to enable them to move feels around, rest fields, prepare fields.”The land is within Albemarle’s rural area, and there are no permanent facilities on the property. There is no increase in the number of parking spaces. “This property could easily return to agricultural use in the future with a very low impact on the site,” Clark said. The Mon-U soccer field is on Polo Grounds Road, which is just to the north of where the furthest Charlottesville Area Transit route currently stops. That won’t change when the city-owned and operated agency alters its routes later this year, but CAT is conducting a review of how to expand service to the north. So is Albemarle County and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. You’re reading Charlottesville Community Engagement and time for another subscriber-supported public service announcement. The Charlottesville Jazz Society at cvillejazz.org is dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and preservation of jazz, and there’s no time like now to find a time to get out and watch people love to play. The Charlottesville Jazz Society keeps a running list of what’s coming up at cvillejazz.org. This week, find out that the Michael Elswick Gathering plays at the Pub at Lake Monticello on Friday and the Eric Franzen Trio plays at Early Mountain Vineyards on Saturday. Take a look at cvillejazz.org. At the same time, Albemarle County and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission are doing the exact same work as part of a study partially funded by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. Boris Palchik is a transit planning project manager with Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning, a firm hired to help conduct the work. The other consultant is Michael Baker International. Palchik ran a meeting on July 26 that sought to get initial feedback for the study.“It’s really a feasibility study and implementation plan for expanding transit service in both population and employment centers in Albemarle County,” Palchik said. The July 26 meeting was for northern Albemarle County along U.S. 29, and one on July 28 was held for Pantops. We’ll focus on July 26 first. (watch the video)Palchik said the study may not result in several new fixed routes, but may include a combination of on-demand routes and other new transit options. The work consists of a market analysis, a service analysis, and stakeholder outreach. “The market analysis is looking at the underlying environment in which transit operates or needs to operate in the study area,” Palchik said. “The service analysis is looking at what’s happening today on the ground in terms of ridership and productivity.”Stakeholder outreach includes the July meetings and other ways to get a sense of what people might want and need in expanded transit. In addition, to Charlottesville Area Transit, Jaunt provides service in the area through on-demand, one fixed-route service, and through its partnership with Greene County Transit. “There’s really many different ways to provide transit service and each of those ways has its own ideal operating environment,” Palchick said. “When we’re looking at the market analysis, we’re trying to understand the environment that exists so we can make recommendations that are appropriate.”That means taking a look at population density, the built environment, employment opportunities, and other factors to measure the potential for public transit to work. “Transit service is most effective and most efficient in areas that have higher density,” Palchick said. “The kind of tipping point for where fixed route transit service really begins to make sense is once you have more than five people or jobs per acre.”Research conducted so far indicates moderate-to-high transit potential south of the South Fork of the Rivanna River. The highest population density in the area is along Commonwealth Drive, which is currently served by CAT’s Route 5. Service gaps are north of Rio Road and in the Hollymead / Forest Lakes area. A slide from the July 26 presentation (download)This work also comes at a time when Albemarle continues to become more dense, with more properties coming online such as North Pointe, Brookhill, and numerous other developments that will be more dense than single family homes. Palchick said the stakeholder analysis specifically sought out information that may not have come through their initial review. During the service analysis, stakeholders were shown older information on CAT routes, several of which are changing in the coming months. There will be alterations to Route 5, Route 7, Route 8, and Route 11, all of which serve Albemarle’s northern urban area.  Learn more about the CAT changes here. Scott Elliff is a member of the Forest Lakes Community Association’s Board of Directors. The FLCA has used a portion of its homeowner association fees to fight development of a mixed-use development on Ashwood Boulevard known as RST Residences. Elliff took the opportunity to speak at a discussion on expanding transit to point out that the existing character of his neighborhood is suburban. “The challenge that’s happening up here is that we’re starting to get developments that are going to be by necessity pretty dense,” Elliff said. “There’s one that’s being planned which we’re opposing and hasn’t come before the Supervisors yet. It would be a huge high story development on the corner of Ashwood and 29.”Currently there is fixed-route transit service in the Forest Lakes area provide by Jaunt through their Route 29 Express.According to Valerie Long of the law firm Williams Mullen, 75 percent of the apartments in the RST development will be rented to people who can demonstrate household incomes between 30 percent and 80 percent of the Area Median Income. Elliff is concerned that if all of those people drive, it will exacerbate traffic congestion out of a neighborhood that only has two direct connections onto U.S. 29. “The only solution from a transportation standpoint that I can think of is to have a dedicated service that picks people up at those affordable housing apartment buildings and takes them non-stop down to Barracks Road, downtown mall, and UVA where the jobs are,” Elliff said. Elliff claimed there were no jobs in his area. In fact, let’s hear more of what he had to say. “We’re up here in a beautiful area,” Elliff said. “There are no jobs. There are retail jobs… in the shopping centers north and south. If it’s going to be heavily affordable housing, these are people who are going to be working retail and they’re going to be working as administrative assistants or something in small companies but not around here. This is completely residential.”Elliff’s claim made me look up the latest information from the Virginia Employment Commission on the top employers in Albemarle County.  Several of them are within close proximity to the Forest Lakes neighborhood and all rough measurements below are taken from the pool at Forest Lakes South using main roads and Google Earth. (VEC profile)#4 is the Department of Defense and the various military installations at Rivanna Station (4.77 miles away) #6 is the Crutchfield Corporation which operates by the Charlottesville Regional Airport (3.5 miles away)#7 is the Northrup Grumman Corporation located in between both sides of Stonefield on U.S. 29 (4.4 miles away)#9 is Wal-Mart located just south of the South Fork of the Rivanna River on US. 29 (2.2 miles away)#18 is Emerson (listed as G.E. Fanuc) on U.S. 29 north of North Pointe (5.2 miles) #29 is Costco in Stonefield on U.S. 29 (4.5 miles away)#32 is Target in Hollymead Town Center (2 miles away)#36 is MicroAire Surgical Instruments in the former U.S. Postal Service building off of Airport Road (2.75 miles away)#38 is Rosewood Village Associates with facilities in Hollymead Town Center (2.4 miles away) The RST rezoning goes to the Board of Supervisors on September 15. From the Albemarle County profile from the Virginia Employment Commission (download)Now, on to the July 28 meeting, which covered the Pantops area. Fewer people attended that virtual call. Pantops is currently served by Charlottesville Area Transit Route 10, which will also be changing as a result of the upcoming route changes. Here’s Boris Palchik with Foursquare once again reviewing a market analysis. “In the Pantops area north of U.S. 250, there are a number of key kind of activity generators like multifamily housing, the Social Security administration building, but it’s still showing fairly low density,” Palchik said. Dick Hiss, the chair of the Pantops Community Advisory Committee, asked if the various analyses conducted take a look at future land use changes. “Have you considered the changes that we see coming in the Pantops area such as the motor vehicle department going somewhere?” Hiss said. “That building has had a sign on it for years saying it is moving.”Hiss said he is also wondering if State Farm employees will return to that building. State Farm is the fifth largest employer in Albemarle according to the VEC. Sentara Martha Jefferson is the third. Gina Morss-Fischer, a public affairs specialist with State Farm, confirmed in an email to me today that employees assigned to the Charlottesville-Albemarle office will continue to work from home. Palchick said the stakeholder meetings are intended to take note of comments such as this. For a time, Albemarle County had been updating development dashboards which depicted what projects were coming up in the near future. These have not been updated since February 2020 in part because of the pandemic and in part because a staff member moved on. Charles Rapp is the planning director in Albemarle County. “The staff member that was previously managing the dashboards is no longer with the county so we have used this as an opportunity to collaborate with our GDS department and create an updated version of the development dashboard,” Rapp said in an email to me this morning. “This new approach will have automated updates regularly and should provide a more streamlined approach toward conveying information.  We are working through the final details now and hope to have it ready for the public soon.”(review the current Development Dashboards on the Albemarle website)But back to transit. Palchick said on-demand microtransit could be an option for parts of Albemarle in the future.“The main difference between microtransit and Uber and Lyft is that Uber and Lyft operate with a fleet of vehicles that are not infinite, but you never quite know what kind of vehicle you are going to get when you request a service,” Palchick said. “Whereas with microtransit you have a set fleet of vehicles and a set group of drivers that are operating the service so it is more predictable and can be more closely branded with the local public transportation service and be more closely affiliated with it.”Currently, Pantops is also served by Jaunt’s Buckingham Connect East service. “So this service operates between Buckingham County and destinations in Charlottesville and Albemarle County,” Palchick said. “Those destinations include downtown Charlottesville, the University hospital, Martha Jefferson Hospital and the Westminster Canterbury retirement community.” Westminster Canterbury is the 14th largest employer in Albemarle County. A slide from the July 28 presentation on Pantops (download)In addition to the meetings on July 26 and July 28, the consultants are holding individual meetings. The goal is to complete the study by next January in order to apply for funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to pay for a pilot project.Will any of this result in a better transit system? That means to be seen. Another thing I encourage people to see is the staff report of a February 11, 2008 joint meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and Charlottesville City Council to discuss a study for a Regional Transit Authority that would be one unified system. That never happened, but eight years later, a Regional Transit Partnership was formed to encourage collaboration between area systems. That body next meets on August 26. (RTA staff report) This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Hoprenkv Podcast: Indian Community Development Block Grant ARP American Rescue Plan PIH Notice (August 1, 2021)

