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SBA Grants Governor’s Disaster Declaration Request for NC Small Businesses

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

The U.S. Small Business Administration granted Governor Roy Cooper’s request for a disaster declaration for small businesses that are suffering economic losses due to the new Coronavirus, COVID-19.

“Many small businesses are desperate right now and this SBA approval will help,” said Governor Cooper. “Even more is needed and we will continue to push for additional assistance while we work to protect the health of North Carolinians.”

At the Governor’s request, the SBA granted a disaster declaration to small businesses across the state, allowing affected businesses to apply for low-interest SBA disaster loans.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov.

Businesses and individuals may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or 1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, or by emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Loan application forms can also be downloaded at disasterloan.sba.gov.

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H-V Chamber Provides Local Financial Resources, Tips for Weathering Closures

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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce

The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce is working together in partnership with Vance-Granville Community College, the Vance County Economic Development office, the Kerr Tar Council of Governments, the Henderson Downtown Development office, and others to equip our local business leaders with information and knowledge to weather the days ahead as we deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

Ideas to keep your business strong through Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis:

  • Communicate with your customers – Call, email, and use social media posts to let them know your status and how you are doing business during this time. Ask them to share this with others. Also, email your post, link, or graphic with post copy to the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce at michele@hendersonvance.org.
  • Consider ideas such as call-ahead (or online order, or via email) pickup services, delivery, take out, gift cards, encourage customers to reschedule instead of cancel, pre-payment of future services (deposit, subscription, membership), online orders, virtual services (consulting, training, problem-solving), etc.
  • Brainstorm and collaborate with fellow small business owners to help each other with ideas and to increase each other’s visibility.
  • Focus on purchasing local produce/meats to sustain local farmers and help with social distancing.

For Customers:

  • Buy now to enjoy later. Much like produce, you can also get carry-out meals to enjoy in the comfort of your home, whether you eat it while it’s still hot or freeze it for later.
  • Consider delivery from local stores where available.
  • Buy gift cards. Purchasing a gift card to use at another time helps local businesses by putting cash in their hands to use now.
  • Load up on entertainment on your devices and pull out the old board games to help distract your family and escape for a while.

Articles & Informative Links:

Coronavirus: 8 Things Your Small Business Needs to Do

US Small Business Administration – Guidance/Loan Information

Update: SBA has approved the request for North Carolina’s disaster declaration. Eligible applicants may now apply for economic injury disaster loans (EIDLs) as a result of the ongoing effects of COVID-19. 

If you would like to contact the Small Business Center at Vance-Granville Community College – you can put in your search bar “VGCC Small Business Center” or you can call Sheri Jones, Center Director at 252-738-3240.

SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov (link sends e-mail)

Kerr Tar Council of Governments Loan Programs – Diane Cox at 252-436-2040

VGCC Small Business Center:

Your local Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center is hoping to be back in the classroom soon. In the meantime, please feel free to take advantage of webinars across our state network.

Click to see the schedule of upcoming webinars
Click for Electronic Request for One-on-one counseling via phone or email

WEBINAR Wed 3/25 2-3:30 p.m. Preparing Your Business for the Threat of the Coronavirus

Local Financial Institutions:

BB&T (now Truist Bank) – Gaylen Hackemack – 252-492-2181

Benchmark Community Bank – Curtis Tyndall – 252-436-0051

Carter Bank & Trust Bank – Shannon Lewis – 252-438-6222

Coastal Credit Union – Sandra Braswell – 800-868-4262

First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. – Bob Hubbard – 252-492-4145

Lendmark Financial – Becky Claiborne – 252-492-1166

State Employees Credit Union – Anna Lemert – 252-492-0168

Union Bank – Brad Baldwin – 252-430-0489

Woodforest National Bank – Jonathan Tyson – 252-430-8324

NC Works – Local Vance County agency that will assist you with issues affecting your workforce, lay-offs, hiring, etc. In Henderson, contact Jennifer Jones 252-438-6129 and in Oxford, contact Monica Satterwhite 919-693-2686.

