The third annual MilSpo Career Expo, a collaboration of the Center for Economic Empowerment and Development, Women’s Business Center of Fayetteville, and Army Community Service Employment Readiness Program, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Smith Lake Recreation Center, 2922 Smith Lake Road on Fort Liberty.
The expo is designed to address the challenges that military spouses often encounter in a job search while offering employers a platform to fill vacancies, according to a news release.
The expo offers military spouses the chance to connect with employers and learn about job openings. Workshops aimed at enhancing skill sets and providing job strategies are offered.
“The MilSpo Career Expo serves as a vital link between military spouses and potential employers. By fostering an environment of networking and learning, we aim to break down the barriers that often hinder the career aspirations of these resilient individuals,” said Danice Langdon, director of the Women’s Business Center.
Participants will be able to access resource experts and consolidate information needed to kick-start and manage their own businesses, the news release said.
Businesses interested in participating or military spouses seeking more information and registration details should visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/milspo-career-expo-tickets-638749104767.
Cape Fear Valley clinic offers new therapy for sleep apnea
Dr. Jennifer Tartaglia of Cape Fear Valley Ear Nose & Throat is now offering Inspire therapy, a treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea for those who cannot use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy.
Sleep apnea affects 22 million Americans. When left untreated, it can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and even death, according to a CFVH news release.
The condition occurs when the airway collapses during sleep and blocks the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the body just long enough to take a breath. The cycle repeats throughout the night and disrupts sleep.
Inspire uses a patient’s natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea. Mild stimulation opens the airway during sleep, allowing oxygen to flow naturally, the news release said. The patient uses a handheld remote to turn Inspire on before bed and off.
“In our practice, we see many patients who have stopped using or are unable to tolerate CPAP,” said Tartaglia, an otolaryngologist. “Inspire represents a significant advancement in treating sleep apnea. It is clinically proven to reduce sleep apnea events, has a high level of patient satisfaction and a high therapy adherence.”
To learn more about Inspire, visit the Inspire sleep website or Cape Fear Valley Health website.
ARP committee recommends new funding for small businesses affected by pandemic
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners committee on the American Rescue Plan received a recommendation from county administrators to provide as much as $811,118 in funding to 21 small businesses that applied for assistance under the reopened Small Business Economic Assistance Program.
Chief of Staff Tye Vaught said the county received $1,626,600 in funding requests from 38 applicants, according to a county news release. The program provides as much as $50,000 in financial assistance to small businesses that faced economic hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ARP Committee voted unanimously to forward the staff recommendation of $811,118 in funding to the full Board of Commissioners for consideration at its Sept. 14 agenda session. The awards would be contingent on the small businesses meeting state and federal requirements, as well as the successful execution of a contract with the county.
The county received applications for additional funding from 16 small businesses that were previously awarded less than the $50,000 maximum in the first phase of the Small Business Economic Assistance Program. Staff recommended awarding an additional $239,623 in funding to these small businesses.
The committee directed the staff to provide additional information at the Sept. 14 agenda session.
Vaught also provided an update on the funding allocated in the first phase of the Small Business Economic Assistance Program. He said the board approved just over $1.8 million in funding and of that amount, there is $400,000 in capacity where approved small businesses have either not provided the necessary documents to receive reimbursement or have been unresponsive.
Committee members asked for updates on the status of small businesses that have been approved for funding in the first and second phases of the program.
Members of the Cumberland County ARP Committee include Commissioners Jimmy Keefe, Toni Stewart and Glenn Adams.
For more information, go to the Cumberland ARP website.
Holmes Security adds Jackson Spears to sales team
Holmes Security Systems, the area’s leading provider of residential and commercial security systems, has added Jackson Spears to its sales team.
Spears, a life safety and security consultant, grew up in Fayetteville and attended Terry Sanford High School, according to a news release.
He recently relocated to the Fayetteville area from Greenville. While there, he attended East Carolina University and studied logistics.
“We are excited to welcome Jackson to our team and know he is a great addition to our technology-driven, family-owned and -operated organization,” said Lynnie Guzman, director of sales and marketing for Holmes Security.
Spears has joined the Greater Fayetteville Chamber Ambassadors to reconnect with his hometown, the news release said.
