Quarterly Report
First Tennessee Development District
4th Quarter Status Report
October - December 2011
Economic and Community Development
- The District assisted the following communities that were funded by the Small Cities, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program:
- Town of Bulls Gap, Fire Equipment
- Carter County, Water System Upgrade
- City of Elizabethton, Sewer System Rehab
- Town of Greeneville, Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements
- Town of Mount Carmel, Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements
- City of Sneedville, Sewer System Rehab
- During the quarter, the District assisted the following community that received State Industrial Access Road (SIA) funds from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT):
- City of Johnson City, Clinical Management Concepts Access Road
- During the quarter, the District assisted the following community that received FastTrack Infrastructure Development Program (FIDP) funds from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development (TECD):
- Hancock County, Kiefer Manufacturing Site Improvements
- The District assisted the following community in receiving Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant (EECDBG) through the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development (TECD):
- Washington County, Lighting Retrofit Improvements
- Economic and demographic data is available at the District’s website www.ftdd.org under the Regional Statistics/FACTS heading.
Housing Programs
- Housing staff attended the 2011 Governor's Housing Summit in Nashville to learn about upcoming funding and housing news.
- A workshop for the Northeast Tennessee/Virginia HOME Consortium was held for community development housing agencies to apply for funding to develop housing for low income residents of Washington and Sullivan Counties. $182,809 was made available for eligible projects within the Consortium boundaries.
- Staff attended grant writing workshop presented by the Appalachian Regional Coalition.
- Staff attended FEMA's Disaster Recovery Workshop in Jonesborough.
- Staff is continuing to work with Youth Build on a partnership with the Tennessee Housing Development Agency's Emergency Repair Program.
- Housing staff toured completed projects with a representative from Tennessee Housing Development Agency. THDA is compiling stories for a new report for our legislators to promote continued investment in housing.
- During this quarter the following projects were completed:
- THDA HOME Rehabilitation/Reconstruction Program (10)
Town of Unicoi – 1
Town of Watauga - 4
Hancock County - 3
Carter - 2
- THDA Emergency Repair Program for the Elderly (7)
Washington County – 1 Carter County – 1
Sullivan County – 2 Hawkins County - 1
Unicoi County – 2
- Northeast Tennessee/Virginia HOME Consortium Down Payment Assistance (19)
Kingsport – 5 Bristol, TN - 2
Sullivan County – 1 Washington County - 3
Johnson City - 8
- Northeast Tennessee/Virginia HOME Consortium Housing Rehabilitation (6)
Johnson City – 1 Sullivan County – 3
Bristol, TN - 2
- Johnson City CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program (3)
Emergency Repair –2
Substantial Rehabilitation - 1
Area Agency on Aging and Disability
- Advertised for and conducted 22 Medicare Part D enrollment events and assisted 200 Medicare beneficiaries. Three staff and 48 ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy students provided one-on-one counseling, Part D plan comparison, enrollment in the low income subsidy program as well as enrollment in new Part D plans.
- Presented educational information at 16 different events to 220 individuals.
- Purchased State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) advertising to be placed on Food City pharmacy bags in Elizabethton and Kingsport.
- Strengthened partnerships with Mountain States Health Alliance (MSHA) Call Center by providing three in-service trainings for all three call center shifts.
- Distributed SHIP information to 3,717 individuals and/or agencies through health fairs at 57 locations.
- Sponsored “The Informed Caregiver” conference in Kingsport which provided training to 40 attendees. Information included legal aspects of caregiving, geriatric population information, Social Security benefits, and Medicare and Medicaid Fraud.
- Monitored 5 senior centers, 5 service providers, 6 nutrition sites, and 6 transportation sites.
- Community Care Transitions Program (CCTP) –FTAAAD in partnership with Integrated Solutions Health Network (ISHN)- A new Care Collaborative, Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens (Cedar Bluff, Virginia), District Three Senior Services (Marion, Virginia) and Mountain Empire Older Citizens (Big Stone Gap, Virginia) submitted an application to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)for the Community Care Transitions Program (CCTP). The goal of the CCTP is to improve health outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI), Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and Pneumonia (PNEU).
