Village Renaissance Projects Come to the Upstate

The ACOG helped the Cities of Gaffney and Pickens secure "Village Renaissance" CDBG planning grants from the S.C. Department of Commerce.  The grants will help each city develop a strategic revitalization plan for neighborhoods directly adjacent to their downtowns.  Gaffney's grant will examine the "Big Mill" neighborhood, while Pickens' grant will focus on revitalizing the neighborhood on the US 178 corridor leading into downtown. While each area possesses a great sense of history and character, they are in need of revitalization due to economic decline and aging infrastructure and public facilities.  The ACOG is assisting the cities in developing "citizen driven" plans that address neighborhood safety, infrastructure, housing, appearance, and neighborhood involvement. "Open House" events have been held in each city to solicit citizen feedback, and Neighborhood Advisory Committees will lead each effort. 

The planning process will result in a revitalization plan for each city's focus area, along with a prepared application for subsequent CDBG funding cycles to implement some of the Plans' identified strategies.  The first of these "implementation" grant rounds will begin in 2012 and last for 24 months. A second implementation project will be available for application at the completion of the first CDBG project.  The end result of these Village Renaissance initiatives for Gaffney and Pickens will be a 3-phase grant process which will provide a plan for revitalizing parts of their communities and an opportunity to secure up to $1 million for implementation projects in each community.  The next application deadline for Village Renaissance CDBG planning grants is August 19.  If your community is interested in exploring potential eligibility and competitiveness, please contact David Shellhorse, ACOG economic development planner, at (864) 241-4649 or at dshellhorse@scacog.org.

Cherokee County Administrative Complex Layout

In 2004, a national survey conducted by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving indicated that nearly 23 million households are currently home to a caregiver, most often a woman who is taking care of someone age 50 or older.  Some 43 percent of these caregivers are over age 50 themselves, and 13 percent are over age 65. For many, the thought of reaching out for help either never occurs or is repressed.  The possibility of joining a caregiver support group seems impossible.

Here are some points to remember if you, or someone you know, is in a similar situation:

1. Compromise - Work hard to avoid family fights and resentments if you are a sibling or a relative of the primary caregiver.

2. Coordinate - Offer your services if you are skilled with insurance forms, Medicare, or legal documents. 

3. Encourage - Help the caregiver find some type of professional support.

4. Facilitate - Ask somebody who can be objective - a cleric, social worker, etc. - to act as a negotiator in stressful situations.

5. Investigate - Find books, visit websites, or contact organizations that can help caregivers learn about the illness of the person for which they're caring.

6. Organize - Work with the caregiver to make a list of people who can be called upon for different duties.

7. Discuss - Ask the caregiver to tell his or her story, or keep a journal. 

8. Plan - Think about the services that you can offer, and be specific with the caregiver. 

9. Socialize - Create events for the caregiver and, if possible, the person for whom he or she is caring. 

Information found in AARP Magazine, Caring for the Caregiver by Sheree Crute. 

Williamston 2010 Retreat

Local governments are currently undergoing the traditional process of goal setting and budget preparation experienced every year.  The Government Services Division has facilitated retreats for the Cities of Belton, Mauldin and Easley.  Each retreat has been different, with some focusing on goals and objectives, and others focusing on finances or general information.  All have been very productive and concluded with each municipality having a better vision for its future.

Two other retreats have been scheduled for future dates.  The Government Services staff looks forward to assisting the Towns of Williamston and Reidville as they establish goals and develop budgets for the upcoming year. 

The Government Services Division of the Appalachian Council of Governments is available to assist any local government that may need or want our help.  Please contact Doug Burns at (864) 241-4642 or by e-mail at dburns@scacog.org to schedule your next meeting.

 How can we begin to recognize those who give selflessly to others?
 

 April is "National Volunteer Month", and it provides an opportunity to recognize and appreciate those who give of their time as volunteers. Latest research shows that there are over 923,000 people who volunteer in South Carolina.  These volunteers contribute 118.5 million hours of service per year. The Appalachian Council of Governments holds an annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon to thank those who help the organization through the volunteer opportunities with the Aging and Disability Resource Center.  These volunteers serve the seniors and disabled in Upstate communities in many different ways.

Through the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, volunteers can serve as advocates for seniors in long term care facilities as part of the Friendly Visitor program.  Volunteers are trained to go to area nursing homes and assisted living facilities to be a presence for the residents.  Most of all, the volunteers are there to be a voice for residents who may have no friends or family to visit them.

