Designing Alabama's Future

Alabama governor awards federal stimulus money

2009-07-02T14:47:40Z

Governor Bob Riley has awarded $9.26 million, including $4.86 million in federal stimulus funding, to help Alabama's low-income residents cut their utility bills by making their homes more energy efficient. The Alabama Weatherization Assistance Program gives priority consideration to the elderly, those with disabilities and to low-income residents with children. Houses that qualify are modified to improve both energy efficiency and safety.

"Each month many Alabama families with limited incomes are forced to spend more than they should for utilities because their homes aren't properly sealed and insulated," Governor Riley said. "By making houses more energy efficient, this program saves energy, reduces pollution and leaves residents with more money for other essentials."

To identify the most cost-effective measures for each home, an energy audit is performed. Depending on the results, a home weatherization project may include extra insulation for the attic, walls and floor, sealing leaks in ductwork, repairs and tune-ups for heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems, and replacement of incandescent lights with highly efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Families with gross income of 200 percent of the federal poverty level or less are eligible to apply. That means a family of four can have no more than $44,100 a year annually in gross income. The qualifying cap for a family of two is an annual income of no more than $29,140. Alabama's weatherization program is getting a boost this year from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which is supplementing $4.16 million allocated to the state by the U. S. Department of Energy. The Energy division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the state program. The office expects additional stimulus funds to be allocated at a later date.

To carry out the weatherization program, Riley awarded grants to 15 community action or other sponsoring agencies across the state. These agencies administer the program at the local level and receive applications from individuals who wish to be considered for assistance.
Below is a list of grants awarded, the counties served by each recipient agency and contact information for applicants:

$484,976 to Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Inc. (Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale) 256-766-4330.
$550,628 to Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison and Limestone Counties (Madison and Limestone) 256-851-9800.
$637,338 to Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Inc. (Cullman, Lawrence, Marion, Morgan, Walker and Winston) 256-355-7843.
$556,980 to Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama Inc. (Blount, Cherokee, DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall and St. Clair) 256-638-4430.
$291,066 to Etowah County Community Services Program Inc. (Etowah) 256-546-9271.
$533,864 to Community Action Agency of Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Calhoun and Cleburne Counties. (Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph and Talladega) 256-362-8147.
$1.09 million to Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity (Jefferson) 205- 458-2626.
$252,606 to Community Action Committee Inc. of Chambers-Tallapoosa-Coosa. (Chambers, Coosa and Tallapoosa) 256-825-4287.
$692,840 to Community Services Program of West Alabama (Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa) 205-752-5429.
$586,860 to Elmore-Autauga Community Action Committee (Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Elmore, Perry and Shelby) 334-567-7298.
$458,988 to Montgomery County Commission (Montgomery) 334-262-4300.
$532,984 to Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission (Lee, Macon and Russell) 334-262-4300.
$884,478 to Organized Community Action Program Inc. (Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes and Pike) 334-566-1712.
$671,900 to Community Action Agency of Baldwin, Escambia, Clarke, Monroe and Conecuh Counties Inc. (Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Marengo, Monroe and Wilcox). 251-626-2649.
$1.03 million to Mobile Community Action Inc. (Mobile, Choctaw and Washington). 251- 457-5700

CLG Training August 28. National Register Process

2009-06-25T15:02:17Z

The Year of CLG Training continues with another great opportunity in Huntsville on August 27-28! Lisa Deline, the National Register nomination reviewer with the National Park Service will provide a one day workshop on the National Register process and requirements on August 27. This workshop will be useful to consultants, CLG staff and commission members wanting to take a more active role in nominating properties and providing oversight to consultants and other nomination preparers. The August 28 program will provide more general training for historic preservation commission members and staff. Agenda items are in
development but will include:

Roles and responsibilities of preservation commissions
National Register program requirements with a focus on properties eligible for their historic associations
Protecting historic resources.

We will send out details on registration and the agenda soon. Please share the date with your commission members and others with an interest in the program.

Thank you,
Mary Shell, Alabama Historical Commission
334-230-2691

FEMA Declares Assistance for Flooding in Six Alabama Counties

2009-06-25T12:03:20Z

From the Faith-Based and Community Loop:

Individual Assistance Declared for Flooding in the Following Counties

Autauga
Covington
Elmore
Geneva
Houston
Montgomery

This Special Edition Loop is to inform churches and community organizations that individual assistance has been declared through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for victims of the recent flooding. As trusted messengers please let individuals affected by the flooding within your churches and communities know that assistance is available. Contact names and numbers are provided below for each county that individual assistance has been declared. If your church or organization can assist individuals affected by the flooding with their FEMA forms, clean up, rebuilding, or in other ways, please contact the number below for your area.