In this week's episode, My Ly and Elise Sappington discuss the just-approved Community Development Block Grant 2021 Annual Action Plan and how the funds will be spent.

In today’s Patreon-fueled shout-out, supporter Lonnie Murray wants you to know about a series of seminars on spring and fall landscaping with native plants. Plant Virginia Natives has held four of these already, but the next one is coming up on April 20 with Beth Mizell of Blue Ridge Prism on how to identify and eradicate invasive plants in Virginia. On today’s show:Charlottesville’s registrar has resigned, effective immediately Virginia’s purchase of CSX rail lines in Virginia moves forwardA look at why the Franklin Street sidewalk project stalled and how it can get back on trackA quarter of Virginians are now fully vaccinated Today is only the second time this year that the number of new COVID-19 cases has dipped below 1,000 with 978 reported today by the Virginia Department of Health. The seven-day average is 1,464 a day and the percent positivity is at 6.1 percent. As of today, one-fourth of Virginians are fully vaccinated. Governor Ralph Northam appeared this afternoon at the opening of a new mass vaccination clinic in Fairfax County. “Over the past four months we have made tremendous progress vaccinating Virginians against the COVID-19 virus,” Northam said. “This has been a very tough year for everyone.”As of this weekend, everyone over the age of 16 is eligible to sign up for an appointment at vaccinate.virginia.gov. “Not everyone can get a shot today or even this week,” Northam said. “And while demand still outstrips supply, our supply is much larger than it used to be.” Northam did not have many changes to the current restrictions, but there were a few specific amendments.“Cross country will be allowed to have 68 runners at the starting lines, which is up from 50,” Northam said. “Performance events like drama and musicals are considered social gatherings. I’ve heard a lot of feedback from parents and students that these events should be treated the same as athletic events, and I agree. So we’ll increase the number of people to 100 indoors or thirty percent of that venue’s capacity. If it it’s outdoors it will be increased to 500 or 30 percent.”This past weekend, the Virginia Department of Health reported the presence of the P.1 variant in the Commonwealth. Northam said people in the state should remain vigilant. Last week, Pfizer announced it is likely a third shot will be required within 12 months. Dr. Costi Sifri is the director of hospital epidemiology at the University of Virginia, and he spoke at a media briefing on April 16. “I think that there is a very good chance that Moderna may need to have a booster if it appears that Pfizer does as well at 12 months but I think we’ll just have to follow the science and I know that Moderna will be doing those studies,” Dr. Sifri said. “I think we’ve always anticipated that a booster could be needed but not for durability of immunity but also for potentially to be able to address the rise of variants.” Dr. Sifri said that while the number of cases of clotting with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is small, he supports the pause as a precaution. “The pause is a reasonable and important thing to do to understand the biology of it, but even if proves out to be caused by this vaccine, it’s going to be a rare, rare event and far outweighed  by COVID itself,” Dr. Sifri said. The Centers for Disease Control is expected to meet this Friday to discuss next steps for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which was withdrawn from the supply due to reported incidents of blood clotting. Railroad company CSX has closed the first transaction with the Commonwealth of Virginia for hundreds of miles of railway and right of way, according to a press release issued last week. The first of three phases in the $525 million exchange takes the form of a permanent land easement between Petersburg and Washington D.C. The other two phases are a line from Doswell to Clifton Forge, and another line from Petersburg to Ridgeway, North Carolina. *Charlottesville is looking for a new registrar. Last week, Melissa Morton notified the three-member Electoral Board of her resignation for personal reasons, according to the minutes of the Board’s April 12 meeting. The Board has approved Taylor Yowell to serve as acting registrar until a permanent replacement is found. Morton became the assistant registrar in 2014, and replaced Rosanna Bencoach who left the position in 2019 when the Board told her she would need to reapply for the position. Albemarle County is requesting $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds to help cover the $8.5 million cost to build 20 owner-occupied housing units in the first phase of the Southwood. That’s according to a public notice in today’s Daily Progress which announces that Albemarle County has made a ruling of Finding Of No Significant Impact, or a FONSI, on the human environment. The county is taking public comments on this through May 3. (Daily Progress public notice)In this Substack-fueled public service announcement… are you of Scottish ancestry? The Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library will hold another of their Ask A Genealogist series at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 22. Special guest Deborah Harvey will demonstrate how she traced some of her ancestors from Fluvanna County to Scotland. Sign up at jmrl.org and email your questions to library@albemarlehistory.org before the virtual event. Earlier this year, City Council agreed to transfer federal funding that had been allocated to add a sidewalk on Franklin Street, which serves as part of its eastern border with Albemarle County. The project was within the jurisdiction of a task force that was put together to recommend projects eligible for Community Development Block Grant funding distributed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. Erin Atak is a grants coordinator with the city of Charlottesville.“This is funding that’s issued by HUD,” Atak said. “These are federal funds that the city receives each year as an entitlement community.” The city selects a neighborhood every three years to receive the money for infrastructure and a task force is put together to make recommendations to Council. One recent project funded through this process is a pocket park in the 10th and Neighborhood. The current neighborhood receiving funds is the Ridge Street neighborhood. The Belmont task force last met in February 12, 2019. “And in this case, the Belmont Priority Neighborhood [Task Force] recommended to City Council the Franklin Street sidewalk which was approved to create a new sidewalk on the west side between north Moores Creek Lane and Nassau Street, which was approximately 1,600 feet of new sidewalk.”This process is separate from the city’s sidewalk priority process. The Belmont neighborhood was allocated a total of $449,214 and the sidewalk made up a portion of that amount. Tim Motsch is a transportation project manager with the city, hired in the summer of 2017.“Myself and Kyle Kling were hired in order to manage transportation projects including the sidewalks which I have been involved in as well as Smart Scale projects that I’ve been involved in such as the East High Streetscape and the Emmet Streetscape.”More on those projects in a future newsletter. For now, Motsch explained that design for the Frankin Street sidewalk began in late 2018 when the engineering firm A. Morton Thomas was hired to do the work.  Complications happened. “It is a challenging plan from the point of the view of stormwater management depending on which map you look at and which datum you refer to, the sidewalk is either right next to the floodplain or in the floodplain,” Motsch said. That delayed the design for the project, which included the need to purchase easements from landowners on which mitigating features and drainafe could be built. The pandemic’s effect on the city’s budget also led to a delay. “Add to the fact that last year, for several months all sidewalk projects were on hold due to the possibility of having to use city funds,” Motsch said.Construction is now slated for next spring, but that’s if the right of way can be acquired from around a dozen property owners. However, Atak explained that HUD has time limits by which its money can be spent and this project did not make the deadline. “Normally funds are required to be spent within one year of receiving CDBG dollars,” Atak said. In February, Council transferred the funding to a rent relief initiative for public housing, but Atak said the funding will be restored on July 1, 2022. Everything has to be in place for the project to move forward. “It’s very important that we receive public support with the right of way moving forward so that we can secure this funding and there aren’t any delays moving forward,” Atak said. Atak said HUD has already issued a warning on the project. Motsch said a round of certified letters are being sent out to property owners this week for negotiations, and that the city wants to avoid taking properties by condemnation. One of the abutting landowners is Sunshine Court, which owns a six and a half acre mobile home park on Carlton Avenue. The property has a land value of $2.4 million. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Melissa Daniels joins John McMullen from Lift To Rise, an organization that helps people who are trapped by the disadvantages of poverty and convenes private, public and nonprofit partners for collaborative action networks focused on housing stability, community health, and social connection in the Coachella Valley. Melissa talks about how they are assisting communities including the City of Indio with managing its rental assistance program, getting nearly $650,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding to help 286 households.

