Hunter Walsh

The official HUD 80% AMI (area median income) for 2024 for the Atlanta metro (recently posted) is now up to $86,000 for a family of 4. While families at this income level will have difficulty affording housing in many parts of the metro, they are *much* less likely to be severely cost-burdened or at risk of instability, eviction, or homelessness than those at, say, 30% AMI (about $32k/year). We need more attainable housing for folks at 80% AMI, and need to work for that through things like zoning reform, financing missing-middle, and inclusionary housing. But very scarce *subsidy* dollars should be focused on those below 50% AMI, and especially 30% AMI. So when mayors of cities (like Atlanta) announce broad goals for X-thousand units over Y years, and don't specify how many will be *deeply* affordable, we need to push for more detail, and for subsidy to be focused on such units.

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Legislation to boost private school voucher funding in #NorthCarolina is raising concerns among educators, particularly in rural areas. Educators say when private schools get vouchers, that's money public schools won't receive. House Bill 823 aims to allocate about $500 million of additional taxpayer money over the next two years for the state's Opportunity Scholarships. Deanne Meadows, Columbus County School District superintendent, has personally witnessed the consequences of underfunded public schools. "We have closed or consolidated from 18 school facilities down to 12. And we did that because we had a lot of schools that were very small, and we could not accommodate the cost of those smaller schools," she explained. She said parents should have the freedom to decide which school their child attends, but emphasized that it is crucial to ensure public schools receive full funding before allocating funds for vouchers. According to Meadows, when a student transfers to a private school with a voucher, the funds allocated to that student go with them, which might impact the number of teachers, nurses and essential services available in public schools. She added if a student decides to transfer back to a public school midyear, the previously allotted funds do not return. Supporters of the private-school voucher expansion argue that the additional funds would help clear a waiting list of about 55,000 students. Another major concern highlighted by Meadows is the lack of accountability faced by private schools when compared with public schools. Public schools have to meet specific requirements for their teachers and testing, among other things. She also pointed out that public schools have to meet the needs of all students, which isn't a requirement at private schools. "Charter schools, private schools, home schools, they don't have to serve anybody," she said. "They can serve whoever they choose to serve, but we serve every kid that comes through our door." #schoolvouchers

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Read the Comptroller of Maryland's "Immigration and the #Economy" report and learn about #population and #labor force trends impacted by #immigrants living in #Maryland at MarylandTaxes.gov/Research #MDEconomy

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Find out how #LocalGovs like Frederick County Government, Maryland use Polco to engage their communities in shaping the budget. “This survey is another important tool for us to gather feedback from residents. Balancing Act from Polco is an interactive way for people to share what they would like to see in Frederick County’s budget.”  Jessica Fitzwater, County Executive. Read More: https://lnkd.in/eaG8zSnB #PolcoNews #FrederickCounty #PublicEngagement #BalancingAct #ParticipatoryBudgeting #CommunityInvolvement #BudgetPlanning #LocalGovernment #LocalGov #FrederickMD #CountyBudget

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Housing costs have dramatically increased in recent years, and while some of the increase is due to market forces, regulatory factors also have an impact. This article from Georgia Public Policy Foundation outlines some of the key areas impacting housing prices in Georgia, including: ~ Architectural & development requirements ~ Inclusionary zoning policies ~ Impact fees ~ Lot & home size requirements ~ Zoning & Land-use regulations ~ Building code changes & permitting fees ~ Administrative & compliance costs The cumulative effect of these regulatory measures is a significant increase in the cost of housing in Georgia. While many regulations may have a positive motivation — such as ensuring safety, sustainability or aesthetic quality — the combined impact can make housing unaffordable for many residents.

