How To Sell A House With Tenants That Aren’t Paying Rent

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When you decide to sell your property, it’s important that you understand how to do it properly. First of all, you should never ignore the fact that selling your home will require some extra efforts on your part. The problem that many people have with selling their property is that they think that this will not be a big deal and that it can be easily accomplished. However, there are certain things that need to be considered when selling your property. 

Some sellers tend to ignore the fact that they might have some problems when they try to sell the house to the right buyer. Adding tenants or renters to the mix only makes things more complicated. Fortunately, there are lots of companies, like Fair Cash Deal, that help you sell your house fast since you don’t have to list your property.

This article is going to give you some tips that’ll help sell your property quickly and easily. By following these tips, you’ll be able to sell your property without too much effort.

Make Use Of We-buy-houses Companies

When it comes to selling your property that still has some tenants, there are some things that need to keep in mind. You should only list your property if you can prove that you’re the right owner. This means that you have to prove that you’re the person who should be taking the rent from the tenant. 

If you’re not able to prove it, then it’s better for you not to list your property on the market. If this is the case for you, you can find a company, like Element Home Buyers, to help you sell your home quickly even without listing it.

Consult A Real Estate Lawyer

A “lease cancellation for sale” clause may also stipulate that the tenant must first pay the late rent payment in full.  In order to determine whether or not your lease cancels out, it is best to consult with a real estate lawyer to see whether or not you’re getting a good deal. 

A real estate lawyer knows the ins and outs of leasing and can help sell your house fast. Once you’ve determined that you’re getting a good deal on your sale, it’ll be a good idea to talk to a local real estate agent in your area about selling your property. 

Although most agents charge a fee for letting a client know when they’re selling a rental property, it’s much less than if you had an attorney to handle your case.

Know Your Tenant’s Rights

It’s important to know your tenants’ rights because this will help you get what you need in terms of profit from your property. If you don’t follow these laws, you could end up with a negative effect on your rental unit and in legal trouble. 

Some landlords will allow their tenants to stay in their rental units until they are sold and they do not have to pay anything until they actually leave. Even though the property belongs to you, you have to make sure you go about selling the property the right way, if not it can cost you a lot of time, money, and headaches.

Read All Clauses On Your Lease Agreement

Most lease agreements come with clauses stating that any tenant who doesn’t pay their rent in full within the specified time period (usually one to two weeks) has to either pay any late fees and rent or leave the premises. This can save a landlord a lot of money because it means they don’t have to pay expensive legal fees that would otherwise have to be paid if these clauses were not included in the contract. 

Usually, a ‘lease cancellation for sale’ clause provides renters with at least a few days of notice before their ‘rights to cancel’ are enforced. In some cases, it may even allow renters to leave voluntarily even if their lease isn’t over. 

This type of clause usually only applies to apartment complexes and multi-unit residential buildings, but there are some exceptions to the rule.

Conclusion

There are many different things that you can do when it comes to selling your rental property. It’s up to you to decide which options will work best for you. 

Although selling your house while people are still living there might seem difficult, remember there are plenty of ways you can go about this. Tenants living in a property and avoiding to pay rent can not only be stressful but can cost you money in the long run. 

If you have complications because of a tenant, it’s always best if you contact a real estate lawyer as they can help you with the hard work.

A Closer Look at Charlotte’s New MLS Team

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When they begin to play in 2022, Charlotte FC (a franchise owned by David Tepper) will be the first MLS team in the Carolinas. The news was exciting for soccer fans in Charlotte – even more so than playing online keno – and with a potential to play in front of 40,000 fans at the Bank of America stadium, joining Charlotte is an attractive proposition for many soccer players. 

Who created Charlotte’s new MLS team…and who’s in charge?

Charlotte FC were created soon after self-made billionaire David Tepper bought the Carolina Panthers NFL team in 2018. He hired Tom Glick from Manchester City FC in the UK as the new team president, but also tasked him with looking into a potential MLS franchise deal for a team in the Carolinas. 

There were already a few lower level soccer teams in North and South Carolina, but none had the potential to necessarily become a professional MLS side. However, there was clear soccer potential in Charlotte due to the popularity of the sport in the area and the Bank of America Stadium’s suitability for hosting soccer matches – it had already done so on a number of occasions. 

Between July 2019 and July 2020, Tepper secured funding for the project from the Charlotte City Council and financed redevelopment for the Bank of America Stadium to become soccer friendly. An expansion fee of $325 million was the reported figure that Tepper had to part with in order to finalise the deal. Charlotte FC were officially announced as the expansion team in December 2019. 

