North Carolina Has the 10th Highest Need for Loans in The Country

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North Carolina Has the 10th Highest Need for Loans in The Country

With the U.S. unemployment rate slowly improving but still at 11% due to COVID-19, WalletHub today released updated rankings for the States Where People Need Loans the Most Due to Coronavirus. Greater interest in getting a loan indicates that more people in the state are struggling to make ends meet.

In order to determine where people are most in need of loans as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, WalletHub combined internal credit report data with data on Google search increases for three loan-related terms in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

North Carolina ranked 10th on the report (and South Carolina wasn’t far behind it, coming it at #16).

North Carolina Residents’ Need for Loans Due to COVID-19 (1=Biggest Need; 25=Avg.):

  • 25th – “Loan” Search Interest Index
  • 20th – “Payday Loans” Search Interest Index
  • 8th – “Home Equity Loan” Search Interest Index
  • 14th – Change in Average Inquiry Count June 24, 2020 vs. January 1, 2020

Here is the complete list of rankings:

States Where People Need Loans the Most Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Overall Rank State ‘Loan Search Interest Index’ Rank ‘Payday Loans Search Interest Index’ Rank ‘Home Equity Loan Search Interest Index’ Rank ‘Change in Average Inquiry Count’ Rank
1 New York 4 2 6 20
2 Maryland 3 28 2 5
3 Illinois 1 25 1 39
4 Virginia 8 8 11 3
5 Indiana 2 11 9 26
6 Minnesota 12 23 6 9
7 Washington 36 9 5 7
8 Alabama 17 4 32 2
9 Kentucky 22 2 39 12
10 North Carolina 25 20 8 14
11 Tennessee 4 14 24 11
12 Georgia 17 14 17 8
13 Pennsylvania 31 20 11 15
14 Texas 31 14 22 13
15 Wisconsin 31 37 4 22
16 South Carolina 29 14 26 10
17 Ohio 4 30 15 35
18 Mississippi 16 40 10 27
19 New Jersey 25 9 20 31
20 Missouri 31 26 19 17
21 Oregon 45 23 26 4
22 Florida 36 20 23 16
23 Arizona 22 40 13 28
24 Louisiana 25 44 37 1
25 Arkansas 12 19 44 19
26 West Virginia 10 37 29 23
27 Iowa 17 37 20 24
28 Utah 40 7 34 29
29 South Dakota 22 6 37 43
30 New Mexico 10 5 42 47
31 Hawaii 46 1 34 46
32 Oklahoma 25 32 39 21
33 Michigan 15 48 17 33
34 Nevada 17 30 46 25
35 Colorado 47 42 30 6
36 Massachusetts 42 32 33 32
37 California 43 28 24 37
38 Connecticut 44 45 14 36
39 Alaska 17 11 30 50
40 Kansas 14 42 47 34
41 District of Columbia 50 49 3 18
42 Nebraska 39 36 34 40
43 New Hampshire 31 14 43 45
44 Maine 49 26 16 41
45 Idaho 36 46 45 42
46 Montana 47 13 49 30
47 Delaware 4 47 49 44
48 North Dakota 8 32 49 48
49 Wyoming 51 49 26 38
50 Rhode Island 29 32 48 51
51 Vermont 40 49 41 49

Black Lives Matter Billboard Installed Next To Longstanding Confederate Flag in North Carolina

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Black Lives Matter Billboard Installed Next To Longstanding Confederate Flag in North Carolina

A massive ‘Black Lives Matter’ billboard has just been installed next to a long standing confederate flag in North Carolina.

The 8-by-24-foot sign was installed on U.S. 64 East Business Route in Pittsboro, NC after over $10,000 was raised on a GoFundMe called ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER Pittsboro NC Billboard‘.

The campaign reads:

“There is a billboard (8′ x 24′) on US 64 East Business Route that you see driving into town, that is a center read and perched directly next to a confederate flag. In fact, there are *several* confederate flags on that stretch of road leading into town.