Please note that individuals affected by the flooding from all declared counties can contact the FEMA assistance team directly at 1-800-621-3362.

Please do not send donated goods or volunteers to assist before coordinating with the local points of contact listed below. Thank you for your kind consideration.

Autauga County
Point of Contact: Dr. Bill Morgan
Phone Number: 334-365-7802
Point of Contact: Gilbert Jennings
Phone Number: 205-419-0580
FEMA Disaster Assistance Field Office: Mobile Unit
1309 Upper Kingston Road
Prattville, AL 36067

Covington County
Point of Contact: Kristi Stamnes
Phone Number: 334-427-4911

Elmore County
Point of Contact: Kim Trost
Phone Number: 334-567-6451
FEMA Disaster Assistance Field Office: Millbrook Civic Center
3168 Park Circle
Millbrook, AL

Geneva County
Point of Contact: Margaret Mixon
Phone Number: 334-684-5677

Houston County
Point of Contact: Clark Matthews
Phone Number: 334-794-9720

Montgomery County
Point of Contact: Jim Barrett
Phone Number: 334-241-2339
FEMA Disaster Assistance Field Office: Capitol Heights Community Center
206 Federal Drive Montgomery, AL

Alabama Front Porches

2009-06-24T13:38:00Z

Capturing on film the legendary folks in your community is something you'll never regret. They can tell the story of Your Town better than anyone else.

Department of the Treasury: Tax Counseling for the Elderly

2009-06-23T21:50:56Z

      This program provides training and technical assistance to volunteers who provide free tax counseling and assistance to elderly individuals in the preparation of their federal income tax returns. IRS is authorized to enter into agreements with private or non-governmental public non-profit agencies or organizations, exempt under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code, that will provide training and technical assistance to volunteers who provide free tax counseling and assistance to elderly individuals in the preparation of their Federal income tax returns. Grant funds are used to reimburse volunteers for out-of-pocket expenses including transportation, meals, and other expenses incurred by them in providing tax counseling assistance at locations convenient to the taxpayers.
            Eligible Applicants: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education. Deadline: August 3, 2009.
            http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47613

Health Care Programs in Company Communities Supported

2009-06-23T21:49:17Z

The WellPoint Foundation strives to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in the communities that WellPoint serves in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The Foundation focuses a high percentage of annual giving on its Healthy Generations Signature Program. The remaining percentage of the Foundation's grants fall into the Foundation's secondary Focused Giving areas: access to health care, health care disparities, health education, specific diseases, and non-healthcare-related quality of life. The Foundation also offers health care research and health policy grant opportunities. Applications in all categories are reviewed quarterly; the next deadline is August 19, 2009. To submit an online application, visit the company's website listed below.
http://www.wellpointfoundation.org/

Strengthening Communities Fund - Nonprofit Capacity Building Program

2009-06-22T13:15:29Z

This funding opportunity is being made available under Section 1110 of the Social
Security Act, and Title VIII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of
2009, P.L. 111-5
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_billsdocid=f:h1enr.pdf. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS), announces that applications will be accepted for new cooperative agreements to experienced
organizations to provide nonprofit organizations serving as project partners, with capacity building training, technical assistance, and competitive financial assistance. The focus of this program is to build the capacity of funded projects' nonprofit partners in order to address the broad economic recovery issues present in their communities, including helping low-income individuals secure and retain employment, earn higher wages, obtain better-quality jobs, and gain greater access to state and Federal benefits and tax credits. Lead organizations will assist nonprofit organizations working in distressed communities with capacity building activities that support economic recovery.

Specifically, lead organizations will assist grassroots organizations working in distressed communities with capacity building activities in five critical areas: 1) organizational development, 2) program development, 3) collaboration and community engagement, 4) leadership development, and 5) evaluation of effectiveness. Capacity building activities are designed to increase an organization's sustainability and effectiveness, enhance its ability to provide social services, and create collaborations to better serve those in need. Successful applicants will be subject to reporting requirements consistent with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 Standard Terms and Conditions. In addition, successful applicants will use a quarterly performance progress report (SF- PPR) format specific to Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) awards.