What is 10 times 15? What about 1,200 divided by eight? 75 plus 75? The answer is 150, which is also the correct response to how many times now has there been an episode of Charlottesville Community Engagement. It is February 22, 2021 and I’m your host, Sean Tubbs. Thank you for reading, and please let me know what you think. On today’s show:Events could return to the Charlottesville Pavilion this summer if the pandemic recedes Charlottesville City Council will wait to make final decisions on proposed capital improvement program projects, keeping West Main Streetscape project alive City Council hires local law firm to represent its interest in upcoming legal hearing on recreational uses at the Ragged Mountain Natural Area To begin today’s show, some news that came in as we got closer to production. Charlottesville’s Commonwealth Attorney has opted to not begin a criminal investigation into whether Charlottesville Mayor Nikuyah Walker’s use of a city-issued credit card to purchase gift cards for people who attended various meetings. In a letter to City Manager Chip Boyles, Joe Platania wrote that an investigation will not happen until after the city updates a policy that governs use of the cards. Read more about the story on NBC29, which first reported the letter. Council will discuss the policy at a future work session. (read the letter)---The prospect of the West Main Streetscape being implemented is still alive as City Council still wants more information about how the project could be salvaged. The project was split into four phases in order to secure funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation, but staff has recommended not fully funding the project. Council has not made several final decisions about the proposed $160 million Capital Improvement Program for the next fiscal year and the four years that come after it. That amount also includes $8 million for a 300-space parking deck as well as a $50 million placeholder for reconfiguration of the city’s middle schools. “There certainly is a lot of unknowns when we think about going into the future of the CIP especially when we think about schools and not knowing the scope of what they’re going to be [doing],” said City Councilor Heather Hill. “And also thinking about the parking deck situation and what options we may have.” Councilor Lloyd Snook said he felt the city was at a point where it should proceed with West Main Street in a fashion similar to Council voting to proceed with the pedestrianization of East Main Street in 1974. “The more I have thought about it, the more I have thought the future of the city is going to be along the axis between downtown and the University and we ought to be spending our time, our energy, and our resources on that area,” Snook said. Snook said he was less inclined to support the parking garage. Mayor Walker said budget staff have been clear that the city is running into its debt capacity and the city should proceed cautiously. “I just don’t know how we are rating West Main Street and still thinking that is a must and that it must continue at this time when we’re talking about things like housing and schools,” Walker said. Snook said he has been persuaded by arguments that at least $3 million in maintenance improvements are needed on West Main Street. Councilor Hill said believed the city has made an investment in West Main and should see the project through. “The biggest thing is just the other dollars coming from other sources that are not the city, and there’s not a lot of projects where we find those opportunities,” Hill said. Those external sources include $5 million from the University of Virginia and the potential $10.8 million in VDOT Smart Scale funds for Phase 3 of the West Main Streetscape. Phases 1 and 2 require a local match in order for the city to draw down Smart Scale Funds and revenue-sharing funds already approved.“I’m really struggling with just closing the door on this,” Hill said. The draft CIP contains a placeholder of $50 million in FY24 for the school reconfiguration.Walker said would prefer to keep some of the debt capacity available for future needs. “If we okay West Main at this point, we are limiting schools to an amount because we are boxing ourselves in,” Walker said. “And then everything else that comes up as a result of this pandemic and how long we’re in it, then we are also restricting ourselves there.” Councilor Michael Payne said he supported the vision of the West Main project, but could not support prioritizing that over schools or affordable housing. He said he would support the city paying for the bare minimum and losing some of the Smart Scale funding due to the debt capacity issue. “We’re in the same situation where we could eliminate our city funding of West Main Street, and the parking garage, and we still even then wouldn’t be that close to getting our CIP budget on a sustainable level,” Payne said. He also said he would like to continue conversations with the School Board about the reconfiguration project due the large amount of money required to pay for the capital costs. A firm is working with the school board to further refine the cost estimates for school reconfiguration. There was also interest in getting more information about various scenarios for West Main, including incorporating some of the results of a recent value engineering study.  Councilor Snook had this idea.“One of my thoughts is that we have a brand new city manager, and let’s let him put his creative thoughts to work and see if he’s got some ideas for us,” Snook said. City Manager Chip Boyles said he would have a conversation with VDOT about when Phase 1 and Phase 2 need to get underway to stay within the six-year deadline required of Smart Scale. Jack Dawson, the city engineer, said the right of way phase is expected to begin this July to keep the project on VDOT’s schedule. “There is some urgency about what direction we think we may need to go in, sooner or later, for sure,” Dawson said. Vice Mayor Sena Magill said she would support reducing the scope of the project.“What can we do with just the revenue-sharing match?” Magill asked. “There’s a lot extra that is on top of what we need for our revenue-sharing match.”Council agreed to wait on a final decision on West Main until they have more information on options. David Brown is the city’s public works director.“We do have some time to where we can look and evaluate to make a determination,” Brown said. “For the project, we can evaluate and make an assessment, rescope the project that still meets the requirements of the funding sources so we still have that opportunity.” Boyles said he would prepare options for Council to consider. “We can get enough information to come back to you with some concepts and maybe even some recommendations and staff can continue to keep working forward,” Boyles said. “It won’t be that much wasted effort based on whatever your decision is in later March or April.”The FY22 operating and capital budget will be presented to Council on March 1. The first public hearing is scheduled for March 15. Budget adoption will be roughly a month later. *Council had also discussed the future of capital funding for a 300-space parking structure, but took no action on whether $8 million in funding should be included for the project. The topic also came up at a meeting earlier on February 16 of the Charlottesville Parking Advisory Panel that featured an update on the city's Parking Action Plan. Rick Siebert was hired as the city's first parking manager in the fall of 2016 to implement a plan.  "This was originally a five-year plan that expired in 2020 and we've been talking about how we might change some of the objectives for the next five years," Siebert said.This plan was intended to "optimize existing resources," "enhance access alternatives", and "maintain and grow supply."  The plan called for a pilot program for parking meters on streets close to the Downtown Mall, but the project did not last for the initial six-month testing period. There wasn’t a lot of back and forth at this meeting about the plan, or what a future plan might look like. Kirby Hutto, general manager of the Charlottesville Pavilion and parking panel member, said tourism is a major part of economic development for downtown. “I can tell you that the majority of our patrons are not residents of Charlottesville,” Hutto said. “They’re coming in from the outlying counties and sometimes coming in from a hundred miles away. They’re going to drive. I’m sorry. There is nothing that is going to put them on public transportation but if we want their revenue, if we want those tax dollars, we have to be able to accommodate them.” Siebert said parking levels are beginning to rebound and are at about fifty percent of pre-COVID levels. The majority are people with monthly passes, but about a fifth are hourly parkers. “Events were major drivers in our transient revenue and the lack of events has been felt,” Siebert said. The Charlottesville Pavilion canceled its entire season last year, and planning is underway to at least think about scheduling something in the near future as community health targets are met. The idea would be to open up gradually with a percentage of total capacity. “We’re starting to see glimmers of light,” Hutto said. “There’s a group of venue managers from around the state including a lot of the big boys like Kings Dominion, Richmond Raceway, and Hampton Coliseum, JPJ, that have put together what I think is a really well-thought out reopening plan that is tied to milestones that you can actually track and see. You know, vaccination percentage of the general public. New infections reported. Those two numbers. As the first one climbs and the second one declines, they’ve got a proposal and my understanding this in front of the Governor’s task force right now. Hutto said that might mean events at the Pavilion as early as June, but agents with nationally touring acts are not planning until returning to tours until the fall. “No one is asking for dates in June and July,” Hutto said. “Everyone is asking for dates in September and October.” In a conversation I had with Siebert today, he said a draft of the Parking Action Plan will be ready by the end of the week for future discussion by the panel and other stakeholders slated for after that time. Take a closer look at the Parking Action Plan here ---Also at their meeting on February 16, Council was briefed on a plan to remedy the city’s noncompliance with a mandate from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to spend previously funding on a timely basis. Erin Atak is the city’s grants coordinator. “City staff had identified an immediate program for funding to solve the city’s timeliness concerns by May 2,” Atak said. “The city has unexpended 2019 [Community Development Block Grant] entitlement funds totaling $244,950.82 from the delayed Belmont /Franklin sidewalk activity.”That project came about when Belmont was the city’s Priority Neighborhood but has not moved forward due to COVID as well as difficulty securing space for the project.“Right now we’re having a lot of issues achieving right of way,” Atak said. “We have reached out ot the Belmont-Carlton Neighborhood Association and the Belmont CDBG Task Force with help on this and they are pretty motivated to help.”Atak has recommended that the money instead be used for COVID-relief programs and the sidewalk project would be financed by the federal government again in the future.  A previously approved rental relief program for public housing residents will now get the additional funds in the short-term. This item will be included on the consent agenda for the March 1 Council meeting. *Finally today, at the end of Council’s meeting on February 16, Councilor Heather Hill read from a motion to hire outside legal counsel to represent the city in an upcoming trial.“I move to authorize the acting city attorney to authorize the law firm of Zunka, Milnor, and Carter to represent the city in connection with the courts hearing of all the pending motions scheduled for March 1, 2021 in the litigation with Albemarle County over recreational uses at Ragged Mountain Reservoir,” Hill said. For background, after the expansion of the Ragged Mountain Reservoir, the city’s parks and recreation assumed management of the trails from the Ivy Creek Foundation and moved forward with a plan to allow to bike trails. Albemarle County officials objected and cited a provision in the county’s ordinance that allowed them to block that use. The matter resulted in a lawsuit that will go to trial after previous attempts at mediation failed.(2/28/2021) - Some follow up reporting discovered that there had been a hearing date scheduled for March 8, not March 1. That hearing has since been delayed. For more information on this lawsuit, visit this link on cvillepedia. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

