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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

JULY NEWS:SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

NARCOG has been busy supporting the community, submitting grant applications, and working to keep our seniors healthy. Check out what we’ve been doing in July!

Foundation Makes A Positive ImpactIn the spirit of the NARCOG Foundation, NARCOG awarded $50,000 to Lawrence County Fire and Rapid Rescue Association (LCFRRA) to be split equally among ten fire departments. Each department was able to use the money how they saw fit. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Plan Hartselle The City of Hartselle is working on a new Comprehensive Plan to help with future growth. Public opinion is needed to help shape the Plan. The Kick-Off Open House Workshop is open to the public and will be held at the Hartselle Civic Center on August 17 at 5:30 PM. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Lawrence County Awarded $1M ARC Grant The Lawrence County Commission was awarded a $1 Million Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grant for First Solar’s Infrastructure Improvements Project.  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Garden City Receives RAA Grant The Town of Garden City in Cullman County was awarded $250,000 from the Rebuild Alabama Act (RAA) Annual Grant to help improve road infrastructure. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Morgan County Senior Health Fair Seniors from all over Morgan County were invited to a senior health fair held in Hartselle. This event was unique because sponsorship fees helped fulfill senior center wish lists, with the rest being donated to the NARCOG Foundation. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

AIRS Certified Deann Saint, a NARCOG Information and Referral Specialist, recently passed her AIRS CRS-A/D exam. AIRS CRS-A/D stands for Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) Certification for Community Resource Specialist – Aging/Disability (CRS-A/D). Deann is one of ~4,400 people around the United States holding an AIRS certification. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

JUNE NEWS:COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

NARCOG has been busy submitting grant applications, helping older adults stay active and healthy, introducing new career opportunities, and more. Check out what we’ve been doing in June!

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Lawrence County Awarded $1.5MLawrence County was recently awarded $1.5 Million in Community Development Block Grant funds to support a solar energy project. First Solar, Inc. will be producing solar panels and offering the community 715 jobs. The company is expected to be up and running by 2025. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Masters GamesThe recently concluded District Events of Masters Games of Alabama took place throughout the month of June in various cities over North Alabama. Adults 50 and older were encouraged to get up and get active. This Olympic-like game brings not only competition but also fun and fellowship. Game winners have a chance to compete at State Games. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Business Opens with Help from USDA-RBEG LoanSmith Lake Zip Lines has officially held their grand opening, and invites guests to partake in adventures in the trees. This company used a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Enterprise Grant, prepared by NARCOG, to fund this dream. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

TRIO Wins Senior Meals ContractAlabama Department of Senior Services has announced that TRIO Community Meals won a meal contract and will be the official meal provider for over 300 senior centers across Alabama, with 22 being in the NARCOG Region. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

SCSEP SpotlightNARCOG partners with the Center of Workforce Inclusion to provide work to older adults through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in Cullman, Lawrence, and Morgan County. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Hospital to Home TransitionNARCOG recently added a new position under the Medicaid Waiver Program, a Hospital to Home (H2H) Transition Coordinator. The goal of the H2H program is to help older adults and individuals with disabilities return to the community and remain in the community safely while reducing long-term placement and re-hospitalization. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Upcoming and Past Aging EventsBingocize and the Aquatics Program are officially in full swing and open to the public. Wellness classes offered through NARCOG are free! Join us July 21st for the Morgan County Senior Health Fair at the Hartselle Civic Center. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Senior Centers to Receive Picnic TablesNARCOG is in the process of providing eight-foot picnic tables to all 22 senior centers in our Region to promote outdoor time and increase attendance.  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Annual Report: Our Impact in 2022 Last year, TARCOG made a difference in the lives of more than 700,000 residents throughout our five-county region. Whether providing legal assistance to our seniors or securing funding for our economic development partners, we helped strengthen this region through our work every day. Our impact in 2022 was significant, and the results speak for themselves. Check out the full Annual Report to learn even more about how we’re serving the region.Read the Report

Serving People: Welcome to Sheila Dessau-Ivey, Director of Aging Programs!

We are pleased to introduce Sheila M. Dessau-Ivey, MSSA, LICSW, as TARCOG’s new Director of Aging Programs. Sheila has dedicated the last 30 years of her career to advocating for and protecting elder rights while supporting case management, geriatric social work, and program development services throughout the Greater Cleveland, Ohio, area.

Sheila is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW, Alabama) and a Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervision Designation (LICSW-S, Ohio). She holds a B.S. in Social Work from Tuskegee University and an M.S. in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University. At TARCOG, Sheila oversees all operations, services, and programs that assist with improving the quality of life for older citizens throughout our region.  Sheila relocated to Madison, Alabama, after marrying her husband, Winston. In her free time, she enjoys jigsaw puzzles, reading, watching movies, and spending time with her 11-year-old Maltese, Bentley.  Please join us in welcoming Sheila to the TARCOG team! Explore Our Aging Programs

Improving Communities: New Geospatial Analysis Services

Have you heard the news? We have expanded our geospatial services to include onsite, real-time data collection with drone and Trimble capabilities. These new tools enable our GIS specialists to collect aerial and point data and allow them to map and analyze our region in more detail than ever before. To learn more about our expanded geospatial and mapping services, or to discuss potential drone or Trimble projects, contact James King, Associate Planner, at james.king@tarcog.us or 256-326-6105. Learn More About Our Community Planning Services

Growing Our Economy: Jackson County Receives Funds for Comprehensive Planning

Our Economic Development & Planning team worked closely with partners in Jackson County to apply for $150,000 of U.S. Economic Development Administration funds for a countywide comprehensive plan. Beginning later this summer, the planning effort will enable Jackson County to define its vision and strategically plan for future growth. Areas for assessment include infrastructure, housing, business and industry needs, school system and workforce development needs, outdoor recreation, tourism opportunities, and more. Are you working on your own economic development project? Click below to learn more about how TARCOG can help.  Discover Our Economic Development Programs

Upcoming Events Virtual Dementia Tour Multiple dates, July 11 – August 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.