General news about Mountain Projects

Request for Bids: Site Development

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Proposed Site Improvements for Harris Estates

Mountain Projects, Inc. – Owner (Smoky Mountain Housing Partnership)

Sylva, North Carolina

Sealed bids will be received by Mountain Projects, Inc. at their office located at the 2177 Asheville Road, Waynesville, NC 28786 for the construction of the Proposed Site Improvements for Harris Estates in Sylva, North Carolina until 2:00 pm EST on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at which time they will be opened and read aloud. The bidder shall show evidence of qualifications by clearly displaying his or her current license number on the outside of the sealed envelope in which the proposal is delivered.

The project is located on a 1.2 acre ± tract of undeveloped land at the end of Second Avenue in Sylva, North Carolina. The project will include site improvements needed to prepare the site for five new single family homes which will be built by others. The project work will include excavation, earth filling, grading, storm drainage, erosion control, asphalt paving, approximately 840 LF of 2” HDPE water main and related incidental work.

Bid Documents may be obtained by qualified bidders from the issuing office of Lofquist & Associates, Inc., 11 Citrus Drive, Sylva, North Carolina 28779, (828) 586-1424. Qualified bidders may obtain digital copies of bid documents at no cost and/or printed copies of bid documents are available for a non-refundable cost of $150.00 per set from the issuing office.

Bid proposals shall be submitted by qualified contractors and must be accompanied by a bid security in an amount of 5 percent of the bidder’s maximum bid price.

The owner reserves the right to reject any or all bid proposals.

Mountain Projects, Inc.

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Canopy Realtor® Association and Canopy MLS to provide $400,000 to aid Haywood County Flood Relief Efforts

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Board of Directors of Canopy Realtor® Association and Canopy MLS, unanimously voted August 26 to donate $200,000 each, for a total of $400,000 in funds to support Haywood County flood relief efforts.

2021 Canopy Realtor® Association/Canopy MLS President David Kennedy said “We care deeply about the people and communities that we serve and now more than ever our neighbors who have lost their homes and so much more need our assistance.”

Kennedy adds that hearing from our local leadership and Realtor® members in the Western Region as to the amount of devastation this community has undergone is not only heart wrenching but a call to assist.

Seventy-five percent, amounting to $300,000 in funding, will be allocated to the United Way of Haywood County, and the remaining 25 percent, amounting to $100,000, will be donated to Mountain Projects, for a grand total of $400,000.

Brian Cagle, a Canopy MLS and Canopy Foundation Board of Directors member and Vice President/Managing Broker of Beverly-Hanks & Associates, said, “I am simply overcome and filled with gratitude for the overwhelming support from our industry.”

Canopy Realtor® Association is headquartered in Charlotte and is the professional trade association that provides Realtors® in Mecklenburg, Iredell and Haywood counties with resources and services to conduct ethical, professional and profitable businesses. Haywood Board of Realtors® became part of Canopy Realtor® Association on January 1, 2020, establishing the Western Region.

Canopy MLS is a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation of Canopy Realtor® Association and is the private broker cooperative used by Realtors® to bring buyers and sellers together with access to thousands of residential listings in a multi-county service area, including Charlotte, the mountains area of North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond.

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Haywood Public Transit Offers Emergency Cruso Shuttle Route Next Week

Haywood Transit Schedule in the Cruso & Bethel Area

Week of Tuesday, August 31st – Friday, September 3, 2021

Haywood Transit will provide a continuous shuttle service on US276 from 10am – 3pm daily. This service is open to anyone in need of transportation along this route.

Stops will include:

  •    Camp Hope

  •    Cruso Community Center

  •    Cruso United Methodist Church

  •    Burnett Cove Road

  •    Mustang Alley Drive Trailer Park

  •    Franks Grocery

  •    Bethel Baptist

  •    Crestview Baptist (as needed)

If community members need a ride into town for employment, shopping or medical trips please call 828-565-0362 to schedule an appointment. Haywood Transit needs at least 24 hours prior notice for these trips.

Haywood Transit is closed on Labor Day.

Ongoing shuttle transportation needs will be assessed on a week-by-week basis.

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Seeking Rapid Re-Housing Champions!

Haywood County’s Faith-based Communities, along with Mountain Projects, Recover Haywood and The United Way are working to restore housing for displaced households affected by Tropical Storm Fred.

Our mission is to bring existing homes to a basic level of safety, security and sanitation as quickly as possible–usually in about one week. This provides homeowners a safe space to rebuild their lives.

