VGCC Truck Driver Training Program Gears Back Up

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College is excited to announce that its CDL Truck Driver Training Program is back up and running.

The program, offered in collaboration with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, has been on hold since early March when the COVID-19 pandemic forced all face-to-face classes to cease. The N.C. Community College System has made an exception to allow colleges to resume educating students in transportation courses like Truck Driver Training, in-person.

On May 11, students returned to class and to a “new normal.” Portions of the new daily routine for students include temperature checks, face masks, social distancing in trucks and on the truck practice range.   

“Qualified and licensed truck drivers are essential employees, especially during these uncertain times,” said Dawn Michelle Tucker, Dean of Continuing Education and College and Career Readiness for VGCC. “We are excited to get the students back in training, so they can become licensed and employed with companies who need drivers to move goods and services across our service area and across the country.” 

During the next five weeks, students will continue honing their driver training skills such as backing skills, completing pre-trip inspections and backing up to a loading dock. Students will also continue to get their miles and time on the road. All of these skills and requirements are essential in preparing them for the DOT exam in order to get their official CDL-A license and be fully employable as a truck driver. 

For more information on the Truck Driver Training Program at Vance-Granville Community College, please visit www.vgcc.edu/cdl/ or contact Kyle Burwell, Director of Occupational Extension, at 252-738-3276 or burwellk@vgcc.edu.

Census 2020

Census Response Deadline Extended to October 31

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The U.S. Census Bureau has announced that, due to COVID-19 and the temporary suspension of field operations, the 2020 Census response deadline has been extended to Oct. 31. A previously-extended deadline date had been announced for Aug 14, which has now been rescheduled. This most recent extension will help ensure that all households have an opportunity to be counted.

Most households received their initial invitation to respond to the 2020 Census in March. By the middle of that month, the Census Bureau had started the process of hand-delivering paper questionnaires in rural areas; however, the temporary suspension of field operations, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in a delay.

As of May 13, Area Census Offices and 2020 Census field operations have been re-opened in nine states, including North Carolina. This means that more households – especially those who are known to have poor internet service in their area –  should expect to find paper questionnaires left outside their front doors in the coming weeks. All Census workers are expected to be trained in preventing the spread of the virus, with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

There are three options to respond to the 2020 Census – by phone, by mail or online. Households can respond safely from home by using the online form on the U.S. Census website at www.census.gov; by phone at 844-330-2020; or by mailing back the paper questionnaire being sent/delivered to their homes. 

Approximately 86 million households have already responded to the U.S. Census, with the national self-response rate at just over 58 percent, as compared with North Carolina’s rate of 55.1 percent. Granville County’s response total was reported at 58.1 percent as of May 12, with the Town of Butner falling in at 55.1 percent; the City of Creedmoor at 58.6 percent; the City of Oxford at 53.6 percent; the Town of Stem at 64.9 percent and the Town of Stovall at 14.9 percent.

In August, in-person visits to non-responsive households are scheduled to begin. A quick response to the Census by one of the three available methods will reduce the need for door-to-door visitation.

The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census of the country’s entire population be conducted every ten years. Results of this survey are used to determine how many congressional seats and Electoral  College votes each state gets through 2030, as well as guiding the distribution of an estimated $1.5 trillion a year in federal funding for hospitals, health clinics, fire departments, schools, roads and other public services in local communities.

The 2020 Census marks the 24th time that the United States has counted its population since 1790.

To learn more about the 2020 Census, visit www.census.gov.

Oxford Logo

Oxford Commissioners’ Meeting Recessed to Allow Public Comment on Annexation

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-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

The Tuesday, May 12, 2020 meeting of the Oxford Board of Commissioners was recessed until Thursday, May 14 at 9:15 a.m. to allow the public 24 hours to comment on the requested annexation of the property at the corner of the on-ramp of I-85 and Hwy 158.

Please email any comments to the City Clerk’s office at cbowen@oxfordnc.org.

