Explore Branson – Inside and Out – This Spring (Branson, Missouri)

BRANSON, Mo., Mar. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Nestled in the lakeside beauty of the Ozark Mountains, Branson, Missouri is one of America’s greatest family destinations. There’s always something new to discover here. Whether you prefer a lively attractions-and-entertainment scene…

BRANSON, Mo., Mar. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Nestled in the lakeside beauty of the Ozark Mountains, Branson, Missouri is one of America’s greatest family destinations. There’s always something new to discover here. Whether you prefer a lively attractions-and-entertainment scene or the natural beauty of the outdoors, Branson truly perks up in the spring. In Branson, the well-being of residents and visitors is our top priority. We’ve shared our current safety measures here so you can feel confident in traveling.

Just minutes away from the bright lights of Branson’s well-known theatres and live entertainment is an unexpectedly amazing outdoor destination. Boasting a trio of pristine lakes – Table Rock, Taneycomo and Bull Shoals – the Branson/Lakes Area is the perfect place for boating, fishing, sailing and more (especially when the water warms up a bit later this year). For those who prefer to explore on land, Dogwood Canyon Nature Park features 10,000 acres of rugged, unspoiled Ozarks landscape for walking, biking, horseback riding and tram tours. For a slower-paced outdoor experience, golf lovers are sure to enjoy the Branson/Lakes Area’s outstanding golf courses.

Along with Branson’s great outdoor offerings, here’s a snapshot of family-friendly Spring Break attractions throughout the destination:

Silver Dollar City
399 Silver Dollar City Parkway, Branson, MO 65616
This celebrated family-owned park with an 1880s theme opens for the season on March 17. Known for such innovative rides as Time Traveler, the world’s fastest, steepest and tallest complete-circuit spinning roller coaster, the legendary park is also home to award-winning food, top-of-the-line entertainment and an incredible team of 100 demonstrating craftsmen. Don’t miss the new Mystic River Falls, which debuted last year as the only water ride of its kind. The park shares how it’s maintaining a safe and healthy environment through a «play safe» commitment you can read about here.

Aquarium at the Boardwalk
2700 76 Country Blvd, Unit A, Branson, MO 65616
Visitors can observe more than 250 different animal species at the new Aquarium at the Boardwalk, including such sea creatures as seahorses, jellyfish, octopi, eels and sharks. In addition to an up-close view of approximately 7,200 individual sea animals, the Aquarium also features a 24-foot-high Kelp Forest climbing structure for kids, a 16-foot view of a coral reef and two mirrored art installations that help guests envision the sense of infinite ocean life.

WonderWorks
2835 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616
Dubbed «an amusement park for the mind,» WonderWorks is one of Branson’s newest indoor attractions in the destination’s Entertainment District. The building’s iconic exterior – with a massive upside-down columned porch – is just the beginning of this 48,000-square-foot experience where visitors can enjoy more than 100 hands-on exhibits. Displays feature American Innovation, Ozarks Area History and Geography, and a new Full STEAM Ahead exhibit, exploring such STEAM careers as becoming an astronaut.

Fritz’s Adventure
1425 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616
Founded by the parents of five boys as a place for families to be daring together, Fritz’s Adventure is an indoor adventure park dedicated to family fun and creating memories. Within its 80,000-square-foot space, Fritz’s offers explorable, climbable spaces for all ages. In addition to a multi-story ropes course, underground tunnels, a laser room, rappelling, giant treehouses and multi-story slides, Fritz’s has just introduced new attractions, including more than 300 feet of new tunnels, 32 new obstacles, 11 new ziplines, six new bridges and two new free falls. Fritz’s fan favorite Aerodium Outdoor Flying Adventure, a vertical wind tunnel skydiving simulation, will open for the season in May.

Branson Ferris Wheel
3345 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616
Riders of the 150-foot Branson Ferris Wheel, which was relocated from Chicago’s famous Navy Pier in 2016, enjoy a relaxing 15-minute scenic rotation offering beautiful views of the Ozark Mountains. The attraction’s 40 gondolas hold up to 240 riders, and the attraction lights up the night with 16,000 LED lights.

Runaway at Branson Mountain Adventure Park
935 State Highway 165, Branson, MO 65616
Home to the region’s first mountain coaster, the Runaway is a family-friendly thrill ride at Branson Mountain Adventure Park. It features more than 5,000 feet of track with speeds of up to 30 mph and the unique option for riders to choose their speed by way of a personal braking system.

Big Air Trampoline Park
3300 North Gretna Road, Branson, MO 65616

Featuring more than 57 fun attractions, including dodgeball, a mechanical bull, battle beam and more, Big Air Trampoline Park has something fun for everyone. The attraction also offers such premium attractions as a flight simulator and zip line.