The eleventh day of the eleventh month has arrived, and we remember our veterans today, especially those who may not have made it through this difficult year. This November 11, 2020 edition of the program is dedicated to their memory. Today's Patreon-fueled shout-out is from a supporter who wants you to consider a donation for Monica Johnson, a Pro Strongwoman who will be competing in a charity powerlifting event on November 21 called Make Every Rep Count. Gregory Carey-Medlock is donating 30 cents for every pound Monica squats to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. You can choose between three other charities.  Learn more at Shenandoah Power. Sponsors accepted through November 14. *There are another 1,594 new cases of COVID-19 reported by the Virginia Department of Health this morning. That brings the seven-day average for new daily cases to 1,524. The seven-day average for positive test results remains at 6.2 percent statewide today.There are another 18 cases in the Blue Ridge Health District reported today, bringing the seven-day average to 26. The percent positivity for the district for PCR tests has increased to 2 percent, up from 1.8 percent yesterday. Governor Ralph Northam is asking Virginians to continue to follow health guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19 but said yesterday he is not likely to impose restrictions.“We’re seeing a rise in cases and in percent positivity which is now 6.2 percent and we’re also seeing a ride in our hospitalizations,” Northam said. “This is very concerning, especially because it is getting colder. The holidays are approaching and the temptation to gather with other people is high.” Northam said the VDH continues to be concerned about Southwest Virginia where a high number of cases were reported late last week. In Wise County, the seven-day average for new daily cases per 100,000 population is 65.8. That figure is 52 for Washington County, 57.7 for Scott County, and 59.3 for Russell County. For comparison, those numbers are 7.8 for Albemarle and 19 for Charlottesville. “Our team has been in communication with health directors in Southwest Virginia about the spread in that region,” Northam said. “We’re focusing on a communications campaign to emphasize the importance of doing the things that we know work. Avoiding indoor gatherings. Washing our hands. And wearing face coverings.” Northam reminded the public that Virginia has a mask mandate in place for indoor spaces. “While we are concerned about southwest Virginia I want to remind Virginians that we are seeing rising cases in other regions and around our nation as well,” Northam said. “The central region of Virginia for example is seeing a steady increase in case counts.” Thanksgiving is 15 days away, and Northam urged people to remember that the virus spreads more easily indoors. “I’m not saying don’t celebrate Thanksgiving but if you’re planning to gather with people outside of your household, think about ways to do it more safely,” Northam said. “Consider how the space is ventilated. Or think about ways to have gatherings outdoors.”I’ll have more from this press conference in the next installment of the Charlottesville Quarantine Report. *A petition created to demand changes to the physical character of 5th Street in  Charlottesville now has over 1,300 signatures. Binta Rose’s son Rahmean Rose died following a motorcycle crash on August 30. Fifth street is a four-lane divided highway between Ridge Street and Interstate 64, but more residential streets have been added in recent years. “When exiting from Bailey Road, Brookwood, Cleveland Avenue or 5th Street Station, oncoming traffic is going entirely too fast,” reads the petition. “Too many families in the last year have lost loved ones to [crashes] on 5th Street.”The petition calls for the speed limit to be lowered, mandatory high fines for speeding and traffic calming measures in the corridor. There are several ongoing and recent projects in the area, including a Smart Scale funded improvement for the intersection of 5th, Ridge Street, Cherry Avenue and Elliott Avenue. However, that $6.1 million project is not expected to begin design until January 2024, according to an email from Jeanette Janiczek with the city. In 2018, the city completed work on a corridor study for the 5th Street-Ridge-McIntire area. A task force that reviews the city’s Community Development Block Grant process is currently investigating potential projects that could be paid for through that funding. Planning Commissioner Taneia Dowell is on that task force. She said she is hopeful for coordination between all of these studies and more. “A couple of things that we want to take into place before we move forward is how the Elliot Avenue Streetscape Plan, the [Strategic Investment Area], the old Ridge Street plan and the Smart Scale 5th plan will be able to tied together with our recommendations of the task force so that we are not duplicating efforts,” Dowell said. The city completed a study of the 5th Street area in November 2018. You can download it here. *Last night, the Charlottesville City Council and the Charlottesville Planning Commission met in a joint session to discuss an affordable housing plan that’s been crafted as part of the Cville Plans Together initiative. Today at 6 p.m the consultants working on the project will hold the first of several webinars intended to get public input (register).“We’ve all been working on this for quite a while and this is the draft that is out there,” said Missy Creasy, the assistant director of Neighborhood Development Services. “We’re looking forward to hearing what the community has to say about this. We hired the consultant team who does this day in and day out and they are providing recommendations that they feel would be helpful for the community.” Among those recommendations is a commitment to spend $10 million in city funds on affordable housing over ten years. Another is to collaborate with communities throughout the area. That concept has the support of Planning Commission Chair Hosea Mitchell.“The urban ring is where we’re going to most effectively address this problem,” Mitchell said. “We cannot do it just inside Charlottesville so collaboration is going to be very important.”Tomorrow, the Central Virginia Regional Housing Partnership will unveil an online search tool for affordable housing at a meeting that begins at noon. More on that tomorrow. I will be writing up a full account of the Cville Plans Together discussion in a stand-alone story.  Comments will be taken through December 2. *At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Rory Stolzenberg made a pitch to his colleagues to push for a rezoning for the land on which a future municipal parking garage will be built. In January 2017, a previous Council paid $2.85 million to buy land that currently houses a Lucky 7 convenience store and a Guadalajara restaurant. The plan is to build as a parking garage to serve a joint General District court with Albemarle County.“My primary ask would be for Council to initiate a rezoning to Downtown Extended,”  Stolzenberg said. Doing so would allow for additional floors to allow for the structure to be more than just a parking garage. A request for proposals to design and build the garage has not yet been and Stolzenberg said he did not want the possibility to go away. Council will hold a work session Thursday on the capital budget for next year, and interim city attorney Lisa Robertson said the elected officials will have to weigh in. The current year’s capital improvement program allocated $2 million to the project and anticipates an additional $8 million will be allocated next year. “It’s going to be a financial decision and I have not talked to staff about whether it’s possible,” Robertson said. “It sounds like there is a good consensus that people would like to see more done with this property and I think you need to make Council aware again of your strong feelings.”   The Commission made a motion to request the rezoning. Councilors were present for the discussion. You can hear the whole 40 minutes discussion on my SoundCloud page. The land in question is within the blue box. D means Downtown Zoning. DN is Downtown North. *No meetings today, but let’s preview something happening on Friday. The newest school at the University of Virginia is the School of Data Science, which was created after a gift of $120 million to UVA from the Quantitative Foundation, associated with Jaffray Woodriff. The school will eventually be located on Ivy Road in the new Emmet / Ivy corridor.On Friday, the school will hold a half-day conference called Datapalooza which includes two keynote speakers and panel discussions on the role data science can play in solving community problems. Danielle D’Andrea is the communications manager for the School of Data Science. “Data science still is happening not only at the school but everywhere across UVA and the conference started just to highlight all the work that everyone was doing,” D’Andrea said. “Data science happens across discipline, and it lives in all of the schools so the conference started as a way to highlight all the great work students, faculties and staff were completing.”D’Andrea said the free conference will be virtual which will allow for an unlimited number of viewers as opposed to being limited to who can show up in person. The first keynote speech is on the “Positive Impact of Data Science on Emerging and Reemerging Disease - COVID-19.” The speaker is John J. McGowan.