Latest news with #TDA
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Telangana developers body bats for suburban master plan of Hyderabad; calls for balanced growth & equal infrastructure
Telangana Developers Association (TDA) has urged the Telangana government to develop a suburban master plan for Hyderabad, ensuring balanced expansion across the city's four sides HYDERABAD: The Telangana Developers Association (TDA) has suggested that Hyderabad should have a suburban master plan to facilitate balanced expansion on all four sides of the city. The TDA suggestion was in light of the Telangana govt starting the exercise to prepare the master plan for Hyderabad metropolitan region 2050 a few months ago. In a letter to chief minister A Revanth Reddy, TDA president GV Rao and secretary Srinivas Goud said that to ensure sustainable growth, the carrying capacity of future satellite cities should be meticulously calculated based on the ideal population density for each area, with infrastructure development planned accordingly to support long-term stability and scalability. 'High density will result in harsh conditions as we are experiencing in Bengaluru and Delhi. All four corners of the city should have civil infrastructure of the same level with health, education and employment-generating corridors such as IT,' Rao said. TDA president said that as the city and suburban areas' population is growing by three lakh every year, the govt has to plan water for such a huge future population. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Investire è più facile che mai BG SAXO Scopri di più Undo 'The govt has to audit present supply capacity, drinking and industrial water requirements in the future by appointing expert consultancy or any university on water requirements of the city for the next 50 years,' he said. They also said that the Regional Ring Road (RRR), Future City and Metro Rail expansion would be a game changer . RRR has great potential to increase Hyderabad's economic activity , they said.
Broadcast Pro
10-06-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Algeria's El Ikhbariya channel joins Es'hailSat's video hotspot
Es'hailSat continues growth of video neighborhood at 26° East with the public broadcaster. Es'hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, has expanded its channel offerings by incorporating Algeria's El Ikhbariya (Algeria 3 / A3) TV channel into its video distribution lineup at the 26° East orbital position, facilitated by the Es'hail-2 satellite. The Es'hailSat satellite footprint strategically encompasses the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, optimising signal coverage and enabling significant viewership potential for the public broadcaster's channel from the Public Establishment of Broadcasting in Algeria (TDA) throughout this expansive area. The scope of the agreement also includes five radio channels to cover the MENA region. This enhancement underscores Es'hailSat's commitment to delivering a diverse range of content to satisfy regional demand. The Public Establishment of Broadcasting in Algeria (TDA) is Algeria's national public broadcaster. It is a state-owned entity charged of broadcasting of television programmes (EPTV Public Establishment of Algerian TV ) and Radio programmes ( EPRS Public Establishment of Algerian Radio). Originally established in 1986, born from the restructuring of the previous RTA Establishment (Algerian Radio and TV) TDA Ensures the exclusive broadcasting and the transmission in Algeria and abroad of the programs of public service establishments of the programs of public service establishments and those of entities authorized to use the public domain. Es'hailSat provides satellite, broadcast, teleport and managed services from Doha, Qatar and brings to this relationship more than 15 years of being in the business of catering to broadcasters, telecommunication companies, enterprises, mobility applications and governments across the Middle East and North Africa. Es'hailSat's two satellites at 25.5/26 East together with our 50,000 sqm Tier-4 certified teleport facility provides reliable and robust connectivity services. Ali Ahmed Al-Kuwari, President and CEO, Es'hailSat, said: 'Es'hailSat is delighted to welcome Algeria's El Ikhbariya (A3) TV channel and bring on board Algeria's public broadcaster to our satellite hotspot. We believe that the reliability and expertise in providing satellite services by Es'hailSat aligns perfectly with EPTV's vision to serve as the primary state and public broadcaster, providing comprehensive and reliable information to the Algerian public.' The channels are now part of the Es'hail-2 channels bouquet which further adds to the attractive line up of premium content currently broadcast via Es'hail-2 satellite.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tourism board hopeful despite early, slightly downward trends
