Latest news with #Gaddy
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Many Kent Co. churches own unused land: Project aims to use it for housing
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A new project aims to tap into a unique resource to add more housing in Kent County: unused land owned by local churches. ICCF Community Homes on Wednesday launched its , a project that aims to raise $12 million to build much-needed affordable housing in Kent County. The project has already received $10 million in commitments, including an anonymous donation that promises to match up to $6 million in funds. The goal is to use those funds to help build 200 homes throughout the Kent County over the next two to five years. $4.2M Grand Rapids project will add housing in mostly-vacant USPS building 'We know our community is in dire need of affordable housing,' ICCF Community Homes CEO Ryan VerWys told News 8. 'As we were thinking about how can we be part of the solution to that need for housing, we recognized that we have great partnerships with churches in our community.' He noted that there's about 700 churches throughout the county, and several of those have extra real estate. One such church is Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church on MLK Jr Street near Union Avenue, which owns several unused lots near its building, senior pastor Darryl Gaddy said. Gaddy moved to Grand Rapids about two and a half years ago to help revitalize the 97-year-old church. Part of that was finding a way to develop that extra property it owns, he said. Through the Building With Faith campaign, ICCF is helping the church work through the pre-development stages. Once complete, the project is expected to build six to 10 housing units for those who are housing insecure, Gaddy said. 'In the church community, every day we having folks coming to us and they are housing insecure, they don't have a place to live,' Gaddy said. 'This is so exciting, because it provides those who are without an opportunity to come into a space where they can be at home.' 'It's just exciting to know … that God would use me to help catalyze a movement with a church that's been in this city and in this community for 97 years,' he later added. 'I'm just a small part of the building blocks of continuing to build a legacy for home ownership and for those in the community who need a safe place to stay, but also that need to be empowered through the spiritual and then the social tools. And so we are excited to work with ICCF in this mission.' Grand Rapids named top 10 housing 'hot spot' going into 2025 Half of the 200 housing units ICCF aims to help create through the project will be rental units built on under-utilized church property, whether that's through building new units or redeveloping existing buildings. The other half with be built for first-time homebuyers, built on land that will include properties donated or acquired from churches. The homes will be built on a land trust, meaning the homebuyers will buy the house, but not the land it sits on. That model both helps keep costs down for homebuyers, and can also control the sale price in the future. 'We are so encouraged by the generosity that we've experienced thus far,' VerWys said. 'We're passionate about addressing that critical need for housing in our community.' Like most of the country, Kent County is in dire need for more housing. A Housing Next housing assessment from 2022 found that the county needed to add 35,000 housing units by 2027. Costs are also skyrocketing to both own or rent a home. According to a data dashboard from Housing Kent, those earning a median wage in Kent County have not been able to afford buying an entry-level home since 2017: An average entry-level home in Kent County requires an income of $62,000, while the area's median annual wage is $42,740. The cost of rent is also rising faster than wages, and a typical apartment costs $1,196 a month, affordable to those making an income of $47,840. Inside Housing crisis in West Michigan 'We know the housing market is hot right now. … If you're renting, you're seeing your rents rise rapidly, your housing is something of insecurity. And we really dream of a time where housing is something that every family can experience a place of security,' VerWys said. 'We're thrilled that the community is coming together around this campaign to add a bunch of much needed affordable housing.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former Troup Co. Board of Commissioners' employee accused of stealing from payroll system
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested a former Troup County Board of Commissioners' employee after she was accused of stealing. On Monday, May 5, the Troup County District Attorney's Office requested the GBI to help them with a theft investigation involving Wesleigh Gaddy, 35, of Hogansville. Gaddy formerly held the position of Payroll and Benefit Generalist. The investigation alleges that she was responsible for the misuse of the Troup County Board of Commissioners' payroll system. The GBI says no other employees are suspected of being involved. Gaddy was charged with one count of theft by taking and booked into the Troup County Jail. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: 10-year-old boy critical after being shot in the head Marjorie Taylor Greene weighs in on college student facing deportation after wrongful traffic stop 3 dead, 2 injured in tractor-trailer crash that left I-75 shut down for hours [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TXB upgrading tech as it aims to double store count