At this moment in time, the team do not have a head coach, and only have the one player – Sergio Ruiz who signed from Racing Santander in July 2020. The team were supposed to begin playing in 2021, but this has been pushed back to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Looking to the future: the academy, transfers, and coaches

The new Charlotte team has been quick to establish an academy side for the club, with Dan Lock appointed as the Academy Manager in late February of this year. Sporting Director Zoran Krneta has already spoken of his intentions to pump the first team full of young, American talent, and with Lock’s experience both in the MLS and abroad in England with the FA, Charlotte’s future soccer scene looks bright.

One of the biggest decisions that Krneta and Tepper will have to make is the head coach appointment. The Sporting Director has already made it clear that the club want a head coach, rather than a manager, and that the ideal candidate needs to be ‘attacking oriented, and possibly very pressing oriented’. 

The club have a shortlist of coaches they’re considering for the position, and are reportedly pleased with the candidates that they’ve whittled it down to. Earlier in the year, ex Atlanta-United boss Tata Martino tipped Charlotte to look at US boss Gregg Berhalter, and the coach of Sporting Kansas City, Peter Vermes, but it is unclear whether either of these candidates were contacted.

Soccer fans in the Carolinas will have to wait until 2021 to see a professional MLS team play locally. However, Charlotte FC is an exciting project, and could be the next big thing in the MLS…

 

Needs City Funding: Charlotte Music Scene is Down and Out

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Venue owners in Charlotte are saying that they are almost at breaking point because they have been unable to open their businesses for nearly six months, due to the current and former COVID restrictions.

On Tuesday, Governor Roy Cooper made a shift to move Charlotte into Phase 2.5 reopening, which included museums, bowling alleys, and gyms. The move went into effect at 5 p.m. on Friday. However, the latest order doesn’t include entertainment facilities that hold events indoors, as well as bars and nightclubs.

Joe Kuhlmann, who owns The Evening Muse, says that the music industry has taken a huge hit and is going to need some serious help if they are to survive the pandemic. He continued by explaining that even if music venues like his own were able to open and have up to 25 people inside, which is the current maximum, this wouldn’t be enough to keep the doors open.

City Council Needs to Step In

The Independent Venue Alliance of Charlotte says that the City Council needs to be doing a lot more than they are to help fund businesses in the music industry to stay afloat. They are going to need access to millions of federal funding dollars in order to avoid completely collapsing.

With music venues everywhere in the states suffering a unique blow as a result of the current epidemic, people have no choice but to close the doors of their business for good. To bridge the gap, consider a personal or title loan. Google ‘instant online title loan’ to learn more about additional business funding options.

The Venue Alliance says that they have officially arrived at breaking point, and if music venues in the Charlotte area don’t get the help that they need soon, there aren’t going to be any of them left when the pandemic officially passes.

Meager Amount of Help for Small Businesses

Cory Burkarth, the spokesman for the city, says that there is help available for businesses that are either medium-sized or small, and this includes music venues. The city has begun to hand out $30 million from the federal CAREs Act to help provide financial aid to small businesses.

This financial relief program includes businesses that have already received help through the Paycheck Protection Program. Burkarth says that they understand the plight of businesses both big and small and that they’re working hard to try and support businesses, from the owners to the employees. 

The Charlotte Alliance, which was originally formed to share information about reopening restrictions and guidelines, includes 13 venues in the Charlotte area. Included in this are music venues like Skylark Social Club, The Tipsy Burro, and The Thirsty Beaver.

The wider Independent Venue Association includes as many as 2,400 members around the country. The group has talked about how restaurants can offer takeout options, and breweries have outdoor settings where they can hold more patrons, while music venues have no choice but to remain closed and watch as the bills pile up.

How to Choose a Photobook Maker

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A photobook can take your holiday or every day photos and turn them into a professionally looking book of pictures. To make the best photobook you will have to use the best photo book maker.

There are dozens of sites online where you can make a photobook to either send digitally or print into physical form. It makes it quite difficult to select a photobook maker to use.

The following are things you should consider to help you make the right choice:

Range of Services

A site that offers photobook making services should offer many different services. The more services they can perform the better, as it assures you that they will come through with the services you need.

There should be a wide variety of options as far as the book’s paper types, layouts, and formats. That way you are allowed to be as creative as you desire when creating your photobook.

A service might be limited to a certain size which is a huge red flag. You want a photo book maker who can perform their services on any size of photobook. That includes printing, binding, and customization.

