Postal Service Updates Station and Branch Consolidation Initiative

17 Georgia branches are still on the list including 1 in Athens, 13 in Atlanta, 2 in Macon and 1 in Port Wentworth.


PRNewswire -- The U.S. Postal Service today updated the list of retail stations and branches that remain under review for possible consolidation, with only 241 offices still under review.

Unlike most federal agencies, America's national mail system receives no tax subsidy for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. The Postal Service reported a loss of $3.8 billion at the end of its 2009 fiscal year in October.

"To shore up its finances, the Postal Service is looking at every aspect of its business to economize. Reducing over-capacity in retail and delivery operations is a smart business move. Every effort is being made to maintain and improve customer access to postal services," said Steven J. Forte, senior vice president, Operations.

Today's announcement updates a review process begun earlier this summer that initially examined about 3,300 stations and branches in urban and suburban areas across the country, focusing on facilities in relatively close proximity to one another. The process is to determine where consolidations might be feasible without compromising customer access to postal services.

With over 36,000 Post Offices, stations, branches, contract and community post offices, the Postal Service has the largest retail network in the United States. An additional 56,000 locations such as supermarkets, drug stores, and other retailers sell postage and selected postal services. Nearly 18,000 ATMs dispense sheets of stamps. But customers do not have to visit a physical building to purchase products and services; postage can be bought at usps.com and printed on personal computers.

As part of this process, the Postal Service has filed periodic updates with the Postal Regulatory Commission, identifying the retail stations and branches that remain under consideration. The filing does not represent a final decision on consolidation. To date, no facility-specific final decisions have been made as a result of this initiative.

New initiatives also are being undertaken to build revenue, including Flat Rate Priority Mail pricing. If it fits in the box, it ships for one low price regardless of U.S. destination or weight. Another recent revenue building initiative introduced greeting cards to 500 select Post Offices.

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Nearly 20,000 SBA Loan Applications Yet to be Returned; November 23 is Deadline to Apply for Physical Damage

(BUSINESS WIRE)--With only a few days remaining before the November 23, application deadline for physical disaster loans, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announces that it has approved 1,085 disaster loans for $40,361,300 to Georgia homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations affected by the September 2009 severe storms and flooding.

“We want to thank all of our federal, state and local partners, as well as the volunteer organizations and individuals that helped the SBA to provide financial assistance to the victims,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East.

“However, there are nearly 20,000 people who have not returned their SBA loan applications. These individuals have until November 23 to return completed applications for physical damage to the SBA. Homeowners or renters who do not qualify for a disaster loan may be referred to FEMA for grant consideration.

Interest rates are as low as 2.750 percent for homeowners and renters and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. These loans are for uninsured or uncompensated losses up to SBA’s loan limits.

All Disaster Loan Outreach Centers and Business Recovery Centers in the disaster area will cease operations at the close of business Monday, November 23. Victims in the following counties in Georgia are eligible to apply for SBA’s physical disaster loans: Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker.

SBA Center locations and hours of operation are as follows:
Disaster Loan Outreach Centers
Cherokee County			Cobb County			DeKalb County
Cherokee County Parks & Recreation Gym			The Threadmill			Browns Mill Recreation Center
7545 Main Street, Building 200			5000 Austell/Powder Springs Rd, Suite 120			5101 Browns Mill Road
Woodstock, GA 30188			Austell, GA 30106			Lithonia, GA 30058
Open: Mon-Fri; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.			Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.			Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Douglas County			Fulton County			Gwinnett County
Old Douglas County Court House			Fulton County Government Center			Mountain Park Depot
6754 Broad Street			141 Pryor Street SW			5050 Five Forks Trickum Rd.
Douglasville, GA 30134			Atlanta, GA 30303			Lilburn, GA 30047
Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.			Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.			Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SBA Business Recovery Centers
Cobb County			Douglas County			Fulton County
Powder Springs Library			Douglas County Chamber of Commerce			Government Service Center
4181 Atlanta Street – Bldg. 1			6658 Church Street			7741 Roswell Road
Powder Springs, GA 30127			Douglasville, GA 30134			Atlanta, GA 30350
Open: Mon-Fri; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.			Open: Mon-Fri; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.			Open: Mon-Fri; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Anyone unable to visit one of the Centers may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (or 1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST, or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications may be downloaded from www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Applications may be returned to any of the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas, 76155.