“He’s the deputy director for science management at the National Institute for Health, specifically for the National Institute for Allergy and Infection Disease,” D’Andrea said. A panel discussion called “Data Science that Works With and For Our Communities” will include presentations on the Charlottesville Housing Hub (not to be confused with the regional affordable housing locator being produced by the TJPDC), improving open data, and the Center for Civic Innovation. “Essentially from a high level perspective what that panel will be talking about is just how we can use data to better inform community and community work and how we can partner as data activists to make things more open, more accessible and what we can do to really move community work forward,” D’Andrea said.Visit the Datapalooza website to learn more, and we’ll have more of a preview in tomorrow’s program.Would you like to support this program? You can help me by making a contribution:Support my research by making a donation through PatreonSign for a subscription to Charlottesville Community Engagement, free or paidPay me through Venmo This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Support for this program comes from the many people who have decided to fund it through a monthly contribution to Patreon. For $25 a month, you too can have me read a shout-out! Support also comes from those who have paid for a subscription through this newsletter service. Either way, thank you for all who have contributed so far!  *Students at the University of Virginia are now under rules that are stricter than those in Albemarle County and Charlottesville. President Jim Ryan announced yesterday that gatherings are limited to five people or less and that masks are to be worn at mostly all times."Over the last few days we've become more concerned about the spread of COVID-19 within the UVA community,” Ryan said. “Some of this has been driven by a rise in positive cases in our community. But we've also gotten reports of a few large student gatherings, both on and off Grounds as well as reports about inconsistent adherence to masking and distancing guidelines. This has caused concern among our public health experts who worry we may be headed in the wrong direction and that if we don’t get back on track quickly, we could end up in a situation where have to severely restrict where students can go or risk running low on isolation or quarantine space.”The UVA COVID-19 Tracker reported yesterday that 26 percent of quarantine rooms are in use and seven percent of isolation rooms. Seven new cases were reported for Monday, all students. The number of active cases is listed as 224. According to the tracker, these are “new cases with a positive test during the past ten days who require isolation or quarantine. The Cavalier Daily reported yesterday that a fifth dorm was placed under testing. The 5-person-or-less restriction on gatherings applies to students on and off grounds. “Students will still be able to gather outside safely including on the Lawn, but will have to do it in groups of less than five or fewer,” Ryan said. “If this limit is not respected we may have to consider additional restrictions including curfews.” A third restriction involves who can visit the students. “We’re going to ramp up enforcement of our travel and visitor policies for students, which should be simple to understand and easy to follow,” Ryan said. “Please do not leave Charlottesville over the next two weeks and do not invite visitors to come to town. This is to protect people outside of this community as well as to prevent more of the virus being brought back to Grounds.”Ryan said in-person classes would continue. Watch the whole video on UVA Today. *The Virginia Department of Health reports another 580 cases of COVID-19 today, the lowest one-day total since July 6. That brings the seven-day average for daily new cases to 890. The seven-day average for positive tests remains at 5.5 percent for the second straight day. In the Thomas Jefferson Health District there are another 16 cases reported today, with a seven-day average of daily new cases now at 53. Another death has been recorded in Nelson County for a total of 69 since the pandemic began. *The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority’s Board of Directors met yesterday, and it was perhaps the last meeting in the area to be chaired by Dr. Tarron Richardson, whose tenure as Charlottesville City Manager is over at the end of the month. Richardson was honored with a resolution for his time serving on the RWSA, and he ended up chairing his final meeting. “Dr. Richardson, on behalf of this board, we want to take this opportunity to give you a heartfelt thanks not only for your service not just to the city and the community, but also to this Board,” said Albemarle County Executive Jeffrey Richardson. Richardson tendered his resignation to City Council earlier this month. *Albemarle County has launched another initiative to help businesses cover some of their pandemic-related expenses. The Safe Spaces and Places Grant Program is intended for those companies that have spent money to expand to outdoor operations or otherwise be able to serve customers during the pandemic. This could include tents, sanitizing stations, outdoor furniture, space heating, and other items that could help slow the spread of COVID-19 while allowing business to continue. Others include extended WiFi and computer systems to allow easy payment through cards.  Qualifying purchases may have occurred between March 1st and the end of this year, and payouts are up to $25,000. “Only non-residentially zoned parcels are eligible to apply,” reads an inquiry form for the project, which will be administered by the Community Investment Collaborative on behalf of the Albemarle Economic Development Authority. “Costs will be reviewed for reasonableness and applicants must certify that expenses are in response to the COVID-19 crisis.” Albemarle will hold a webinar on the program on September 25 at 1 p.m.  The inquiry form closes on October 2. (inquire) (attend the webinar)This morning, Albemarle County also launched another initiative for residents struggling with hardships due to the pandemic. The Board of Supervisors voted earlier this summer to allocate over $1 million in funding from the federal CARES ACT for emergency financial assistance. “Albemarle County residents experiencing lost wages or earning ability as a result of reduced hours or loss of employment due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic can apply for funds for rent/mortgage assistance, utility payments, groceries/prescriptions, or childcare,” reads a press release for the program. “Residents are eligible for a one-time payment for rent/mortgage assistance that will be allocated based on the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Developments program guidelines determined by the household size or up to $1,000 per household for emergency funds for all other expense types,” it continues.The funds are being disbursed in partnership with the United Way of Greater Charlottesville. To apply, call 434-326-0950, 9 am - 6 pm, Monday-Friday.    Para Español - marque 434-373-0930, 9 am a 5:30 pm, de lunes a viernes. Other languages are available upon request. *In meetings today, the Ridge Street Priority Neighborhood Task Force will meet virtually at 4 p.m. The group is made up of people appointed to review potential projects to be paid for through a federal program known as the Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG. Each year, the city selects a neighborhood to receive funding, and for this year and the next two, the Ridge Street Neighborhood has been chosen. City Council discussed whether some of the $150,000 could be used for housing issues. City Councilor Michael Payne asked this question:“Could that pool of money should the Ridge Street Task Force receive applications and vote on it, go to things related to homelessness services or public housing or other things that may be connected to housing in some way?” Payne asked.“The Ridge Street, or the priority neighborhood funding typically goes to funding public infrastructure improvements to better improve that community,” said Erin Atak, the city’s grants coordinator. “It really depends on the type of activity that they are looking to fund.” Previous projects funded by CDBG funds through this process include sidewalk improvements in the 10th and Page neighborhoods, as well as intersection improvements on Monticello Avenue and a partial streetscape on Cherry Avenue. One thing for the task force to keep in mind is that the city received $6.1 million in Smart Scale funding for a project at the four-way intersection of Ridge Street, Cherry Avenue, Elliot Avenue and Fifth Street Extended. However, that project doesn’t have an anticipated construction start time until 2028. Speaking of Smart Scale, the area body that makes decisions about regional transportation projects meets at 4 p.m. On the agenda of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization is a new design for a reconfiguration of the intersection of U.S. 29 and Fontaine Avenue into something called a “modified continuous flow intersection.”  (MPO agenda)There will also be a discussion of the needs for electric vehicle charging stations in the community. “MPO staff would like guidance on developing a network of key stakeholders to assess and build strategies for supporting the use of electric vehicles in the TJPDC region,” reads the Action Item section of the memo on the topic. (learn more) This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