Creative Control

You also want a photobook maker that gives you as much creative control as you need. The features and range of services will allude to the amount of creative control that is possible for you to have.

The more flexible and versatile the photobook maker is, the better the photobook that you can produce. You will most likely make a lot of changes when designing and creating your photobook, so a photobook maker should accommodate any changes you might want.

It should be as easy as possible for you to change designs as well as rectify mistakes. The site should have adequate features to accommodate all of your design specifications.

Accountability

When selecting a photo book maker, you should choose one that you can hold accountable in case of any mishaps. Such disputes should be able to be resolved quickly and without going to court.

Printing issues come up occasionally. Issues that can arise include printing too little or excess pages, lack of inventory, and delivery issues.

When such issues arise, you want to be able to have the ability to hold the photo book maker accountable for their actions and receive your due diligence.

Costs

Finally, you will have to consider the cost of printing or making photobooks with a certain maker. It is especially important to consider the cost if you are printing the book yourself so as to sell to others.

A good photo book maker will charge you for each page in the book. Though a difference of a dollar a page may not seem like much, when printing a thousand books with a hundred pages each, it becomes a serious issue.

You should always go for affordability of the photobook. However, never spare expenses at the cost of quality or you will regret it.

A Guide on How to Measure Windows and Doors

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If you are planning to embark on updating your Oakville windows or doors in your house, understanding how to measure windows and doors will come in handy. This offers you strong grounds when it comes to your conversation with a door and window conversation and it is a good starting point when shopping for the new windows for your project.

It doesn’t matter the reason why you are considering new doors or windows-the measuring step should be gotten right from the start, rest you could end up with wrong measurements and hence oversize or undersize windows. This could turn out to be costly, especially where you have to resize the windows. It is also time-consuming. So, to make the process of taking measurements for the Oakville windows and doors, here at Total Home Oakville, we have compiled this guide to help you throughout the process. Take a sneaky peek below.

  • 3 Simple Steps for Measuring Patio Oakville Windows and Doors

When measuring your Oakville windows and doors, have a recording material for the measurements. You can use online software to help you keep the readings, or you can use a notebook for the same (whichever works best for you). What is important is ensuring you keep the records safe so you can present them when needed. 

Measure the height and the width, and then note them down. For precision, repeat the measurement and see if you will notice any difference between the two measurements.

Because Oakville windows and doors come in different styles and designs, use the following guidelines for accuracy:

  • Awning and Casement Windows
  • Use the base to measure the width of these types of windows. Your tape measure should touch jamb to jamb or trim to trim while running horizontally.
  • Their heights are measured by running the tape measure from header to sill horizontally, or from drywall to sill.
  • Put these measurements on your recording material so that you do not forget.
  • Sliding, Double or Single-Hung Windows
  • The width of these windows is taken from the center. To determine the mid-point of the windows, check where the sashes meet. There you have it. Your tape measure should touch jamb to jamb horizontally or from trim to trim.
  • Use your tape measure vertically to measure the height of your Oakville windows. It should touch the header to sill or drywall to the sill.
  • Note down the measurements after you are done on each side.
  • Hinged French Patio or Sliding Doors
  • These doors are best measured from the outside. So, you have to get outside your home so you can be facing your door from this side.
  • The width measurement is taken from the middle point of the door. Since these doors are fitted in different home designs, measure them from siding to siding horizontally from the center. Other ends include from stucco to stucco or from brick to brick.
  • The horizontal measurements record the height of your door. They can be from siding to the door sill’s bottom, edge of stucco to the door sill’s bottom, or header to the door sill’s bottom.
  • The most important step of the measuring process is to record the height and width measurements.
  • Measuring Entry Doors
  • Position your tape measure at the center of your door and measure its width horizontally from this point. Let your tape measure touch your door panel from end to end.
  • The vertical measurements from your panel’s end to end help you collect the height of your door. 
  • Note down these measurements properly on your recording material for future reference. 

Once you are done measuring your units, it is time to go shopping. With the right dimensions and a manufacturing style in mind, you can approach several reputable suppliers for the purchase and installation. Slow down while selecting a match so you don’t end with the most expensive supplier in the market offering the same products and services as fellow competitors. 

 

New Images of The New $273 Million Casino 30 Miles West of Charlotte

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Amid the pandemic, the Catawba Indian Tribe and several area developers have continued to progress on the new $273 million casino just west of Charlotte.

