SELMA WEATHER CLICK LINK BELOW
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STILL NEED HELP https://selmaalabamalo.wpengine.com/contact/
The Alabama Forestry Commission has lifted the no burn order in 33 counties, the 23 counties in yellow drop back to being under a fire alert status.
SELMA DALLAS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CELEBRATED WOMEN
FEDERAL JUDGE PANEL REJECTS ALABAMAS’ REDISTRICTING MAP
UNIONTOWN MAYOR WITNESSED RIVERFRONT BRAWL
MONTGOMERY BRAWL PRESS CONFERENCE
SELMA LEADERS PRESENTED WITH EV BATTERY PRESENTATION
Governor Ivey Announces New Statewide Brand for
High-Speed Internet Expansion
Governor Ivey Announces New Statewide Brand for High-Speed Internet Expansion, Details Upcoming Programs to Support Expansion Projects
MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday during an event in Dothan announced how more than $400 million in federal funding and over $1.4 billion from the U.S. Department of Commerce Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program (BEAD) will be used to expand access to high-speed internet across Alabama. Governor Ivey also unveiled Be Linked Alabama as the name and hub representing the state’s continued efforts to expand access to high-speed internet.
“Providing broadband connectivity to every Alabamian, whether it be in our largest metros or most rural areas, has been a top priority of the Ivey Administration since day one,” said Governor Ivey. “As we launch Be Linked Alabama today, we are furthering our commitment to fully connecting our state. Offering the ability to connect to high-speed internet in all 67 counties is a journey, not a short trip, but Alabama is certainly well positioned to finish this race in the near future.”
The new brand comes alongside significant investments made possible by federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act that were allocated by the Alabama Legislature in 2022 and 2023 to support expansion of high-speed internet to unserved areas of the state.
Governor Ivey announced the upcoming opening of grant applications for the $182 million from the Capital Projects Fund to support “last-mile” projects that provide the actual connections to homes, businesses and community anchor institutions. The application period is expected to open on August 14 and close in October.
Additionally, the state’s new Anchor Institution/Middle Mile (AIMM) program will be funded with the second round of American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated during the 2023 Legislative Session. More than $200 million will support this effort, which will potentially serve 500 anchor facilities – including institutions such as colleges and universities, rural hospitals and government facilities that are inadequately served, along with “middle-mile” deployment that will provide the infrastructure to help facilitate last-mile deployment by internet service providers. The application dates for AIMM program will be announced at a workshop to be held on August 11.
Be Linked Alabama represents the state’s united effort to expand access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet to all Alabamians. The statewide initiative is coordinated by ADECA and brings together partners from across the state, including but not limited to Governor Ivey, the Alabama Legislature, internet service providers, research institutions, utility companies, community leaders and the public as Alabama works toward achieving the goal of high-speed internet access for all.
Also debuting today is the Be Linked Alabama website, a hub of internet expansion information and news. The site is located at broadband.alabama.gov. It includes the Alabama Broadband Map, county profiles and dashboards and statewide broadband news.
“We have a great team in Alabama that includes public officials such as our governor and members of the Legislature, private sector companies, citizens, local leaders and communities all joining together with a common goal – to give every Alabamian the ability to be connected,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “Our state has already made tremendous progress on our journey to expand high-speed internet availability by providers, but we still have a long way to go. Be Linked Alabama represents the progress that we have made, and the continued progress still to come.”
“The funding announced today will have a lasting impact on Alabama’s future, and I am proud to have the opportunity to administer the deployment of these funds in a manner that will give our state the maximum benefit. Every dollar counts, and we are going to deploy these dollars efficiently to help make Governor Ivey’s goal of giving all Alabamians access to high-speed internet a reality.”
Since 2018, Alabama has invested $88.6 million in state dollars through grant awards supporting 109 projects through the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund. Once all the projects awarded to date have been completed, access to internet service will be available to more than 82,000 Alabama households, businesses and community institutions that do not have access to high-speed internet. In September 2022, Governor Ivey announced a grant to support broadband “middle-mile” network infrastructure to improve access for last-mile projects.
