News from CARPDC: Better Water, Better Parks, Better Places: 3 Local Projects in the Running for 2025 CDBG Funding
Your TARCOG E-Newsletter for June
| Area Agency on Aging PUBLIC HEARING ONArea Plan FY 2026-2029A public hearing will be held this month to gather input from older adults, caregivers, service providers, and community members across Dekalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties. The meeting will be from 1 to 3 p.m. on Monday, June 30, at the North Huntsville Public Library, 3011 Sparkman Drive. “This hearing is a critical part of developing our comprehensive Area Plan for FY 2026-2029, which guides the delivery of coordinated, supportive services, nutrition programs, and senior center activities in our region,” said TARCOG’S Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey. She said feedback gathered during this hearing will help the agency shape programs and services that reflect the real needs of our communities. This meeting is for the entire community, not just those who receive TARCOG services. All voices are welcome, and multiple ways to participate will be provided to ensure accessibility. TARCOG seeks input from:Older adults with limited incomeRural residentsMinority communitiesIndividuals with limited English proficiency For those who can’t attend in person, there are still ways to share your input via: Online or paper comment forms. Click here to complete Needs Survey. Phone calls to 256-830-0818Email to info@tarcog.us Written comments mailed to: TARCOG, PO Box 1087, Huntsville, AL 35807  $1.5 million brownfields grant underway in Fort Payne, Gurley and AthensTARCOG appreciates Alabama House of Representatives Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter for highlighting a Fort Payne project that will impact six vacant warehouses over two blocks and three acres along Gault Avenue.The site is the focus of an environmental evaluation to prepare the section of Gault Avenue for redevelopment. Ledbetter, who was guest speaker at TARCOG’s June Board Meeting and Picnic, announced the $1.5 million grant on Tuesday, June 24, that includes the DeKalb County project, as well as projects in Limestone and Madison counties. The $1.5 million Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Assessment Grant will be the starting point for the transformation of the selected sites. In the past, the connected warehouses on Gault Avenue in Fort Payne held cotton or machining operations. For years, they have remained vacant and because of potential environmental contamination, the site hasn’t been attractive to developers. This grant will also cover projects for the Singing River Trail in the Town of Gurley and another one in the City of Athens. The grant includes the three cities as coalition partners in this funding opportunity with TARCOG, who helped secure the funding for these important projects. TARCOG Executive Director Michelle Gillaim Jordan said the whole purpose of this type of brownfield grant is to take unproductive properties due to real or perceived contamination and make them usable again. This process is the first step toward making these sites attractive to developers again.Read the story |
| Growing our economy: Sylvania is ready for new business |
| Let’s talk about: Fraud and elder abuse |
| Senior Center Spotlight: Martling Friendship Center |
| There are two important signs outside the Martling Friendship Center. One identifies the building and the other tells you about its focus. When you open the front door, you understand why the “Quilts for Sale” sign out front is so important. The pulpit that served the Ephesus Primitive Baptist Church for years is there, surround by quilts on display. To the left, quilts are on the exercise equipment but can easily be moved to use the treadmill and bicycles. Then to the right, a large bolt of batting is set up. And along one wall is an old church pew filled with quilt tops from people in the community waiting for the ladies at the friendship center to finish the quilts. The quilting frame takes up a large portion of the right side of the room and stays in use daily. “We’re more than just quilting here,” said Joyce Lambert, 81. “But we do a lot of it and enjoy it.”Read more | There’s always a Quilting Bee at the Martling Friendship Center |
| Employee of the Month: Ruby Banks |
| Ruby Banks has been named Employee of the Month for June. It’s the second time since TARCOG began the recognition program last year that she’s been honored. She was employee of the month in May of 2024. It’s no surprise because Ruby is one of our “go to” people at TARCOG. She keeps our operations running smoothly whether it’s a computer, phone, printer, or any other number of technical situations. She remains calm no matter the problem and always finds a resolution as quickly as possible. Read more | TARCOG IT Specialist Ruby Banks |
| MORE NEWS |
 | UPDATE ON NEW OFFICE Walls are going up! At this point, we are on schedule at the new space on Corporate Drive with hopes to be in the new building by Spring of 2026! |