The massive facility will include a 195,000-square-foot casino with 1,796 electronic gaming devices and 54 table games, as well as a 1,500 room hotel, several restaurants with seating for 940 people, and a full concert and event venue.

Here are some newly released images of what will soon be the closest casino to Charlotte:

rendering of back of casino
rendering of front of casino
companies partnered to develop and manage the casino

The facility will be located at northwestern quadrant of the intersection of Kings Mountain Blvd. and I-85 (Exit 5) in Kings Mountain, about 30 miles west of Charlotte:

What do you think about the new casino?

North Carolina Counties with The Best and Worst Commute Times

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How dramatically (and permanently) the pandemic will shape worker commutes remains to be seen, but initial research shows a decreased use of public transit, a higher reliance on bicycles, scooters, and e-bikes, and decreased travel overall as more people work from home. That could spell good news for the 50% of commuters who characterize their trip to work as stressful.

As Americans reevaluate their relationship with commuting, Red Ventures used data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, released in December 2019, to analyze which states have the roughest rides to work. States along with Washington D.C. were ranked according to their average one-way commute time to work for workers age 16 and older who don’t work at home, with ties broken by the percentage of workers who commute 60 minutes or more.

North Carolina has the #23 shortest average one-way commute time compared to all other states and Washington D.C., with an average time of 24.5 minutes. Within North Carolina, Currituck County has the longest average commute among all counties (37.2 minutes) while Swain County has the shortest (18.1 minutes).

North Carolina statistics:

– Average one-way commute time to work: 24.5 minutes (7.9% lower than national average)
— Driving alone in car, truck, or van: 24.2 minutes
— Carpool: 26.7 minutes
— Public transportation: 41.4 minutes
– Counties with the longest average commutes:
— #1: Currituck County (37.2 minutes)
— #2: Gates County (37.1 minutes)
— #3: Franklin County, Camden County (32.8 minutes)
– Counties with the shortest average commutes:
— #1: Swain County (18.1 minutes)
— #2: Jackson County (19.9 minutes)
— #3: Buncombe County (20.1 minutes)
– Additional commute characteristics:
— Workers with commutes over 60 minutes: 6.1% (#29 among states)
— Workers with commutes over 90 minutes: 1.9% (#26 among states)
— Workers who commute outside their county of residence: 26.1%
— Workers who commute outside their state of residence: 2.6%

Nationally, there were 143,148,111 workers aged 16 and older who worked out of the home in 2018. Out of these workers, most drove alone to get to work (80.4%), but some chose to carpool (9.6%) or take public transportation (5.3%). The average one-way travel time to work for Americans is 26.6 minutes, but that number nearly doubles when looking at the average travel time for those who take public transportation, which is 50.1 minutes.

Some American workers (12.5%) are lucky enough to have a commute that only takes 10 minutes or under. Less fortunate are the 9.1% of workers that need at least 60 minutes to get to work, and the 2.8% of them who are super commuters—traveling 90 minutes or more to their jobs.

If you’re looking for a long commute time, you might want to check out Currituck County and Gates County. Currituck is ranked as having the longest commute time in North Carolina and the 44th longest in America at 37.2 minutes on average, and Gates is ranked as having the second longest in NC and the 46th in America at 37.1 minutes.

North Carolina by county heatmap:

U.S. by state heatmap

U.S. by county heatmap

U.S. by county table

10 tips to start a conversation on Tinder

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For starting a Tinder conversation, it’s essential to consider certain tips that will make a remarkable bond.

1. Don’t simply say “Heyyy” 

You have to catch the other individual’s eye. Anybody can text “Heyyy” or send a GIF and that’s where everything turns out to be quite plain. If you want to know how to get him to chase you over text you need to make yourself memorable to them. In case you’re sure, send something amusing or somewhat suggestive. Simply don’t be a common man that is simply going to vanish into a rundown of matches gone forever.

Besides, you can also consider good openers, jokes, gifs, Photos, pickup lines. Try not to be that person that sits stubbornly for the person to message you first. Drop your match a message that is snappy and precisely highlighting what you are encountering.

2. Be straightforward, and directly be forthright 

Keep it straightforward and directly forthright. The vast majority of the time they won’t rate messy gifs or peculiar talk up lines. Simply get straight into a smooth and beautiful convo. Ask how they spent the day or about their plans during the weekend – it’s truly not troublesome. At that point set up a touch of talk, the convo can get additionally intriguing. 

Just a text at 10 am from an arbitrary Tinder coordinate simply isn’t required. You must keep with the flow. Compliment at the start– select down one thing you need about their photos to show that you have a keen interest in them. Discussion about their profile or something that’s in their profile will also do great. Show your interest. 