Applications Due: Jul 07, 2009. See link to full announcement for details. IMPORTANT NOTE: Applications submitted electronically via Grants.gov must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the due date referenced above.

FY 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Fire Station Construction Grant Program

2009-06-22T12:01:40Z

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently made available for public viewing the Program Guidance for the Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grants. The application period for the Station Construction Grants (SCG) is scheduled to begin on June 11, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Applications for these grants must be received by July 10, at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).

SCG was established as part of the Administration's economic stimulus package under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). SCG will provide financial assistance directly to fire departments on a competitive basis to build new or modify existing fire stations in order for departments to enhance their response capability and protect the community they serve from fire and fire-related hazards. The grants will be administered by the DHS/Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate in coordination with the U.S. Fire Administration by the AFG Program Office.

The e-application and an applicant tutorial are available through the www.firegrantsupport.com website. The tutorial provides you with valuable grant information and walks you through the preparation and submittal of competitive applications. In addition, the applicant tutorial provides an overview of the funding priorities and evaluation criteria.During the application period, the help desk will operate Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays (Eastern Time). However, the helpdesk will close at 4:30 p.m., on Friday, July 3rd and will not be open on Saturday, July 4th. Applicants who have questions regarding the Fire Station Construction Grants opportunity should contact the help desk at 1-866-274-0960 or at firegrants@dhs.gov.

The AFG Program is administered by the DHS/FEMA Grants Program Directorate in coordination with the U.S. Fire Administration.

Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grants Program Guidance - visit
http://www.firegrantsupport.com/docs/2009SCGguidance.pdf

Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grants FAQs - will be available through
the www.firegrantsupport.com website.

Vacation in Sweet Home Alabama

2009-06-22T11:55:21Z

From the editorial "For a vacation, it is sweet home Alabama" by Rep. Alan Harper in The Northport Gazette. For the complete editorial see http://www.northportgazette.com/articles/2009/06/17/opinion/editorials/doc4a394c9b181b1958779489.txt

Summer is certainly here, along with its constant heat and humidity. The weather has many of us thinking about vacation, yet with the economy as it is and gas prices starting their annual summer increase, we are thinking less about going great distances and instead looking for spots much closer to home. Everyone already knows that Alabama is blessed with lakes and beaches, the two things that can help beat the heat. There are great state parks across the state right on the water that make for great affordable family vacations, as well as parks in the mountains and forests that offer terrific getaways. Another great Alabama vacation theme is to take a trip into our state's history.

The Alabama Tourism Department has labeled 2009 the "Year of Alabama History," and has done a terrific job listing and promoting the hundreds of historical events and places in our history-rich state. The department's Alabama history tourism website says it best. "Etched in the cornerstone of our American heritage, you will discover Native American, Civil War and Civil Rights history, as well as a proud heritage in music, sports and aviation in Alabama. In fact, everywhere you travel along our Southern soil - from the state's birthplace in Huntsville to Birmingham, our largest city, to historic Montgomery and on down to the coastal plains, you will see history reflected in pine-rimmed rivers, flowing from lofty mountaintops, captured in old homes, and echoing from the shadows of mammoth caves."
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Not only will you save money by traveling within the state, but by taking an instate vacation you'll be supporting our local economy and even our schools. Every dollar spent on tourism in Alabama helps creates jobs in the state and generates tax revenue. Last year alone, more than 22 million people vacationed in Alabama and spent nearly $9.6 billion. Those visitors also paid $702 million in state and local lodging and sales taxes, according to state officials. State sales taxes are earmarked for the Education Trust Fund, and go to support Alabama's classrooms. The Alabama tourism industry has been growing. Over the 10 year period from 1998 to 2008, travel spending in Alabama has increased a whopping 77 percent. The increase is a testament to a concerted effort by thousands of communities to grow the industry, from major developments like the Retirement Systems of Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, to local events like the dozens of music festivals across the state. Vacation is a time to get away from home. But this summer, Sweet Home Alabama is our best bet for a terrific vacation.

2008 State, City Visitation and Traveler Characteristics Data Released

2009-06-22T11:53:01Z

The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced the top states, cities, and territories that are benefiting from overseas travel to the United States. In 2008, the United States experienced a 6 percent growth rate in overseas arrivals, and rate increases in the double-digits occurred in seven of the 21 states and territories where estimates are available.

Read the full press release at the ITA Office of Travel and Tourism Industries website.