Please note that the recessed meeting will be an electronic meeting and you are able to join this meeting with the following information:

Join Zoom Meeting – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82301578683?pwd=d3RGUXh4ZHF0c29MMlc1WXJ2MlRuUT09

Meeting ID: 823 0157 8683
Password: 414128

Dial by your location
+1 929 205 6099 US
Password: 414128

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keDpRbM7aB

All those interested are invited to join electronically.

Families Living Violence Free ‘Still Here’ to Assist Victims of Abuse

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-Information courtesy Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free is “still here” during the coronavirus crisis and is available to help those who feel unsafe at home and may be the victim of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Families Living Violence Free will remain open during normal business hours to respond to client needs. After hours, the crisis line will remain open. Clients are strongly encouraged to conduct business via phone or email when appropriate.

If further services are needed, you can contact advocates on the hotline at (919) 693-5700 (English) or (919) 690-0888 (Spanish).

The hotline will be fully operational 24/7 for advocacy, connection to resources, supportive counseling and safety planning. Services will be provided by advocates.

If you are in immediate physical danger, please call 911.

VGCC Vice President Earns Doctoral Degree

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Jerry E. Edmonds, III, the Vice President of Workforce Development and Community Engagement at Vance-Granville Community College, is now “Doctor Edmonds.” He recently received his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Educational Leadership from Wisconsin-based Edgewood College.

His doctoral dissertation was entitled, “How North Carolina Economic Development Leaders Perceive the N.C. Community College System and Rural Economic Development.”

Jerry E. Edmonds, III, the Vice President of Workforce Development and Community Engagement at Vance-Granville Community College, recently received his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Educational Leadership from Wisconsin-based Edgewood College. (VGCC photo)

“We congratulate Dr. Edmonds on his academic accomplishments, and we look forward to his continuing leadership in efforts to help our students and our local employers through job training and continuing education,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC’s president. “He is a role model for our students, many of whom are also training and learning to grow as professionals while working full-time.”

A resident of Henderson, Edmonds joined VGCC in 2019. He oversees training programs that respond to community needs and prepare students for workforce success, including apprenticeship programs, and economic development support for the region.

In addition, Edmonds leads the development of partnerships with businesses and government agencies and coordinates outreach and marketing for the entire college.

Edmonds previously served as Dean of Workforce and Economic Development at Halifax Community College. Prior to his role as Dean, he served as the Small Business Center Director at Halifax Community College, from 2014 until 2017.

Edmonds worked for International Business Machines (IBM) and Johnson and Johnson in the private sector before entering the higher education field, earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree, with an emphasis on Marketing, from Marshall University in 1985 and his Master of Science degree in Human Services Management from Springfield College in 2001.

Thornton Library Welcomes New Adult Services Librarian

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 -Press Release, Granville County Government

The Granville County Library System welcomes Melanie Baldwin to the Richard H. Thornton branch in Oxford.

As Adult Services Librarian, Baldwin will be responsible for developing, promoting, presenting and evaluating programs and displays for adult patrons, as well as assisting in the development of the materials for the collection of books/resources and other duties.

Baldwin began work in her new role on April 1.

The Granville County Library System welcomes Melanie Baldwin to the Richard H. Thornton branch in Oxford. Baldwin began work in her new role on April 1, 2020. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt)

A native of Vance County, Baldwin lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan for seven years before returning to the area. She is a graduate of the North Carolina School of Science and Math and attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and North Carolina State University, where she earned her undergraduate degree. While working at the college library at UNC Wilmington, she decided to pursue a career as a librarian, later earning her Masters degree in Library Science from North Carolina Central University.

“I wish I had been able to meet our patrons in person,” Baldwin said, “but, unfortunately, we are all doing our best to slow the spread of COVID-19. I hope everyone is taking care at this time, and I hope to be able to bring some library services to you over the internet.”