When the coronavirus pandemic dramatically halted normal economic activity in March, many knew small business owners and their employees would not come away unscathed. But small businesses are critical to our communities, making up 44 percent of all economic activity in the United States. Thankfully, community planners are stepping up in big ways to find relief for these businesses — the lifeblood of their localities. In this episode of the podcast, APA public affairs manager Emily Pasi talks with Angela Cleveland, AICP, director of community and economic development for the City of Amesbury, Massachusetts, and Matthew Coogan, AICP, chief of staff for the City of Newburyport, Massachusetts. Amesbury and Newburyport — the former boasting a thriving restaurant scene, the latter an engine largely fueled by tourism — were each awarded $400,000 in emergency Community Development Block Grant funding via the CARES Act. Angela and Matt outline the serious need they saw in their communities’ small businesses before the funding was delivered, as well as the ways various city departments came together to lift up struggling enterprises and help them innovate. They provide advice for planners who want to help their communities not just stay solvent, but recover stronger.

Giles County Administrator Chris McKlarney is known for a specific brand of supportive, collaborative, and action-oriented leadership. With other New River Valley partners, the County organized early to support small businesses, quickly creating a gift card program and structuring a model approach to helping businesses when they have an active contact with the virus. "We need to do everything we can to keep our people safe," says McKlarney. And they're doing it together. "Communities in the New River Valley have always gotten along exceptionally well. We've always collaborated and cooperated very well." That practice of collaboration is paying off: the region organized early and the Business Continuity Team program has received $250,000 in funding through GO Virginia. Hear how the County, and the region, is layering resources including DHCD's Community Business Launch and Community Development Block Grant program. Check out Giles County, Virginia's Mountain Playground, here. Get more information on COVID-19 resources at www.dhcd.virginia.gov/COVID-19.

www.GoodMorningGwinnett.com Gwinnett County Entrepreneur & Small Business ManagerMark Farmer is my guest today. We will be talking about the new Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center. The Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center (GEC) will be a County-sponsored facility designed to support entrepreneurs and nurture small businesses startups. The GEC will provide budding entrepreneurs with instruction, networking connections, coworking space, and offices. The center is scheduled to open in late 2020 in existing space on Perry Street in downtown Lawrenceville. The GEC is funded by the County and federal Community Development Block Grant revenues.Services available to regional entrepreneurs will include:ClassesWorkshopsBusiness coachingPeer learningConnections to customers, capital, and market research

www.GoodMorningGwinnett.com Gwinnett County Entrepreneur & Small Business ManagerMark Farmer is my guest today. We will be talking about the new Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center. The Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center (GEC) will be a County-sponsored facility designed to support entrepreneurs and nurture small businesses startups. The GEC will provide budding entrepreneurs with instruction, networking connections, coworking space, and offices. The center is scheduled to open in late 2020 in existing space on Perry Street in downtown Lawrenceville. The GEC is funded by the County and federal Community Development Block Grant revenues.Services available to regional entrepreneurs will include:ClassesWorkshopsBusiness coachingPeer learningConnections to customers, capital, and market research

Olatunji Oyewale, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Manager for the City of Sanford shares helpful information about the Home Repair Program, it's income criteria to apply (you must be a City of Sanford resident), what the repair program covers in the home, how to apply and much more. The City of Sanford is defined as an entitlement jurisdiction by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program provides annual grants (such as the Home Repair program) on a formula basis to entitled cities and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low-and moderate-income residents.

