Local grants good news for area agencies

Two area agencies have recently received grants that are sure to benefit Brunswick County and all its residents.
The first grant—which affects everyone who lives in or visits Brunswick County—is a $2.1 million grant from the N.C. 911 Board for the county’s emergency services department to consolidate two different 911 call centers.
Currently, depending on from where you call 911, your call may be answered in either Bolivia or Oak Island. The grant will fund the consolidation of the two call centers into one 911 center in Bolivia.
A portion of the grant also includes funding for the construction of a new 911 center. Plans call for the new emergency communication center to be construction behind the county’s emergency services center.
Brunswick County Emergency Services Director Anthony Marzano said this grant was a win for everyone in Brunswick County. We agree.
Plus, all grants and other funds from the N.C. 911 Board are funded through a nominal user fee that appears on your cell phone bill beach month, not from the state’s general fund.
The goal is for the first phase of the consolidation to be completed by Oct. 1.
Marzano anticipates completing the concept and design portion for the new building in the first quarter of 2013, with a ground-breaking expected that spring.
The goal is to have the new communications center online and operational at the start of the 2014 tourist season.
The second grant is a $100,000 New Generations grant Brunswick Community College recently received for an 18-month project. The grant is intended to allow the folks at BCC to train more than 50 young adults and bring 40 jobs to Brunswick County.
The grant is funded from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center.
The goal of the program is to involve youth and young adults in economic and civic life.
One of the organization’s initiatives is called New Generations Careers. The program is designed to assist in the development of locally based strategies to train and place rural young people between the ages of 18 and 30 in high-demand career fields. The idea is to build on collaborations among workforce development agencies, the business community and nonprofits,
The project is collaboration between BCC and Brunswick Housing Opportunities Inc. and will focus on career development in health care, industrial and vehicle maintenance and green housing construction.
BCC was selected as one of 30 community college applicants for their innovativeness in creating job opportunities and the overwhelming commitment from area industries that was demonstrated.
Bravo to BCC for applying for and receiving this grant that will put young adults to work right here in Brunswick County.