Local School Systems Receive Funding to Bridging the Gap with STEM-E

PRESS RELEASE

Cherokee, NC — Seven local school systems and four schools were awarded the “Bridging the Grant with STEM-E” grant from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. This CPF funding will increase accessibility to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) by providing elementary through high school students with mobile science unit field trips, exploration in entrepreneurship, STEAM study within their classrooms, and teacher STEAM professional development. In all, this grant will provide the teachers and students in the far Western North Carolina area tools for increasing STEAM literacy for a stronger future workforce. Students and Teachers from Cherokee Central, Cherokee County, Clay County, Graham County, Haywood County, Macon County, Swain County, New Kituwah Academy, Mountain Discovery Charter, Shining Rock Classical Academy, and Catamount School will be included within the grant. This grant partnership includes the schools, WRESA (Western Region Education Service Alliance) and The Mountain Satellite Office of The Science House of NC State.

Read More

Town of Franklin Receives $400,000 Grant From State to Finish Construction of Fire Department Substation on NP&L Loop

Pictured: (L-R) NC Senator Kevin Corbin, Town Manager Aimee Owens, Mayor Jack Horton, Nc Representative Karl Gillespie, Franklin Fire Chief Ben Ormond. Photo ©2023 by Bobby Coggins.

On Tuesday, December 18th, 2023, NC Senator Kevin Corbin and NC Representative Karl Gillespie presented a check of $400,000 to the Town of Franklin to be used for completing work on the living area of the Franklin Fire Department Substation located on NP&L Loop. The funds are earmarked for this particular project and cannot be used for other purposes.

Pictured: (L-R) Fire Chief Ormond discusses the building plans with Senator Corbin and Representative Gillespie. They are standing in the area of the substation where the improvements will be made in the coming months. Photo ©2023 by Bobby Coggins.

Another check was presented later that afternoon to Macon County, but Macon Media is awaiting a response from the county regarding what specific projects the funds ($400,000) have been earmarked for. Another article will be published when the county replies.

Support Macon Media

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.



Become a Patron!


Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 3:00am on Wednesday, December 19, 2023
Author: Bobby Coggins

Read More

Mountain Findings Awards $25,000 Grant to Literacy and Learning Center for Pre-K Initiative

(photo provided) Mountain Findings President, Jill Helmer presents a $25,000 donation to Literacy & Learning Center Executive Director, Bonnie Potts

PRESS RELEASE (08-14-2023)
MOUNTAIN FINDINGS

The Literacy and Learning Center in our community has received a $25,000 grant from Mountain Findings, to support their new prekindergarten (pre-K) initiative. With over 70 children on the waitlist, there is a clear and pressing need for this program.

The center's pre-K program sets the tone for these young students' futures by inspiring them to learn, enhancing their verbal and cognitive development, and improving their social and emotional skills. This type of early childhood education has been proven to be one of the most cost-effective ways to close achievement gaps and break the cycle of poverty.

When the pre-K at Highlands School was put on hold indefinitely by the Macon County Board of Commissioners, the Literacy & Learning Center stepped up to create its program that will be certified by North Carolina.

Mountain Findings' President, Jill Helmer, expresses the organization's 100% support of this initiative and recognizes the hard work that went into creating this robust program.

Helmer further adds the grant will go towards supporting the pre-K program's development and ensuring that children in our community have access to quality early childhood education.

The Literacy and Learning Center's dedication to education and serving the needs of our community is admirable, and we can't wait to see the positive impact this program will have on the children it serves.

For more information on Mountain Findings visit www.MountainFindings.org.


DAY SPONSOR

Young Tree Service is sponsoring Macon Media for today.

They provide complete tree care, are licensed and insured. Specializing in low ground impact. Danger tree removal. Crane Service, Pruning, Views, 24 hr emergency service. Call 828-421-0967 for more information.

Read More

State Office of Digital Equity and Literacy Launches $24M Digital Equity Grant Program

Image added by Macon Media.

PRESS RELEASE (09-27-2022)
NC GOVERNOR

Initial Phase to Fund Projects by State Agencies, Universities and Community Colleges

Governor Roy Cooper today announced the launch of the state’s first digital equity grant program, which will help North Carolinians afford high-speed internet, obtain digital devices and access digital literacy resources. The multi-phased program, administered by the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Office of Digital Equity and Literacy, will invest up to $24 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for collaborative digital equity projects.

"We want more North Carolinians to get the tools and knowledge they need to connect to high-speed internet and to use it to transform their communities and their lives,” said Governor Cooper. “This is an important step toward getting more people connected online so they can work, learn, access telehealth and connect with one another.”

The program’s first phase will invest $10 million in total funding to support 10-15 state government entities to develop or expand digital inclusion programs. Applicants must be an entity of North Carolina state government, which includes: all state government organizations as outlined here; University of North Carolina System or individual schools, universities, or centers within the system; and N.C. Community College System or individual schools, colleges or centers within the system. This two-year, noncompetitive grant funding program encourages collaborative partnerships. Each grantee will be awarded a maximum of $2 million for a project that must be completed by the end of 2024.

