America's Promise Alliance and ING Release National List of 100 Best Communities for Young People

The Georgia cities of Cumming and Macon, along with Troup County, are tops in our great state for young people.

/PRNewswire/ -- In a celebration of America's young people and the communities most dedicated to helping local youth graduate from high school, America's Promise Alliance (the Alliance) today announced its 2010 list of 100 Best Communities for Young People presented by ING. An interactive showcase of the 100 Best and their accomplishments can be found at www.americaspromise.org/100Best.

"The 100 Best Communities for Young People are taking bold and effective steps to help their youth graduate and lead healthy, productive lives," said Alma J. Powell, Chair, America's Promise Alliance. "Each community has proven that they are developing programs and implementing initiatives to provide young people with the essential resources they need to graduate from high school and succeed in college and a 21st century career."

The 100 Best competition is part of the Alliance's Grad Nation campaign, a 10-year initiative to mobilize all Americans to end the dropout crisis. This year, more than 350 communities in all 50 states and Washington, DC, were nominated for the 100 Best competition. The winners come from 37 states and 30 are first-time recipients of the honor. They were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges that included some of the nation's most well-known civic, business and nonprofit leaders such as: William Bell, president and CEO of Casey Family Programs; Fr. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA; Javier Palomarez, president and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Larry Naake, executive director, National Association of Counties; Jane Beshear, first lady of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and Dominique Dawes, Olympic gold medalist and youth advocate.

The 2010 winners will be highlighted at a ceremony in front of the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, DC, with Alma Powell, Alliance President and CEO Marguerite Kondracke, and ING Foundation President Rhonda Mims. Winning communities will be pinpointed on an expansive ceremonial U.S. map.

Twilight star Kellan Lutz will make a special appearance at the event, assisting the Alliance and ING executives in revealing the list of 100 Best Communities and connecting with young people about the importance of staying in school.

"ING is committed to children's education and to the advancement of education initiatives that prepare our young people to graduate and have successful futures," said Mims. "Our support for 100 Best demonstrates our goal of honoring communities that produce real, measurable results for improving the lives of young people."

"100 Best is an essential building block of Grad Nation, an inspiring national movement that seeks to ensure every young person graduates," said Kondracke. "These winning communities are helping to build a generation of assertive, successful and dynamic young people that are the future of this country. Our ultimate hope is that 100 Best will inspire all communities across America to make a commitment to children, keep them in school and help them overcome the challenges that could otherwise determine their future."

First held in 2005, the 100 Best competition is open to all communities that make children and youth a priority, including small towns, large cities, counties and school districts. In addition to enhancing local educational opportunities, most winning communities help facilitate greater access to quality health care for young people, encourage youth civic engagement and supply developmental resources that create better places for young people to live and grow.

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Disaster Loan Outreach Centers Closing June 26

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Centers located in Carrollton, Georgia (Carroll County) and Wrightsville, Georgia (Johnson County) will close Thursday, June 26 at noon. The SBA urges homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations that are disaster victims to visit the Centers before they close to obtain one-on-one assistance and information about the disaster assistance program. The SBA also encourages those victims of the severe storms and flooding that occurred on May 11-12, 2008 who received physical disaster loan applications to return their completed applications by the deadline of July 22, 2008.

  The Centers are located at:

 SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs)

 Bibb County
 Bibb Fire Station # 12
 5565 Bloomfield Road
 Macon, GA 30126
 Open: Monday-Friday
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

 Carroll County
 Industrial Training Building
 West Georgia Tech College
 166 Independence Drive
 Carrollton GA 30116
 Open: Monday-Wednesday
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
 Thursday: 9:00 AM -12:00 PM
 Closes: Thu. June 26 at Noon

 Johnson County
 Johnson County School
 150 Trojan Way
 Wrightsville GA 31096
 Open: Monday-Wednesday
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
 Thursday: 9:00AM-12:00 PM
 Closes: Thu. June 26 at

"We want to express our sincere gratitude to the staff of the Industrial Noon Training Building in Carrollton and the Johnson County School in Wrightsville," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East. "By providing the facilities for our Disaster Loan Outreach Center, they have helped disaster victims in their community. We deeply appreciate their generosity."

Anyone unable to visit a Center who has registered with FEMA may obtain an application by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT or by emailing our customer service center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be returned to one of the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155.

The deadline to return physical loan applications is July 22, 2008. The deadline for returning economic injury applications is February 23, 2009.

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs, visit our website at www.sba.gov.

Disaster Recovery Center in Macon Transitions to a Disaster Loan Outreach Center; SBA's Deadline to Apply for Physical Damage Disaster Loans is July 2

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announces today that the Disaster Recovery Center in Macon will transition into a SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center beginning Friday, June 20 at the Bibb County Fire Station # 12, 5565 Bloomfield Road, Macon, Georgia. Homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations have one month remaining to submit disaster loan applications for physical damage. The deadline to file an application for physical damage is July 22, 2008.

Disaster victims who received damage from the severe storms and flooding that occurred on May 11 - 12, 2008 in Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh and Twiggs counties in the State of Georgia are eligible to apply for SBA disaster loans for physical damage.