(Wentworth, NC) - Audio of the June 15, 2020 meeting of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners. The meeting was held at the Rockingham County Governmental Center in Wentworth, NC.AGENDA1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN RICHARDSON2. INVOCATION - LANCE METZLER, COUNTY MANAGER3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE4. APPROVAL OF JUNE 15, 2020 AGENDA5. RESOLUTION- RESOLUTION TO DECLARE JUNE 29, 2020 RILEY RANKIN DAY IN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY6. RECOGNITION - TYRONE WADE, ALEX CHEHAITLI AND ANDY FLINCHUM FOR THEIR SELFLESS ACTS OF RENDERING LIFE SAVING AID BY PULLING TWO PASSENGERS FROM A BURNING VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION APRIL 10, 2020 ON US 2207. CONSENT AGENDA (Consent items as follows will be adopted with a single motion, second and vote, unless a request for removal from the Consent Agenda is heard from a Commissioner)A) Jennifer H. Woods, Clerk to the Board - Approval of Minutes - May 26, 2020 Recessed Meeting Minutes (FY 2020/21 Budget Work Session)B) Patricia Galloway. Financial Services Director1) Approval- Increase Aging & Disability Transportation Services (ADTS) budget for pass through grant revenues that have been received in excess of current budget. These revenues are required to be remitted to ADTS as funding for transportation services provided by this organization.EDTAP $15,453RGP $21,216ROAP Workfirst $ 3,6162) Approval- Close the budget/project ordinance on Airport Projects that are complete as of June 2020:Taxiway Rehab $ 446,667Airport Layout Plan $ 134,667Lighting Rehab $ 166,667Land Acquisition (Tucker) $ 39,072Apron Rehab (Design) $ 84,760Apron Rehab (Construction) $1,116,802Fuel Farm (Design) $ 88,9993) Approval- Increase Register of Deeds Enhancement/Preservation budget $36,000 to cover the cost of re-covering 15 books. Reserved ROD Fund balance is available to cover this cost.4) Approval - Increase Employee FSA internal service fund. Fund 640, $25,000 to cover estimated costs through June 30, 2020. Fund balance is available in the fund to cover this increase in cost.5) Approval - Create the Coronavirus Special Revenue Fund in accordance with NC State Treasurer Office guidance issued 6/3/2020. Transfer CRF budget from the General Fund to the new CRF Special Revenue Fund.C) Mark McClintock, Tax AdministratorApproval- Tax Collection and Reconciliation Reports for May 2020D) Lance Metzler, County Manager1) Approval- Request waiver of $1 ,000 Capacity Fee for adding Town of Wentworth owned house to the Rockingham County Sanitary Sewer System.2) Update to the County's plan for Coronavirus Relief FundsE) Jason Byrd, Soil & Water ConservationApprove- Participation in Voluntary Agriculture District Program.F) Felissa Ferrell, Health and Human Services DirectorApproval- Adopt Proclamation Proclaiming June 15, 2020 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day8. PUBLIC COMMENT9. PUBLIC HEARING - LEIGH COCKRAM, DIRECTOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,SMALL BUSINESS AND TOURISMDiscuss an application for a $2,300,000 Community Development Block Grant for Economic Development of Commerce. The grant funds will be used for sewer improvements to serve Ontex Operations USA, LLC, a new manufacturing company locating to Rockingham County, North Carolina. The Ontex project will allow for the creation of 403 new full time jobs (204 in the first 24 months) at their Rockingham County facility. Rockingham County will provide a local match of $993,500 for a total estimated project cost of $3,293,500.10. DR. SHOTWELL, SUPERINTENDENT ROCKINGHAM COUNTY SCHOOLSAPPROVE· REALLOCATION OF RESTRICTED SALES TAX$100,000 previously allocated for purchase of a used cooling tower for Reidsville High School. That purchase did not take place. The District needs those funds reallocated for the purchase of mobile units to be placed at South End Elementary School for the 2020-21 school year due to overcrowding. The District also needs to use these funds for summer painting at each of the schools prior to re-opening on August 17, 2020.11. CARRIE SPENCER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTPRESENTATION· WATER AND SEWER CAPACITY ANALYSIS AND INFRASTRUCTURE12. NEW BUSINESS13. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS14. ADJOURN# # #

H.R. 6074 — “Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes.” This bill provides $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agencies to respond to the coronavirus outbreak.Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 – 2 (Roll no. 86). Senate passage imminent. H.R. 5931 – Improving FHA Support for Small Dollar Mortgages Act of 2020, as amended (Rep. Clay – Financial Services)  This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to report on barriers to making Federal Housing Administration (FHA) single-family mortgage insurance available for mortgages under $70,000. Specifically, HUD must report on policies, practices, and products used by the FHA and actions that will be taken to remove such barriers.   Agreed to by voice vote. H.R. 5003 – Fair Debt Collection Practices for Service members Act, as amended (Rep. Dean – Financial Services)  This bill prohibits a debt collector from (1) representing to service members that failure to cooperate with a debt collector will result in a reduction of rank, a revocation of security clearance, or military prosecution; or (2) communicating with a service member’s superiors in the chain of command.   Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 355 – 0 (Roll no. 79). H.R. 5932 – Ensuring Chinese Debt Transparency Act of 2020, as amended (Rep. Hill – Financial Services)  This bill states that it is U.S. policy to push for greater transparency with respect to financing provided by China to another country through international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund. The National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Policies within the Department of the Treasury shall report annually on progress made toward advancing this policy.   Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 356 – 0 (Roll no. 80). H.R. 4351 – Yes In My Backyard Act, as amended (Rep. Heck – Financial Services) This bill requires certain Community Development Block Grant program recipients to submit to the Department of Housing and Community Development information regarding their implementation of certain land-use policies (e.g., policies for reducing minimum lot size).Agreed to by voice vote. H. Res. 387 Central African Republic and supporting efforts to achieve a lasting political solution to the conflict, as amended (Rep. Cicilline – Foreign Affairs)  Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 378 – 7 (Roll no. 81). H.R. 4508 – Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act, as amended (Rep. Jeffries – Foreign Affairs)  This bill requires the U.S. Agency for International Development to award at least 50% of the number of scholarships under the Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Program to Pakistani women for each of the calendar years 2020-2022.  Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 374 – 16 (Roll no. 82). S. 1678 – Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019, as amended (Sen. Gardner – Foreign Affairs) Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. Senate-Agreed to by voice vote. House-Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 – 0 (Roll no. 85). H.Res. 230 – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States condemns all forms of violence against children globally and recognizes the harmful impacts of violence against children, as amended (Rep. McGovern – Foreign Affairs)   Agreed to by voice vote H.R. 1140 – Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act of 2020 (Rep. Thompson (MS) – Homeland Security) (Subject to a Rule)  To enhance the security operations of the Transportation Security Administration and stability of the transportation security workforce by applying the personnel system under title 5, United States Code, to employees of the Transportation Security Administration who provide screening of all passengers and property. Motion to Proceed to S. 2657 (Legislative Vehicle for the American Energy Innovation Act), post-cloture. The Motion to Proceed was agreed to by a vote of 90-4.  S. 2657 (Legislative Vehicle for the American Energy Innovation Act), The Secretary shall support an initiative among the Office of Fossil Energy, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and the private sector to modify, improve, and demonstrate the use in geothermal energy development of relevant advanced technologies and operation techniques used in the oil and gas sector. H.R. 8 (The Bipartisan Background Checks Act).  prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. The prohibition does not apply to certain firearm transfers, such as a gift between spouses in good faith.  House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 240 – 190 (Roll no. 99).  Senate-Murphy asked unanimous consent that the bill be read three times and passed. Enzi objected. S. 893 (Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2019). T his bill requires the President, in consultation with relevant federal agencies, to develop a strategy to secure and protect U.S. fifth and future generations (5G) systems and infrastructure. Such strategy shall (1) ensure the security of 5G wireless communications systems and infrastructure within the United States; (2) assist mutual defense treaty allies, strategic partners, and other countries in maximizing the security of 5G systems and infrastructure; and (3) protect the competitiveness of U.S. companies, privacy of U.S. consumers, and integrity of standards-setting bodies.  Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. H.R.5214 (To amend title 5, United States Code, to prevent fraud by representative payees). It shall be unlawful for a representative payee to embezzle or in any manner convert all or any part of the amounts received from payments received as a representative payee to a use other than for the use and benefit of the minor or individual on whose behalf such payments were received. House-Agreed to by voice vote. Senate-Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote Passed by voice vote. H.R.4334 (To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2020 through 2024).  Among other things, the bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises programs that support caregivers of the elderly;informational services, such as pension counseling;nutritional services, such as meal delivery; disease prevention and health promotion services;community and workforce training regarding elder care; and abuse and neglect prevention services. House Agreed to by voice vote. Senate – The Collins amendment at the desk was agreed to. The bill as amended was agreed to by voice vote. Support the show.