- Money Follows the Person Program (MFP) –FTAAAD began completing Quality of Life (QOL) Surveys for the Money Follows the Person Program. This program is designed to assist States in rebalancing their long-term care systems and help 2,225 “eligible individuals” transition from institutions to the community. TN is one of 43 states receiving funds through this federally funded demonstration grant.
- CHOICES enrollment remains open. CHOICES in Long-Term Care (or “CHOICES”) is TennCare’s program for long-term care services. Long-term care includes help doing everyday activities that a person may no longer be able to do for themselves. Up to 13 support services are available to eligible individuals that enroll into the program. Program objectives for CHOICES in Long Term Care include decreased fragmentation in the long term care (LTC) system and improved coordination of care, increased options and choices for those who need LTC, expanded access to Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) so more Tennesseans who need LTC can receive care in their homes and communities, and rebalanced LTC funding allowing the state to serve more people using existing LTC funds.
- The Washington County Senior and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) Council hosted a CarFit program in Johnson City. This event was coordinated with AAA East Tennessee and the ETSU College of Physical Therapy. CarFit is an educational event for senior drivers to ensure that drivers fit properly in their car with respect to mirror placement, seat placement, seat belt comfort, access to brake pedals, etc. Twenty two seniors participated in the event.
- Two staff members attended the “Compassion 2011” Domestic Violence conference held at Bristol Regional Medical Center.
- Approximately 1,100 individuals are actively receiving services that includes home delivered meals, personal care, homemaker, respite services, personal emergency response system, or minor home modifications.
- Available openings on Title IIIC home delivered meals, Title IIIB Homemaker Service and Personal Care Services, National Family Caregiver Program (NFCP), State Options Programs were filled.
- Approximately 1,400+ individuals remain on FTAAAD waiting lists to receive services.
- FTAAAD Service Coordinators attended Bed Bug Training and In-Service.
- Three In-Home Service Coordinators attended Caregiver Support Training in Kingsport. Johnson City Service Coordinator and Lead Service Coordinator participated in Johnson City Seniors’ Center Caregiver Conference.
- Partnered with available resources in the community to deliver food boxes at Thanksgiving, and presents with food boxes at Christmas. 113 consumers were served.
- Facilitated the monthly Caregivers Support Group in cooperation with Mountain States Health Alliance Health Resources Center with an average attendance of 8.
- Completed six “Living Well with Chronic Conditions” (LWWCC) workshops with a total of 70 completers.
- Fidelity review of the 6 LWWCC workshops including facility, facilitator evaluations and participant’s wrap up and submitted to Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD).
- Chronic Disease Self Management Program (CDSMP) presentations to key leaders in Unicoi County with 13 participants, Greene County with 14 participants and Appalachian Service Projects staff with 25 participants.
- Maintained partnership with ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy to offer 20 Medication Management education programs in 8 locations with a total of 134 participants, 88 pharmacy students and two pharmacists.
- Requested donated prizes from CVS Pharmacy for all CDSMP senior participants.
- The Public Guardian Program served 31 wards: 8 in Greene County, 1 in Hamblen County (out of our service area due to a transfer of Conservatorship to Knoxville Public Guardian), 5 in Johnson County, 7 in Sullivan County, 3 in Unicoi, and 7 in Washington County.
- 12 out of 14 volunteers were utilized and provided volunteer services to 18 Public Guardian wards. The program currently has volunteers serving 5 counties: Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington.
- Conservator of Person and Property = 24 wards; Conservator of Person Only = 4 wards; Power of Attorney Person and Property = 1 ward, Power of Attorney Property Only = 1 ward; Power of Attorney Surrogate = 1 ward
Environmental Management
During the 2nd Quarter of FY 2011-2012, the Environmental Management Program staff worked on several projects that involved many of our local governments. The District assisted or implemented the following projects during the past quarter:
- Attended National Association of Development Organizations Annual Meeting.
- Prepared Environmental Reviews for Greeneville and Greene County HOME Rehabilitation projects.
- Worked with regional solid waste planning boards to update board memberships and revise terms of service.
- Attended RMCT Board meeting in Cookeville, Tennessee.