Jun. 9—As spring marches toward summer, there are troubling signs for the county's tourism recovery following Helene. The downward trends are reflected across Western North Carolina as a whole, but Haywood County's Tourism Development Authority remains cautiously optimistic that the industry will bounce back to pre-flood, post-pandemic levels, both as news that WNC is open for business continues to spread, and as Haywood's unique features as a tourist destination continue to shine. That hope, tempered with the reality of economic signs, was reflected in the TDA estimates for how much room occupancy tax it would collect this fiscal year — $3 million. Last fiscal year's estimate was $3.1 million. This year marks the first time since COVID that Haywood's tourism experts predicted a drop in that revenue stream. According to a document produced by the TDA, this "reflects a return to pre-Hurricane Helene collection levels. It is a conservative forecast based on stable recovery trends, with no assumptions for increased collections." Uncertain vacations The estimation came as part of the TDA's vote for a proposed budget for this fiscal year. Prior to the vote, the board discussed the nature of Haywood's — and WNC's — Helene recovery trends. One worrying factor is a downward turn in advanced bookings for short-term vacation rentals through the busy summer season. In a comparison with last year's advanced bookings (as collected on May 19, 2025, and May 19th, 2024) July is down 20%, August down 19%, and September down 21% in Haywood County. This trend is mirrored in most WNC counties, said TDA Executive Director Corrina Ruffieux. " This aligns with Visit North Carolina's perception data that about 20% of visitors to North Carolina still think all of Western North Carolina is not open and ready for visitors," she said. However, an uncertain economy is also playing a part. The time between booking dates and actual stays has decreased from a historical average of just under two months to around one month, Ruffieux said. This reflects tourists' uncertain outlook on the economy — people are less willing to book vacations as far in advance as they used to. The TDA generally believes that this leaves them the opportunity to continue messaging throughout the summer, hopefully with the result of attracting visitors in the short-term. And, Board Chair Jim Owens pointed out, things may not be changing anytime soon. " That's the whole point of us wanting to be aggressive with our messaging. Keep the message going out. Let them make a decision, whether it's a week from now, two weeks from now, whatever," he said. "I think we're gonna have to live with this for a while." A matter of perspective On the other hand, while room occupancy tax collection has suffered in the wake of the storm, the fallout has been far from catastrophic, especially when viewed from a wide perspective. While the 2024-25 fiscal year still has a few months left, it looks as if it will end up below the last few years but still well above pre-pandemic levels. Between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscal years, room occupancy tax collection in Haywood County increased by over $1 million and has remained high since. The TDA speculates that the same things that attracted folks to Haywood County during and after the pandemic — peaceful settings, free outdoor activities, and space to spread out and unplug from the chaos of everyday life — will still factor in during an uncertain economic climate. "We feel really optimistic in Haywood County because of our experience through Covid," said Finance Committee Chair Mike Huber. "So your finance committee was trying to be very fiscally responsible but also, we know that Haywood County is really a sanctuary for people who need to get away. So we do believe that we're gonna see a little bit different experience than some of the other areas that are getting hit hard throughout the broader region. So we think we've brought before you the best fiscally responsible budget, but also with some optimism." A bullish outlook "I'm not saying this is going to be our best year ever, but I've been pretty bullish on our recovery, and I think that feeling was pretty common amongst both the finance committee and the executive committee that we have an opportunity here," Owens said, before sharing a story from his days as Vice President of SeaWorld Orlando. As layoffs hit the auto industry in Detroit, Owens recalled, more Michigan license plates popped up in the SeaWorld parking lot than ever before. His point was that even when suffering from job loss and economic pressures, people "didn't buy a new car. They didn't get a new washing machine, but they sure as heck were not gonna give up getting their mind back where it belongs," he said. "So I think we're in a similar place." The proposed TDA budget for the year running July 2025 through June 2026 is set at $3.95 million, with $3 million of that coming from Haywood County's 4% room occupancy tax. N.C. House Rep. Mark Pless has proposed a bill increasing the amount of room tax collection to 6 percent — after first writing the bill to eliminate it altogether — but the future of that bill remains unknown. A public hearing to receive comments on the proposed budget will be held on June 25, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the Gaines Auditorium at Bethea Welcome Center, 91 N Lakeshore Dr., Lake Junaluska. Individuals who wish to speak at the public hearing should contact Hayley Printz at Hayley@ in advance to be added to the agenda.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tourism board hopeful despite early, slightly downward trends
