Graham
Revitalization Economic
Action Team
Minutes
Location:
Stecoah Valley Center
Sponsors:
Lynn Shields, Stecoah Valley Center
Call Meeting to Order: Rick
Davis, G.R.E.A.T. Director, called the meeting to order at 12:00 PM.
Mr. Davis welcomed and thanked everyone for attending and participating
in the meeting.
Rick Davis recognized the
sponsor representatives and thanked them for the wonderful meal and for
sponsoring the meeting. Lynn
Shields welcomed everyone to Stecoah Valley Center and explained the mission of
the center of serving with the facility and to preserve and promote the
Appalachian regional culture.
Claudie Burchfield talked about
the Office of Economic Opportunity including the services they provide and the
counties they serve.
Rick Davis then recognized
Claudie Burchfield, President of G.R.E.A.T. to facilitate the meeting.
Approval of Minutes of Previous
Meeting: The
minutes from the March 18, 2010 meeting were approved with a motion by Rhonda
Anderson and a second by Yvette Carringer.
Approval of the Agenda:
The agenda was approved on a motion by
Chip Carringer and second by Lynn Shields.
Reports/Discussion
Items
Bruce
Snyder
gave a report on the upcoming Heritage Festival for Graham County.
The Festival will be held July 2 & 3 on Main Street Robbinsville.
Mr. Snyder requested assistance from the members of the G.R.E.A.T.
committee and any additional volunteers. He
indicated that it takes about four days for setup and cleanup including festival
time. Judy Jones, coordinator for
the Festival, and Joe Bonnette with Travel and Tourism have information on the
event and needs.
Mickey
Duvall, new
Graham County Manager, talked about the vitalization of the number of
participation with the G.R.E.A.T. committees and about his role a county
manager. He emphasized the
importance of tourism as an industry and how he wanted to work on grants to the
move the county forward. He
expressed the importance of G.R.E.A.T. and how he wanted to work hand in hand
with the group.
A.
Committee Reports
Ø
Economic
Development, Business and Industry – Claudie Burchfield
The
Economic Development Committee met on May 13th at Iron Horse. The meeting included discussion on tourism initiatives,
broadband, and entrepreneurships. The
committee has plans to implement a survey in the summer of 2010 to find out from
tourists to the county about their experiences in the county and give them an
opportunity to offer recommendations. The
committee is also working with DOT to upgrade and expand signage within the
county that will encourage tourism and local areas and to promote safety with
travel especially within residential areas.
The next meeting is the third Thursday in June.
Ø
Education
and Workforce Development –Rhonda Anderson
The
Education and Workforce Development committee met on May 21st at
Robbinsville High School. Mrs.
Anderson presented that the Dolly Parton Imagination Library initiative now has
262 children registered in Graham County and that they will be set up at the
Heritage Festival for children to signup. She
then presented the Alcoa Foundation grant approval for $28,050 STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities for students in grades 6-9
which will include field trips to Oak Ridge and Pisgah Astronomical Research
Institute (PARI). The grant will
also include $1,500 for purchases of needed classroom materials for each grade
involved. The committee has been meeting and working with Paul Worley in a
possible partnership with Tri-County Community College and Robbinsville High
School Construction Technology programs.
Donna
Mize reported on the Imagination Library project and showed a quilt donated by
Cherohala Quilters that is being raffled as a fund raiser. She stated that sixteen children have graduated out of the
program due to age.
Ø
Tourism
and Mountain Culture – Lynn Shields
The
Tourism and Mountain Culture committee met on March 8th with three
major issues discussed. The first
was to work in collaboration with Cheri Brantley, Graham County Tourism
Director, in expanding the 2004 Heritage Plan in developing a comprehensive
tourism plan for the county. The
new plan would include all forms of tourism in the county.
The committee hosted a Regional Tourism Partnership forum including five
Chamber of Commerce representatives. The
Committee is reviewing other local plans to receive and build ideas on the
development of a Comprehensive Tourism Plan.
They have developed a strategic plan for the process.
Ø
Revitalization
and Infrastructure – Rick Davis
Brenda
Artiss presented on the progress of revitalization of Robbinsville’s Main
Street. She stated that a $125,000
NC STEP grant was received and that the county and town had offered good support
of the project. Rick Davis
recognized Brenda for her hard work on this project.
