From the office of Representative John Szoka – Emergency Loan Program

Emergency Bridge Loan Program Activated for Small Businesses 

Impacted by Hurricane Matthew

 

Raleigh, N.C. – Today, a group of small business support organizations activated the North Carolina Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program in response to Hurricane Matthew. The program will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced physical or economic damage during the storm and recovery efforts.

 

The Bridge Loan Program is a partnership of the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), and the Community College Small Business Center Network. The program has raised over $3 million from funders including the Golden LEAF Foundation, N.C.’s Electric Cooperatives, BB&T, PNC and Wells Fargo.

 

“We have been gathering reports from eastern North Carolina about the impact the storm has had on families, businesses and farms. Restoring small businesses and family farms is crucial to our recovery from Hurricane Matthew, and the Bridge Loan Program will provide critical assistance while applicants wait for insurance payouts, SBA disaster loans, or other recovery programs,” said Rural Center President Patrick Woodie.

 

SBTDC Executive Director Scott Daugherty said, “North Carolina ran a similar program in response to Hurricane Floyd in 1999 which made 217 loans totaling $1.6 million to affected businesses. This quick response is exactly what small businesses need after the impact of Hurricane Matthew.”

 

Owners of small businesses with 1 to 100 employees located in the 52 counties affected by Hurricane Matthew can apply for loans for up to $15,000. Applications may be submitted through December 9, 2016. Loans are granted for terms of 90 or 180 days and are interest-free (0% APR) for that time period. To be eligible, a business must have been established prior to October 4, 2016, and demonstrate economic or physical damage as a result of Hurricane Matthew.

 

“Small Business Center staff stands ready to help businesses impacted by the storm. There has never been a more critical time for our state’s key business assistance agencies to work collaboratively toward recovery,” said SBCN Interim State Director Anne Shaw.

 

For more information or to find a program office, visit www.sbtdc.org/hurricanematthew/. To apply, visit www.ncruralcenter.org/hurricanematthew. For questions or assistance, call the SBTDC at (919) 715-7272.

 

About the Rural Center

The N.C. Rural Economic Development Center is a nonprofit with a mission to improve the quality of life of rural North Carolinians. The Center, in addition to playing a critical role in the state’s response to Hurricane’s Floyd and Fran, is an experienced lender with over 600 loans currently enrolled in its programs and a track record of over $500 million in loans and private-sector leverage deployed to small businesses since its founding in 1987.

 

Rural Center Contact:  Barry Ryan

barry@ncruralcenter.org

(919) 250-4314

 

 

The NC Rural Center

Bicycle Planning Grant approved by Fayetteville City Council

The Fayetteville City Council passed a resolution in support of the Bicycle and Pedistrian Planning Grant Initiative Program.

(from NCDOT memo) – The Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative is a matching grant program that encourages municipalities to develop comprehensive bicycle plans and pedestrian plans.  The Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation (DPBT) and the Transportation Planning Branch (TPB) sponsor this grant.  All North Carolina municipalities are eligible and are encouraged to apply. 

Once the NCDOT accepts Fayetteville’s grant application, city staff will begin to develop a comprehensive bicycle plan and prioritize projects for implementation.

 

William Brown – Hoke County Commissioner Candidate

William “Brownie” Brown for Hoke County Commissioner

2950 Lindsay Rd, Raeford, NC 28376

910-224-2352

 

  1. I wish to serve in public office because four out of the five commissioners do not listen to the majority of citizens they listen to people in their own circles instead the masses. they cater to their large financial donors and they tend to want to serve to better themselves, and their families instead of average citizens. contracts are being awarded to small businesses out of the county when they could be using and supporting local business.

 

  1. Poverty, Retail Sales, Growth and Recreation

 

Hoke County is a low wealth county, there are people who need support, and in some cases support is not available and finances have been squandered and year after year in fact, one commissioner has been in 23 years and one commissioner 16 years. the poverty has not been addressed. no incentive within county to get poor people out of poverty by providing low cost housing or repairs, education programs that build people up and build self-esteem.

 

Retail Sales, to get retail sales we need people, hoke county has homes for sale and homes on the foreclosed, we need to help families be able to afford to get out of older homes and into newer homes. we need to upgrade our sewer system and water system so that businesses can be attracted to our county.

 

Growth & recreation; is not only retail sales but, young military families, and they want green space, recreation facilities and we just don’t have it. We need a new indoor recreational facility and movie theater and bowling alley.

 

  1. We need an upgraded water and sewer system, tax incentives and property incentives and new upgraded infrastructure that will attract new business.

 

  1. Orphan roads, we have serious problem in Hoke. some people cannot get mail, ambulance, fire, law enforcement and commissioners have not sounded the alarm. I will work with DOT and have been over the last 3 years to help upgrades roads. When roads and neighborhoods were built way back, some of those covenants did not set fourth an avenue for roads to be upgraded. or if they were, some builders did not follow proper procedure. once investigated, the land owners must file grievances. I say No developers will be able to put in neighborhoods without roads being built to state code or have a plan to do so. i support senate bill 778 orphan road and think it’s a good idea to have developers bonded.

 

  1. Build new high school in fastest growing party of county instead of at old high school location which is land locked and downtown where traffic is already and issues. the city council has said they really did not want to add on to the old high school because of traffic, security and it is at capacity. Kids are already on buses 2 or 3 hours after school. I say put a new school where the growth is. We need recreation areas where citizens live not in areas out in the middle of nowhere. We need an indoor facility not splash pads. The indoor rec center could also serve as a shelter which is so badly needed, as we found out during Hurricane Matthew.