Approximately 20,000+ people a week see that billboard, which means that same amount of people are also being inundated with confederate flags as they drive into town.

Those confederate flags do NOT represent who we are as a community. It is important for us now more than ever as a community to show our support for #BLACKLIVESMATTER, with that message on a billboard that is counter to the confederate flags next to it.

The billboard only costs $450 per 28 days, plus a $350 one-time production charge for the cost of the vinyl the ad is printed on.”

The sign was finally put up on Monday, July 13th, and is currently paid for through the end of 2020.

 

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It’s a Beautiful thing we made, y’all #faithinhumanityrestored #blm #resist #thankyou #goodhumans #communitylove

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The campaign even raised enough money to pay for the billboard through the first half of 2021. They are now waiting on the contract and invoice from Lamar to lock the additional time in.

With the money left over, the GoFundMe campaign organizer donated $1,000 to Chatham Organizing for Racial Equity (CORE), and $1,000 to Emancipate NC.

The Charlotte region also has a similar situation on Wilkinson Blvd. in Gaston County.

For years now, a giant Confederate Flag has flown on private land, just west of the Aldi in Belmont, and there just so happens to be a giant billboard next to it.

North Carolina City Just Made History By Approving Reparations For Black Citizens

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North Carolina City Just Made History By Approving Reparations For Black Citizens

For the first time in history, a major southern city has approved sweeping reparations for descendants of African American slaves.

Yesterday evening, the Asheville City Council voted unanimously 7-0 to pass the “RESOLUTION SUPPORTING COMMUNITY REPARATIONS FOR BLACK ASHEVILLE“, which apologizes for the city’s historic role in slavery and discrimination and orders the establishment of a process and commission for “repairing the damage caused by public and private systemic Racism”.

According to the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America, ‘reparations’ are “a process of repairing, healing and restoring a people injured because of their group identity and in violation of their fundamental human rights by governments, corporations, institutions and families”.

In an interview with Ashville Today, Racial Justice Coalition of Ashville’s Community Liaison Rob Thomas (who led the push for the new resolution) noted;

“Black people are deeply impoverished and over policed here, and the lack of economic mobility can be traced back to this city’s negligence and intentional disposal of black wealth. It seems that the most responsible move at this point is to reallocate a lot of the $30 million dollars and directly re-invest it into black neighborhoods. We do not want programs, we aren’t looking for white saviorism; we want land, property, businesses. We want economic mobility and a way to produce generational wealth.”

The new resolution specifically apologizes for Asheville’s history of enslavement, segregation, and destroying ‘successful black communities’ and “directs the City Manager to establish a process within the next year to develop short, medium and long term recommendations to specifically address the creation of generational wealth and to boost economic mobility and opportunity in the black community” and will “establish within the next year, a new commission empowered to make short, medium, and long term recommendations that will make significant progress toward repairing the damage caused by public and private systemic Racism.”

Here is the resolution in its entirety:

Reparations for Black Ashev… by Denise Pridgen on Scribd

You can watch yesterday’s entire city council meeting here:

What do you think about the new resolution? 

Recovery Program Grants Over $2 Million to 195 Charlotte Small Businesses Impacted by Pandemic

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Recovery Program Grants Over $2 Million to 195 Charlotte Small Businesses Impacted by Pandemic

Through its first rounds of grantmaking, the Access to Capital Small Business Recovery program has issued $2.16 million in grants to 195 local small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Charlotte partnered with Foundation For The Carolinas to launch the program, which will distribute a total of $30 million in federal CARES Act funding.

Applications for the grants program are available at fftc.org/CLTCityGrant. Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m., July 31. However, the earlier a business applies, the greater the chance that the application will be selected for review.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy, and our city recovery task force meets weekly to offer assistance and guidance during this pandemic,” said Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt. “The Access to Capital Small Business Recovery program is one of the best tools available to provide vital resources, and I encourage all small businesses to apply, because you could qualify for the next round of grant payouts.”