3. Try not to remember their name for your first message 

“What’s up, Kylie?” sounds like something that is way too dreadful. The other idea we can give is that it’s decent that you’ve seen their name and tried to utilize it. However, it’s slightly a lot. Hold up until you’re somewhat further before you know her personally. Let the conversation go on by bringing out a type of feeling. 

In case you get some feeling during the convo, it’s the most ideal approach to make it noteworthy. Satisfy them with a commendation, energize with something brave. You can also consider points about their profiles and photographs, talk about them. 

4. Go ahead with sending a GIF

Based on the research, it is clear that sending the GIF on tinder proves to be 30% more likely for getting the response when compared to the other norms. Besides, it will also give the conversation the right touch. The gifs prove to become Funtime because it is inclusive of the things that can figure out what becomes a humorous point.

Sending the funny GIF of a dog that is dancing and remarking something like, “hello, I may look like a fool, I promise I will behave better in real life.” This becomes a great idea. However, it is preferred to say something right about the gif rather than just sending it. You should also try the gifs consisting of Hearts, roses, or something that will be causing the person hot enough.

5. Go thoroughly through the profile

This is something that becomes quite obvious while you are looking forward to dating someone on tinder. You should have a nice look at the profile. You must not just estimate. Rather, you must see the whereabouts of the person. Suppose you see the picture of a beach that looks lovely, you can start being a bit cheeky. 

You can also try initiating a conversation that is based on the interest that he or she has a mention of the profile. On the other hand, we can suggest the idea to keep everything quite simple. Sometimes, you can initiate a conversation that will talk about the love for nerdy films or more about it. 

6. Start with a question 

In case you are not finding any clue to initiate the conversation, you can start directly by developing a tinder conversation that involves a question. You can ask questions like, “What if you share thoughts about your favourite choices? Am I worth joining you for a movie date? Well, if that sounds boring to you, pop up questions regarding the truth, dare, or situation game. 

Some other questions are like-Tell me where you would like to see yourself after 20 years? Do you love cuddles in the bed or exploring the city? When you start conversations regarding this point, you may find that the atmosphere becomes a bit more interesting. You can go ahead with asking questions regarding Netflix shows or DoMyMathHomeworks.com as well.

  1. Head Start your Tinder discussion by inspiring feelings

In case the main message you send brings out feelings in your Tinder coordinate, you’ll be bound to grab her eye and get an answer. Tinder convo will flow smoothly without any problem by recreating feelings between both of you. You can be the reason to feel her energized by praising her on something unbelievably special that nobody else has ever praised her on (however evade physical commendations). 

After coming to know about the choices of the person, you can compliment according to that. Besides, you can also be a bit flirty by saying that you will be remembering the choice even on the day you are going to date your partner.

8. Satisfy her vibe by saying something entertaining

You can astound her by uncovering that you share something bizarre practically speaking. You can offend her a little by mentioning a genuine and lively objective fact about her dress sense. Or the other hand, it’s worth inspiring her with a total exhibit of feeling and she’ll be keen on you right away.

Then again, a dull first message to a Tinder discussion will leave you behind early… or ruin your odds. You can ask him or her any questions like what their personal favourite dishes are. So, the conversation should be like the real tinder date that will brighten the moment in the best way.

9. Audit your match’s bio and compare to yours before you start a Tinder discussion with her

Rapidly check your match’s Tinder profile pictures and bio to discover what sort of individual they are – it should just take 10 or 20 seconds. What you’re searching for is something a reference when you start your discussion with. A subject that you can put together in your initial message becomes a good idea. 

The other tip is to shock by sharing some mutual interests by taking a gander at their profile. You are not supposed to just read minds when you are dating someone on tinder. Always you should keep in mind to initiate the conversion in a fun way.

10.You must see how much interest your partner bears towards you

Something is amusing about her photographs. You must share something that you two share practically. Whatever it is, simply attempt and discover something most folks will forget to remark on. Once in a while, there will be nothing to reference from. 

You must look genuine and prove that it isn’t just a copy and glue work which you’ve conveyed to each match. However, in every case, it’s best to send your first Tinder message as soon as possible to your match. It’ll assist you with standing apart from the bunch of pointless messages.

Top 5 Things To Do Around Charlotte This Weekend

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Although the pandemic is still in full swing, event organizers around Charlotte have started to get creative about how to host music and food lovers in a socially distanced and responsible way.

