The Appalachia Daily for July 13, 2026, Monday

Murphy Advances Wastewater Resiliency ProjectThe Town of Murphy has an open RFQ for engineering on its $5 million-plus Wastewater Resiliency Improvements Project. Permanent backup generators will go in at nine lift stations that currently lack them. SCADA upgrades will let operators manage the system remotely during floods. Lift Station #1 gets elevated electricals and the force main to the plant will be replaced with stronger materials. Full grant funding means no hit to ratepayers. Design work starts soon after consultant selection.Sources:2026-07 | https://www.townofmurphync.com/public-works/bids-rfp/rfq-town-murphy-wastewater-resiliency-improvements-project2026-04-17 | https://www.townofmurphync.com/public-works/page/town-murphy-awarded-over-5-million-wastewater-resiliency-improvementsRenew NC Opens $55 Million in Infrastructure GrantsWestern North Carolina local governments can now apply for the first round of Renew NC Community Infrastructure grants. Fifty five million dollars is available for projects tied to Helene recovery. Awards range from $500,000 to $15 million. Priority goes to water and sewer, parks, roads and bridges. Eligible counties include Clay, Macon, Swain, Graham and others in our broader area. Applications close September 8.Sources:2026-07-06 | https://www.commerce.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2026/07/06/renew-nc-launches-community-infrastructure-program-western-north-carolinaMoog Murphy Takes Home Manufacturing Excellence AwardMoog’s Murphy facility earned the 2026 State Manufacturing Leadership Award of Excellence from the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The plant was recognized for continuous improvement, innovation, sustainability, workforce development and community impact. Production of data center liquid cooling pumps has grown from about 70 units a week to nearly 800, with plans to go higher. Roughly 305 people work there.Sources:2026-04-14 | https://ncmep.org/moog-inc-awarded-the-2026-manufacturing-excellence-leadership-award/Valley River Apartments Named Development of the YearMurphy’s Valley River Apartments, a 56-unit affordable workforce housing community, received the Development of the Year award from the Community Affordable Housing Equity Corporation. The complex serves families at 40 to 60 percent of area median income with one-, two- and three-bedroom homes. Mayor Tim Radford accepted the honor in Raleigh.Sources:2026-06-12 | https://www.townofmurphync.com/home-page/page/murphys-affordable-housing-development-receives-national-awardCherokee Scout Plans Efficiency MoveThe Cherokee Scout is preparing to sell its 2008 building at 89 Sycamore Street in Murphy, including the former press plant, and relocate to a smaller local office. The current space is nearly three times larger than needed. Weekly publishing and day-to-day operations will continue without interruption.Sources:2026 | https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-newsletter/scout-planning-relocate-officeProduced by River Run Digital Media and Entertainment https://media.riverun.digital, a division of RiverRun Digital https://go.riverrun.digitalTake care of your neighbors, and they’ll take care of you.Notes, methods, and rightsAll information is drawn from publicly available sources listed above. Rights for the Appalachia Daily Update are reserved by River Run Digital Media and Entertainment, which produces hyperlocal news for small towns across Appalachia and beyond. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adu.riverrun.digital