Latest news with #SWAP
Powys County Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Powys County Council discusses Sustainable Powys plan
Communications must improve if Powys County Council is to succeed in its bid to get a sustainability bid off the ground. The authority wants to create 'Sustainable Powys' and has already had meetings with town and community councils. Apart from the framework of five core towns from where council services will be centred upon, little detail on the future shape of Powys has been made public so far. At a meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee last week, members received an internal audit report from SWAP (South West Audit Partnership) who had evaluated the 'delivery arrangements' for Sustainable Powys. SWAP assistant director Ian Halstead said one of the areas of improvement was around communication. He said that all parties need to have a 'realistic understanding and expectation' of Sustainable Powys and how it 'turns from concept through to delivery.' Cllr Pete Lewington said that the report did not tell him 'how effectively' the council had engaged with partners and explained what Sustainable Powys actually means. Cllr Lewington said: 'Effective engagement is really crucial, especially when you think about what your asking communities to do. 'This should be beyond just measuring the numbers of participants especially as conclusions and decisions are reached by extrapolating from a very small number of participants.' Cllr Graham Breeze said: 'I've attended two public engagement meetings with community councils over the last couple of months. 'The feedback there was that community councils have not grasped this yet and didn't understand it.' Director of Corporate Services Jane Thomas said the 'initial engagement' done with Powys councillors, the wider public and town and community councils had 'set some foundations.' She explained that Powys Council had just finished its 'second tranche' of town and community council meetings. Ms Thomas told the committee that she had met with Cllr Sian Cox, the portfolio holder for adult social care, and council leader Cllr Jake Berriman to 'consider the effectiveness of what we are currently doing.' Ms Thomas said: 'We don't believe they (engagement sessions) are being effective either, and we are reflecting on that and changing the way we are doing that." 'This is so we get that buy-in from communities to work with us, which we clearly don't have at this point in time. We know there is some work to do.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Game and Fish seeks input on 2025 wildlife conservation plan
May 30—BISMARCK — The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is taking public comment on the revision of its 2015 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), a process it is required to undertake every 10 years as part of an effort to conserve wildlife and habitats across the state. According to Patrick Isakson, conservation supervisor for Game and Fish in Bismarck, the department developed its first SWAP document in 2005 to shed light on at-risk and potential at-risk species in North Dakota. While SWAP includes a "handful" of game species, including sharp-tailed grouse, canvasback, lesser scaup and northern pintail, "the vast majority are those nongame species that we don't hunt or fish in the state," Isakson said. That includes grassland birds, shorebirds, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, insects, freshwater mussels, mammals, reptiles and amphibians that may be under threat. The ultimate goal of the plan is to prevent species from being listed for federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. "The State Wildlife Action Plan is really a guiding document for our agency and our partners to identify the threats and conservation actions for at-risk species and their habitats," Isakson said. Bruce Kreft, chief of the Game and Fish Department's Conservation and Communications Division, said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) provides states with money to address rare and declining species, but state agencies in turn must develop a plan to address the species listed in the document. Kreft talked about the required SWAP update on Tuesday, April 22, during the Game and Fish Department's spring Advisory Board meeting. Game and Fish is mandated to hold the meetings twice a year in each of the state's eight advisory board districts, and the meeting for District 7 was livestreamed from Game and Fish headquarters in Bismarck. The FWS recently announced it is distributing more than $55 million to state fish and wildlife agencies through its State Wildlife Grant Program. North Dakota is receiving $552,727 for 2025, according to the FWS. "The State Wildlife Grant Program supports conservation actions aimed at avoiding new federal listings of threatened and endangered species, recovering those species already listed and ensuring healthy populations of each state's top-priority fish and wildlife species for future generations," Paul Souza, acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said in a statement. "We are pleased to be working with these partners to protect America's natural resources and wild places." That's where the State Wildlife Action Plan comes into play, Isakson of Game and Fish said. "One of the benefits of the state putting together a State Wildlife Action Plan is then, it's eligible for State Wildlife Grant money" from the FWS, Isakson said. "So, in order for us to spend that money