G.R.E.A.T. Meeting Minutes - September 24, 2009

The meeting was held at the Phillips and Jordan Office located in Robbinsville, N.C.  It was called to order at 12:10 p.m. by Claudie Burchfield who gave the welcome and introduction of special guests.  The minutes of July 16, 2009 were approved as read on a motion by Lynn Shields and a second by Alicia Parham.

Agenda was accepted as read on a motion by Josh Carpenter and second by Frank Findley.

Committee Reports:

Economic Development, Business and Industry - Claudie Burchfield

Discussed the Strategic Plan Review and the need to revisit the plan to see what needed to be revised.  Topics of discussion were the Business Directory, Travel and Tourism, and Graham County advertisements for the future.

Education and Workforce Development - Rhonda Anderson.

CFWNC Grant for $6,900 was discussed and the Drop Out Prevention Grant for $150000.00.  The house construction has begun on Mill Creek using students enrolled in the RHS Construction Technology class.  The 21^st Century Grant proposal for afterschool programs at Robbinsville Elementary and Middle Schools and Stecoah Valley Center was announced.  A presentation for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library was made by Jim Mize.  The IL project is a priority for this committee for 2010.

Tourism and Mountain Culture - Lynn Shields

Discussed meeting with Graham County Travel and Tourism at their next meeting to discuss future plans and work with GREAT.

Revitalization and Infrastructure - Rick Davis

An updated on the Verizon DSL project was provided.  October 15^th is the projected date for Verizon to have everything in place for Stecoah residents to get DSL.  Fontana area will follow in the near future.   MAIN and GREAT are collaborating on a grant for stimulus money to install wireless broadcast towers for Graham County areas not served by Verizon DSL.

Recreation, Natural Resources, and Water Quality - Michael Wiggins (report provided)

Representatives of this committee were involved in the Yellow Creek Falls clean-up project with Land Trust for Little Tennessee and Alcoa employees. The septic tank upgrade/installation is in progress in Graham County as a result of a grant from CWTMF.  Arlene Higgins gave an update on the Clean Sweep for the county.

Leadership and Government - Teresa Garland

The youth survey was done to identify needs in the county.  Identified needs were: economy, healthy lifestyles, and natural resources.  A $15,000.00 grant from Cherokee Preservation was received to  help Knights of Round Table (KORT) in leadership development and training.

Health and Social - Kristen Shuler

Information on seasonal flu vaccine to be set aside for Graham County Schools, Phillips and Jordan, and Stanley Furniture employees was provided.  H1N1 flu information sheet was provided. The playground grant has been awarded with implementation plans proceeding.  The Health Department and GREAT are pursuing funding for School Based Health Center.

Financial report was presented by Lynn Shields and accepted as read.

Rob Hawk, Community Development and Natural Resources Extension representative presented information on the Qualla-T hospitality training.

Tim Garrett with RC&D talked about local/federal partnerships, Recreation and Natural Resources Land Trust, the Little Tennessee and Yellow Creek trail, houseboat pump program has been turned over to local marinas, and revisions on Joyce Kilmer and Slickrock roads.

Sandy Zimmerman with Congressman Heath Shuler’s office reported on health care reform, extension of unemployment benefits, gateway communities,  and projects at the airport in Cherokee County.

Paul Worley from TCCC reported on the Jobs Now Program, working with Stanley Furniture, and the center for applied technology.

Randy Everhart from Stanley Furniture reported they hope to employ 500-600 by the end of 2009 and will be totally American made by the end of the year Stanley Furniture is also Green Guard certified.

Angie Knight reported on the upcoming Fall Festival to be held Oct. 31^st at the Graham County School.

A presentation was made by Jim Mize about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for reading assistance in the area.

Financial Peace was present by Mike Harwood with Phillips and Jordan who provides this training in Graham County.

Rick Davis spoke about the Brushy Fork Institute training session attended by several GREAT members.  Several participants spoke about their experiences at the training session and indicated the high quality of the Institute.

The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.