Weekly Newsletter: June 14

Events Happen Here








Have you ever wondered what the SBDC is? Listen and learn about the available resources for small businesses & SBDC updates.
 
As well as these topics:
 
Accounting and Financing
Marketing and Selling
Human Resources
International Trade
Minority Programs
 
Zoom Registration required:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsfuqvqz8iGtLbdKSYPVnENuWLfVo8yu4l
 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.







Good Things Happen Here








Deep River Outfitters Celebrates 6th Anniversary



June is our 6th Anniversary! We’ll have great deals in our Tennille shop and online all month.

Stay tuned!



Washington EMC Main Office Gets a Facelift



Washington EMC is now open for business at our main office in Sandersville! If you need to pay your bill or apply for service, come see our friendly customer service representatives in our new lobby!

Same business hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.



Washington County Regional Medical Center Undergoes Parking Lot Construction



Excuse our mess! WCRMC is under parking lot construction. Just one of the items in the plan to beautify the campus. So, please be careful and travel safely through the parking lot. Thank you.

 

USDA Announces Cooperative Agreements for Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction

Athens, GA, May 18, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the availability of up to $2 million for local governments to host Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CCFWR) pilot projects for fiscal year 2021. The cooperative agreements support projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans and they are part of USDA’s broader efforts to support urban agriculture.

USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (Office) will accept applications on Grants.gov until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 16, 2021. Projects should span two years with a start date of September 25, 2021 and completion date of September 25, 2023.

“Finding ways to turn food waste into nutrient rich compost is a win-win for farmers, communities and the environment,” said Terrance O. Rudolph, state conservationist for NRCS in Georgia. “The level of enthusiasm and creativity communities are putting towards this kind of problem solving is inspiring, and USDA is proud to support it.”

Details
Cooperative agreements support projects led by local governments that:
  • Generate compost.
  • Increase access to compost for agricultural producers.
  • Reduce reliance on and limit the use of fertilizer.
  • Improve soil quality.
  • Encourage waste management and permaculture business development.
  • Increase rainwater absorption.
  • Reduce municipal food waste.
  • Divert food waste from landfills.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide assistance for conservation related activities.

Priority will be given to projects that anticipate or demonstrate economic benefits, incorporate plans to make compost easily accessible to farmers, including community gardeners, integrate other food waste strategies, including food recovery efforts and collaborate with multiple partners.

This is the second year the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production offered this grant opportunity. Examples of previous projects include:
  • Department of Sanitation of New York and nonprofit Big Reuse are establishing food scrap drop-off locations while New York City Parks Department is diverting wood chips and leaves from landfill disposal to create compost. GreenThumb, Brooklyn Grange, Hellgate Farms, Gowanus Canal Conservancy and other urban farms are distributing the compost for food production in the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn, diverting approximately 600,000 pounds of food scraps and green waste from landfills and providing 350 cubic yards of compost to food producers.
  • The City of Prescott, Arizona is collaborating with the farmers’ market, volunteers, restaurants, Yavapai County Cooperative Extension and Prescott College to design, build and implement the Prescott Community Compost Program. The program educates the community about composting, reduces food waste by collecting and composting restaurant food scraps and provides high-quality compost to gardeners and farmers in Central Yavapai County, creating approximately 28 tons of compost over the two-year program.
Webinar

A pre-recorded webinar will provide an overview of the cooperative agreements’ purpose, project types, eligibility and basic requirements for submitting an application. The webinar will be posted at farmers.gov/urban.

More Information

Questions about this cooperative agreement opportunity can be sent to UrbanAgriculture@usda.gov. For questions related to urban agriculture and conservation opportunities in Georgia, contact Amelia Dortch at (678) 202-9257 or amelia.dortch@usda.gov.

The Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production was established through the 2018 Farm Bill, and in addition to these grant opportunities, it offers grant and engagement opportunities. It includes representatives from many USDA agencies, including the Farm Service Agency and the Agricultural Marketing Service, and is led by NRCS. More information is available at farmers.gov/urban.



COVID Resources




Chamber Members, interested in hosting a on-site vaccination clinic for your employees? Contact CHCS to schedule them to come out.



Gov. Kemp Signs New COVID-19 Executive Orders
MARCH 31, 2021


Click here to view.

Education Happens Here








Sandersville and Davisboro Head Start locations will be site locations for the Summer Transition Program.




 

Jobs Happen Here








Restoration Technician

Do you love helping people through difficult situations? Then don’t miss your chance to join our Franchise as a new Restoration Technician. In this position, you will be making a difference each and every day. We have a sincere drive toward the goal of helping make fire and water damage “Like it never even happened”! Our Franchise is seeking someone who is comfortable working hard in challenging situations, enjoys meeting new people, has excellent communication skills, enjoys supervising others, and is a serious multi-tasker.
If you are self-motivated and have superb interpersonal skills, then you’ll thrive in this work environment. Are you highly dependable and super-excited about routinely exceeding expectations? Then you may be our perfect hero! As a valued SERVPRO® Franchise employee, you will receive a competitive pay rate, with opportunity to learn and grow.







Nightingale Services

Hiring PCA and CNA Positions
For more information, call 478-552-0004













Elementary Teacher: PreK-5
Upper School Spanish Teacher
Upper School Math Teacher
Substitute Teacher
 

#shopWACOfirst

 

















 

Georgia SMART Plan


Small businesses, like yours, need an easier, more affordable way to offer healthcare to your employees. An Anthem SMART plan can help you do both.

The Chamber has teamed up with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) to administer the Georgia Chamber SMART Plan (SMART). This plan allows smaller employers to join together to share in the overall claims risk. By being part of a larger, self-funded pool, employers have financial protection backed by Anthem.

To learn more, click here.
 

Support Happens Here

















 

Newsletter Submission Information

Want to add your event, news or updates?!?
Send it to us at chamber@washingtoncountyga.com 
and it will be added to the next Newsletter. 

 
Chamber of Commerce Weekly Newsletter - Weekly Newsletter: June 14