Businesses receiving grants have ranged from convenience stores to restaurants, hair salons, florists and more throughout Charlotte neighborhoods. Of the first round of grantees, 181 businesses had 5 or fewer employees and 14 had between 6 and 25 employees.

“In March, when Gov. Cooper issued the shelter in place order for all non-essential businesses, I was forced to close my doors,” said Giovy Buyers, owner of Southern Blossom Florist, which received a $10,000 grant from the program. “As the pandemic wore on, I saw all of my summer events cancel. I was grateful to be awarded the Access to Capital Small Business Recovery Grant, because I was two months late on rent and going into another month. In addition, I will be able to pay some of our vendors. The application process was very easy.”

The program is part of the City’s Open for Business initiative and is distributing grants of either $10,000 or $25,000 (depending on the number of employees) to small businesses headquartered within Charlotte city limits that have been affected by the pandemic. FFTC serves as the City’s grantmaking partner for the effort.

The Access to Capital Small Business Recovery Program aims to provide funding rapidly, accessibly and equitably for Charlotte’s diverse small business community. Applications are selected randomly by a software algorithm from the applicant pool for review and are not reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. However, the likelihood of receiving a grant increases the earlier an application is received because it will be available for selection each day. Businesses only need to apply once.

“Today is a day of celebration for 195 Charlotte business owners and for our entire city,” said City Councilman James Mitchell Jr. “We knew from the start that these grants would be a lifeline for many in our business community to survive and make it possible to thrive for their families and their employees’ families.”

The City and FFTC have conducted robust outreach efforts to inform small businesses in neighborhoods throughout Charlotte of the opportunity and how to apply. Beginning July 20, small business owners can visit various YMCA branches for help submitting their applications. Locations, hours and details will be available July 17 at www.fftc.org/CLTCityGrantFAQ. In addition, a customer service team is currently in place and can be reached at cltcitygrant@fftc.org or 704.998.6499.

“Our team is ready and eager to help local small businesses with the application process,” said Kayla Castilleja, FFTC employee and grant program review team member. “We encourage those who’ve not yet applied to submit their applications, and to contact us or visit a designated YMCA branch (beginning July 20) for assistance.”

To qualify, a small business must:

  • Be headquartered within the Charlotte city limits
  • Employ 25 or fewer employees (including part-time, if reported on company’s W-3)
  • Have been established before Jan. 1, 2020
  • Have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Have gross sales for 2019 of at least $30,000 and less than $2 million
  • Not be currently engaged in bankruptcy proceedings

Full eligibility requirements and a list of required documentation are available at fftc.org/CLTCityGrant. It is anticipated that the number of applicants will exceed the available funding, so grants are not guaranteed.

Priority is given to businesses that have not received federal or state COVID-19 related financial support or funding from the City’s Micro Business Relief Fund.

Applications are available in English, Spanish, Nepali, French, Chinese and Vietnamese, and will be accepted through 5 p.m., July 31. For a complete list of criteria and to apply, visit fftc.org/CLTCityGrant. Contact cltcitygrant@fftc.org or 704.998.6499 for assistance.

Making Salad the Main Course, New Saladworks Restaurant Opens in Huntersville

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Making Salad the Main Course, New Saladworks Restaurant Opens in Huntersville

A new salad-forward restaurant is about to open in Huntersville – Saladworks. The new restaurant is being launched by local couple Gary and Kim Randazzo.

It will be located off of exit 23 at the Rosedale Shopping Center on Gilead Rd., and will focus on customization through its array of over 60 fresh, flavorful and healthy ingredients – allowing guests to create a salad as original as they are. In addition to its Signature recipes, it will also offer create-your-own options, including salads, wraps, grain bowls, soups and more.

The Randazzos are Originally from New Jersey, Gary and Kim have years of experience in business ownership. In 2019, the couple decided to move to Huntersville after falling in love with the Lake Norman region.

