Orange Grove adding home in Ringgold
Orange Grove is preparing to open its first residential home in Catoosa County, Georgia, to offer housing and independent living skills and options for those with developmental disabilities.
Orange Grove started providing services in Georgia with approval by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities in 2012, and now supports more than 100 individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in North Georgia.
But the first home in Catoosa County was only recently purchased at 3990 Boynton Drive from the family of Hugh Harris, owner of Farm to Fork Restaurant in Ringgold.
Orange Grove worked in partnership with Catoosa County government to remodel the home and ensure it was ready to apply for licensure as a community living arrangement from the Georgia Department of Community Health. Licensure was granted in September. Tera Roberts, CEO for Orange Grove, said the nonproft continues to work the state regulators to achieve full licensure for residential services.
The house will be home to three people supported by Orange Grove, who will have staff available to help them grow their independent living skills and offer opportunities for further community inclusion.
"We are thrilled that we are finally able to offer these critical residential services to people and families who need it," Roberts said in an announcement of the new home. "Expanding services in Georgia has been an important part of our strategic planning since we first opened an office there, and we are fortunate to have so many partners to help bring this dream to life. Their advice and support have been critical to our success in taking this next big step."
Tennessee gets $6 million for more broadband growth
Tennessee has received $6 million in federal grants to plan for the expansion of access to high-speed internet networks.
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced the funding Monday. It is part of a $65 billion Biden administration investment to connect all Americans to broadband networks.
The Tennessee funding includes $4.9 million for development of a five-year plan identifying the state's broadband access, affordability, equity and needs, research and data collection, publications and communications support, and providing technical assistance through workshops and events.
The state was given an additional $1.1 million for various activities, including development of a statewide digital equity plan, consulting work, community and stakeholder engagement and report distribution.
Memphis firms charged with COVID-19 relief fraud
Authorities say two Tennessee business owners have been charged with defrauding the federal COVID-19 small business relief program of more than $780,000.
The U.S. attorney's office in Memphis said Lisa Evans, owner of USA Taxes, and Kevin Shaw, owner of Freight Masters Inc., have been charged with conspiring to commit bank fraud and making false statements to a federally insured bank. Both businesses are based in Memphis.
Evans and Shaw are accused of filing false documents to take advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program, which provided emergency financial help to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jeep, Ram plants to use solar energy for power
The maker of Jeep SUVs and Ram pickup trucks is partnering with DTE Energy Co. to add 400 megawatts of solar energy generation to power dozens of sites in southeast Michigan and the production of all of its vehicles in the state.
The plan is a part of Stellantis NV's commitment to achieve carbon net-zero status globally by 2038. With the addition of the solar power through DTE's MIGreenPower program, Stellantis said it will be able to attribute all electricity use at 70 manufacturing and non-manufacturing sites to solar by 2026.
That doesn't mean the facilities will be powered every minute of the day by solar since the sun doesn't shine 24/7, DTE CEO Jerry Norcia said, but the project will be able to produce the equivalent amount of energy that Stellantis uses in a year. DTE last month shared details of its proposed 20-year plan that would accelerate the end of coal energy production to 2035 and increase its mix of renewable energy into the grid to 60%, up from today's 20%, while seeking to sustain energy reliability. In addition to wind and solar, DTE uses natural gas and zero-emission nuclear sources.
"This plan demonstrates our commitment to getting as clean as fast as we can, while providing reliable and affordable energy," Norcia said. "And reliable is No. 1, because we need to keep plants like this running. The lights need to stay on as we transition to cleaner sources of energy."
— Compiled by Dave Flessner