on our species of greatest conservation need, we need to have the State Wildlife Action Plan in place to identify what we're going to do with it." That allocation has ranged from about $450,000 to $550,000 annually over the last decade or so, he said. "It's been a real stable funding source for our nongame species and one that really has done a lot of work in our state and furthered our information and knowledge," Isakson said. "We leverage (funding) with partner dollars, university dollars, NGO (nongovernmental organization) dollars and do research and habitat conservation with it." Examples, he says, include a freshwater mussel study being conducted with Valley City State University, reptile and amphibian surveys underway with a researcher at North Dakota State University and looking at grassland bird habitat and how it relates to some of the at-risk species in the SWAP document. "We've been fortunate over the last decade or so to add some expertise in both terrestrial insects and aquatic insects, so we really lean heavily into this plan on what effects those threats out there have on our invertebrate community," Isakson said. "So, there are a lot of new insects both aquatic and terrestrial, that are in our (updated) plan. "That's where a lot of the species that we see being potentially listed and petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act are going — to those invertebrates." As part of its first two State Wildlife Action Plans in 2005 and 2015, Game and Fish ranked "Species of Conservation Priority," Isakson says. Under the SWAP draft now up for public review, species are identified as "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" and "Species of Greatest Information Need," Isakson says. "We don't rank them out anymore," he said. "We just have species that we have an idea of what the threats and actions are that we need to conserve them. And then those Species of Greatest Information Need are those that we really need to do some more investigating on. We have an idea that maybe there's some threats out there or their populations may be declining, but we need to lean into some of the research to identify those." The 2025 SWAP draft includes 134 species of Greatest Conservation Need and 98 Species of Greatest Information Need in North Dakota, Isakson said. The first SWAP in 2005 identified about 100 species of concern, a number that increased to 115 species in the 2015 SWAP update, Kreft said during the April Advisory Board livestream. "So, we're seeing that increase in the number of species that are rare and declining either regionally — throughout different states — or within the states," Kreft said. The 152-page SWAP draft has eight elements, he said, including abundance, distribution, some of the threats and potential actions. While the list of at-risk species has grown, species occasionally come off the list, as well, Isakson said. The river otter and the American marten, both of which were listed in the 2015 plan, are two examples, he said; the bald eagle also was removed from the list. "Ultimately, we found out enough information to feel like they're not really at risk in our state," Isakson said. In revising the 2025 SWAP as required, Game and Fish last September hosted a "SWAP Summit," which included about 60 members from the public and various conservation partners. North Dakota's SWAP is a collaborative effort between Game and Fish staff, species experts, partner conservation groups, and state, federal and local agencies. "That's the second time we brought all of our partners and stakeholders together," Isakson said. "We gave them an update on some of our thoughts from our internal work and then broke them out into groups based on the habitats they were interested in — or that they had experience in — and really dove into what those threats are." Habitat loss is a concern, Isakson says; what benefits game species also benefits nongame species. "That is the beauty of our plan, being habitat-based and habitat conservation-based, is if you keep it 'green side up,' if you keep the grass out there and keep the trees out there, it benefits all species in the state," Isakson said. "Both hunted (species) and those nongame species that we talk about more readily in this plan. "Our plan focuses a lot on conserving native habitat — the native grass that's out there — and in some cases trying to rebuild some of that habitat." Getting people to recognize the importance of all wildlife — and not just species targeted by hunters and anglers — can be a challenge, Isakson concedes. "We always have work to do when it comes to talking about the importance of all wildlife in the state," he said. "The department is in charge of managing all wildlife in the state. A lot of people think about those game species and those species that they catch out there, but we've done work over the years to try and educate the public on the importance of all species and their habitats — and that is part of our plan here." Game and Fish will take comments on the 2025 SWAP draft through June 30. After that, the department will develop a final draft for the Fish and Wildlife Service to approve. "Once it's signed off on, we're good to go for another 10 years," Isakson said. * To comment: A draft of the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan update is available on the Game and Fish website at Public comments are accepted through June 30.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Winning the lottery: East Providence school site turned into income-restricted housing