“There are a lot of options for fast food in the area, but with the healthy lifestyle of residents in the area, we want to establish ourselves as Huntersville’s go-to fast-casual for healthy and delicious food,” said Gary. “Saladworks prides itself with originality and being a key component in the community, which is why I know Huntersville will love what we have in store, both literally and figuratively.”

To celebrate the new Saladworks, a grand opening is planned for May 26. In lieu of a grand opening event, guests can download the Saladworks rewards app for a chance to win free salads for a year.

For learn more information about Saladworks Huntersville, visit their website Saladworks.com or call 704-992-9006.

Governor Cooper Just Announced Schools Will Be Opening Under ‘Plan B’ This Fall

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Governor Cooper Just Announced Schools Will Be Opening Under ‘Plan B’ This Fall

Today the Governor of North Carolina announced how schools will be reopening this coming fall amid a continued surge in COVID-19 cases across our state.

During a press conference, Governor Cooper said that our state will be going with ‘Plan B’ for this year’s school season, meaning public K-12 schools will be open for a mix of in-person and remote learning.

Under Plan B, the following safety measures will be put in place for every public school in our state.

  • Requiring face coverings for all teachers and students K-12
  • Limiting the total number of students, staff and visitors within a school building to the extent necessary to ensure six feet distance can be maintained when students/staff will be stationary
  • Conducting symptom screening, including temperature checks
  • Establishing a process and dedicated space for people who are ill to isolate and have transportation plans for ill students
  • Cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces in the school and transportation vehicles regularly
  • Requiring frequent hand washing throughout the school day and providing hand sanitizer at entrances and in every classroom
  • Discontinuing activities that bring together large groups
  • Limiting nonessential visitors and activities involving external groups
  • Discontinuing use of self-service food or beverage distribution

Governor Cooper also announced today that our state will remain in Phase 2 of the shutdown for another 3 weeks:

You can watch the entire press briefing here:

New York Now Requiring NC Residents To Submit Info For Quarantine Or Face Steep Penalty

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New York Now Requiring NC Residents To Submit Info For Quarantine Or Face Steep Penalty

New York’s governor Andrew Cuomo has just upped the ante for any North Carolina resident traveling to New York.

NC visitors must now provide their complete contact information upon arrival or face a fine of $2,000.

According to the new police, New York is now forcing all visitors from “designated high-COVID states” (who have a positive test rate of 10 per 100,000 residents or a seven-day rolling average of 10% positive tests) to submit their information for a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

As of yesterday, the new rule applies to a total of 16 states, including North and South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia.

What do you think about the new policy?

City Council Approves $600 Million Plan To Completely Redevelop Uptown’s North Tryon Street

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City Council Approves $600 Million Plan To Completely Redevelop Uptown’s North Tryon Street

north-tryon-redevelopment-plan

The Charlotte City Council has just voted unanimously to approve a new $600 million plan to completely redevelop most of the area between Tryon and College, from Sixth to Eighth Streets, aka The North Tryon Vision Plan.

According to yesterday’s meeting agenda, the newly approved plan includes the following key terms:

– City and County Tax Increment Grant (TIG) of $25 million to support the overall project
vision. This includes the mixture of uses, public open space, public parking, enhanced public realm, and the ability to achieve a significant number of affordable housing units offsite;
– City of Charlotte Capital Investment Plan (CIP) for $2-$5 million for 7th Street construction and infrastructure improvements;
– Good Faith Effort towards MWSBE participation goal of 30 percent;
– $3 million contribution from the developer towards affordable housing; and
– 180-day exclusivity clause for the developer.

The hope is that the redevelopment would cause a sort of ‘catalyst effect’ around the area and would attract new developers to continue the growth.

One of the most prominent features for pedestrians and bikers is being called the ‘Play Street Concept’ (pictured above), according to the new plan, “The Play Street concept builds on the success of the anchor institutions which attract thousands of families to North Tryon each year. The immersive and interactive experience in both the design of the street and adjacent development will characterize the experience of walking along 7th Street.”