Applications from state government entities will be accepted through Oct. 28. Information sessions for applicants will be held Oct. 4, Oct. 10 and Oct. 20. Additional details can be found at www.ncbroadband.gov/funding-programs/digital-equity-grant.

In winter 2023, the Office of Digital Equity and Literacy will launch the second phase of the digital equity grant program, a competitive grant process with $14 million in total funding, which will be open to applications from municipalities and nonprofits, community-based organizations, and key stakeholder groups for local digital inclusion projects and device distribution.

“We are excited to collaborate with digital equity experts across the state through this new grant program,” said NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Jim Weaver. “These strategic partnerships at the state and local level will help drive meaningful and measurable change for North Carolinians in the next two years.”

These grants are part of Governor Cooper’s plan to give 95% of North Carolina households access to high-speed internet by expanding access and addressing issues of affordability and digital literacy. Through these investments, the Office of Digital Equity and Literacy is seeking partnerships with experts across the state to implement digital equity solutions that positively impact target populations identified in the Digital Equity Act. These populations include: low-income households; individuals who primarily reside in a rural area; older Americans/aging residents; incarcerated and/or second chance citizens/reentry/justice involved; veterans; individuals with disabilities; individuals with a language barrier (including individuals who are English learners or whose first language is not English and/or those who have low levels of literacy); and individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group.

For more information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Equity, please visit www.ncbroadband.gov.



DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by Nature Tamers of North Carolina.

Grading • View Cutting
Water Abatement • Foundations
Plumbing • Construction Repair


Call 828-507-2735

---

Support Macon Media

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.



Become a Patron!


Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 9:32pm on Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Author: Bobby Coggins

Read More

Council Approves Grant Application for Wildland Firefighting Equipment

The town council approved a matching grant application for $9,979.00 by Franklin Fire Department for Wildland Firefighting equipment. The grant is sponsored by the North Carolina Forest Service. The grant is a 50% match, meaning the fire department would be getting the equipment at half price. The town would pay $4,989.50 and the North Carolina Forest Service would pay $4,989.50.

Summer Woodard, town manager, and Matthew Breedlove, fire chief, presented the information to the board. Chief Breedlove recognized the efforts of Assistant Chief Hursey in writing the grant application.

The board approved the grant application by a vote of 6-0.

Councilman Culpepper inquired about streamlining the process in the future and giving authority to the town manager to approve grant applications like this in the future. The town manager and the town attorney concurred and the attorney said the resolution could be amended.

Gavel-to-gavel video of the Feb 2019 meeting and supporting documents are posted on the blog. [LINK]

CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.

Patreon Subscriber History May 2014 to Present




Become a Patron!
If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.

Published at 12:09 pm on February 5, 2019

Read More

NCDOT Awards 2015 Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grants Franklin Among Recepients

The NCDOT has warded a grant to ten municipalities across the state to assist with bicycle and pedestrian planning, and Franklin is one of them. AT the November 2014 meeting fo the town board, the town voted to apply for $36,000 in grant monies at a 10% match. According to the NCDOT, the funds will be awarded in June.

The Franklin Town Board will be meeting tonight for their regular April 2015 meeting. More on that at this link.

Here is video of the segment of the meeting where the vote took place:



Here is the press release:

PRESS RELEASE
NCDOT Roadside Environmental Unit
APRIL 6, 2015


RALEIGH- A group of 10 municipalities from across the state are slated to receive assistance with bicycle and pedestrian planning, thanks to grants awarded this month by the N.C. Department of Transportation.
Now in its twelfth year, the grant program helps North Carolina cities and towns develop a comprehensive overall strategy for expanding bicycle and pedestrian opportunities within a given community.

The municipalities selected are scattered across various regions of the state. Recipients were selected from a pool of 26 applications by an awards committee comprised of transportation planners from across the state, including representatives of regional planning organizations and councils of government, local governments and NCDOT staff from multiple units.

Recipients this year include:
• Canton (joint bicycle/pedestrian plan)
• Fairmont (joint bicycle/pedestrian plan)
• Franklin (joint bicycle/pedestrian plan)
• Hendersonville (bicycle plan)
• High Point (pedestrian plan)
• Lenoir (bicycle plan)
• Newport (bicycle/pedestrian plan)
• Rutherfordton (bicycle/pedestrian plan)
• Wendell (pedestrian plan)
• Windsor (bicycle/pedestrian plan)

The planning grant initiative is jointly sponsored by the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation and NCDOT’s Transportation Planning Branch. To date, approximately $4,332,000 has been awarded to 164 communities through the planning grant program.

Plans funded are not for one specific project, but represent a comprehensive strategy for expanding bicycle and pedestrian opportunities within a given municipality. These plans address facilities, programs, services and regulations that encourage safe walking and bicycling.

For more information on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative; contact NCDOT’s Division of Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation or visit the Planning Grant Initiative website.

Read More