This weekend, the Charlotte region will feature a myriad of events and festivals.

Here are the top 5 that we know of happening over the next few days:

#1 4th Annual University City Wine Festival

The 4th Annual University City Wine Festival is returning this month, from Sept 16-20. The festival will include a unique wine-themed event each night starting on Wednesday and going through Sunday. It will take place at University City’s scenic lake and charming boardwalk at Shoppes at University Place. More than 100 wines from over 25 wineries will be available to sample while guests stroll the boardwalk and enjoy live music and interactive entertainment.
You can find out more information here – https://universitycitywinefest.org/

#2 3rd Annual Carolina Corn Fest

This coming Saturday, September 19th, the 3rd Annual Carolina Corn Fest will be taking place down in Monroe at the Awe Shucks Farm. They will feature three bands, great food, two car shows, and tons of Arts and Crafts.
Tickets are just $10 and now available at www.CarolinaCornFest.com
There will be limited tickets so please purchase ahead of time.

#3 Flicks at The Field 

Come out to Truist Field (formerly BB&T BallPark) and experience Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights, Jurassic World and The Avengers on our giant video board.
They have three socially distanced seating options for you to choose from.
-Spread out and sit on the field for great views of the movie and Uptown Charlotte skyline.
-Stay cool inside our Budweiser Home Plate Club.
-Sit outside at a table on our concourse.
Tickets start at $10. Seating is extremely limited. Gates open at 6:00 pm. For more information or tickets click here.

#4 Jazz At The Vineyard ft. Gena Chambers

Join us for a socially distanced evening of Jazz! Mask and social distancing required. Wine and beer will be available for purchase. Bring your small picnic baskets or small coolers! Limited tables/seats will be available according to social distance guidelines. (limited tickets available) you may also bring your own lawn chairs if you choose to do so.
Admission is $20.00
Music will begin at 6 PM
*Advanced tickets only – for tickets or more info click here.

#5 OH Well: West Kept Secret Outdoor Pop-Up

On 9/19 at 9am, the owners of West Kept Secret, Marissa West and Heidi Hilman, will lead groups through their signature West Kept Secret class OUTSIDE at Optimist Hall. WKS is a high-intensity interval-based workout that fuses together different workout focuses into one dynamic format; cardio, strength training, and Pilates. Post-workout snacks will be provided by Village Juice Co. All fitness levels welcome! This is a free event, but make sure to reserve your spot below (space is limited).
They will be practicing all social distancing protocols:
Attendance has been limited to as to not exceed 50 people per the current Executive Order
This event is OUTSIDE – walk around the building behind El Thrifty’s patio and up the stairs to our event space’s outdoor patio.
If you think other events should be on this list or future lists, let us know – Scott@CharlotteStories.com

Applications Open for $32 Million in North Carolina Grants For Internet Access In Rural Areas

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Internet service providers and electric membership cooperatives can now apply for $32 million in pandemic relief grant funding to help bring high-speed internet access to rural North Carolina.

Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 1105 into law, allocating more than $32 million for rural broadband expansion from the Coronavirus Relief Fund created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. The North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO) will review applications and assign the funding through the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant program.

“Internet is no longer optional. The pandemic has highlighted the digital divide in our state, underscoring how critical it is for all North Carolinians to have reliable high-speed internet to work, learn and connect,” Acting NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Thomas Parrish said. “These supplemental grants will help expand access to thousands of residents and businesses in rural areas that need it most.”

Applications for this 2020 Special Supplementary Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant round will open today and be accepted through October 14.

Projects in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties as well as rural census tracts located in Tier 3 areas currently being served by less than 25 megabytes per second download and 3 megabytes per second upload speeds are eligible for this 2020 Special Supplementary GREAT Grant round.

“We want to ensure that North Carolinians are not put in this position again,” BIO Director Jeff Sural said.  “These projects will provide much-needed, long-term investments to expand broadband infrastructure and extend access high-speed service to residents in rural areas.”

This special supplementary funding round follows the recent announcements of the 2019-2020 GREAT grant awards and additional funding awards from the COVID-19 Recovery Act.

Since the GREAT grant program launched in 2018, the state has invested nearly $26 million in 26 Tier 1 counties, connecting more than 21,000 households, businesses and agricultural operations to high-speed internet. The state funding has been matched by more than $20 million in private investment.  The program will expand to include 98 counties for this upcoming grant cycle.

Information on how to apply can be found at https://www.ncbroadband.gov/grants/great-grant.