The plan also calls for at least 5 major renovations of Charlotte institutions around the N. Tryon Uptown corridor, including;

new-n-tryon-redevelopment-plan

#1 New Uptown Central Library and Tower

north-tryon-transformation-charlotte-nc-new-library

The library will completely redeveloped with a possible mid-rise to high-rise built on top of it. The new facade will be in line with the aesthetics of the new Spirit Square.

#2 Carolina Theater Redevelopment

north-tryon-transformation-charlotte-carolina-theater

Fully renovated Carolina theater w/ $39 million in upgrades, and a mid-rise boutique hotel planned for space above theater. The new Spirit Square plaza will include pedestrian friendly features and new active components.

#3 Discovery Place Redevelopment

north-tryon-transformation-charlotte-discovery-place

The main changes that are proposed to the Discovery Place will be a totally transformed outer facade (seen above), as well as new artistic and scientific outdoor landscaping and features for pedestrians and visitors to play with and on.

#4 Hall House Redevelopment

north-tryon-transformation-charlotte-nc

The proposed redevelopment of the Hall House block includes a totally new mixed-use development in partnership with Bank of America, to include both low-rise and mid-rise office, residential, retail and cultural facilities.

#5 The Levine Museum of the New South

north-tryon-transformation-charlotte

The proposed Levine Museum of the New South at the corner of College and 7th Streets would include an expansion of up to 10,000 square feet, and a redesigned interior and exterior design to target more youth and young adults.

According to the city, the economic development impact of this project would include:

– Estimated 1,200-1,500 temporary construction jobs,
– Estimated 250 facility-based permanent jobs,
– Office building space for an estimated 4,000 jobs,
– $75 million local supplier estimate,
– $35-45 million MWSBE estimate,
– Estimated $4.1 million in new annual property tax revenue, and
– Estimated $674,000 in new annual local sales tax revenue,

What do you think about the plan? 

South Carolina Now Experiencing The 3rd Worst COVID-19 Outbreak In The World

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South Carolina Now Experiencing The 3rd Worst COVID-19 Outbreak In The World

A new report has just been released by the New York Times showing South Carolina as having the 3rd worst COVID-19 outbreak in the world.

The report treats each US state as a country and ranks them according to the new cases that have been confirmed over the past week, adjusted for population size.

Last week, South Carolina saw 2,300 new cases per million residents, which was only topped by Florida and Arizona. North Carolina even made the top 25 with 1,000 new cases per million residents, coming in just behind Chile and South Africa.

The New York Times used data from John Hopkins University as well as information that was released by state and local agencies during the week of June 28 to July 4. Then, the information was broken down by cases per one million residents.

South Carolina currently has 58,003 confirmed COVID-19 cases, which increased by 5,722 of this past weekend alone (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).

The New York Times report was compiled using data from John Hopkins University and local data released by each state between June 28 to July 4.

You can read the full report here.

Slowly returning “back to normal”

Steve
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Slowly returning “back to normal”

Many of us find ourselves slowly slipping back into our old lifestyles. Over the past few months, many of us have tried to find relief from mental and physical fatigue by keeping ourselves busy. Whether this is diving into the depths of Netflix’s archives or getting our bodies beach-ready (minus the beach part). With yoga arguably experiencing a renaissance due actors including Gweneth Paltrow and Matthew McConaughey endorsing its benefits. Many of us have sought refuge in daily meditation and online YouTube yoga classes with the likes of ‘Yoga with Adriene’, clocking up an impressive 7 million subscribers. So with our busy lifestyles coming to look us straight back in the eye, here are a few tips for keeping up these mindful good habits. 