This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. TXB has chosen technology company Mako Networks as its managed network service provider, the companies announced last week. Mako is tasked with ensuring TXB's network infrastructure is reliable, scalable and secure, according to the announcement. TXB expects to see more seamless transactions, fewer system disruptions, stable wireless performance in its POS systems and back-office applications, and a more centralized IT management structure across all of its c-stores. TXB's network revamp also aims to support the retailer's growth plans, which include doubling its store count to over 100 locations across its Texas and Oklahoma footprint, the company said. TXB has had roughly 50 c-stores in its network since before the retailer rebranded from Kwik Chek half a decade ago. The Spicewood, Texas-based company has become one of the more well-known mid-size retailers across the industry thanks to its restaurant-style foodservice program. But TXB appears ready to expand, as leadership touted plans in last week's announcement to grow its current network of 53 convenience stores to over 100 locations. While the retailer didn't offer a timeline for reaching this goal, TXB partnering with Mako may mark the beginning of this growth phase, as the company wants to prepare its network infrastructure for the expansion. According to the announcement, TXB needs a network that handles increased digital transactions, real-time data processing and cloud-based applications. Daniel Gaddy, vice president of IT for TXB, said in the announcement that the partnership has not only improved TXB's internal operations but has sped up customer payments and resulted in few network outages. "That's a huge part of growing from 53 to 100-plus stores,' Gaddy said. 'We need wireless to be stable. We need [wireless backup] to work when required. We need to be able to utilize the bandwidth we pay for.' Recommended Reading Inside TXB's journey with artificial intelligence
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Gruesome discovery sparks search for the remains of 77-year-old Richmond County woman
RICHMOND COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A gruesome discovery in Rockingham led searchers from across the state to descend on Richmond County Wednesday. 77-year-old Linda McCuiston was reported missing in October, but in the last couple of weeks, a homeowner got a shocking surprise that made crews search for more answers. A couple of weeks ago detectives say a pet dog brought a human skull to its owner's house. On Monday, investigators confirmed those were the remains of McCuiston. The terrain is tough. 'I would say two or three miles back through the woods,' said Barbara Gaddy, McCuiston's neighbor. The story is even tougher. 'It was really a shock for her to wander off this street,' said Gaddy. McCuiston loved her walks around the neighborhood. 'A time or two she was at the Christmas gathering and all, and I've known her for near 40 years,' said Gaddy. McCuiston was like family to Gaddy. 'She would get out and walk she would go to my daughter's house next door,' said Gaddy. Doris Sears spotted McCuiston on October 11. 'When I first saw her, she was standing over there and then she walked slow and got up under this tree,' said Sears. Sears was worried. Human remains found nearly 3 years ago finally identified as missing Kings Mountain woman 'I called 911 and asked them to come check on her because she acted like she might be confused,' said Sears. McCuiston never returned home. 'That was the last time I saw her,' said Sears. She was missing for months. 'We were all shocked and felt bad about it but she did have dementia bad,' said Gaddy. Investigators aren't giving up. 'Just made me feel so sad,' said Sears. Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area 🚨 >> After a pet dog found McCuiston's skull a couple of weeks ago, searchers were back out Wednesday. 'I don't know it just really hurts my heart,' said Sears. Friends are grateful that people who didn't even know McCuiston are still searching. 'I thank the Lord because we all had been praying that she would be found so there'd be closure for everybody,' said Gaddy. Investigators do not think McCuiston's death is suspicious. They were also set to search for a missing man, Dennis Bailey, on Wednesday. He's been missing since December, but detectives say the terrain for McCuiston's search Wednesday made it difficult and slowed them down, so they're working to find another day to search for Bailey. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
01-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Environmental justice organizers in New Jersey fear impact of EPA cuts
Some community-based organizations in New Jersey are worried about the impact of massive cuts President Trump says are coming to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "After recently identifying $20 billion fraudulent in spending, [EPA] Administrator [Lee] Zeldin is committed to eliminating 65% of the EPA's wasteful spending," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said. An EPA spokesperson said the agency is "cutting wasteful grants, reassessing the agency's real estate footprint, and delivering organizational improvements to the personnel structure." New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone, the ranking Democrat on a committee that oversees the EPA, says environmental and climate justice programs are being eliminated under Trump's administration. "My understanding is that any environmental justice funding is done. If you didn't already get it, you're not getting it," he said. Those cuts could include some initiatives that provide financial help to underserved communities in the Garden State. "This isn't just impacting the environment, it's impacting lives" Kim Gaddy heads the South Ward Environmental Alliance in Newark. "It was a personal reason that I got into this space, but I didn't want any other parent to experience what I was experiencing," she said. The fourth-generation Newarker says her three children all have asthma. "When you have a child that is suffering from asthma and you see them unable to breath, that is one of the most scariest things you can imagine," she said. She blames it on pollution, like airplanes at Newark Liberty International Airport and diesel fuel from trucks traveling to and from one of the busiest United States ports. "There's no barriers in the sky. The pollution that is in Newark today will also be in your community tomorrow," Gaddy said. Gaddy's nonprofit spreads information about waterway and air pollution to residents. She says won't be getting EPA funding for one educational program. "It is really important that if you come from a community of Black and Brown individuals that are most marginalized, that they are able to sit at the table and meaningful participation," she said. "I don't think [Trump] understands that this isn't just impacting the environment, it's impacting lives," said X Braithwaite, an environmental justice organizer for Clean Water Action. Braithwaite, who lives in the Ironbound near the state's largest incinerator, says she'll continue fighting for neighbors. "I see our communities as resilient," she said.