EAST PROVIDENCE – What was once the Platt-Waters school complex in East Providence has been turned into eight new homes and three duplexes built by a nonprofit, sold via a lottery for well below market value. City and state leaders gathered at one of the three new duplexes on Hoppin Avenue on April 22, to celebrate the project, saying that adding the six new units will help alleviate, even a small amount, the state's housing crisis. The three new duplexes were sold for $239,000, well below the market rate and below what the eight other single-family homes sold for, around $550,000 to $600,000. The three duplexes cost SWAP, the contractors who built the duplexes, around $450,000 to $475,000, including the cost of the land. East Providence Mayor Roberto DaSilva said he grew up in a two-family house, on the second floor, in Washington Park in Providence. "Thanks to that, my family was able to achieve the American dream," DaSilva said. The three duplexes were sold via a lottery to people making up to 80% of the area median income, $62,950 for a single person, $71,950 for a couple. A family of four could have made up to $89,900. SWAP Executive Director Carla DeStefano is a huge proponent of duplexes because they add greater density and they give home buyers an income stream to offset the cost of their mortgage, although often times, family members move into the additional units. "We're essentially subsidizing almost one full unit," DeStefano said. In October of last year, DeStefano's group sold five duplexes for $309,000 in South Providence on Portland Street. The higher price point reflected the higher maximum income limit, 100% of the area median income, $78,680 for a single person or $112,400 for a family of four. The city's plan was to subdivide the former school site and sell eight 7,500-square-foot lots, which have all been turned into single-family houses, and three 10,000-square-foot lots for income-restricted housing, which were sold to SWAP. DeStefano had to ask the city for a zoning change to allow her to build duplexes, instead of single-family homes, on the three lots the city sold her organization for income-restricted housing. Those lots are big for a city. As an example, Providence allows buildings on lots up to 10,000 square feet to be totally exempt from parking requirements, which allows for dense apartment buildings. DeStefano said she teased DaSilva about East Providence's restrictive zoning requirements and that he takes to heart concerns over the need to increase density. Selling for $239,000 duplexes that cost $450,000 to $475,000 to build represented a significant subsidy to the homebuyer. Funding to subsidize the income-restricted houses was provided by: RI Housing's site acquisition grant RI Housing's homeowner investment fund RI Housing's pre-development grant Centerville Bank offered mortgages that did not require private mortgage insurance, or PMI. With the new single-family homes up on Hoppin and Burnside avenues, some decisions on landscaping, including fences, will be up to the new buyers. The other new homeowners on the eight smaller lots haven't put up fences yet, DeStefano said. "It's almost like a subdivision where everybody needs to decide," she said. When she was growing up, neighbors left their yards open and children treated them as one big field, although she suspects, with lots so large, some people might put up fences close to the house and leave much of their yards unfenced. While SWAP doesn't normally use vinyl siding on its properties because of its fragility in the dead of winter, the group did for these duplexes to make them fit in with all the other new builds. A few trees still need to be planted as part of the landscaping. SWAP has a drawer full of house designs that are usually pulled for any given project, which reduces costs because the nonprofit doesn't have to pay an architect every time they want to build a new house. In this instance, DaSilva did not want all of the houses to have extensive second floors, so SWAP reconfigured several past designs. One building, the most popular, was the "classic up-and-down" with three bedrooms on the first floor and a two-bedroom unit on the second floor. "We can put this house on, easily, 3,500 square feet in the city," DeStefano said. "These houses can literally go anywhere." "With all the hoopla about (accessory dwelling units), what we really need to focus on is the model that probably already exists in all 39 cities and towns in Rhode Island," DeStefano said. "It's these houses. They fit right into every community." Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Providence Journal subscription. . Follow Wheeler Cowperthwaite on X, @WheelerReporter, or reach him by email at wcowperthwaite@ This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Three income-restricted duplexes sold by lottery in East Providence
The Sun
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Huge boost for unemployed Brits as 100,000 work placements up for grabs – how you can apply
