Graham
Revitalization Economic
Action Team
Minutes
Location:
Robbinsville High School Healthful
Living Center
Welcome/Introductions
A.
Sponsors:
Chip Carringer, Superintendent Graham
County Schools
B.
Call Meeting to Order: Rick
Davis, G.R.E.A.T. Director, called the meeting to order at 12:00 PM, then
welcomed and thanked everyone for attending and participating in the meeting. He
also recognized the sponsor representatives and thanked them for the wonderful
meal and for sponsoring the meeting. He
then recognized Claudie Burchfield, President of G.R.E.A.T. to facilitate the
meeting.
General
Items
A.
Approval
of Minutes of Previous Meeting: The minutes from the May 20, 2010 meeting were
approved with a motion by Yvette Carringer and a second by Lynn Shields.
B.
Approval
of the Agenda:
The agenda was approved on a motion by Lynn Shields and second by Josh
Carpenter.
Reports/Discussion
Items
A.
Committee Reports
Ø
Economic
Development, Business and Industry – Claudie Burchfield
The
Economic Development Committee met in June at the Graham County Health
Department. They developed a survey for the use in the county through Labor Day
weekend. This survey was used at the 4th of July Heritage Festival
and will be coordinated through Travel and Tourism, the county planner’s
office, and has been distributed to the GREAT e-mail list for use in other
venues. Survey results will be used to see who is visiting our county, what
their interests are, and for grant-writing purposes.
Ø
Education
and Workforce Development –Rick Davis
Rick
Davis reported that there are currently 272 Graham County children ages 0-5
enrolled in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and 22 have graduated out of
the program due to age. A quilt donated by Cherohala Quilters Guild was raffled
and raised $677 for the Imagination Library. A formal presentation of the
Imagination Library will be done next month by Jim and Donna Mize, project
leaders.
Ø
Tourism
and Mountain Culture – Lynn Shields
The
Tourism and Mountain Culture committee is working
on a new “brand” for Graham County in collaboration with Travel and Tourism.
Strategic planning efforts have been postponed until the peak travel and
tourism season has ended. Folkmoot has
returned to Stecoah Valley Center this year and will be showing on July 27th.
An Appalachian Evening series at SVC
will run through August 28th.
Ø
Revitalization
and Infrastructure – Rick Davis
Brenda
Artiss presented on the progress of revitalization of Robbinsville’s Main
Street and the NC STEP grant. A NC STEP kick-off event will be held Saturday,
September 04 in downtown Robbinsville from 9am to 4pm. NC STEP needs volunteers
for the local advisory board. Rick Davis recognized Brenda for her hard work on
this project. Rick referenced a
handout concerning a Community forum hosted by Golden Leaf on July 26th
at 4:30 (attached). Funding potential from the Mountain Landscape Initiative
Toolbox for planning architectural documents for prospective downtown design was
mentioned. Brenda Artiss also
mentioned that Tapoco Lodge is on the National Historic Register and would like
to explore the possibility that Fontana, Proctor, and downtown Robbinsville
could be added to the National Historic Register. Bobby Smith asked for letters
of support from the group members to go to US Senator Richard Burr, NC Senator
John Snow, NC Representative Roger West, and US Congressman Heath Shuler (Sandy
Zimmerman) for the wastewater treatment plant. The Town is currently at 88%
capacity and could face a moratorium on septic hookups if improvements are not
made.
Ø
Recreation,
Natural Resources and Water Quality- Joe Bonnette
The
Partners of Joyce Kilmer Project had a meeting to address the development of a
501 c 3 and elected a new Board of Directors. Robert Rankin is president, Frank
Findley vice president, and Joe Bonnette secretary/treasurer. Another meeting
will be held August 5th at the Ranger station. The Recreation
Committee will be assisting the USFS with work at Joyce Kilmer in November
treating dead Hemlock.
Ø
Leadership
and Government – Teresa Garland
4H
will be attending Electorate Congress and assisting with the Tourism survey
mentioned above. Also, 4H across the state have identified the top 10 issues
facing their individual counties and one representative from each county will be
traveling to a state meeting to determine the top 10 issues for North Carolina
and then begin to work with County Commissioners to address these issues.
Melissa Day presented free environmental education training opportunities open
to educators called Aquatic Wild and Growing Up Wild. CEUs and EEC credits will
be available. Rick Davis presented that Graham County School students in grades
7-12 have been invited to participate in a youth survey through the NC Rural
Center this fall to determine what will keep them in rural areas as they get
older.
Ø
Health
and Social – Alicia Parham
The
Ribbon of Hope was awarded for expansion of mental health services at the
Robbinsville School Based Health Center. Sylva Pediatrics will be operating out
of the Public Health building one day per week beginning July 22. ADA
recognition received for sustainability of diabetes education program. The playground equipment has been received and the group is
awaiting location approval.
WNC
Healthy Kids Initiative representatives will be at the August 19 committee
meeting and all were invited to attend this meeting. A Master Recreation
Planning Meeting will also be held in August.
B.
G.R.E.A.T. Financial Report – Lynn Shields
Lynn
Shields presented the financial report (attached).
C.
County/Regional Updates
Ø
Mickey
Duvall,
Graham County Manager, addressed the tight budget the county will be operating
under this year and that he is working diligently on a grants initiative for the
county. The county is now registered with Grants.gov and can submit grants
electronically in a very timely manner. He talked about his commitment to the
revitalization of the downtown. County department heads have identified someone
in each department to work with Mr. Duvall and Josh Carpenter for grant-writing.
The county has applied for $300K to fund an agri-center for downtown through the
Cherokee Preservation Foundation. Results will be available in August. The
county is meeting with the Dept of Justice to pursue funding for a new
courthouse/jail/sheriff/county office building. He has received support from John Snow, Roger West, Richard
Burr, Kay Hagan, and Heath Shuler. A Corridor K meeting was held July 7th
and there is a strong push to get segment A (Stecoah to Robbinsville) and
segment B (Robbinsville to Murphy) completed. He states that the county will see
tremendous growth from this and needs to be preparing now.
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.
She
encouraged attendance at the WNC Business Expo/Job Fair sponsored by Congressman
Shuler’s office and reported that the tri-county area has the highest
unemployment rates in the state. She also encouraged attendance at the Public
Listening Session on President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative
on Thursday, July 15, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. She also offered congratulation on NC
STEP.
D.
Christy Newman, Community Relations Manager
Christy
Newman officially announced an award to Graham County Schools and GREAT from the
Alcoa Foundation in the amount of $28,050 for Project ESTEME (Engaging in
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education).
E.
Director’s Report
Rick
referenced the handout for the Golden Leaf Forum (attached), announced the NC
STEP meeting on August 10th at 5:30 at the EMS building, announced
funding received in the amount of $2,500 from OEO/CSS for GREAT attendance at
the Brushy Fork Annual Institute, and announced ARC funding for Free Clinic in
the amount of $52,300. Lynn Shields announced $25,000 received from NC Rural
Center to complete working documents for renovation of the Stecoah Gym.
F.
Announcements
Ø
Kevin
Core will be leaving Smoky Mountain Mental Health to pursue an internship with
the VA.
Ø
GREAT
Board of Directors Meeting August 9, 12 noon, Graham Co. Health Dept.
Ø
GREAT
Meeting September 23, 12 noon, Phillips and Jordan Headquarters