Oak Ridge Today

ADFAC celebrating 30th ‘birthday’

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Photo courtesy ADFAC

Photo courtesy ADFAC

 

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC, has reached a major milestone: 30 years of helping low-income families in the community.

It was January 28, 1987, that ADFAC officially became an incorporated nonprofit in the State of Tennessee. To recognize this achievement, ADFAC will celebrate through 2017 with special events and projects.

Last October, ADFAC kicked off its 30th year by providing a special birthday cake, snacks, and drinks to members of First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge. When ADFAC was first forming, First Presbyterian offered office space to the young organization. As the years went by and ADFAC grew both in size and services, First Presbyterian provided additional office space. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge, AC added to state blight elimination program; loans of up to $25K per home

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TDHA Perrey Oak Ridge Gooch Blight Elimination Program July 11 2016

Oak Ridge and Anderson County have been added to a state blight elimination program that could allow the city to accelerate its efforts to remove blighted and abandoned homes and replace them with new affordable housing, or possibly green space. Ralph Perrey, left, executive director of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, makes the announcement in Oak Ridge on Monday, July 11, 2016. Also pictured is Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge and Anderson County have been added to a state blight elimination program that could allow the city to accelerate its efforts to remove blighted and abandoned homes and replace them with new affordable housing, or possibly green space. Loans of up to $25,000 per home are available.

The Blight Elimination Program allows qualified nonprofits and land banks, like the one in Oak Ridge, to apply for loans of up to $25,000 to acquire blighted, abandoned homes, demolish them, turn the property into green space, and maintain the vacant lots. The “greened” lots can then be turned into new affordable housing or converted into other uses meant to stabilize neighborhoods, with the uses approved by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency.

The $25,000 per demolition will be fronted by the THDA. The work could start with the Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation, THDA Executive Director Ralph M. Perrey said during a Monday afternoon press conference in Oak Ridge. The press conference also included Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, and Katie Moore, East Tennessee THDA representative.

The Blight Elimination Program has $10 million in funding available in Tennessee on a first-come, first-served basis. Much of it is likely to be used in Memphis in Shelby County, one of six other counties previously approved for the Blight Elimination Program, Perrey said.

But Memphis isn’t the only place that needs help, he said.

“I think a fair amount of that can be put to work here,” Perrey said in Oak Ridge on Monday. [Read more…]

Local Ladies Golf Group selects ADFAC as beneficiary

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ADFAC Golf Donation

 

Oak Ridge Country Club’s Nine-hole Ladies Golf Association recently selected ADFAC (Aid To Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties Inc.) as the beneficiary of their charitable gifts.

In addition to personal contributions from individual members, Nancy Gray, who coordinated the event, “sold” mulligans to the players as a way to raise additional funds for ADFAC.

The women were pleased to participate and help ADFAC at the same time, a press release said. [Read more…]

Biloski seeks re-election to County Commission

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Robin Biloski

Robin Biloski

Anderson County Commissioner Robin Biloski is seeking re-election to Anderson County Commission in the Aug. 7 election. Biloski represents District 8 in Oak Ridge, which includes the voting precincts of Emory Valley, Hendrix Creek, and Woodland.

During her tenure, Biloski has helped secure and complete energy initiatives for the county that are sustainable and save taxpayer money, a press release said. It said she secured donated funding to repave the county’s offices in Oak Ridge by working with the County Clerk and Trustee to open a drive-through operation and actively supported the expanded and updated Dental Clinic in Oak Ridge, which are all within District 8.

“I feel very positive about my contributions to Anderson County these past eight years, and seeing the expansion at Roane State and the beginnings of the new facility for Emory Valley Center shows the continued growth within District 8,” Biloski said. “Acting as a resource for city/county inquiries is what I most love doing as an elected official. I have always considered myself a professional, independent, and educated voice in my service to all county residents. I humbly and respectfully ask those in District 8 for their vote in the upcoming election.”

Paul Spray is again Biloski’s treasurer for her campaign, the press release said. [Read more…]

Kiwanis Club meeting next week features ADFAC director

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Annie Cacheiro

Annie Cacheiro, right, executive director of Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC, is pictured above with Liz Herbes, director of ADFAC’s social services program.

A meeting next week of the Kiwanis Club of Oak Ridge will feature Annie Cacheiro, executive director of Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

The Tuesday, Aug. 27, meeting be in the Golden Oak Grill Buffet’s smaller meeting room. The program will start at noon.

Cacheiro will talk about ADFAC activities that include social services and affordable housing programs, as well as ADFAC’s efforts to help local, lower-income families by providing assistance that leads to self sufficiency, a press release said. Those programs include helping with basic needs, housing rehabilitation, and new home construction. For more information about ADFAC, visit the website at www.adfac.org. [Read more…]

UT-Battelle, ATLC home-building project receives labor award

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ORNL Volunteers and Horizon Award

Oak Ridge National Laboratory volunteers receive the Horizon Award from the Tennessee Labor Management Foundation. From left are Angela Gaylon, Dale McBee, Steve Jones, Mike Day, team captain Ann Weaver, and Jeff Reasor. (Submitted photo)

Team UT-Battelle’s all-volunteer project to build homes for Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties has earned the 2013 Horizon Award from the Tennessee Labor Management Foundation.

The award, which recognizes labor management partnerships that benefit the Tennessee community, will be presented to UT-Battelle and the Atomic Trades and Labor Council at the foundation’s summer conference in Nashville. UT-Battelle is the managing contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. [Read more…]

Women volunteer at construction site for National Women Build Week

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Women Build May 2013

More than 15 women volunteered on a Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County  construction site earlier this month in recognition of National Women Build Week. Now in its sixth year, National Women Build Week challenges women to devote at least one day to help repair or build affordable housing in their local communities.

The volunteers worked to provide weatherization services and exterior repairs to a home owned by a single mother with three children. While new siding was being installed by volunteers, other volunteers worked on landscaping and yard maintenance. [Read more…]