Thread Capital (NC Rural Center) – contact 919-212-4943.  Jonathan Brereton, Executive Director; Email: connect@threadcap.org; Website: https://www.threadcap.org/; Thread Capital was launched in 2018 by the NC Rural Center and continues to be an operating subsidiary of the Center to handle business loans.

Carolina Small Business Development Fund (formerly The Support Center) – (919) 803-1437; Website: https://carolinasmallbusiness.org/; Loan Products: https://carolinasmallbusiness.org/loans/loan-products/

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE –  As an employer, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA is a federal program that provides temporary payments to people in a federally declared disaster area whose employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of the disaster. Business owners that are self-employed, a farmer, or a commercial fisherman, who is unemployed as a direct result of the disaster may be eligible. For more information go to https://des.nc.gov/; Phone: 888-737-0259.

Franklin County Schools

Franklin Co. Schools: New Meal Pickup Location Starts Friday at LMES

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-Press Release, Franklin County Schools

All Franklin County Schools are closed due to the Coronavirus through at least Friday, March 27, 2020. However, we are making every effort to ensure that nutrition services are available and convenient. To fulfill this mission, FCS will add an additional meal pickup location beginning Friday, March 20 at Laurel Mill Elementary School.

Meal packages are currently available Monday through Friday for pickup between 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. FCS’ School Nutrition Department is providing free “to-go” meal packages in a drive-through format for students in need.

The meal packages include breakfast, lunch and a snack.

The meals are available at Bunn High School, Louisburg High School, Franklinton Elementary School and Youngsville Elementary School now, and additionally at Laurel Mill Elementary School beginning Friday.

Thank you and stay well!

Granville County Public Schools

GCPS: Free Meals Continue; WiFi Available in School Parking Lots

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

Today, Granville County Public Schools offered our expanded drive-thru meal services to 29 sites across the county and we are proud to say we provided almost 1,900 meals to our children! If you were not able to participate today, please see the flyer below for a complete list of site locations.

These meals are free for all children aged 2-18. No documentation is needed and children do not need to be present to collect the meals. Again, no questions asked, we just want to make sure no child goes hungry during this crisis.

Next, we want to let the community know that we have opened our WiFi services to all guest users. These free WiFi services may be accessed in any school public parking lot area. At this time, we are not opening our school buildings, but internet service can be accessed from the parking lot areas. Please observe “social distancing” when on school property.  We hope this free internet service will help students who need to access the supplemental academic materials that our hard-working teachers are developing each day.

We will continue to keep everyone informed of our efforts to help our families. Don’t forget to wash those hands!  Thank you!!

VCS: Remote Learning Packet, Laptop Pick Up; Meals Continue Next Week

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-Information courtesy Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools is continuing to work for our students and community to ensure we are meeting their needs. Today we had 2,039 Remote Learning packets picked up throughout our district! Over the course of the last two days, we have handed out 14,796 meals, which is the equivalent of 4 days of food for each child who picked up meals!

As we move forward, we want to send a few reminders:

Meal distribution will continue again next week. We will get that information out through Blackboard calls and social media.

Remote Learning packets may be picked up on Thursday, March 19 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.- 7 p.m. If you already picked up your child’s packet, you do not need to come again. Remote Learning packets are available for all elementary schools (PreK-5th), VCMS (6th-8th) and VCHS (AFM, English 4, Biology).

Questions or concerns? Whether it is about meals, learning packets, or anything else, please contact your child’s school.

5th Grade Laptop Deployment Information by School

Laptop deployment will be at each individual school. Fifth-grade parents should report to their child’s school at the designated time.

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Pinkston Street Elementary
New Hope Elementary
EO Young Elementary
Carver Elementary

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 1 – 4 p.m.

Aycock Elementary
Yancey Elementary
EM Rollins Elementary

Friday, March 20, 2020, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Dabney Elementary
Zeb Vance Elementary
Clarke Elementary

A technician will be onsite (at each school) with the necessary paperwork for completion by parents/students.