Georgia disaster victims may visit SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to apply for disaster loans.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is November 23, 2009. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 24, 2010.

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Symposium to present 2009 Metro Atlanta Homeless Survey

As the recession impacts the social and economic fabric of communities, local governments and agencies will present the results of the 2009 Metro Atlanta Homeless Survey during the 2009 Homeless Symposium Nov. 20 at Georgia State University.

The symposium will be held at 8:30 a.m. in the Speaker's Auditorium at the GSU Student Center, 44 Courtland St. S.E., and will include a summary of the survey and a panel discussion about its results.

"The symposium is designed to get those involved with providing assistance to the homeless to look at the survey results and their meaning, and to discuss the issues surrounding homelessness," said Tim Crimmins, director of the GSU Center for Neighborhood and Metropolitan Studies.

The survey is a project of the Metropolitan Atlanta Tri-Jurisdictional Collaborative on Homelessness and Pathways Community Network. GSU's Center for Neighborhood and Metropolitan Studies, GSU's Department of Sociology, and the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Commission on Homelessness, are joining them in sponsoring the symposium.

The fourth-annual survey represents examines homelessness in the city of Atlanta and Fulton and DeKalb counties. The survey provides a way to look at different factors which might play a role in homelessness in 2009, including the effects of the recession, as well as the efforts in transitioning homeless persons into jobs, counseling and other programs, and those efforts' effects.

Prior to the 2009 survey, researchers completed a census of homeless persons within Atlanta and Fulton and DeKalb counties during a single day in January, and found a total of 7,019 homeless individuals and homeless family members in the three jurisdictions. The total census increased by 20 percent from 2003 to 2009, with a 6 percent increase from 2007 to 2009. The survey helps to flesh out this data, providing context and the factors behind the numbers.

For every survey since 2003, surveyors have gathered a standard set of demographic information, including history and reasons for homelessness, but with each year, researchers also hone in on different sets of specialized issues. This year, researchers also focused on vulnerability, foster care, and criminal history as a barrier to finding jobs and housing, among other issues, said Josie Parker, manager for research and data analysis for Pathways Community Network and a doctoral candidate in sociology at Georgia State.

The symposium is open to the public. For more information, contact Josie Parker at 404-639-9933, ext. 323, or josie.parker@pcni.org.

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Kia Motors' First U.S. Manufacturing Plant Starts Production in West Point, GA

/PRNewswire/ -- The first U.S.-built Kia vehicle(1), a white 2011 MY Sorento CUV, rolled off the production line today at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), officially opening the first U.S. Kia Motors(2) plant. KMMG is expected to produce 300,000 vehicles at full capacity and employ 2,500 people, with on-site and nearby suppliers creating 7,500 additional jobs in the region.

"The start of production for our first manufacturing facility in the United States further demonstrates our commitment to growth in North America and we are proud to be adding 2,500 jobs to the local economy," said B.M. Ahn, group president and CEO, Kia Motors America (KMA) and KMMG.

Representing an investment by Kia Motors of $1 billion, KMMG will establish new benchmarks for vehicle quality and productivity by utilizing some of the world's most advanced manufacturing techniques. KMMG's general assembly area is outfitted with more than a half mile of height-adjustable conveyors to achieve the most favorable installation position for each team member and reduce physical fatigue. Also in general assembly, KMMG is the only plant in North America outfitted with wood flooring, which provides a more comfortable and forgiving work environment for team members.

Built on 2,200 acres, the complex includes a body stamping facility, a transmission shop where the all-new 2011 Sorento's six-speed automatic transmission is produced, and a two mile test track in addition to the main assembly plant. The plant's 186-foot-long stamping press delivers 5,400 tons of pressure to stamp steel into 17 different types of vehicle panels for the all-new Sorento, operating at a speed of seven to 15 strokes per minute. The massive stamping equipment spans from almost 20 feet below the floor to 39.4 feet high.

KMMG continues Kia Motors' aggressive investment in the U.S. market. Since 2002, more than $1.3 billion has been invested in various facilities throughout the country, including a dedicated corporate campus and design center in Irvine, Calif., a state-of-the-art research and development center in Ann Arbor, Mich. and custom-built vehicle proving grounds in Mojave, Calif.