In the Insurance Counseling Assistance and Referrals for Elders Program (I-CARE), volunteers assist individuals with issues and questions related to Medicare, Medicare supplements, the Medicare prescription drug program and other senior health care insurance.

The Assisted Rides Program (ARP) uses volunteers in Spartanburg County to transport seniors and adults with disabilities to medical appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, and human service agencies at no charge. 

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program provides an opportunity for volunteers to make an impact against Medicare fraud.  Volunteers provide outreach and education on Medicare fraud at senior centers. 

If you're interested in any of the ACOG's volunteer opportunities, please call (864) 242-9733 to get involved.  Join the other volunteers in South Carolina to help make this a better place for our state's senior population!

Appalachian Development Corporation Announces New Staff 

Need GIS Training?

ArcGIS 10 ESRI training classes are scheduled for May. All classes will be taught by our CompTIA CTT+ and ESRI-Certified trainer, Amy Wright Webber.  These classes are not only offered at a great price, but are also limited to a smaller class size for more individual attention. 

ArcGIS Desktop II: Tools and Functionality is scheduled for May 4 - 6, at the ACOG offices in Greenville.  The cost per student is $695.00. (This is 50% less than the cost charged for the same course offered at ESRI offices in Charlotte!)

ArcGIS Desktop III: GIS Workflows and Analysis is scheduled for May 19-20, at the ACOG offices in Greenville.  The cost per student will be $495 (This is also 50% less than the cost charged for the same course offered at ESRI offices in Charlotte!)

Please contact Amy at webber@scacog.org for more information regarding training availability and course content. 

The ACOG Information Services Department is pleased to announce the release of the 2010 - 2011 County Profiles, available for Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg Counties. These publications provide a comprehensive overview of the demographic, economic, and quality of life characteristics of each county in the region.

Filled with updated information presented through numerous tables, graphs, charts and maps, these reports also include a Quality of Life section featuring a Points of Interest summary. This summary provides descriptions and photographs of features such as state parks, art museums, historic sites and others.  

These reports and other publications are available in two delivery formats via online purchase from our web site, www.scacog.org (click on Publications). Upon making a secure payment of only $20 through Pay Pal, visitors may download a printable PDF file, suitable for immediate on-screen viewing and in-house printing for internal use. For only $35, they may have a printed copy mailed to them, while still gaining immediate access to the PDF format version. Pre-printed reports may still be purchased from the ACOG by phone, mail, or walk-in.

Stephanie Collins

Each year, the State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) honors outstanding volunteers, participants, local boards, and training providers.  This year's awards luncheon was held on February 1^st in Myrtle Beach as part of the 2011 South Carolina Workforce Development Partnership Symposium.  Two WorkLink representatives were recognized during this event.

Stephanie Collins, chair of the WorkLink Workforce Investment Board and human resources manager at AnMed Health, was presented the W. Perry Gaines Outstanding Private Sector Volunteer Award. This award is given annually to only one volunteer in the state.

Tri-Tech USA was presented the Palmetto Workforce Partnership Award for a small business with 50 or fewer employees. The Liberty-based company has hired 31 of their current 41 employees in the past year, earning them the statewide award for 2010. The award recognizes Tri-Tech's efforts to create jobs, promote innovative workforce partnerships, support human growth and development in the workplace and community, increase the quality of the work environment, and impact the community's quality of life. 

WorkLink Workforce Investment Board has been awarded a portion of a statewide On-the-Job Training National Emergency Grant (OJT-NEG) to assist businesses in expanding their workforces.  The $182,118 award will be used to create training opportunities for dislocated workers who have experienced prolonged unemployment due to a business closure or mass layoff. The OJT-NEG is a $1.3 million competitive grant awarded to the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce through the U.S. Department of Labor.  Funding has been awarded to local workforce investment boards throughout the state.

Businesses participating in these On-the-Job Training agreements will receive partial reimbursement to offset the extraordinary cost of training new workers. Wage reimbursements range from 50 to 90 percent, depending on company size and the gap between the job seeker's skill level and the skills needed on the job.  Small businesses with 50 or fewer employees are encouraged to apply.

Employers in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties interested in this On-the-Job Training opportunity should contact Jimmy Pennell, WorkLink business services representative, at (864) 646-5899 or jpennell@worklinkweb.com.  Employer selection will occur on a first-come, first-served basis. WorkLink is an equal opportunity employer/program.  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to assist individuals with disabilities.