To stay up to date with the latest information, go to www.vcs.k12.nc.us.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Public Health Provides COVID-19 Update; No Confirmed Cases in Granville, Vance

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Lisa Harrison, Director of Granville Vance Public Health, told WIZS News at 4:48 p.m. that there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus “at this time.  Still testing regularly in each county.”

She said, “Please remind people to stay at home and give a call if they develop fever and shortness of breath or a really bad cough. Fever has to be present in order for the doctor to take a sample for testing. The social distancing and staying home to keep our health care workers safe is very important. We need to save our ER resources for very sick individuals and not for screening.”

Earlier in the day, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the following Press Release was issued by Granville County Government: 

Granville Vance Public Health (GVPH) reports that – as of March 18 at 10 a.m. – there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Granville or Vance County, and that public health officials are currently active in surveillance, testing, monitoring and providing guidance information to individuals and agencies daily.

In partnership with providers and neighboring health departments, the first phase of the response has consisted of intensive containment strategies.

“If we act now, and work together, we can make a difference in preventing extra stress to our health care system from the number of cases that may grow to be more serious,” said Lisa Harrison, Director of Granville Vance Public Health. “There is a lot we still don’t know about this virus, but what we do know clearly is that age and underlying health status make a big difference.”

GVPH has released guidance and information to help focus on those most at risk to develop a more serious strain of COVID-19 and be more likely to have complications. Many of the recommendations are focused on protecting people at higher risk of severe illness, which includes adults over 65 years of age, people with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, or people with weakened immune systems.

“This time of year it is easy to confuse the symptoms of coronavirus with the common cold, with allergies, or the flu – all of which are prevalent,” Harrison explains. “The symptoms of Coronavirus are fever, cough, or shortness of breath.”

A global dashboard in real-time is available on the Granville Vance Public Health web site,  https://gvph.org/COVID-19/?fbclid=IwAR0OG3rWzcK4EjI4k4-nM-wKmrGy3XjGZjzLILQluBPgvEiIbu14c4h4xlg.

According to Harrison, Coronavirus can be serious, but getting Coronavirus isn’t severe for everyone. “We do not yet understand why, but often children tend to fare well and get a really light version of the virus and get better relatively quickly from what we know so far,” she says.

Harrison adds that it is important to get information about this pandemic from trusted fact-based sources like the CDC, the World Health Organization, the NC Division of Public Health, and your local health department, Granville Vance Public Health.

Harrison advises that if you or a family member has fever AND cough – or difficulty breathing – to call your healthcare provider or an urgent care if you do not have a healthcare provider. If you have fever, cough, and shortness of breath, do NOT show up at your healthcare provider’s office or the urgent care without calling first so they can prepare for your visit.

Do NOT go to the emergency room unless you are in severe distress. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve the most critically ill. If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 and tell them your symptoms.

“Although we have and are monitoring closely confirmed cases in our state, North Carolina has no indication at this point of widespread community spread of Coronavirus,” Harrison says. “It is so important that we stay home and practice social distancing. If we reduce our chances of getting this virus, we reduce our chances of spreading it to others. Please stay home and if you feel you are getting sick with fever and cough, or shortness of breath, remember to call your provider before coming in.”

You may also call the statewide Coronavirus Helpline at 1-866-462-3821, which is answered 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. People at higher risk include those age 65 and older, those with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, and those who have weakened immune systems.

Residents are asked to turn to accurate sources of information from the CDC (www.cdc.gov) and State Division of Public Health (https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina) as well as your own local public health officials.

Granville Vance Public Health will provide the most up-to-date and accurate information for COVID-19 in their district online at https://gvph.org/.

Vance County Cancer Survivor Dinner Canceled; Relay for Life to be Rescheduled

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-Information courtesy Hope Breedlove, Relay for Life Survivor Committee

The Vance County Cancer Survivor Dinner scheduled to take place Friday, April 17, 2020, at South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church has been CANCELED for this year.