 | MASTERS GAMES REGIONAL COMPETITION Seniors across the TARCOG and NARCOG regions make up District 2 for the Masters Games of Alabama competition. Throughout the month of June, the seniors have been competing to qualify for the state games that will be held Oct. 6-9, in Trussville. The results from the District 2 competitions will be released in early July. |
Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission news
TARCOG News
| Serving People: Have you seen TARCOG lately? |
| In between visits to client’s homes or nursing homes, helping reduce prescription medication costs, and all of the services TARCOG provides, the staff also spends time on community education through special presentations and participation in health fairs or others community events. “It’s an important part of what we do to make sure people in the communities that we serve know that not only we are here to help but the different ways in which we can help,” said TARCOG’s Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey. It’s so important, the agency is giving the outreach efforts a new name, TARCOG Cares. To streamline the process of what the agency participates in there is a new online form that can be filled out to make the request. “In the past, different people throughout the agency have been contacted about different events and we’d like to make the process easier with all of the requests being directed to one person,” Sheila said. | TARCOG at the Jackson County Health Expo in January. |
| Let’s talk about: Senior Employment |
| Senior Center Spotlight: East Limestone |
| Sometimes, it’s the simplest of reasons people have for visiting their local senior center. Take Dan Champion, 83, for example. “I’m hungry. It’s the middle of the day and I’m here,” Dan said while sitting with a table of friends who couldn’t agree more including Beecher Griffitts, 86, Bill Self, 82, and Hans Riveros, 86. “It’s all good, some are better than others, but I don’t complain because I don’t have to cook it and the price is right,” Beecher added. Across the room, Faye Sangerman, 73 and Debbie Collins, 64, have their own card game going. They love the socialization the center offers. “I don’t want to stay at home all the time,” Debbie said. “I was a substitute teacher for a while and for a while I just wanted to stay at home all the time but then I realized how important is to get out and be around other people.” Faye said she likes that it’s easy to be at the East Limestone Center.“I don’t feel like it too structured, it’s very comfortable here,” she added. Read more | Playing games that keep the mind sharp are just one of the draws at the East Limestone Senior Center. |
| Employee of the Month: Jelisa Simon |
| Jelisa Simon has been with TARCOG a short time but has already made a big impact by helping save the life of a coworker. During her first month on the job in a newly created position at the agency, as a Registered Nurse Case Manager, a coworker fell ill in the office restroom. Jelisa sprang into action and handled the crisis with skill, care and compassion. After the coworker was taken by HEMSI ambulance to the hospital, staff could be overheard saying – “Now that’s the employee of the month!” And expressing thankfulness for having someone on staff with her skills. The coworker returned to work within a couple of days and Jelisa is settling into her role.Read more | Registered Nurse Case ManagerJelisa Simon |
| MORE NEWS |
 | UPDATE ON NEW OFFICE It’s been two months since the groundbreaking and our new TARCOG office building is starting to take shape. The foundation slab was poured on April 10!OPENINGS on Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Advisory Board If you are interested in economic and small development in the TARCOG Region and live or work in DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties. Anyone interested in participating on the RLF Advisory Board may contact Leslie Wright at 256-830-0818, or by email. IT IS TIME TO PLAN for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant applications that are due this summer. While there are questions about funding sources, the application process remains open. We encourage you to reach out to the TARCOG Economic Development & Planning staff if you are interested in submitting a project in the areas of infrastructure repair/expansion, planning activities, and potential construction projects depending on the end goal. We are here to help, just call 256-830-0818 for the Economic & Development Planning staff. |
| UPCOMING EVENTS |
 | We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at TARCOG”S Senior Fun Fest set for Tuesday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Alabama A&M Agribition Center at 4925 Moores Mill Road in Huntsville. Advance tickets are $5 and may be purchased at any senior center in DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties, or, at the TARCOG Office at 7037 Old Madison Pike, Suite 450, in Huntsville. For more information call TARCOG at 830-0818. Advance ticket sale prices end Friday, May 2. After May 2, and on the day of the event, tickets may be purchased at the door on the day of the event for $7. |