Not having the time is always the ‘get out of jail’ free card when it comes to reserving the time for our bodies and minds. Juggling the responsibilities of our old lives far too exhausting to plan anything remotely relaxing. That is of course until it’s time for the yearly pilgrimage through the departures at Heathrow Airport; jet setting us off to wherever EasyJet has offered the best all-inclusive that year. Yet by strategically allocating a realistic time for our yoga mats, rather than just adding to your plate of responsibilities, will always ease those low-grade daily anxieties. Honouring commitments to ourselves doesn’t always come as naturally as honouring commitments we make with others. So by making an effort to make “dates” with yourself to practise yoga, literally writing yourself into your schedule. Harnessing your inner guru to practise what the calendar tells you is always going to keep your practise growing and thriving.

Getting yourself unstressed, focussed, energised- while you may not be travelling to regions with more favourable weather forecasts than our own this year. Enjoying the plights of chasing our tent pole bags across a campsite in Norfolk. That shouldn’t stop us from a bit of ‘self-love’ now and then.

Linking to the next crucial factor to a consistent yoga practice, reward. The answer to regular yoga stretching is motivating ourselves through reward. More specifically that sweet nectar feeling of post-session ‘bliss’. The bliss of self-satisfaction, gratification and being able to pull yourself away from watching Stranger Things again part 3.0. To savour that sense of accomplishment, CBD can be used to squeeze out the last juices of satisfaction post-yoga session. While to critics, CBD is that alternative hemp oil treatment that long-haired ageing hippies bang on about. CBD is scientifically proven to suppress the enzyme that breaks down Anandamide (a.k.a ‘bliss’) for more Anandamide remaining in the body for longer. Blessing you with that kiss of ‘bliss’ for ongoing motivation to look inwards through yoga. Pandemic or not, we always have the motivation for results but often lack motivation and enjoyment of the process.

The use of aromatherapy or burning incense and candles have been shown to improve psychological and physical wellbeing. Buying scented candles of things that naturally bring you comfort, such as lavender or rosemary can help tranquillise your mind, which is vital during yoga. 

With motivation seen to, how many self-reflection and exercise goals are hindered by aches and pains? Our inner mother’s lecture, causes us to rinse the internet dry of solutions to our niggling pains, overloading our hypothetical online shopping basket almost symbiotically. CBD’s shapeshifter-like product forms provide a large level of autonomy in the marketplace to buyers’ needs. These products helpfully target the cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system that triggers the brain when experiencing pain. By CBD getting pally with these receptors, the body produces more natural cannabinoids producing an anti-inflammatory response in the body. Providing a solution for any overstretched muscles and joints. Removing your fears of walking around the office tight like a sailor’s knot the next day.

With so many CBD products and infused goods on the market, it can be difficult to know what is right for you. 

  • CBD oils as a product are quite versatile that can be cooked with or taken sublingually coming in a range of flavours with the likes of vanilla and mint. Enabling you to cater to the fussiest of taste buds in the kitchen; whether it’s for salad dressing or even homemade popcorn. Largely beneficial in their application on the tongue reaching all parts of the body giving the entire endocannabinoid system a boost. 
  • CBD capsules are perfect for on the go users, neatly fitting into your bags. With dosage sizes measured into capsules, enabling you to monitor your intake more easily. 
  • CBD topicals are applied directly to the skin in the form of creams, salves and even bath bombs. Specific for localised use, topicals are usually recommended to those with injuries reaching endocannabinoid receptors in certain regions.

As reality dawns we are faced with a new mid-year resolution that can’t leave us in the resolution breaking sin bin again. When you are looking for mental wellness, getting active may be one of the last things you feel like doing. But with yoga stretches helping alleviate back pain, vulnerability (using seated stretches often lying in a foetal position, anger (with a heavy focus on breathing to calm down) and self-care (a lot of self-hugging). Along with yoga for runners, those in service industries on their feet all day and even writers (focussing the brain and body inward). Yoga is becoming the heavyweight champion for versatile exercise that can be accessible to anyone, anytime and anywhere (often not even requiring a yoga mat).

At a time when health has been at the forefront of our mind and newspapers, many people are beginning to take a more active role in their health and wellbeing. Laying out a route of action, rather than a seat of passivity to redress our connection between mind, body and soul will always serve us well whatever life might throw at us next.

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