Since coming to market in the United States, Kia Motors, through its US-based marketing and distribution arm, KMA, has expanded to a full product line of vehicles and enjoyed 14 years of consecutive market share increases, including a 50 percent increase through October 2009. Most recently, KMA posted its best sales quarter in company history and is one of only three automakers whose sales are up over their 2008 sales pace.

About Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) is the first manufacturing site in North America for Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, Korea. KMMG is located on 2,200 acres in West Point, Georgia. At full capacity, the plant will have the ability to produce 300,000 vehicles annually and employ approximately 2,500 team members.

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DHS energy assistance program helps Georgians with their home heating bills

As the colder winter months approach, the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) will once again help Georgians struggling to keep up with the cost of heating their homes.

The agency’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will receive approximately $65.4 million dollars in federal funds, under the continuing resolution limitation, to assist low-income, elderly and disabled Georgians with their heating bills.

On November 2, 2009, local community action agencies began administering all available funds under state contracts, and homebound and elderly (aged 65 and older) households were able to begin applying for help.

All other eligible families may apply starting December 1, 2009. In most cases, payments will be made directly to the home energy supplier for gas, electricity, propane gas, wood, coal or kerosene. Qualifying applicants will receive payments of either $310 or $350.

To participate in the program, the family must meet a yearly income equal to or less than 60 percent of the state median income. For a one-person household, that would be $21,458; for two people, $28,061; for three people, $34,663; for four people, $41,266; for five people, $47,868; for six people, $54,471, for seven people, $55,709; for eight people, $56,947 (for each additional person, add $1,238 to annual income).

To qualify, applicants must bring their most recent fuel bill or statement of service from their heating provider. They also must have proof of income for all household members for the last 30 days. This may be paycheck stubs, a letter granting public assistance, Social Security or unemployment benefits. Applicants must also have social security numbers for all household members. Verification of age will be required for all elderly households.

Assistance will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The program will close April 30, 2010, or when funds are exhausted.

For more information, contact the Division of Family and Children Services, Community Based Programs in metro Atlanta, by calling 404-656-2323 or toll free at 1-800-869-1150.

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John Stossel to Speak at Emory Law Nov. 18

Former ABC News anchor John Stossel will speak at Emory University School of Law at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the school’s Tull Auditorium. The lecture is sponsored by the Emory Federalist Society in conjunction with the Emory College Republicans and the Young America's Foundation.

The lecture is free and open to the public. The law school is located at 1301 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, 30322, and parking is available at the adjacent Lowergate South Parking Deck on Gambrell Drive.

Stossel’s lecture, “Bashing Business,” will focus on the role of the free market and self-interest in a prosperous society. A short question-and-answer session and book signing will follow. Copies of Stossel’s books, "Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel—Why Everything You Know is Wrong" and "Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media," will be available for sale.

Stossel, a former co-anchor of ABC’s 20/20, is the winner of 19 Emmy Awards, the George Polk Award for Outstanding Local Reporting and the Peabody Award. He also has been honored five times by the National Press Club for excellence in consumer reporting. Stossel recently announced plans to headline a show on Fox News.

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Governor Perdue Visiting Troops in Iraq

Governor Sonny Perdue and three other governors are visiting American soldiers serving in Iraq today (November 10), as Veteran’s Day approaches this week. Governor Perdue is in Iraq as part of a delegation with Governors Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Dave Freudenthal of Wyoming and Ted Kulongoski of Oregon.

“I am very encouraged with the progress that has been made in Iraq,” Governor Perdue said. “I have been able to visit troops from across Georgia and it is clear that the strength and courage of our soldiers have made a real difference here.”

The governors were able to attend a cookout today in Iraq with soldiers from each of their states.

“I am especially honored to be with our soldiers as we all prepare for Veteran’s Day tomorrow,” Governor Perdue added. “I encourage all Georgians to do all they can to show our veterans how much we appreciate their service and commitment to our great country.”

On Monday, the governors received a briefing in Washington D.C. by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and other Pentagon officials. They also visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center to meet with wounded soldiers.

Governor Perdue last visited Iraq in November 2005. On that trip, he also visited Qatar, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

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