In addition to today’s announcement, Governor Ivey announced in June that Alabama will receive a $1.4 billion allocation from the federal BEAD Program to boost ongoing efforts to expand access to unserved areas. ADECA will complete and submit Alabama’s required plan for use of the funds to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
Today’s announcement included a demonstration from students trained at the Wallace Community College campus on how to deploy the fiber optic cables needed for high-speed internet delivery. This training, developed through the Alabama Community College System’s Innovation Center, brings together the state’s community colleges, industries and community partners to deliver training offered at no cost to participants thanks to funding provided by Ivey and the Alabama Legislature.
VOTING RIGHTS ACT REMEMBERED
Selma, AL – Sunday August 6, 2023 The John Robert Lewis Blackbelt Community Development Process and The Jonathan Daniels CDC, Inc. obsrved the 58th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Acting Executive Director of the Jonathan Daniels CDC Attorney Yusef Salaam was the speaker. It was his sister, Ruby Sales that Jonathan Daniels was protecting when he lost his life jumping in front of a shotgun blast meant for her on August 20, 1965 in Hayneville, AL. (about 30 miles from Selma). Daniels a graduate of Virginia Military Institute and an Episcapol seminarian had answered Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s call to people of good conscience to come to Selma in response to Bloody Sunday (March 7, 1965) and he stayed to continue voter education and registration efforts in Alabama.
VOTING RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM HELD
CITY BLOCKS WELLNESS CENTER HOST RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
SELMA PROPERTY OWNERS MUST SUBMIT ENTRY FORMS BY JUNE 16,2023 IF YOU DON’T HAVE TRANSPORTATION CALL 334-375-3011 AND A FORM WILL BE BROUGHT TO TO SIGN.
SELMA, ALABAMA – June 9, 2023
Personal Property Debris Removal (PPDR) will end taking Right of Entry forms for debris removal from private property at the close of business Friday, June 16th, 2023.
FEMA has assessed 141 preapproved properties located in the city limits of Selma. We have only received 21 Right of Entry forms to date. This means that 120 property owners who have been preapproved have not given the city permission to enter their property. Please note that if your property has been preapproved by FEMA, you still need to give the city authorization to enter your property and to remove tornado debris. Completing a Right of Entry form gives the city that permission. The form can be picked up from and turned into the city clerk office, city attorney office, and planning & development office. The list of these properties is provided today and is being posted on the city’s media pages. This is for residential property ONLY.
If your residential property is not on the preapproved list and you need assistance with debris removal please pick up and complete a Right of Entry forms ASAP and make sure it is turned in prior to Friday, June 16, 2023.
Also, we have received around 50 properties that were not on the preapproved list that have requested assistance with debris removal and the property owners have completed the Right of Entry form. However, these properties will still need to be preapproved by FEMA before becoming eligible for debris removal. FEMA is being notified about these request and FEMA will review these properties to determine PPDR eligibility based on their timeline.
The final PPDR list of approved properties will be given to the debris removal company to begin the actual debris removal throughout the city. Remember as of end of day on Friday, June 16th, no new Right of Entry forms will be accepted into this process. We anticipate the actual debris removal under the PPDR process to begin around the end of this month.
Once again, a Right of Entry form can be picked up from and returned to the city clerk’s office, city attorney office and planning & development department.
RIGHT OF ENTRY FORM BELOW
CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL HONORS FORMER MAYOR EVANS
FORMER MAYOR GEORGE EVANS’ FUNERAL
NEW LIVE OAK CEMETERY OPEN MOTHERS DAY WEEKEND
New Live Oak Cemetery will be open Mothers Day weekend starting Friday 9:00am – 7:00pm, Saturday 9:00am – 7:00pm and Sunday 7:00am – 7pm. Selma Mayor James Perkins, Jr. in a press statement indicated that the City Council approved a contractor for Debris removal which will begin Monday May 15, 2023 and include New Live Oak Cemetery.
SELMA COUNCIL PRO TEM CLAY CARMICHAEL INTERVIEW 42423