We know cancer patients are among those at high risk of serious illness from infection because their immune systems are sometimes weakened by cancer treatments.  We want to be as careful as we can on behalf of our patients, our volunteers, and the community at large during these uncertain times.

We are taking the coronavirus (COVID-19) very seriously and your health and safety are important to us. Due to the uncertainty of this situation, the duration of required restrictions and other associated mandates with COVID-19, we are unable to reschedule the event for this year.

We ask that you still register for the Relay for Life of Vance County event, which will be rescheduled for later this fall.  Your registration will enable us to order you a shirt that you will be able to pick up at the RFL event this fall.

Survivors, caregivers and walkers are welcome to register for Relay For Life online at www.RelayForLife.org/VanceNC or by calling 1-800-227-2345 (choose option #2 from the menu).

Thank you for your understanding. Please reach out to Hope Breedlove at (252) 436-1605 with any questions or concerns.

Henderson Men's Shelter

Henderson Men’s Shelter ‘Running Smoothly’ As Season Comes to a Close

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WIZS checked in with Jane King, volunteer coordinator for the Henderson Men’s Shelter, to see how shelter staff and the men they serve are faring in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

King reported that the shelter is running smoothly as it nears the closing of its season at the end of March. “Basically, all of our volunteers have asked to be excused, but our paid staff are committed to keeping the shelter open and are making a concerted effort to have the men practice good hygiene and social distancing as much as possible,” King said. “Our meal volunteers have continued to bring food and all seems to be well.”

At this time, King said the shelter is down to four men who are working on having a place to go when the shelter closes later this month. “We also have five men living in Hope House (year-round transitional home) and they are also being advised of safe practices,” explained King.

According to King, continued prayers and monetary donations to help meet payroll and prepare for next year are great ways for the community to support the shelter at this time.

Donations

All contributions are tax-deductible. Checks may be sent to:

Community Partners of Hope, Inc, P.O. Box 1791, Henderson, NC 27536

With questions, please contact Jane King at (252) 432-9494.

Emily Osborne, Oxford Prep Senior, Receives NC Teaching Fellows Award

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-Press Release, Oxford Preparatory School

Emily Osborne, a senior at Oxford Preparatory School, has received the North Carolina Teaching Fellows award to attend Meredith College.

Emily Osborne, a senior at Oxford Preparatory School, has received the North Carolina Teaching Fellows award to attend Meredith College. (Photo courtesy OPS)

Emily, the daughter of Kevin and Christy Osborne of Henderson, NC, will enter Meredith in the fall of 2021 where she intends to pursue a teaching degree with a focus on Exceptional Children. During her time at Oxford Prep, Emily has been named to the Directors’ list each semester, earned Beta Club recognition, and has been a key member of Interact.

As a North Carolina Teaching Fellow, Emily will receive up to $8,250 per year in a forgivable loan if she commits to teach in a STEM or a special education area. The program is specifically designed to attract high-quality teachers to low-performing schools by offering an accelerated loan forgiveness schedule for Teaching Fellows who agree to teach in a low-performing school in North Carolina.

To be eligible for a teaching fellows award, each high school student must first meet a strict level of high academic performance including:

  • a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 and have scored at least a 24 on the ACT or a 1,170 on the SAT if the student has fewer than 24 college credit hours or,
  • a minimum of a 2.7 cumulative GPA if they have more than 24 college credit hours.

In addition to the stringent GPA and standardized test score requirements, applicants were also evaluated on leadership and experience, a written essay and mission statement, and for those moved forward as a semi-finalist, an in-person interview.

Only those chosen for the final interviews held in late February were eligible to be chosen to receive a teaching fellows scholarship.

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Oxford Public Works Committee to Meet Thurs., March 19

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

The Public Works Committee for the Oxford Board of Commissioners will meet on Thursday, March 19, 2020, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held in the First Floor Training Room, City Hall, 300 Williamsboro Street in Oxford.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the System Development Fee study by Raftelis, the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan by McGill, Engineering Fees, and general updates.

All those interested are invited to attend.