They reported on a $500,000 grant that the Town of Robbinsville had
received to replace the water line down Main Street and how that would be a good
time to place conduit for future underground services.
Rick reference a paper that was handed out concerning a Community forum
hosted by Golden Leaf. (See
attached)
Ø
Recreation,
Natural Resources and Water Quality- Michael Wiggins
Mr.
Wiggins stated that the Yellow Creek Falls Sign is now up.
He gave the date of June 5th for the kids fishing derby at
Rattler Ford. Brenda Artiss gave a
report on Clean Sweep that was held April 17th.
Two new teams this year; Meadow Branch had the most with 29 bags of trash
and Atoah/IU Gap had 23. The event
had 38 volunteers and 114 bags picked up.
Ø
Leadership
and Government – Mike Harwood
No
report
Ø
Health
and Social – Alicia Parham
Alicia
Parham gave an update on the School Based Health Center funding. The Golden Leaf
foundation Grant was denied. The
Ribbon of Hope was awarded. The
playground equipment has been received and she asked for ideas for a location
for placing the playground. The
Health Department now has two certified diabetes education counselors.
B.
G.R.E.A.T. Financial Report – Lynn Shields
Lynn
Shields presented the financial report (see report).
Ending balance of the checking account as of April 30, 2010, was
$3,594.91. Ending balance of the
Money Market Account as of April 30, 2010, was $55,709.82.
C.
Regional Updates
Ø
Robert
Hawk, Community Development and Natural Resources
Mr.
Hawk gave an update on the services and training they offer including the 4-H
Adopt a Tree project. Every 7th
grader received a tree to take home. Their
projects are to encourage kids to get outside.
He gave a packet of information of their services and trainings.
Ø
Paul
Worley, Director of Economic and Workforce Development
Mr.
Worley talked about the project PACE. He
referenced training for contractors to explore or understand alternatives for
entrepreneurship. The next training is in June. He also talked about small
business trainings and starting a small business.
Ø
Tom
Fleckenstein, Business Counselor WCU SBTDC
Tom
Fleckenstein talked about SBTDC latest program, BIZZ BOOST- Each year North
Carolina gets money for workforce Development.
This year the Governor dedicated part of the money to asking companies
what they need including training needs. The
work will be with small businesses to obtain data as to where a business is at
now and where they are in six months then to bring them to the next level with
SBTDC help and services. They are
looking for small business in the area that qualifies.
He talked about Patricia Costello, a new counselor for Western North
Carolina and Clark Field, a Governor Procurement Specialist in the Asheville
office.
Ø
Sandy
Zimmerman, Representative Congressman Shuler’s Office
Sandy
Zimmerman gave a report for Congressman Shuler’s office.
Congressman Shuler is working on small businesses and the HIRE act along
with many other issues. He is
working on Buy American caucus (she read a statement from Congressman Shuler
concerning this cause).
D.
Smokey Mountain Host of NC-David and Betty Huskins
They
presented with a power point presentation on the “Competitive Regional
Tourism”. Topics included:
Organization History-Established in 1987 to cover the seven western NC counties;
Organization Goals; Accomplishments; Program of Work; Membership Investment
Benefits; 2010-11 Initiatives; Visitor Center Update; New Communication Tools.
They
gave a report that in September 2013 World Freelance Kayaking Championship will
be in Nantahala.
Additional Reports:
Ø
May
16th Sunday Asheville Citizen Times gave recognition to Stanley
Furniture for bringing all work back from China.
Ø
Jeanie
Stewart reported on Fontana Village
E.
Action Items
The
revised Revitalization and Infrastructure committee goals and objectives were
presented for approval. Lynn
Shields made the motion and Claudie Burchfield the second to approve the
revisions.
F.
Director’s Report
Rick
Davis reported on NC Rural Center Grant and that they had $2,500 from Office of
Economic Opportunity for training at Brushy Fork.
G.
Announcements
Karl
Sutter talked about two running races in the fall to raise money for two
organizations. One will be the
“Dam Race” August 28 which will include a 5 and 10K.
The other will be at Stecoah Valley Center Fall Festival and will be a
5K.
The
next meeting is scheduled for July 8, 2010 at the Healthful Living Center on RHS
campus. Sponsor will be the Graham
County Schools. A Board of
Directors Meeting is scheduled for June 14, 2010 at the Graham County Health
Department Conference Room.