North Carolina Baptist Builders, who are often seen working in hurricane relief, will move their base to Haywood County to begin work September 1st, and will coordinate local volunteers and resources along with Mountain Projects.

Please help us meet our sponsorship goal of ten houses at $17,500 each. With your donations and in approximately one-weeks time per project, we can get families back into their homes!

CONTACT: Patsy Davis, Executive Director, Mountain Projects: 828-492-4124

 

More Information:

Join the Challenge and become a Re-housing Champion
Your investment of volunteers and contributions will get families back into their homes!

  • Homes will get new drywall, insulation, electrical services, working bathrooms and more
  • All materials and craftsmanship are high-quality 
  • Selected households will be rehabilitated in approximately one-weeks time
  • North Carolina Baptist Builders are grant funded & provide the majority of tools and skilled labor
  • HVAC & electrical replacements are often served by local contractors
  • Costs of materials and local contractors are provided by the sponsor

Rapid Re-housing Champions will be featured in the news, on the Mountain Projects website and social media.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How fast will construction start? The North Carolina Baptist Builders are moving their base to Haywood County and will begin work on September 1st
  2. Can our organization provide volunteers? YES! If your group wishes to join the process, we welcome collaborators 
  3. How do you choose which houses to rehabilitate? We generally choose houses of single mothers with children, the elderly and the disabled, first. Inspectors evaluate projects based on a list of criteria to determine our capacity to help.
  4. How do you prioritize projects? We prioritize the projects based on the circumstances of the household, the condition of the home and the availability of materials and expertise for a particular project. 
  5. What if our project costs more or less than $17,500? If there is excess after completing a home, your investment will be applied to a home that the cost exceeds the average rehabilitation costs. 
  6. Who profits from this work? The cost of labor and tools is volunteered. No one profits. 

Process

Community groups, Churches and Nonprofit organizations can sponsor a home rehabilitation.

Here are the steps:

  1. Notify Mountain Projects that your organization wants to join the challenge!
  2. Raise $17,500 to pay for the costs rehabilitation materials 
  3. Meet with project partners to organize volunteers
  4. We launch the re-housing project!

 

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Mountain Projects seeks homeowners willing to rent housing to flood victims

Mountain Projects is meeting with flood victims who are currently in temporary housing, matching them with available resources to put them in safe, dry, clean homes. Currently, there are 30+ households that have applied for services, and hundreds more who have been impacted by the flooding may request help.

“Our priority is to put a roof over people’s heads. That’s point one. Give people the security of having a roof over their heads so they can start to rebuild their lives, ” says Executive Director, Patsy Davis. 

To meet this goal Mountain Projects is seeking homeowners and landlords who can make homes available to flood victims. 

Placement in a home is perhaps the most stabilizing act for disaster victims. Without a home, victims don’t have anywhere to put donated items and don’t have a home base from which to conduct their lives.

It can be a big ask of a homeowner, especially those who have never worked with Mountain Projects before, and because part of the funding is drawn from the Section 8 program.

“In this case, our relief isn’t income-based, recipients come from all walks of life,” said Davis. “Some of the victims we help will be Section 8 recipients. Unfortunately there’s a stigma around Section 8 vouchers – that these renters cause problems for homeowners. A tiny fraction do, but that small segment impacts the reputation of a strong program that helps a lot of people.” 

Mountain Projects conducts a background check on all Section 8 recipients and interested landlords may also screen applicants to ensure they are comfortable with the choice of tenant. 

Mountain Projects and its donors are helping to pay the first months rent and deposits necessary to get families into stable housing. 

Mountain Projects is requesting the community’s assistance with two things: 1. Please consider renting your home to flood victims by contacting Amber Edwards, or by calling 828-452-1447; 2. If you are able to make a financial donation to cover rental deposits for flood victims, please give to Mountain Projects partner, the United Way of Haywood County. Mountain Projects is working closely with the Haywood County government, the United Way and other nonprofit partners to serve households displaced by flooding. 100% of these donations will be used to serve flood victims. Mountain Projects response services are focused on housing and transportation.

Mountain Projects is a Community Action Agency serving Haywood and Jackson Counties. To learn more, visit MountainProjects.org. 

