Georgia Matches Its 2000 Census Mail Participation Rates

/PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest 2010 Census mail participation rates released today, the state of Georgia has now matched the rate it had achieved during the 2000 Census - 69 percent. Georgia is one of 19 states, in addition to Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, that have met or surpassed their rates from the 2000 Census.

The Census Bureau will continue to post updates to the participation rate throughout the week as the last of the mailed-back forms are processed. After Friday, April 23, no rate updates will be posted until the final mail participation rate is calculated and announced at a news conference during the week of April 26.

The complete list of states that have reached this milestone follows:

-- Alabama
-- Delaware
-- Georgia
-- Florida
-- Hawaii
-- Illinois
-- Indiana
-- Kentucky
-- Maine
-- Minnesota
-- New York
-- North Carolina
-- Rhode Island
-- South Carolina
-- Tennessee
-- Utah
-- Vermont
-- Virginia
-- Washington

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Georgia’s Kidney Community Praises House Insurance Committee for Advancing Medigap Bill; Strongly Urges Bill Passage Before Close of Legislative Session

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Georgia House Insurance Committee today passed patient-centered legislation (S.B. 316) that will allow more than 2,000 kidney failure patients and those deemed disabled in Georgia to obtain secondary insurance coverage for medical care. Members of the kidney care community, including dialysis patients, caregivers and advocates praised committee members for recognizing the valuable role Medigap reform will have in improving patient access to life-saving care, including dialysis or transplant medications. The bill, which was unanimously passed by the Senate earlier this year, will now advance to a full House vote.

“We encourage state lawmakers to pass Medigap reform before the close of this legislative session to ensure that all patients, regardless of age or financial standing, can obtain the healthcare coverage they need and deserve.”

Georgians of all ages diagnosed with end state renal disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, currently qualify for insurance coverage under the federal Medicare benefit; however, patients are still responsible to paying additional out of pocket costs such as deductibles and co-pays. Federal law allows patients over age 65 to purchase private secondary coverage – known as Medigap insurance – which enables them to access medical treatment without cost being a barrier to care.

In Georgia, kidney failure and disabled patients under age 65 have limited ability to purchase Medigap insurance; therefore restricting patient access to care and creating financial roadblocks for patients in need of medical attention. In fact, patients unable to afford the cost of care are often time forced to deplete their financial savings in order to qualify for state Medicaid coverage. This legislation would expand the ability of patients in Georgia under age 65 to purchase Medigap coverage; therefore protecting them from having to “spend down” their assets and improving access to health care.

“We applaud the members of the Georgia State Assembly for embracing this smart, patient-focused legislation, which will improve access to care and quality of life for thousands of Georgians,” stated Chad Lennox, Executive Director of Dialysis Patient Citizens, a national patient advocacy organization that represents more than 1,300 kidney community members across the state. “We encourage state lawmakers to pass Medigap reform before the close of this legislative session to ensure that all patients, regardless of age or financial standing, can obtain the healthcare coverage they need and deserve.”

This legislation is also estimated to result in $20 million of Medicaid savings over the next five years for Georgia by reducing the number of patients entering the program. This not only improves patient access, it also protects taxpayers from higher program costs. If passed, Georgia will join 29 other states across the country that have already passed similar reforms.

The bill is available at http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/sb316.htm.

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U.S. Department of Labor announces availability of up to $90 million in additional Recovery Act funding for on-the-job training

/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $90 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to create on-the-job training experiences. The money will be awarded to states that will work with state and local workforce investment boards, community-based organizations and employers in helping displaced workers acquire job skills and experiences that will improve their chances of securing permanent employment.

"The nation's economic recovery is taking hold, but there are still those who lack the basic skills and work experience needed to gain, maintain and advance within a job," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "States and their partners will use this funding to create on-the-job training experiences, which will improve the employment prospects of dislocated workers in areas that have been hard-hit by the recent economic downturn."

Today's funding is drawn from National Emergency Grant funds made available through the Recovery Act. States will apply for funding and then work with selected partners to create on-the-job training opportunities in the private and private nonprofit sectors. For full details, read Training and Employment Notice Number 38-09 available at http://www.doleta.gov/. The same site offers information on the range of Department of Labor employment and training activities.