 

William “Brownie” Brown

Early Voting Begins TODAY!

Early Voting Begins TODAY – November 5, 2016 in Cumberland County

Locations & Hours:

Board of Elections Office – 227 Fountainhead Lane

October 20 – November 5
Monday – Friday (8:00 – 5:00)

Saturday October 29 & November 5
9:00am – 1:00pm

Sunday October 30
10:00am – 4:00pm

Cliffdale Recreation Center – 6404 Cliffdale Road

North Regional Library – 855 McArthur Road

Hope Mills Recreation Center – 5766 Rockfish Road

East Regional Library – 4809 Clinton Road

Smith Recreation Center – 1520 Slater Avenue

EE Miller Recreation Center – 1347 Rim Road

Grays Creek Recreation Center – 2964 School Road

Kiwanis Recreation Center – 352 Devers Street

October 20 – November 5
Monday – Friday (8:00 – 5:00)

Saturday October 29 & November 5
9:00am – 1:00pm

Sunday October 30
10:00am – 4:00pm

Spring Lake Recreation Center – 245 Ruth Street

October 27 – November 5
Monday – Friday (11:30 – 7:30pm)

Saturday October 29 & November 5
9:00 – 1:00pm

Sunday October 30
12:00 – 4:00pm

IMPORTANT! NC REALTORS® Call For Action – Hurricane Matthew

Information from NC REALTORS®
October 16, 2016

Dear NC REALTORS® Members,

One week post-Hurricane Matthew, and many areas of North Carolina are still actively impacted by devastating floods. NC REALTORS® has been in direct contact with most of the local associations affected by the storm to offer moral support, resources, and financial support, and we’ve mobilized non-perishable goods and supply deliveries into the hardest hit regions.

The NC REALTORS® Executive Committee met last week regarding disaster relief assistance, and we are working closely with the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), local associations across the state, and local government and relief agencies to help local associations and communities in any way that we can.

CALL FOR ACTION | Your Help is Vital to Recovery

One of the hardest hit areas, Lumberton, North Carolina, has issued a request for 100+ volunteers to mobilize starting tomorrow (Monday, October 17). Volunteers are needed to canvas communities in the town (3,200+ properties), which just started allowing homeowners and residents to return to their homes, to survey residents with pre-prepared survey questions, take photographs of property damage, pass out informational and relief resource materials, and inform residents of NAR’s Flood Relief Program. Relief applications will be handed out on site, and residents will be allowed to complete them on the spot and hand them immediately back to the volunteers for expedited processing and approval. This will be a several day – if not a week-long – project. If you are able to volunteer on a particular day, please email Wendy Harris (homes@teamharris.com) and copy Andrea Bushnell (abushnell@ncrealtors.org) and Tracey Gould (tgould@ncrealtors.org), stating the date(s) you are available. Following are some helpful details.

Know Before You Go

Bring your real-estate business cards (you will be given an NC REALTORS® name badge, which will serve as your pass around town), camera of some sort, clip board (if you have one), tape, enclosed folder to collect documents/applications, thumbtacks, and a pen. These supplies will be available in limited quantities on site. Bring your own food and drinks, or get them on the way – before you approach town. Food in Lumberton and surrounding areas is scarce. Bring your charging devices, and make sure your devices are charged before you go and fully charged when you arrive. Dress appropriately with comfortable walking shoes. When you approach and arrive into town, make note of the closest facilities (restroom and otherwise). There is limited to no running water in town, and most businesses are closed.

Meeting Time

Plan to arrive in Lumberton on site at 10am on Monday. This time may be earlier on subsequent days.

Lumberton Meeting Location

City Hall 500 N. Cedar Street Community Room Lumberton, NC

Point of Contact

Wendy Harris, Fayetteville REALTOR®

homes@teamharris.com

 

Thank you in advance for your support and generosity. Your consideration is greatly appreciated and will make an unprecedented, meaningful impact on those who have suffered the most.

Meanwhile, if you or your consumers have been directly impacted, please contact your local association and visit NC REALTORS®’ webpage dedicated to recovery efforts with valuable links. Please be safe.

 

Sincerely yours,

Andrea Bushnell, Esq., CEO NC REALTORS®

NC Homeowners Alliance Forum with Representative John Szoka

Cumberland County homeowners know that we all benefit from strong relationships with our local elected officials. That’s why we are hosting Representative John Szoka for a forum on homeowner issues on November 1st at 6:30pm.This event is a great opportunity to meet your legislator, and I strongly encourage you to attend with your neighbors and friends. We want to make this event a true homeownership forum.

The General Assembly is starting to set their priorities for next year and homeowners deserve to be part of the discussion. We are holding this open forum so that attendees will have a chance to ask questions about issues at the legislature.

There are a wide range of topics at the General Assembly that have a direct impact on homeowners, including the mortgage interest deduction and transparency on insurance rates. Please sign up at the link below and invite your friends.

We will have dinner available for attendees. The doors open at 6:30pm and the event starts promptly at 7:00pm and lasts one hour.

Space is limited, so please RSVP at http://www.nchomeownersalliance.org/town_hall_with_representative_john_szoka today.

Paul Mott http://www.nchomeownersalliance.org/

 

The North Carolina Homeowners Alliance 4511 Weybridge Ln, Greensboro, NC 27407 Unsubscribe

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