- Assisted Washington County with construction/demolition waste issue.
- Attended FTDD Annual Meeting in Gatlinburg.
- Continue to serve on the Planning Committee for the Annual Tennessee Environmental Conference held in March in Kingsport.
- Attended GIS Conference in Kingsport.
- Attended Disaster Recovery Workshop in Jonesborough.
- Attended meetings of the Boone Watershed Partnership as a member of the Advisory Committee.
- Worked on recycling project for Nuclear Fuel Services in Erwin.
- Worked on Hawkins County District Solid Waste Needs Assessment.
- Prepared preliminary Environmental Reviews for EDA applications for Mosheim and Walter’s State Community College in Greeneville.
- Attended ECD CDBG Workshop in Morristown.
- Worked on Erwin Linear Trail Transportation Enhancement project Environmental Review.
- Assisted with Water Quality grant application to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
- Attended meetings of the Carter County Commission Landfill Committee.
- Worked on Greeneville and Bulls Gap CDBG Environmental Reviews.
Rural Planning Organization
During the past quarter the First Tennessee RPO staff assisted local transportation representatives and elected officials with numerous requests concerning rural transportation. The RPO was also involved in the following projects and initiatives:
- Prepared for Technical Committee and Executive Board meetings in October and December, respectively.
- Participated in RPO Coordinator’s Conference Call with TDOT.
- Attended Washington County Economic Summit Infrastructure Committee meeting Johnson City.
- Attended TDOT Airport Capital Improvement Roundtable meeting in Morristown.
- Attended the Washington County Economic Summit in Johnson City.
- Worked on Erwin Linear Trail and Erwin Industrial Access Road Environmental Reviews.
- Attended East Tennessee Development District North and South RPO meetings in Knoxville.
- Presented an overview of the RPO program to the Carter County Tomorrow Board of Directors.
- Attended Kingsport MPO meeting.
- Attended Safe Routes to School Workshop in Jonesborough.
- Attended Every Day Counts Teleconference in Knoxville.
Planning
During the past quarter the First Tennessee Local Planning staff assisted community staff, planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals, and residents with professional planning work in the following areas:
- Prepared supplemental documentation as part of the grant application for the “2011-2012 Local Planning Assistance Transition Grant Program”.
- Researched and discussed the process of establishing an Environmental Court within a county.
- Staffed thirty-five planning commission meetings.
- Staffed twelve boards of zoning appeals meetings, and reviewed fourteen requests for zoning variances.
- Staffed one legislative body meeting.
- Planned and facilitated four hours of continuing education and training for ninety-six planning commission and board of zoning appeals members, and planning staff.
- Provided seventeen hours of continuing education and training at various planning commission and board of zoning appeals meetings.
- Reviewed forty-three subdivision plats.
- Reviewed fifteen development site plans.
- Prepared two Annexation Ordinance and Plan of Services.
- Conducting research for three annexation studies.
- Prepared fourteen amendments to subdivision regulations.
- Prepared five amendments to zoning ordinances.
- Reviewed five rezoning requests and prepared rezoning ordinances and maps.
- Provided information regarding amending Urban Growth Boundaries as per Public Chapter 1101 of 1998 to various communities.
- Researched various zoning issues (i.e. cargo containers, site plan regulations, signage, pain clinics, storage buildings, flood regulations, historic zoning, telecommunication facilities, wind and solar energy, etc…).
Special Projects
- Attended regular board, committee meetings, and other events for the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance; Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association; Tanasi; WIB Youth Council and Regional Coordination Team; Appalachia Sustainable Development; Northeast TN Council on Children and Youth; Hancock County Community Partners; Vision Council for Children & Youth and United Way of Greater Kingsport, Tennessee Association of Community Leadership.
- Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations 2011 Public Infrastructure Needs Inventory, completing Milestone 2a.
- Tri-Cities TN/VA Regional Leadership Council hosted the Regional Leadership Day at Tusculum College.
- Attended Tennessee Valley Authority annual update
Calendar of Events
- USDA Rural Development Annual Conference, Cookeville, TN, April 11 & 12, 2012