A fan of young adult fiction and fantasy books, Baldwin is married and resides in Henderson. She can be reached online through “Ask a Librarian” on the Granville County Library System website (https://granville.lib.nc.us) and at melanie.baldwin@granvillecounty.org. A new “chat” option is also available at https://granville.lib.nc.us/chat/.

While the four branches of the Granville County Library System continue to be closed to the public, Baldwin offers a reminder that curbside pickup service has again been made available from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Thornton Library in Oxford and at the South Branch library in Creedmoor.

Those wishing to reserve materials can simply call in or message either library branch with a list of requested materials, park at a curbside library space and give the library a call. Your materials will be placed on an outside table to be conveniently retrieved. (Limit five books, five DVDs and five audiobooks.) Contact the Thornton Library at 919-693-1121 and the South Branch at 919-528-1752 to make your materials requests.

NCDHHS

Food & Nutrition Services Participants Now Authorized for Online Grocery Purchases

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-Press Release, NCDHHS

As of May 6, 2020, North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) participants will be able to purchase groceries online using their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards at authorized online EBT retailers. North Carolina is the 10th state to implement this flexibility, which will remain permanently in place beyond the COVID-19 emergency.

The new flexibility will allow participants to buy food while also promoting social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and helping families with transportation and mobility barriers.

“People need to feed their families while also practicing social distancing,” said NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. “This will allow families to order groceries at home and lower their risk of getting sick.”

Currently, Amazon and Walmart are the only authorized retailers approved for online FNS purchases nationally. The U.S. Department of Agriculture must approve other retailers who wish to participate in the FNS online purchasing program. NCDHHS encourages other EBT retailers to pursue USDA approval to become authorized online retailers.

All EBT retailers in North Carolina have received information from USDA about how to become approved for online FNS purchases and other retailers are encouraged to seek approval for online purchasing. More information for retailers is available on the USDA website.

More information about North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services can be found at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/low-income-services/food-nutrition-services-food-stamps.

North Carolina individuals and families can apply for FNS at https://epass.nc.gov/CitizenPortal/application.do

Oxford Logo

Oxford Board of Commissioners to Meet Via Zoom Tues., May 12

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-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

The City of Oxford Board of Commissioners will hold their regular monthly meeting online via Zoom on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at 7 p.m.

If you would like to participate in the public hearing/comment section of the meeting, please reach out to City Clerk, Cynthia Bowen, before the meeting. She can be reached by email at cbowen@oxfordnc.org.

Zoom Meeting Instructions:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87289743640pwd=RW1mWldjQVVTWXRVQmJVdVNXS1FRQT09

Meeting ID: 872 8974 3640

Password: 755973

Dial by your location

+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 872 8974 3640

Password: 755973

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyUIASYs9

Agenda items include:

Public Hearing to hear citizen input on annexing and assigning a zoning classification to the property off Hwy 158 at the corner of the l-85 on-ramp. The zoning classification should be a B–2 (highway business) if the property is annexed into the city limit.

Consider accepting the Sufficiency of Petition certified by the City Clerk on a non–contiguous annexation of 2 parcels of land totaling 4.91 acres of land located off of Hwy 158 by Land Seitz. LLC. Consider annexing and assigning the zoning classification.

Consider accepting the Sufficiency of Petition certified by the City Clerk and calling for a Public Hearing for the May 12, 2020, regular board meeting to hear citizen input to annex 2.89 additional acres for Oxford Preparatory School.

Receive Proposed Budget from City Manager Thornton. (A copy will be available on meeting night.)

Consider calling for a Public Hearing for the June 9, 2020, meeting to hear public input on the FY 2020-2021 Budget.

Consider request from Patricia H. Watkins for approving a one-lot subdivision requiring a five–foot variance from section 81.42 of the subdivision ordinance.

Consider adopting a demolition ordinance in order to demolish structure located at 501 Henderson St. owned by Fellow Lewis of 8340 Perrypine Drive Apt. 102 Raleigh, NC 27616.

