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Approval of STIP Keeps Franklin County on the Move

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Franklin County, August 17, 2017: Franklin County will see the benefit of a number of projects now that the North Carolina Board of Transportation has approved the 10-year (2018-2027) State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP).

Funding will assist with several transformational projects including the NCDOT Division of Aviation allocation of $10,890,000 to Triangle North Executive Airport (TNEA) and the widening of US 401 to a four-lane highway.

“The support from NCDOT and NCDOT Division of Aviation for Franklin County provides us with the resources to take significant steps forward for our businesses and citizens,” stated Franklin County Board Chairman Cedric K. Jones.

“The allocation to Triangle North Executive Airport will allow us to create more buildable space for additional hangars as well as be able to extend the runway and take larger aircraft to carry passengers and freight,” commented Steve Merritt, Triangle North Executive Airport Manager. The county will be required to provide some matching funds bringing the total value of this allocation plus the match to $12,200,000.

Triangle North Executive Airport has 60 jobs and the impact of this expansion is projected to grow that number to 120 for both direct and indirect jobs. TNEA houses 131 planes currently with an annual economic impact of $23,000,000.

The approved funding for widening US 401 now provides this corridor not only with improved safety, but also more direct access to multiple transportation routes important for attracting and retaining businesses. This project has been identified as Section C of US 401 and has long been a request by the citizens of Louisburg and Franklin County.

Additional commitment by NCDOT to now take US 401 widening all the way into Louisburg, named Section D of US 401, will transform access for this area of Franklin County. “With the ongoing growth of Franklin County, it is important that we plan for safe, effective transportation,” stated County Manager Angela L. Harris. “The widening of US 401 has been a project that has been important to us for many, many years and we are delighted to see it moving forward.”
Contact: Richie Duncan Economic Development Director Phone: (919) 554-1863 Fax: (919) 554-1781
228 Park Avenue Youngsville, NC 27596 www.franklincountync.us FRANKLIN COUNTY

“When completed, the US 401 expansion will provide Franklin County with another four-lane north-south thoroughfare, giving the county and region the infrastructure it needs for growth,” said Economic Development Director Richie Duncan.

In addition to these projects, several others were included in the 10-year plan including:

 US 401-39 (Bickett Blvd), NC 56/581 (Nash Street) to SR 1229 (Main Street) widening to multi-lanes  Intersection improvement from Holden Road at US 1Alt, NC 96  Access management from East Nash St to Burke Blvd to replace 5 lane facility with 4 lane facility including planted median, sidewalks and bike lane  US 98, NC 98 – upgrade existing at grade intersection to interchange  From Main St to Camille Circle at Luddy Park construct shared use path, crosswalks

For additional information, please contact Richie Duncan, Franklin County Economic Development Director, at (919) 554-1863.

Franklin County Government is committed to effective and innovative public services for all Franklin County citizens and businesses.

News 08/17/17

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Animal Kingdom 08/16/17

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Guest speakers discuss home health careers with VGCC Nursing students

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Vance-Granville Community College Practical Nursing students recently learned more about the home health career field from representatives of Well Care Home Health, who visited the college’s Main Campus in late July.

The company, based in Wilmington, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. “Well Care is a unique company in providing home health,” Clinical Coordinator Mary O’Shea, a registered nurse, told the students. “It is an independent, family-owned business that is not affiliated with a major hospital, and it’s one of the few five-star-rated quality home health agencies in the state.” O’Shea said Well Care has grown dramatically over the years and now serves 42 counties in North Carolina, including the VGCC service area. “It’s awesome to be part of an organization that strives for excellence all the time,” O’Shea added. 

O’Shea said she could identify with the students, who were close to graduating, recalling that she graduated from the Watts School of Nursing in Durham. “I admire you guys for sticking with it,” she told them. “Nursing has given me a great career over 25 years, and I’ve always been able to find a job that allowed me to fulfill my family responsibilities. I don’t know a lot of professions could say that they did that.” O’Shea said that about half of her career has been in the home health field. “Home health is a really unique animal,” she said. “There isn’t another part of nursing where you go into someone’s home, where you’re invited into their home.”

She explained that Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) “have a vital role in the home health world” and often perform tasks, such as complicated wound dressings, that only registered nurses would perform in a hospital setting. O’Shea noted that Well Care home health nurses generally see each patient three times a week. “You arrange your schedule for each day’s various home visits, and are paid per visit,” she said.

Next, Well Care Human Resources Recruiter Kendra Dillingham addressed students and offered tips on obtaining jobs, including interviews, resumes and communicating with potential employers, as well as specific details about careers at her company. She said that one of the advantages of a home health career is that nurses have opportunities to get to know their patients very well. “Something I love about the health care community is that you all have so many opportunities to switch types of work and types of patients you work with,” Dillingham said. She added that computer skills are important for employment as a Well Care nurse because her company uses electronic medical records “100 percent.”