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Excellent! We need the talent in government to not only implement this tech, but ensure decisionmakers make technically informed choices. The challenge will be both making use of that talent and retention. Already government IT is a revolving door, I'd wager in large part due to the inflexibility inherent to gov IT. Unfortunately, under the AI exec order our already expansive IT rule set will be loaded with additional restrictions. To attract, retain, and make use of talent we need to loosen the rules, enable development, and allow experimentation. https://lnkd.in/dc3jbJF2

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The Maryland the Beautiful Act of 2023 established ambitious land conservation goals: conserve 30% of the state by 2030 (30 by 30) and 40% by 2040 (40 by 40). The Act required the Smart Growth Subcabinet to develop the first five-year plan to outline how to meet the goals. Read the plan here: https://bit.ly/3xQNgps

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"This new statewide initiative will accelerate capital – from both in-state and out-of-state – invested into Virginia startups" Governor Glenn Youngkin just announced the launch of Virginia Invests, a groundbreaking initiative led by the VIPC | Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation that aims to supercharge investment and growth opportunities for startups across the Commonwealth. With an initial infusion of $250 million in private investment, Virginia Invests is set to propel over 100 high-growth Virginia startups forward over the next 3-5 years. This initiative accelerates capital flow into the region and amplifies opportunities for entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, including women, minorities, veterans, and those in rural areas. The investment focus spans critical sectors like Health/Life Science, National Security/Defense, FinTech, AI, Cybersecurity, and more, offering a wide array of opportunities for innovation and growth. But it doesn't stop there! Virginia Invests is committed to fostering community engagement and support. It will reach over 1,000 entrepreneurs across the Commonwealth through partnerships with local organizations, offering resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities vital for success. It isn't just about financial capital; it's about investing in the future of our communities and creating a vibrant ecosystem where startups thrive. 👏 As Secretary of Commerce Caren Merrick rightly pointed out, "Virginia is the best place to start and grow a business." With initiatives like Virginia Invests, that statement rings truer than ever.👏 Let's seize this opportunity to innovate, grow, and invest in Greater Richmond and Virginia's bright future!🎉 Read the Full Article: https://lnkd.in/etQBjbpS #VirginiaInvests #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #RichmondVA #StartupEcosystem

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Do you care about housing? Or Alabama? Or advocacy wins? If you answered yes to any of those, then take a listen to our new podcast episode with Collaborative Solutions about their fight for federal funds.

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This week the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development issued an RFI for the Innovation Clusters program. Through this program the State of Connecticut is looking to support transformational projects focused on place. The Innovation Clusters Program offers up to $100 million over 5 years to support projects that contribute to the ongoing development of Connecticut’s key innovative industries, such as biotechnology, financial technology, insurance technology, and advanced manufacturing. The program aims to use both private and public investment to establish or enhance physical spaces that are involved in the advancement and application of next-generation technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, to Connecticut’s key innovative industries. This will help speed up innovation in these rapidly growing sectors. Successful proposals will seek to optimize a combination of workforce training, economic development and regional collaboration. Please take a look at the RFI posted here. https://lnkd.in/e6NdN2U5 #economicdevelopment #communitydevelopment #capitalprojects #infrastructure #RFI #makeithere #innovation #quantum #AI #connecticut

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Did You Know: The Virginia SBDC - Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP VA) assists Virginia-based technology and innovation-driven startups on their path to success. Supporting startups – from ideation, all the way through seeking Series A level of funding and beyond – ICAP services are offered at no cost to participants and all advising is strictly confidential. Experiential learning programs and one-on-one advising with our experienced team of ICAP Mentors (all successful entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs), have created a long track record of success for our clients. Through ICAP, our clients have been able to: learn how to validate their business model (for themselves and funders) before investing significant dollars, connect with subject matter experts, deeply understand their marketplace and competition, and make industry and funder connections. ICAP is also partnered with George Mason University’s NSF I-Corps Program to deliver our Introduction to Lean Startup Course. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eXzwWF9 #SmallBusinessWeek #technology #Virginia