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Six Days Left to Mail Back 2010 Census Forms

/PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the six-day countdown for residents across America to mail back their 2010 Census questionnaires. Households that return their forms after Friday, April 16, may still be visited by census workers, who begin going door-to-door to collect census responses on May 1.

Residents are encouraged to promptly mail back their forms, because census data are used to determine how more than $400 billion of federal funding is spent annually on community services, including hospitals, schools, senior centers, roads and job training centers.

"Nationwide, about 65 percent of households have mailed back their census forms. In 2000, the mail participation rate was 72 percent," U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said. "Residents who fail to mail back their forms by April 16 may be visited by a census worker in May."

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SBA Disaster Loans Available Following Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration in Georgia

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today that federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes located in all Georgia counties except Catoosa, Columbia and Whitfield as a result of excessive rainfall that began on Sept. 18, 2009.

“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to assist eligible entities affected by the same disaster”

“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to assist eligible entities affected by the same disaster,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East.

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with a 4 percent interest rate and terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Those affected by the disaster may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than November 2, 2010.

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Fay Damages Crops in 31 Georgia Counties

Tropical Storm Fay brought much needed rainfall to Georgia in late August, but it caused $159 million in damage to crops in 31 south Georgia counties, according to a University of Georgia economic impact study.

Colquitt, Mitchell and Brooks counties in southwest Georgia were the hardest hit by the storm.
Conducted by the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, the study evaluated the damage five weeks after the storm and the resulting economic impact it had in the area, said Archie Flanders, an economist with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

“We released a production value loss report a few days after the storm, but it’s difficult to determine the full extent of damage for many crops immediately after a weather event,” Flanders said. “Harvesting of some crops had begun at the time of the storm, but other crops were weeks away from harvest.”

Crop conditions can improve after a storm, but the potential for disease pressure is also a lingering concern, he said.

The storm caused $54 million in damage to vegetable crops, or 70 percent of the expected value, Flanders said. Ninety-eight percent of the vegetable losses occurred in Colquitt County alone.
A quarter of the cotton crop in the affected counties was lost, totaling $62 million in damage.

Pecans had the third greatest loss from the storm with 29 percent of the expected production value lost, or $21.1 million, Flanders said.

Peanut suffered $10 million in damage, or eight percent of the expected value. The storm knocked almost $5 million off the value of tobacco in the area and $1 million off the soybeans.
“Economic changes in agriculture reach other sectors of the state economy," he said.

Though the storm cost farmers $159 million in potential income, the lack of that money has a ripple effect, costing the economy another $108 million in potential revenue. Fay’s blow cost Georgia a total of $267 million.

By Sharon Dowdy
University of Georgia

Sharon Dowdy is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

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Jekyll Island Spared by Fay

PRNewswire/ -- Jekyll Island, located off the coast of Georgia near Brunswick and approximately 60 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida reports today that NO SERIOUS DAMAGE was sustained. Rain and wind caused some debris, and maintenance crews are finishing clean-up and minor repair efforts. ALL PUBLIC AMENITIES ARE OPEN, and access to the island is open and clear. The Sidney Lanier Bridge, which connects Hwy. 17 from Brunswick opened Saturday after being closed briefly due to high winds last week.

The Jekyll Island Golf facility was open Sunday, with the Pine Lakes course open for play. Indian Mound course will open Tuesday, and Oleander will open Saturday 8/30.

Summer Waves Water Park on Jekyll Island was open Sunday, and will operate its normal schedule of weekends and holidays now through September.

No damage was sustained to any historic structures in the Jekyll Island Historic District, and the Museum is open and operating a normal tour schedule.

All beaches are open and accessible. All hotels and rental cottages are open.

Debris removal is in high gear and preparations are underway for the upcoming Labor Day Weekend. Guests will be able to enjoy the beautiful beach and island amenities during this traditional beach holiday weekend. Some hotel rooms are still available; check the website at www.jekyllisland.com .

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