The three-semester VGCC Practical Nursing diploma program prepares individuals to provide nursing care to meet the health care needs of the individual throughout their lifespan. The role of the LPN is a dependent role under the supervision of the registered nurse (RN) and other health-care providers approved by North Carolina law. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN), which is required for practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Employment opportunities include hospitals, rehabilitation/long term care/home health facilities, clinics, and physicians’ offices. For more information, contact VGCC Nursing Department Chair Erica Jastrow at jastrowe@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3457.

–VGCC–

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Granville County to host Business and Industry Appreciation Day

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Come join the Granville County Economic Development Department in partnership with the Granville County Chamber of Commerce and the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center for the annual “Business and Industry Appreciation Day” on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 from 4-6 p.m. at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, located at 4185 Highway 15 South in Oxford.

For local businesses and industries, the event is not only a networking opportunity, but also a chance to learn more about services and resources that are available to assist them. Organizations, agencies and businesses that provide services to a business (such as lending or education/training) are invited to set up a table to share information with those in attendance.

For information on reserving a table, contact Lynn Cooper at the GCEDD at 919-693-5911 or lynn.cooper@granvillecounty.org

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. A brief program including remarks will take place at 5 p.m.

VGCC schedules Sewing class at Main Campus

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Vance-Granville Community College will soon offer a “Beginning Sewing” class on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. The course, taught by Carol Montague of Oxford, is scheduled to be held on Monday evenings from 6-9 p.m., Sept. 11 through Nov. 27, in room 5203 (Building 5).

Sewing has always been a part of Carol Montague’s life. From the time she was very young, she remembers taking naps under her father’s work table. He was a canvas awning maker, cutting and sewing his work on a large, room-sized table. In 2002, she opened her business, called Hen and Chicks Sewing School. Both adults and children have benefitted from her classes, taught at her home and at the Oxford Housing Authority. She has also held numerous fashion shows at assisted living facilities, churches, her home, and the Oxford Housing Authority. Montague enjoys having her students give back to the community by donating hand-made items to the Durham Ronald McDonald House, making dresses for children for Haiti and comfort caps for cancer patients.

Montague believes in equipping the current generation with skills that have become too often ignored. “The value of sewing for yourself and others comes in many forms,” she said. “Unique and personalized gifts, clothing alteration, hard-to-find modest clothing, wearability, and one-of-a-kind clothing and crafts are just a few of the many advantages of learning to sew.”

Sewing is a life-skill, she added. “Adults learn drafting design skills by making or adjusting their own patterns, cutting skills, the value of precision work and how to combine color,” Montague said. “Students will be able to identify quality craftsmanship in ready-to-wear garments and spot hastily-made clothing fashioned out of cheap materials. They will be able to repair purchased items that need ‘fixing.’ Many have made a business out of the skill of sewing.”

The cost of the class is $80. Students will need to provide their own materials, a list of which will be provided. The deadline to register is Sept. 4.

Registration can be completed online at www.vgcc.edu/schedules/personal-enrichment or at any VGCC campus. For more information, contact Gail Clark at (252) 738-3385 or ped@vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

VGCC ranked in top 20 online colleges in North Carolina

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A national organization has recognized Vance-Granville Community College as one of the top 20 colleges in North Carolina offering online programs. California-based OnlineColleges.com ranked VGCC 19th on a list that included both two-year and four-year institutions of higher learning. Among just the two-year colleges, VGCC ranked tenth-highest.

“Focusing on affordability, student services, and the availability of online programs, we used the most recent government data to evaluate colleges and universities across the country,” said OnlineColleges.com representative Kelly Rivett of the way in which her organization ranks institutions. The website reported that 52.9% of VGCC students took some or all of their courses online, according to data collected in 2015.

OnlineColleges.com is a resource for people who want reliable information about online colleges and degree programs. Its stated mission is “to empower students with knowledge about distance education.” Interactive tools on the website allow students to filter close to 3,000 colleges by state, tuition, school type, military benefits and religious affiliation.

VGCC has expanded its online course offerings in recent years. In 2015, the college launched the VOLT (Vanguard Online Learning through Technology) initiative, primarily with working adults in mind. Through VOLT, six two-year degree programs are now offered 100-percent online — Associate in Arts and Associate in Science (both also known as “College Transfer”), Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Medical Office Administration – Coding Specialist, and Supply Chain Management. In addition, students can take online courses in combination with traditional face-to-face courses to complete any VGCC degree program.

A number of 12-week online classes will begin on Sept. 12. For more information on enrollment, call VGCC at (252) 738-3330 or visit www.vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

Town Talk 08/16/17

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Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie 08/16/17

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News 08/16/17

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