The Future of National Surface Transportation Policy Hearing Available Online

2009-06-22T11:51:37Z

On April 28, 2009, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation conducted a Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing on The Future of National Surface Transportation Policy. Majority statements were delivered by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV), and Minority statements were delivered by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). Panelists included The Honorable Ray LaHood, Secretary of the Department of Transportation, as well as Anne P. Canby, President, Surface Transportation Policy Partnership, James Corless, Campaign Director, Transportation for America, Steve Heminger, Executive Director, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and Ned S. Holmes, Texas Transportation Commissioner and Chairman, Transportation Transformation Group.

To view the archived webcast of the hearing or to read the transcripts, visit the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation website.

Dothan dedicates "Wiregrass Music" mural

2009-06-19T14:44:59Z

The 20th mural entitled "Wiregrass Music" was dedicated on Wednesday, June 10th in the historic section of Downtown Dothan. The mural features people in the Wiregrass area that have excelled in the music industry. Included on the mural are: Ray Charles (born in Albany, GA), Dean Daughtry (keyboards for The Candymen, Classics IV & Atlanta Rhythm Section), Buddy Buie (songwriter & producer), John Rainey Adkins (The Webs, The Candymen, Beaverteeth), David Adkins (Beaverteeth), Wilbur Walton, Jr. (The James Gang), Mickey Thomas (Elvin Bishop Group, Jefferson Starship/Starship), Martha Reeves (of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - born in Eufaula), Bobby Goldsboro (singer/songwriter). This will be the first of three murals dedicated to Wiregrass Music.

On hand for the ceremony were honorees Dean Daughtry, Buddy Buie, David Adkins, Wilbur Walton, Jr., and Bobby Goldsboro. Other special guests included Marilyn Stamps of the Alabama Tourism Department, David Johnson of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, songwriter/producer Chips Moman and numerous other celebrities in the music industry that came to honor those on the mural. Dothan CVB Executive Director Bob Hendrix, who also serves on the Wiregrass Festival of Murals committee, said, "The murals in Downtown Dothan have become one of our major attractions that bring tourists and tour groups to our area on a regular basis."

For more information on Dothan tourism see www.dothanalcvb.com.

"When the Old Meets the New: Mixing Preservation with Progress"

2009-06-18T20:37:05Z

Historic Preservation Training Seminar
July 23,2009
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Historic Barna Theatre
600 Greensboro Avenue
This workshop provides annual training for local historic preservation commission members and staff to meet Certified Local Government (CLG) requirements. Communities interested in establishing a local historic preservation planning program in accordance with CLG requirements are also encouraged to attend.
Registration: 8:00 - 8:45
Program: 9:00 - 4:00
The featured speaker is David Schneider, Executive Director of the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation. Ethics training for Preservation Commissioners will be provided by City of Tuscaloosa Office of the City Attorney. After lunch at one of Downtown Tuscaloosa's fine dining establishments, there will be a tour of Tuscaloosa's Downtown Urban Renewal Project.
The tour will also include a visit to the Historic Queen City Bathhouse, which is currently being converted to a museum. For more information, please contact Brendan Moore at bmoore@tuscaloosa.com or Sherry King at sking@tuscaloosa.com.

Greenway Money

2009-06-18T19:54:58Z

Are you working to create or improve a greenway, trail or waterway? Apply for a Kodak American Greenways Award grant and your organization could receive up to $2,500 in grant funds.

The Eastman Kodak Company, The Conservation Fund and the National Geographic Society team up each year to present the Kodak American Greenways Awards Program. One major aspect of the Program provides grant funding to organizations that enhance our nation's outdoor heritage by creating and restoring greenways, blueways, trails and open space systems.

This year's application deadline has been extended to July 15th. Most grants range from $500 to $1,000. The maximum grant is $2,500.

For more information, access to the grant guidelines and application, please see: http://www.conservationfund.org/kodak_awards

How to Sell on Ebay: Rural Heritage Foundation Workshop

2009-06-18T15:01:58Z

If you are interested in learning how to sell on EBAY, then this FREE workshop for you! Whether you are a business looking to sell excess inventory, or an individual hoping to make extra cash from items around the house, join us at the Alabama Rural Heritage Center in Thomaston, Alabama to learn everything you need to know about how to make money on EBAY.

Please RSVP to Glen Haab at ghaab@ascc.edu or 334.637.3218 by June 26, 2009.

SEATING IS LIMITED.
6/30/2009 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.