Code Enforcement Beatties Ford Sweep

Last month, Code Enforcement participated in a neighborhood sweep of the Dalebrook and Lincoln Heights neighborhoods. Thirty-one field inspectors, along with division supervisors and managers, spent the day informing residents about how to identify common code violations and how to maintain their properties in accordance with local ordinances. They visited 445 homes and engaged with 154 residents face to face! Questions about code? Learn more here.

Safe Home Rehabilitation Applications Now Open

The Safe Home Rehabilitation Program is now accepting applications through November 25. This rehabilitation program helps low-income homeowners by completing repairs to Minimum Housing Code violations. Repairs may include, but are not limited to, replacement or repair of roofs, electrical, plumbing, flooring, structural repairs, windows, doors, exterior painting, and kitchen and bathroom repairs. In order to be eligible for Safe Home, homeowners must live within the City of Charlotte and not have received assistance within the last 10 years of the application date. The home must be occupied by a low-income individual or family (60 percent or less of the area median income), and they must be the property owner. Additionally, the applicant must have lived in the home for at least one year, and the property must be free of excessive clutter. Click here for more information and additional eligibility requirements.

Trees in Charlotte: Tree Care Grant & Tree Canopy Survey

The City of Charlotte recognizes the importance of its tree canopy – the area of Charlotte covered by the shade of trees when viewed from above – to residents. The City also understands the proven benefits trees provide, including improving air and water quality, reducing the effects of pollutants, and providing shade and beautification. It’s important for all areas of Charlotte to have equitable tree canopy coverage. While most residential neighborhoods have a robust tree canopy, maintaining this canopy is expensive, and many of Charlotte’s lower income residents may be disproportionately burdened by the cost of this maintenance.

Eligible organizations citywide can apply for matching grants of up to $3,000 for tree care initiatives including canopy assessment, ivy removal, emerald ash borer treatment, small tree/sapling pruning, and tree focused education and community events. The current application deadline is October 14, 2020. Click here for more information.

As Charlotte continues to grow, there are many priorities, including the tree canopy, that require evaluating City policies. Please share your feedback in this survey.

Beautification Grant Pre-Application Workshop: October 21

Keep Charlotte Beautiful (KCB) is currently accepting Letters of Intent for its Beautification Grant, an annual opportunity which awards up to $5,000 for community beautification projects. This competitive grant is open to neighborhoods, businesses, nonprofits, schools, and individuals citywide. Projects must fall within the four tenets of Keep Charlotte Beautiful: litter prevention, waste reduction and recycling, beautification, and community greening. Attend this workshop for more information about these principles, project ideas, and how to apply. The workshop will take place via Zoom. All registrants will receive login information via email prior to the workshop. Register here.

Neighborhood MVP Grants: Virtual Meeting Assistance

The City of Charlotte is offering up to $350 to neighborhood and merchant organizations within the Neighborhood Matching Grants Eligibility Area who are or seek to Meet Virtually at Present (MVP) up to $350. The COVID pandemic has transformed "business as usual", and many neighborhoods have stepped up to the challenge and have continued the work of meaningful engagement, remaining connected through virtual meeting platforms. You are MVPs!

To support your MVP efforts, reimbursement grants of up to $350 per organization for virtual meeting services, training and technical support, and promotional materials to increase virtual participation.

Applications are being accepted now, reimbursement requests must be received by November 1, 2020. Future service contracts are eligible, provided that fees are paid in advance by November 1, 2020. Apply here, or contact Jackie for more information at Jackie.clare@charlottenc.gov or 980-214-3540. 

COVID-19 Community Resources

City of Charlotte’s $4 Million Access to Capital Extension to Support Food and Beverage Industry
The city is offering access to capital for businesses in the food/beverage industry that have been impacted by COVID-19. Applications close October 19. Click here for more information and contact details.

Education
Charter Communications has partnered with school districts to ensure local communities are aware of its tools to help students learn remotely.  It has opened its WiFi Hotspots for public use. To enroll in the program, call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.

COVID-19 Testing
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has expanded COVID-19 testing and contact tracing across the state to help keep everyone's families and neighbors safe. You can now access online tools to determine if you should consider being tested and to find a testing site near you.

• Visit Check My Symptoms and enter your symptoms to determine if you should consider getting tested for COVID-19. If a test is recommended, you will receive a link to a list of nearby testing sites via email or text.
• Visit Find My Testing Place and enter your ZIP code to access a list of nearby testing site locations online.

The Old North State Medical Society is hosting free COVID-19 testing events every Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Quality Comprehensive Health Center (3607 Beatties Ford Road) and every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Doc’s Pharmacy (2860 Freedom Drive). No insurance required, but attendees should RSVP beforehand at ONSMS.org/charlotte. Materials will be distributed in English and Spanish.

Additional Resources
Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network (MeckMIN) has compiled a list of food and financial resources available during COVID-19 for community members. Click here to access that list.

Halloween Safety Tips During COVID-19

Holidays are traditionally the time for gatherings and Halloween is no exception. Unfortunately, in 2020 during a pandemic, there are several “traditional” Halloween activities that are not recommended.  In particular, any type of gathering that does not adhere to the 3 Ws and increases the risk of exposure to COVID-19 should be avoided before, during and after Halloween. To help you get through the holiday safely, Mecklenburg County Public Health has created a flyer with Halloween Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind.

CATS LYNX Silver Line Survey

CATS is still collecting public input on the LYNX Silver Line project during the Early Scoping period. Project information, the interactive map and the survey will be available on the Online Open House until October 14. Be sure to provide your feedback, as public input is a vital part of the refinement effort. The survey is also available here.

The LYNX Silver Line project team continues to engage with neighborhoods and communities along the alignment about the various refinement options and considerations.  Any neighborhoods, community organizations, homeowners’ associations, chambers, business groups, etc., that are interested in a virtual one-on-one meeting with the project team can email TellTransit@charlottenc.gov.

"Back to the Future" Drive-In Movie & 2040 Comprehensive Plan Community Meeting

The City of Charlotte will unveil its draft Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan and host a screening of “Back to the Future” at a drive-in community meeting on Saturday, Oct. 31. The “Drive Into Charlotte’s Future” meeting will take place in the parking lot of the Park Expo, 800 Briar Creek Road, beginning at 2 p.m. on Oct. 31. Learn more about the drive-in community meeting and register today here! Spanish translation services will be provided.