A RECORD 100,000 training spots will be up for grabs this year as part of a major government push to get people into work. More than 86,000 have already taken part in the scheme, which gives people free training, a short work placement and a guaranteed interview for a real job. 2 2 It's called the Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAPs) and it's open to anyone on Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment Support Allowance who is ready to work. It focuses on industries desperate for new recruits – from hospitality to construction. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: 'SWAPs help people to stay in work for longer and boost their pay, while getting businesses loyal staff with the right skills. 'That's why we are boosting the scheme even further next year, giving even more people access to these life-changing opportunities." The programme is now expanding, with a new hospitality pilot launching in 26 areas including 13 coastal towns like Scarborough and Blackpool. Sophie, who found a job as a domestic assistant for infrastructure support service provider Amey through the SWAP programme, said: "I really enjoyed the experience. I've worked in cleaning positions in the past, but this programme was unique and allowed me to see what working for Amey would feel like. I'm really proud of my work. 'Because of the great team here, I want to do a good job. When my sister told me she was looking for a job, I got her in touch with my Operations Manager and now she also works as a domestic assistant at another contract.' Supercharging SWAPs By LIZ KENDALL, Work and Pensions Secretary EVERY Sun reader will know someone who's tried to take their first step into a new career – only to be told that they don't have the experience they need. Up and down the country, there are people brimming with talent but struggling to get a foot in the door, to prove themselves and get that all important first break on the career ladder. In the last year, more than 86,000 places have been offered on our Sector Based Work Academy Programme – or SWAPs – providing training, hands-on experience, and the guarantee of an interview. Every one of the places means the chance for someone to get on in life, make the most of their talents, and explore new opportunities. Take Andrew, who took part in the SWAP programme after being unemployed for four years. He had previous experience in retail, but his low confidence after years out of work was holding him back. The SWAP programme rebuilt Andrew's confidence. After taking part in a taster day, work placement and gaining relevant qualifications, he is now a qualified retail floor manager with a permanent job, putting more money is his pockets. That is the life-changing difference the right support can make. So, this year, we're going even further – with 100,000 SWAP places up for grabs. We know this scheme works. Our research shows that in the two years after finishing a SWAP, people stay in their jobs up to three months longer on average, earn up to £1400 more a year, and save the taxpayer over £350 on the benefits they would otherwise be claiming. And it's also undoubtedly better for businesses, especially those crying out for staff in sectors such as hospitality and construction. My ambition as Work and Pensions Secretary is to achieve an 80% employment rate in support of this government's growth mission. SWAPs are the perfect step to achieving this as we put more money in people's pockets and improve living standards across the UK, delivering on our Plan for Change. So, to anybody on Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance who fancies a fresh start, speak to our work coaches about SWAPs. And if you're running a business, get involved and hire your next star employee.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New ‘SWAP' homes offer path to ownership, rental income in East Providence
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — East Providence on Tuesday introduced three newly constructed homes as part of a new neighborhood built on formerly vacant school property. Stop Wasting Abandoned Property (SWAP) is a nonprofit community development corporation focused on providing affordable housing opportunities through neighborhood revitalization and new construction. The newly built 2,200-square-foot homes on Hoppin Avenue each include a main three-bedroom unit, along with a one- or two-bedroom apartment that can generate rental income for homeowners. The two-family homes were priced at $239,000 to remain affordable for low- to moderate-income families who may otherwise be priced out of Rhode Island's housing market, according to city officials. SWAP Executive Director Carla DeStefano encouraged residents to advocate for two-family housing in their communities. 'Every single city and town has this model: ownership, road to homeownership and creating a rental unit in the neighborhood,' DeStefano said. 'Are we going to solve the housing crisis two units at a time? Not likely, but you can still walk a mile with baby steps one step at a time.' Rhode Island Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard also emphasized the need for diverse housing types, including two- and three-family homes and townhouses. 'We need to start doing this housing again. We've zoned it out in so many of our communities but it fits—it provides homeownership, it provides affordable rental,' Goddard said. 'This is what we need. We need a lot more of this.' East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva noted that he and his family, who immigrated to Rhode Island, were raised in a two-family home and were able to 'achieve the American Dream' because of it. 'It's difficult to rent nowadays. It's not affordable and homeownership is almost something far away in a dream you can't achieve,' he said. DaSilva added that the city is committed to working with organizations like SWAP to bring more affordable housing opportunities to East Providence. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