Jun. 9—As spring marches toward summer, there are troubling signs for the county's tourism recovery following Helene. The downward trends are reflected across Western North Carolina as a whole, but Haywood County's Tourism Development Authority remains cautiously optimistic that the industry will bounce back to pre-flood, post-pandemic levels, both as news that WNC is open for business continues to spread, and as Haywood's unique features as a tourist destination continue to shine. That hope, tempered with the reality of economic signs, was reflected in the TDA estimates for how much room occupancy tax it would collect this fiscal year — $3 million. Last fiscal year's estimate was $3.1 million. This year marks the first time since COVID that Haywood's tourism experts predicted a drop in that revenue stream. According to a document produced by the TDA, this "reflects a return to pre-Hurricane Helene collection levels. It is a conservative forecast based on stable recovery trends, with no assumptions for increased collections." Uncertain vacations The estimation came as part of the TDA's vote for a proposed budget for this fiscal year. Prior to the vote, the board discussed the nature of Haywood's — and WNC's — Helene recovery trends. One worrying factor is a downward turn in advanced bookings for short-term vacation rentals through the busy summer season. In a comparison with last year's advanced bookings (as collected on May 19, 2025, and May 19th, 2024) July is down 20%, August down 19%, and September down 21% in Haywood County. This trend is mirrored in most WNC counties, said TDA Executive Director Corrina Ruffieux. " This aligns with Visit North Carolina's perception data that about 20% of visitors to North Carolina still think all of Western North Carolina is not open and ready for visitors," she said. However, an uncertain economy is also playing a part. The time between booking dates and actual stays has decreased from a historical average of just under two months to around one month, Ruffieux said. This reflects tourists' uncertain outlook on the economy — people are less willing to book vacations as far in advance as they used to. The TDA generally believes that this leaves them the opportunity to continue messaging throughout the summer, hopefully with the result of attracting visitors in the short-term. And, Board Chair Jim Owens pointed out, things may not be changing anytime soon. " That's the whole point of us wanting to be aggressive with our messaging. Keep the message going out. Let them make a decision, whether it's a week from now, two weeks from now, whatever," he said. "I think we're gonna have to live with this for a while." A matter of perspective On the other hand, while room occupancy tax collection has suffered in the wake of the storm, the fallout has been far from catastrophic, especially when viewed from a wide perspective. While the 2024-25 fiscal year still has a few months left, it looks as if it will end up below the last few years but still well above pre-pandemic levels. Between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscal years, room occupancy tax collection in Haywood County increased by over $1 million and has remained high since. The TDA speculates that the same things that attracted folks to Haywood County during and after the pandemic — peaceful settings, free outdoor activities, and space to spread out and unplug from the chaos of everyday life — will still factor in during an uncertain economic climate. "We feel really optimistic in Haywood County because of our experience through Covid," said Finance Committee Chair Mike Huber. "So your finance committee was trying to be very fiscally responsible but also, we know that Haywood County is really a sanctuary for people who need to get away. So we do believe that we're gonna see a little bit different experience than some of the other areas that are getting hit hard throughout the broader region. So we think we've brought before you the best fiscally responsible budget, but also with some optimism." A bullish outlook "I'm not saying this is going to be our best year ever, but I've been pretty bullish on our recovery, and I think that feeling was pretty common amongst both the finance committee and the executive committee that we have an opportunity here," Owens said, before sharing a story from his days as Vice President of SeaWorld Orlando. As layoffs hit the auto industry in Detroit, Owens recalled, more Michigan license plates popped up in the SeaWorld parking lot than ever before. His point was that even when suffering from job loss and economic pressures, people "didn't buy a new car. They didn't get a new washing machine, but they sure as heck were not gonna give up getting their mind back where it belongs," he said. "So I think we're in a similar place." The proposed TDA budget for the year running July 2025 through June 2026 is set at $3.95 million, with $3 million of that coming from Haywood County's 4% room occupancy tax. N.C. House Rep. Mark Pless has proposed a bill increasing the amount of room tax collection to 6 percent — after first writing the bill to eliminate it altogether — but the future of that bill remains unknown. A public hearing to receive comments on the proposed budget will be held on June 25, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the Gaines Auditorium at Bethea Welcome Center, 91 N Lakeshore Dr., Lake Junaluska. Individuals who wish to speak at the public hearing should contact Hayley Printz at Hayley@ in advance to be added to the agenda.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas will begin a summer lunch program in 2027, but only if feds don't raise costs