We were in the studio for Tourism Tuesday - Front Royal/Warren County edition - with Felicia Hart, Director of Community Development & Tourism for the Town of Front Royal. Felicia gave us an update on several of the projects included in the Community Development Block Grant they received in 2018. We discussed the facade grant program, the parking analysis currently underway, wayfinding signage, and marketing components as part of the grant. Felicia also told us about a change to the town trolley route and reminded us the town's Business Forum happens on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 8am in the town council chambers. From a holiday perspective, she told us about the life-sized ornament located outside the Visitor's Center and that many people - residents & tourists - have had a blast taking selfies. She gave us a quick rundown of the different types of merchandise available inside the Visitor's Center as well as several events happening in the next few weeks. You can get a full list of those events & all the details on their website: https://www.discoverfrontroyal.com/

We were in the studio for Tourism Tuesday - Front Royal/Warren County edition - with Felicia Hart, Director of Community Development & Tourism for the Town of Front Royal. Her guests today were Karen Hendershot, President of the Piedmont Chapter of the VA Native Plant Society and Marjorie Prochaska, Past President of the organization. They explained the history of their organization, their purpose and mission and the important role it plays in protecting and preserving the native plants of Virginia. They talked about their membership opportunities, their programs, and about their upcoming Annual Meeting & Conference happening September 27–29, 2019 at the Holiday Inn Blue Ridge Shadows For more details about their organization, to learn about membership, or get registration information, visit their website: https://vnps.org/ In the second segment of the show, Felicia gave us an update on the current projects in progress under the Community Development Block Grant. That included an explanation of the Facade Grant program and a call for contractors to reach out to Jeremy Camp in the town's Planning & Zoning Department to submit bids for the 16 approved projects. You can reach Jeremy via phone: 540-635-4236 or via email: jcamp@frontroyalva.com. We also talked about other projects that are part of this grant such as wayfinding signage, public restrooms & a pavilion in the gazebo area and more. Felicia also gave us a quick rundown of some upcoming events happening in the next few weeks. For a complete list, visit their website: https://www.discoverfrontroyal.com/ End of Summer Gear Swap hosted by Mountain Trails on Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 9am - 3pm at the gazebo in Front Royal. Samuels Public Library is hosting  it's annual convention, SamiCon on Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 10am - 4pm. River & Brews Festival hosted by Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, September 21, 2019 from Noon til 6pm at the gazebo in Front Royal. Taste of the Town is happening on Friday, September 27, 2019 from 6pm - 9pm.

President Donald Trump’s 2018 budget blueprint calls for a more than 13 percent cut to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The budget would also eliminate the $3 billion Community Development Block Grant program. T he potential cuts have some Ohio officials worried about how to make up for the lost funding. For more on what eliminating the Community Development Block Grant Program could mean for people across the Dayton area, WYSO's Jerry Kenney spoke with city commissioner Matt Joseph. For this week's PoliticsOhio, Joseph starts by explaining some of the history of the four-decade-old program.

We were joined in the studio today by Ryan Spitzer, Strasburg Town Manager & the newest member of his staff, Michelle Bixler, Economic Development & Marketing Manager. We talked about Michelle's new position and what duties & responsibilities she will assume with this newly created position. We also discussed current Strasburg town projects such as Rev-Up Strasburg, Community Business Launch, the Community Development Block Grant and Phase 3 of the Streetscape project. To get more details about what's happening in the town of Strasburg, visit their website: http://www.strasburgva.com/ Like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/townofstrasburg

Max Slusher of the ACIA In an effort to stimulate economic growth and development, Atlantic County and the City of Atlantic City are offering two loan programs for businesses in Atlantic City and portions of the county to promote job creation, revitalize communities and increase the ratable base. Funding for the loans that are administered by the Atlantic County Improvement Authority (ACIA) is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 108 program which allows communities to leverage their Community Development Block Grant funds into federally guaranteed loans for economic revitalization. “We’re very pleased to offer these programs for the purpose of growing our local businesses and generating jobs for our residents,” stated County Executive Dennis Levinson. “As our current lead economic development agency, the ACIA has taken the initiative to pursue and successfully acquire the use of $6 million in federally-guaranteed funding.” The 108 Loan Program can provide for-profit businesses with loans up to 40 percent of the project cost at a maximum of $400,000 with repayment terms of 10-20 years. One job must be created for every $35,000 spent. A non-refundable $200 application fee is required. LISTEN > MAX SLUSHER OF ACIA ON MEL TAYLOR RADIO SHOW The Micro Loan Program offers loans between $1,000 and $35,000 to start up businesses that meet the HUD criteria of low to moderate income. Preference is given to borrowers with at least six months to one year experience. Fifty-one percent of an applicant’s new hires should be of low to moderate income and should preferably live within Atlantic County. A non-refundable $100 administrative fee is required at time of loan processing. Both loan programs are available to businesses located in municipalities that participate in the Community Development Block Grant as well as Atlantic City. For more info visit:Atlantic County Improvement Authority or call Max Slusher, ACIA Economic Development Director, (609) 343-2157. The post Atlantic County & Atlantic City to Offer Local Business Loans appeared first on Atlantic City Prime Time.

In the 350th episode of the Tax Credit Tuesday podcast, Michael J. Novogradac, CPA, alerts listeners to the 40th anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant program. In lowincome housing tax credit news, he shares some analysis of the proposed fiscal year 2015 Fair Market Rents, and discusses disaster-relief guidance for low-income housing tax credit and taxexempt bond properties. In new markets tax credit news, he discusses the requirements for application reviewers for the 2014 allocation application round and the release of the 2014 electronic application, as well as new bond issuing authority under the CDFI Bond Guarantee program. In renewable energy tax credit news, he shares two Department of Energy reports on the renewable wind industry and the production and investment tax credits.

In the 350th episode of the Tax Credit Tuesday podcast, Michael J. Novogradac, CPA, alerts listeners to the 40th anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant program. In lowincome housing tax credit news, he shares some analysis of the proposed fiscal year 2015 Fair Market Rents, and discusses disaster-relief guidance for low-income housing tax credit and taxexempt bond properties. In new markets tax credit news, he discusses the requirements for application reviewers for the 2014 allocation application round and the release of the 2014 electronic application, as well as new bond issuing authority under the CDFI Bond Guarantee program. In renewable energy tax credit news, he shares two Department of Energy reports on the renewable wind industry and the production and investment tax credits.

At a workshop held after their most recent meeting, for demolishing the Sunshine Inn, a blighted motel across from Wofford College, and a crucial piece of the . On the heels of recent news of the  for around $600,000, staff recommended to Council that the City allocate $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding toward demolishing the dilapidated motel. Once demolition is complete, the site will become a new gateway into Northside redevelopment area, with plans calling for Evins Street to be extended from Wofford College into the neighborhood (). Today on the podcast, we're talking with Assistant City Manager Chris Story about the nuts and bolts of this important project, and what it could ultimately mean for connecting the Northside redevelopment area with the rest of the city.

  Sharon K. Jackson, AICP Land Development Group (LDG), PresidentSUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS Ms. Jackson has over 25 years of experience professional experience, which include five years as the City of Lake Worth Director of Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Department and two years as the City of West Palm Beach Director of the Economic and Community Development Department.  Specifically, Ms. Jackson:   Administered and coordinated municipal planning, zoning and historic preservation programs. Worked with Palm Beach County staff to annex approximately 120 acres into the City of Lake Worth. Worked with Palm Beach County staff to create a redevelopment plan for the Lake Worth Industrial Park. Processed a wide range of development applications and prepared both minor and major amendments to municipal comprehensive plans. Coordinated staff support for the Planning and Zoning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and the Historic Resource Preservation Board. Coordinated with the City Building Department to process Local Business Tax Receipts. Coordinated with the City Building Department to process building permits. Administered programs funded through Community Development Block Grant(s); Federal HOME Funds and State SHIP Funds. Worked to achieve consensus inter departmental and citizen participation on critical development projects and the Lake Worth citywide master plan. Worked as staff to the West Palm Beach CRA for approximately five years.   The above-referenced work experience provides a thorough working knowledge of comprehensive planning, current planning, residential and commercial redevelopment and preservation planning.  

Steve Johnson, Director of CDBG Entitlement Communities Division, HUD, discusses what exactly the Community Development Block Grant is, and how it can benefit microenterprise programs. He also discusses how much of CDBG funds go to microenterprise development programs and what those dollars are most often used for within the programs.To learn more about AEO's policy priorities, go to http://www.microenterpriseworks.org/index.asp?bid=59To learn more about the CDBG program, go to http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/index.cfmTo listen to this podcast, click here.