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📌Considering Your Vote in the 2024 #SC House Rep & Senator Elections? Here Are 6 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself. Election season in South Carolina brings with it the opportunity and responsibility for voters to make informed decisions about their district Representative and Senator. Here’s a clear and straightforward way to do just that, without getting lost in the media shuffle: Are you registered to #vote? First off, make sure your voter registration is up to date at scVOTES.gov. Knowing your district is crucial for the next steps. Do you know who’s running? Visit the South Carolina Election Commission website for a list of all the candidates running in your district. From there, you can jump to each candidate’s own website to learn about their policies and perspectives directly. Have you attended any candidate events? These live events are invaluable for getting to know the candidates better. You’ll hear about their plans, ask questions, and see how they interact with constituents. Have you spoken to your neighbors? Conversations with neighbors and community members can provide insights you won’t find anywhere else. Find out what issues are at the forefront in your community and how different candidates are addressing them. Have you visited our blog? For a deep dive into the candidates and issues, visit our blog. We’ve got a treasure trove of educational resources and breakdowns on everything election-related to help you make an informed decision. Visit our blog: www.ConservaTruth.com Have you signed up for our email updates? Stay informed with ease. Sign up for our email updates, and we’ll send you additional helpful resources. It’s your personal toolkit for becoming a more informed voter, providing everything you need right to your inbox! By asking yourself these questions, you can confidently navigate your options and understand the impact of your vote. Now, get out there and make your voice heard!

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LESS THAN ONE MONTH LEFT: Apply for a 2025-2026 Drawdown Georgia Climate Solutions & Equity Grant by July 26th. This year's grants will fund up to five, two-year grants of up to $100,000 per year to advance equity and scale 10 climate solutions: - Alternative Transportation - Climate-Smart Agriculture - Composting - Energy Efficiency Improvements - Food Waste Reduction - Large-Scale Solar - Plant-Based Diet - Rooftop Solar - Tree Planting - Wetlands Protection Learn more and find out how to apply: https://lnkd.in/eHtH9vB7 #drawdowngagrants #climatesolutions #climatejustice

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Really thoughtful and important post re: the challenges the Directors of Development face>>> DoDs often have waaaay too much on their plates. They're exhausted and overwhelmed. And while fixing job descriptions will definitely help, the work still needs to get done. New scalable tech solutions might be the key to streamlining key development workflows and making their hectics lives a bit easier. With tools that can provide automated donor acquisition, effective mass emailing, and AI-supported reporting, the day-to-day can start to become more manageable.

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What’s Grown in NC, Feeds and Protects NC, the country, and the world…NC is Innovation Central, that’s Why NC Ag Leads is so important. Privileged to be a part of it. @NCAgLeads @NCChamber @NCChamberFoundation

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May's County Fact Sheet is about business establishments. A business establishment is a single location -- e.g., each separate Food Lion is its own establishment. Pender County continues to grow and thrive, benefiting from the overall economic success of the Wilmington area. But there are more surprising results here too, like Madison County's 41% growth over the latest 5 year period. ➡ Reminder that all past Fact Sheets are here: https://lnkd.in/e_y9fxkQ

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Leveraging micro-purchases is how I started winning my first contracts in government contracting. GSA BUY https://lnkd.in/eQ2kuz-2

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🚀 Addressing Georgia's Workforce Challenges Businesses in Georgia are facing a daunting challenge: a shortage of skilled workers. With 3 unemployed Georgians for every job opening, the state's Workforce Development Committee, led by Senator John Albers, is taking action. Georgia boasts a vast labor force of over 5.3 million, yet 3.2% are currently unemployed. Despite job growth, the demand for skilled workers persists. At a recent meeting, companies like UPS and Delta highlighted critical shortages. Steve Jones of UPS cited a deficit of over 100,000 drivers, projecting labor shortages until 2040. As solutions are explored, leaders advocate for bolstering technical education. Senator Jason Estevez emphasizes the importance of celebrating technical college pathways. The Blue Collar Recruiter is stepping up to address this issue by collaborating with high schools to offer alternative career paths. Stay tuned for our feature article diving deeper into Georgia's workforce challenges and solutions. https://lnkd.in/eUJ95iVG #WorkforceDevelopment #GeorgiaJobs #SkillsGap #EconomicGrowth

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