Your TARCOG E-Newsletter for March
| Senior Fun Fest 2025 Set for May Senior Fun Fest, put on annually by TARCOG and the Madison County Commission is set for Older Americans Month in May.Dust off your boots because TARCOG is preparing for its annual Older Americans Month celebration in May. The 38th Annual Senior Fun Fest will have a western Rodeo Roundup theme. It’s going to be a fun-filled day for up to 1,500 seniors from DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties, said Sheila Dessau-Ivey, TARCOG’s director of aging programs. Senior Fun Fest is sponsored annually by TARCOG and the Madison County Commission, with ticket sales and other local businesses also providing financial support to offset costs. Senior Fun Fest tickets will go on sale April 1, for the event scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Alabama A&M Agribition Center at 4921 Moores Mill Road in Huntsville. Advance tickets are $5 and may be purchased at any senior center in DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties, or, at the TARCOG Office at 7037 Old Madison Pike, Suite 450, in Huntsville. For more information call TARCOG at 830-0818. Advance ticket sale prices end Friday, May 2. After May 2, and on the day of the event, tickets may be purchased at the door on the day of the event for $7. “We are excited to see residents from the TARCOG region get together in one place for a day of fun, entertainment and food,” Sheila said. “This is an event our entire TARCOG staff works on for several months each year to create a special day to celebrate our aging population”Read the story |
| Growing the Economy: Revolving Loan Fund At Work |
| Let’s talk about: Hospital to Home |
| Senior Center Spotlight: Geraldine |
| Debra Whitten likes to exercise to stay in shape as she ages and serves as a caregiver for her husband. One of the places she depends on is the Geraldine Senior Center. “I thank God for letting me get up and do what I do every day,” Debra, 67, said. “Sometimes it’s the simple things, like walking in the park and chatting with a friend that makes the day go better.” It’s a common thread at the Geraldine Senior Center where about 15-18 people gather each weekday morning. When Annette Rowell retired in 2012 from TS Tech Automotive, she and her husband Punkin were walking the track at the town park just outside the Geraldine Homemakers Building, where the Senior Center is located. He stopped to use the restroom and saw an aunt, a cousin and some friends inside. But that’s not all. “I was out there walking, and he was in here getting me a part-time job!” Annette, now 76, explained.Read more | Annette Rowell is the manager of the Geraldine Senior Center. |
| Employee of the Month: Alexis Baker |
| Alexis Baker gets to help qualified Medicaid clients living in nursing homes move back to independent living. It’s easy to see she loves what she does when she talks about it. Alexis has worked at TARCOG for two years as the transition coordinator for the Gateway to Community Living Program. The program is a Medicaid-funded, targeting Medicaid recipients in a nursing home setting who are ready to transition back to living on their own in the community. She covers 26 nursing homes in six different counties. If a candidate meets the qualifications, Alexis assists a client find and obtain housing, furnishings, medical equipment, household supplies, utilities — whatever is need to set up the home with basic housing needs to ensure their health and safety needs are met. Read more | Gateway to Community Living Transition Coordinator, Alexis Baker |
| MORE NEWS |
Planning for the future Pine Ridge is one of the smallest towns in DeKalb County proving that no matter your town’s size, it’s important to plan for the future. The town just completed its first Comprehensive Plan. The process started in March 2024 and was officially adopted by the Town Council in February 2025. Read more |
 From left, TARCOG Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey, Executive Director Michelle Jordan, Student Brooklyn Brittain, Case Manager Bailey Frank and Medicaid Waiver Program Manager Melissa Brinkley. | Job shadowing at TARCOG Brooklyn Brittian, a graduating senior attending St. John Paul II Catholic High School (JPII) in Huntsville spent March 4 and 6 with TARCOG case managers to learn more about the work they do. Brooklyn expressed an interest in working with older adults, so doing a job shadow with TARCOG case manager’s made perfect sense. Brooklyn shadowed Sarita Chaloupka and Bailey Frank and experienced several aspects of their jobs firsthand. Brooklyn will be attending the University of Alabama in the fall and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors! |
| UPCOMING EVENTS |
| Find a new career opportunity at TARCOG’s 2025 Invitational Career Fair set for April 3. Read more |
| CONNECT256-830-0818P.O. Box 1087Huntsville, AL 35805 |