The establishment of the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers demonstrates SBA's commitment to ensure that every qualified individual and business receives the help they need to recover from this disaster. "Assisting individuals to recover from a disaster is our primary mission. We are encouraging anyone affected by this disaster to visit the Centers while we still have staff there and obtain individual assistance with completing their loan applications from our representatives," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East.

  The Centers are located in the following communities:

 FEMA/SBA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs)

 Bibb County
 Bloomfield Middle School
 4375 Bloomfield Drive
 Macon GA 31206
 Open: Through Thursday
 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
 Closing: Thursday, June 19 at 6:00 PM

 SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs)

 Bibb County
 Bibb Fire Station # 12
 5565 Bloomfield Road
 Macon, GA 30126
 Opens: Friday, June 20
 Open: Monday-Friday
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

 Carroll County
 Industrial Training Building
 West Georgia Tech College
 166 Independence Drive
 Carrollton GA 30116
 Open: Monday-Friday
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

 Johnson County
 Johnson County School
 150 Trojan Way
 Wrightsville GA 31096
 Open: Monday-Friday
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Businesses of any size and private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $1.5 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage in the future.

The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) for small businesses to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 2.687 percent for homeowners and renters and 4.000 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based upon each applicant's financial condition.

The SBA urges anyone who has not registered for assistance to call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), regardless of the status of any insurance claim. FEMA will refer you to the agency best able to meet your disaster-related needs.

Anyone unable to visit a Center who has registered with FEMA may obtain an application by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT or by emailing our customer service center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov . Completed applications should be returned to one of the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155.

The deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 22, 2008. The deadline to return applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) is February 23, 2009.

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs, visit our web site at www.sba.gov

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

Bibb, Hall, and Columbia County Schools Adopt Carnegie Learning’s Custom Georgia Math Programs

BusinessWire -

Carnegie Learning, Inc., a leading publisher of research-based math curricula for middle schools, high schools, and the higher education market, announced today that the company’s Georgia Math I & 2 programs have been purchased by three Georgia school districts -- Bibb, Hall, and Columbia County Schools. Carnegie Learning’s customized Georgia Math curricula are designed, specifically, to meet new, more rigorous high school math requirements being implemented by the Georgia Department of Education beginning in fall 2008.

In November 2007, the Georgia State Board of Education’s Learning Resources Advisory Committee recommended Carnegie Learning’s integrated math curricula for use in Georgia, and districts across the state are currently selecting new math textbooks as part of the textbook adoption process. Bibb, Hall, and Columbia County Schools are three of many districts in Georgia purchasing Carnegie Learning textbooks and Professional Development services. Bibb and Hall Counties also purchased Carnegie Learning’s Cognitive Tutor® software for Math Support, an intelligent software program that provides differentiated instruction by adapting the learning path to each student’s understanding of mathematical concepts.

"The changes in the Georgia Performance Standards will require a change in expectations for students, teachers, districts and the Georgia Department of Education,” said Sharon Patterson, Superintendent, Bibb County School District. “In responding to the changing expectation, the school system sought a math solution that was research-based around a collaborative teaching model. The Carnegie Learning approach seems to deliver the math curricula we need to meet the new challenges."

Carnegie Learning’s Cognitive Tutor research is well supported in the Learning Processes subcommittee report of the recent National Math Advisory Panel report to the President and U.S. Secretary of Education, and is cited as an example of a curriculum that has strong evidence of effectiveness and is a model for applying basic research in the classroom.

Mom Would Be So Proud

Mom Would Be So Proud
Georgia DOT Crews Come Through During The Storm

Early on Mother’s Day, the storms blew in, knocking out power, downing trees and spreading debris across several counties. As Ken Robinson sat at home that Sunday morning; he knew the call would come. As a public servant Robinson left his family to head out into the destruction left behind from the tornados that ripped apart portions of Central Georgia. Robinson stated, “Once I knew that my family was safe, I headed towards Macon and began contacting employees to come in and begin clean-up efforts.”

He was not alone. On that Sunday afternoon more than 100 dedicated Georgia Department of Transportation employees headed out for the unknown. Their efforts began in the early afternoon hours when area foremen began directing them to the hardest hit areas. As fast as machinery was loaded, employees made their way to the damaged roadways. The first calls coming in stated that Interstates 16 and 75 were impassable; State Routes 19 and 18 had trees down across them. Chain saws buzzing and tractors rumbling to life, the crews, utilizing dump trucks, loaders, track-hoes, flatbed trailers and bucket trucks went to work clearing these areas by pushing the downed trees into the medians.

In the tornados’ aftermath, street signs and traffic signals dangled from precarious perches of bent and twisted steel. More than 650 signs, including 6 large interstate signs, were damaged and had to be replaced. Crews from Georgia DOT Traffic Operations replaced 15 traffic signals and assisted the City of Macon at an additional 10 intersections.

As the days became weeks, Georgia DOT averaged 138 employees daily working to clear over 700 dump truck and trailer loads full of debris clocking approximately 17,000 hours to clear the roads and make them safe for the traveling public. Thomas Howell, Georgia DOT District Engineer, said “I would like to commend the efforts of these men and women for leaving their families to help the residents of Bibb and Twiggs counties. They exemplified the true meaning of public service.”