 

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Haywood Co. Flood Update 3, A Message from the United Way

United Way of Haywood County is working closely with County government and local non-profits to gather information about immediate needs of the victims of recent flooding in Canton, Clyde and upstream communities. Partner agencies are committed to the long-term, multi-layered recovery efforts and have aligned our services to serve the community:

The Haywood County Call Center and Helpline, operated by the Haywood County Government, offers a single point of contact for all efforts related to the flood: 828-356-2022. If you have immediate life-threatening needs, please call 911. 

Hotline hours are 8 a.m – 8 p.m. Please use this line for the following:

  • Concerns about missing loved ones
  • Emergency shelter needs
  • Requests for food, or resource assistance
  • Volunteer or donation opportunities
  • Other storm-related needs

The United Way is coordinating financial contributions to nonprofit agencies serving flood victims. Please contact Executive Director, Celessa Willett, 828-356-2832 to make a donation. Supporting agencies include:

Mountain Projects, which will support case management and is available to take applications for Section 8 Housing based on income eligibility. Haywood Public Transit, a division of Mountain Projects, offers free transportation to those affected by flooding. Mountain Projects will update its Facebook page to share up-to-date information and opportunities for those in need.

The Haywood Pathways Center is accepting applications for emergency shelter. Individuals and families must meet eligibility requirements.

The Salvation Army is providing food at the Jukebox Junction at the intersection of US 276 and NC 215 in Bethel. Clothes to Kids is working with the school system to meet clothing needs for children. Lifeworks is distributing water and snacks near Canton.

Stay tuned for ongoing, accurate recovery information through Haywood County Emergency Services Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HaywoodCountyEmergencyServices.

To receive services or to make a donation in support of nonprofit-based recovery efforts, please contact the United Way of Haywood County, 828-356-2832.

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Haywood Co. Flood: Emergency Update 2, Volunteer Coordination

Mountain Projects to coordinate volunteer teams as needs are determined.
As officials assess damages and communicate with community members affected by the flood, we will know better how to coordinate the goodwill and support of the kind friends and neighbors who want to help flood victims.
To sign-up to provide volunteer support for flood victims, please contact John Chicoine with Mountain Projects Volunteer Services Center, jchicoine@mountainprojects.org or call (828) 356-2833.
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Haywood Co. Flood: Emergency Update 1, Rental Assistance

Emergency Section 8 vouchers are income-based and are available for Haywood County residents displaced by the flood.
Please help Mountain Projects reach those who have been displaced by the flood caused by tropical storm Fred. If you or someone you know need emergency rental assistance, Mountain Projects has opened the application process to flood victims only. Call 828-452-1447 to receive assistance over the telephone, or follow this link:
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Request for Cost Estimate: Engineering Services

Description of Project: Mountain Projects, Inc.  Located in Waynesville, NC, is soliciting cost estimates for Architectural/Engineering Services for a 5.97 acre single family development. 

Property: Off Harkins Avenue Canton, NC 28716 PIN 8647-83-7739

The scope of work may include but is not limited to the following:

  • Site Plan
  • Compaction Report
  • Timeline of Development Phases 
  • Wetland/ Stream Delineation
  • Phase 1 Environmental & 3D Geotechnical Exploration
  • Soil Sample
  • Infrastructure, Property Layout & Project Feasibility
    • Grading & drainage plans
    • Road design including NCDOT (Ingress & Egress)
    • Water & sewer design
    • Stormwater retention/ detention design
    • Preliminary parking and off-street loading layouts
    • Opinion of costs for infrastructure 

Applicants should have experience in educational design and be familiar with all pertinent codes and regulations. Mountain Projects, Inc. is seeking creative and economical design solutions that incorporate energy-efficient features. 

Cost Estimates may be hand delivered, emailed, or mailed to Mountain Projects Inc., 2177 Asheville Road, Waynesville, NC 28786. Cost estimates must be received by June 14, 2021.

Property is under contract and all work must be completed and reviewed by Mountain Projects, Inc. prior to the end of the due diligence period 08-18-21.

Questions regarding the RFQ should be addressed to the SMHP Executive Director, at the above address, Attn: Heather Boyd Phone (828) 452-1447 or emailed to: [email protected] 

A contract will be negotiated with the most qualified firm(s) at a compensation which is stable, fair, and reasonable to Mountain Projects, Inc.

Proposals: Mountain Projects, Inc. reserves the right to select the firm(s) which it deems to offer the best overall proposal taking into consideration all factors such as (a) past performance; (b) qualifications of professional personnel proposed for the project; (c) location and size; (d) recent, current, and projected workloads of the firm; and (e) related experience on similar projects.

 

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