Consider adopting the 2017 B Water Line Resolution that accepts a loan offer in the amount of $2,855,562 and the associated Capital Proiect Ordinance for the 2017 B Water Line Replacement Project.

Consider authorizing the City Manager to sign a Task Order Amendment for additional engineering services for the 2017 B Water Line Replacement Project with McGill Associates.

Consider adopting the Water and Sewer System Development Fee (SDF).

Please click here for the full meeting agenda.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

GVPH COVID-19 Update: 17 Deaths in District, Three Congregate Living Outbreaks

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

As of May 7, 2020, there are 145 known COVID-19 cases in Granville County, 140 cases in Vance County, and 13,397 confirmed cases in North Carolina.

There are currently three outbreaks at congregate living facilities in the district – one at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC, one at Pelican Health in Henderson, NC, and one at Kerr Lake Nursing Home in Henderson, NC.

Of the total positive cases in each county, 81 in Granville County are associated with the prison, 46 in Vance County are associated with Pelican Health nursing home, and 10 are associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

Of the 64 community-based cases in Granville County, 36 have been released from isolation and 58 of the 81 cases at the prisons have been released from isolation.

Of the 140 cases in Vance, 22 have been released from isolation and 12 are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 17 deaths in the health district – 11 in Vance County and six with the Bureau of Prisons in Granville County.

GVPH updates its website daily with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.

Golden LEAF Receives $125M to Support COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program

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-Press Release, Golden LEAF Foundation

The Golden LEAF Board of Directors took action this week in response to House Bill 1043. The bill includes $125 million to provide grants to entities for the purpose of making loans to assist small businesses affected by the economic impact of COVID-19.

The Board modified the terms of the existing NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program to align with the provisions of the bill. Loans made from the program to small businesses will include a limit on the number of employees per business, a minimum interest rate for the first six months of the loan term, and an increased time for repayment.

The NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program was launched on March 24 with an initial allocation of $15 million provided by Golden LEAF. Applications were quickly submitted well in excess of the available funding. Golden LEAF worked with the Office of Governor Roy Cooper and leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly to appropriate the additional funds to support this program and address identified demand. With this additional funding in place, applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Golden LEAF Board Chair Bo Biggs said, “The Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors thanks the Governor and General Assembly for their leadership. We are honored that Golden LEAF can serve as a trusted conduit for much-needed resources to assist small businesses during this crisis.”

“The significant volume of applications in the pipeline is indicative of the severity of the statewide economic impact COVID-19 has had on North Carolina’s small businesses,” said Golden LEAF Foundation President Scott T. Hamilton. “Today’s action will enable the program to continue to provide much-needed support to the State’s small businesses, especially those most at risk for permanent closure.”

“Today, North Carolina’s small business owners are facing an unprecedented economic challenge–and it will take a sustained statewide effort to support them through this crisis,” said NC Rural Center President Patrick Woodie, whose organization manages the program in partnership with Golden LEAF. “The NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery program would not have been possible without the quick response and ‘can-do’ attitude of our partners, Golden LEAF’s ongoing support, and the confidence of the North Carolina General Assembly.”

The NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program offers low-interest loans of up to $50,000 with no payments for six months to businesses affected by COVID-19. If not repaid in six months, the loan will automatically convert to a term loan.

The Rural Center acts as a program administrator, managing the flow of loan applications to lending partners for underwriting and servicing. Lending partners include Business Expansion Funding Corporation (BEFCOR), Carolina Small Business Development Fund, Mountain BizWorks, Natural Capital Investment Fund, Piedmont Business Capital, Sequoyah Fund, and Thread Capital.

Small-business owners affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19) can learn more about the NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program and apply for a loan at https://ncrapidrecovery.org/ or to speak with someone about this program or other resources available to small businesses, contact Business Link North Carolina (BLNC) at 800.228.8443.