A new food program that would give low income families $120 per child to help feed them during the summer months could be coming to Texas in 2027. Texas has never participated in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program, created in 2023, an offshoot of a similar pandemic program. But tucked inside the state's $338 billion budget is a $60 million budget addition for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to administer such a program. States have to pay 50% of the administrative cost to participate in the Summer EBT program, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that also goes by the name of Sun Bucks. That large investment could bring another $400 million in federal dollars to Texas. However, ongoing talks at the federal level about slashing food benefits could endanger Texas' participation in the Biden-era summer program. A provision built into the rider could cancel the appropriation if the current state-federal funding formula changes. 'If federal matching rates for the program or administration of the program are changed in a manner that result in a higher cost to Texas from the match rates in place on May 30, 2025, this appropriation is void,' the rider language states. Families would qualify for the summer meal benefits if their children, even if they are home-schooled or attend private schools, qualify for free or reduced priced lunches during the school year. In 2024, a family of four with an annual income of $40,560 or less would be eligible for free school lunch. To qualify for a reduced school meal, that same family would have to make $57,720 or less. For state Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, bringing the Summer EBT program to Texas was personal. Today, he lives not far from where he grew up in northeast Houston. 'We were on food stamps growing up,' he said. 'I lived that experience of not having food.' While HHSC would design and manage the program, it would also work in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Department of Agriculture, which manages federal agriculture dollars that fund school lunches in Texas. 'TDA looks forward to continued collaboration with HHSC on their submission of a state plan, ' the agency said in a statement. The state's agriculture agency already works with schools, cities and community groups to offer lunches during the summer for school-age children. Those institutional partners submit expenses for the lunches they served and are reimbursed for cost by the federal government, according to Lena Wilson, assistant commissioner for food and nutrition at TDA. In 2024, there were 12 million summer meals (snacks and lunches) served to Texas children at 4,480 sites statewide at a cost of $46.1 million. This existing USDA's summer lunch program, which was piloted in 1968 and was made a full-fledged funding stream in 1975, does not require pre-registration or identification to access. The locations are selected primarily where children in need are located and is open to all children, even if they don't live in the specific neighborhood. 'It's great,' said Catherine Wright-Steele, TDA's commissioner of food and nutrition, because children can bring their younger siblings who aren't attending schools yet or say a young friend or cousin visiting from out of town. Some of the meals are prepared and served on site. At other locations, they can be more of a 'grab-and-go' sack lunch offering. 'So many children who live in poverty in Texas. These programs all supplement each other,' Walle said of adding another summer program. From an economic standpoint, bringing more federal dollars will put more customers in stores, he said. 'It's an economic benefit to the state of Texas,' Walle said. Walle, who said he has been working on Summer EBT for the past 18 months, also credited bipartisan support in the House and Senate, as well as Gov. Greg Abbott. For other food assistance groups, the inclusion of the rider has been welcome news. 'We're thrilled that state lawmakers included funding in the budget to administer Summer EBT,' said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks. 'Summer EBT fills this gap, ensuring that Texas kids stay nourished and ready to learn. The program is particularly important for a state like Texas, where 1 in 6 households are food insecure.' Right now, Congress is considering slashing the budget of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, what many people still refer to as food stamps. As the rider currently reads, the Texas participation in Summer EBT could be in danger if the federal government forced states to pay more of the administrative cost or even a portion of the subsidy. There's been no word on whether the Summer EBT program could face cuts. For now, the state is moving to come up with a plan to submit to Washington. Disclosure: Feeding Texas has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer. Get tickets. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
