| Thank you, Board of Directors! The Annual Board Picnic for the TARCOG Board of Directors took place on June 27 at Civitan Park in Guntersville. This year’s guest speaker was Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, who hails from Marshall County. Lt. Gov. Ainsworth shared an overview of the exciting things happening in North Alabama and the important work the legislature accomplished this year. Mayor Leigh Dollar also spoke, welcoming everyone to Guntersville, and Board Treasurer John Myers served as the “picnic liaison,” ensuring that the food, fellowship, and weather were perfect! We are grateful to our Board of Directors and their dedication to our mission and service to our communities. Click the button below to meet our Board members!Meet Our Board |
| Serving People: A Busy June! Looking Back at Our Events |
 The Masters Games of Alabama is dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles for active adults ages 50+ through social, mental, and physical activities. Throughout June, the District 2 Masters Games saw over 100 athletes from Northeast Alabama compete in dominoes, pickleball, basketball, cornhole, shuffleboard, bowling, billiards, and more. Qualifying participants will advance to the State Masters Games in October. TARCOG Community Service Coordinator and District 2 Board Member Emmitt Davis says, “We like to see our seniors exercise because exercise is really the key to life right now. Socialization is very important for our seniors. We support and encourage our seniors to go out to the senior centers and participate…and really be active.” Event sponsored by Viva Health and Humana. |  On June 28, TARCOG held its 2nd Annual PEACE Conference and Fraud Summit at First Baptist Church in Huntsville. This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) event educates the public on how to recognize abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation faced by senior adults. With over 110 registrants, the event was educational and impactful for all. Speakers included Kenny Anderson, Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the City of Huntsville; Don Daniel, author of The P.I.L.L. Method: A Better Way to Eliminate Debt; Robyn James, Director of the Elder Justice Center of Alabama; and representatives from Alabama Securities Commission, AshaKiran, and Huntsville Hospital. Event sponsored by the Better Business Bureau of North Alabama, the Alabama Securities Commission Investor Protection Trust, Brookshire Healthcare, AARP Alabama, Home Instead Senior Care, and Starbucks. |
| Improving Communities: Consultant Selected for Safe Streets Initiative |
| In February 2023, TARCOG was awarded a $400,000 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant to create a safety action plan that addresses traffic injuries and fatalities throughout its four-county Rural Planning Organization service area. This month, Alta Planning and Design was selected as the consultant for the project. The SS4A initiative will kick off in August, and the action plan is slated to be completed in January 2025. Learn More About the SS4A Project |
| Growing Our Economy: Program Highlight: RLF Small Business Loans |
| Did you know that TARCOG offers a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to help local businesses finance expansions or obtain start-up capital? The RLF is administered through Neighborhood Concepts, Inc. and is available to eligible local businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Know a small business that could benefit from this funding? Click the link below to learn more, or contact us at info@tarcog.us. Learn More About the RLF Program |
| Upcoming EventsVirtual Dementia TourAugust 9, 15, & 249 a.m. – 11 a.m.Multiple locations The Virtual Dementia Tour is a hands-on experience that provides an understanding of the physical and mental challenges of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. Click below for more details, or contact the DeKalb County Council on Aging at 256-845-8593. Learn More |