About Branson, Missouri
Branson is a one-of-a-kind family vacation destination nestled in the lakeside beauty of the Ozark Mountains with dozens of live performance theatres; three pristine lakes; championship golf courses; an international award-winning theme park; family attractions and museums; a Historic Downtown district; shopping galore; a full range of dining options; and a host of hotels, motels, resorts, RV parks, campgrounds, sports venues, and meeting and convention facilities. Branson is located less than one day’s drive for a third of the United States’ population. It’s also accessible via flights to the Branson Airport (BKG) and nearby Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF). Call 1-877-BRANSON for help planning your next vacation, sporting event, meeting, convention, or reunion. See more at http://www.explorebranson.com

Media Contact

Lynn Berry, Explore Branson, 417-243-2137, lberry@bransoncvb.com

 

SOURCE Explore Branson

Health Passport app to get hotels and bars back to normal with confidence!

MANCHESTER, England, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — REVIV Global are thrilled to announce we have partnered with V Health Passport™ to bring the HELIIX Health Pass to the hospitality industry so they can return to normal with confidence and it’s being championed by members of the British Royal Family.

<a…

MANCHESTER, England, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — REVIV Global are thrilled to announce we have partnered with V Health Passport™ to bring the HELIIX Health Pass to the hospitality industry so they can return to normal with confidence and it’s being championed by members of the British Royal Family.

V Health Passport™ makes use of the award winning VCode® technology and was launched with the backing of Zara and Mike Tindall MBE in 2020 as a way of opening up the global economy.

Now REVIV want to bring the secure technology to hotels, bars and restaurants to open them with this game-changing solution that allows people to scan their HELIIX Health Pass before entering a venue. Everyone in attendance will be safe in the knowledge the people they are mixing must have a valid VCode® and need to have tested negative for COVID-19 prior to entry.

So how does it work? The public will be asked to download the VPassport™ app and before heading off to their restaurant, bar or conference they will get themselves a rapid antigen for COVID. Their results will be uploaded to their HELIIX Health Pass and when they arrive at their chosen venue with their secure VCode® they can be scanned in by staff.

REVIV are offering a full 360 service from testing to technology — as we can carry out testing in our clinics. To complete the comprehensive approach REVIV also offer HELIIX, an in-house management system, so companies are able to manage COVID in the work place.

Hap Klopp, the founder and former CEO of The North Face said: «The hospitality industry across the world need REVIV’s HELIIX Health Pass to give their clientele and employees the peace of mind that everyone they’re mixing with has tested negative for COVID. It would be perfect for somewhere like Vegas!» 

Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter Zara Tindall MBE, is an Ambassador V-Health Passport™, said: «This ground-breaking cyber technology could really have a positive impact.»

For more information about HELIIX Health Pass visit contact erobertson@revivme.com, 0795813094

Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/health-passport-app-to-get-hotels-and-bars-back-to-normal-with-confidence-301238912.html

SOURCE REVIV Global

Bipartisan Reintroduction of Background Checks Legislation Comes as U.S. Gun Violence Soars

NEWTOWN, Conn., March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson (D-CA), along with original cosponsors House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI), <span…

NEWTOWN, Conn., March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson (D-CA), along with original cosponsors House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Lucy McBath (D-GA) with strong support from Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT) and the entire Connecticut congressional delegation. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) is leading the legislation in the U.S. Senate, which was also reintroduced today with support from Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). 

Bipartisan Background Checks legislation comes eight years after Sandy Hook tragedy as U.S. gun violence soars.

This bill comes as gun violence and mass shootings continue to rise nationwide, along with record-breaking gun sales. Despite the pandemic, gun deaths have hit historic levels and more than 300,000 guns have been purchased without a background check. According to Quinnipiac research, at least 97 percent of U.S. adults support requiring background checks for all gun purchases.

If passed, the bill would expand the background check requirement for nearly every gun sale occurring in the U.S., including so-called «private sales» at gun shows and over the internet. Background checks have been proven to save lives and reduce levels of gun violence in states that have expanded background checks to all sales, protecting communities and retailers alike.

Sandy Hook Promise, a leading gun violence prevention organization whose co-founding families have been tirelessly advocating for the passage of expanded background checks since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in December 2012 where their loved ones were killed, released the following statement:

«While still grieving our children and loved ones in the aftermath of their murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School, we worked tirelessly to try to pass Universal Background Checks. We did this because this bill is a necessary first legislative step to ensuring that no more families experience the excruciating pain of losing a child to gun violence,» said Mark Barden, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise, and father of Daniel who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy. «Eight years later, we again call on every member of Congress to do their part to protect our children from gun violence: vote to pass Universal Background Checks immediately. We cannot afford to wait any longer.»

«Background checks are simple, easy, and they save lives. That’s why more than 90 percent of Americans support our legislation to make sure no guns are sold in this country without a check,» said Sen. Chris Murphy. «Joe Biden and hundreds of congressional candidates from both parties ran on the issue of background checks. This is the year to get this bill passed into law. And this legislation has the chance to bring this country together – even 85% of gun owners believe in expanding background checks, and a growing anti-gun violence movement, made up of both Democrats and Republicans, is demanding change.  I look forward to working across the aisle to get background checks legislation across the finish line.»

«No check, no gun buy, should be the rule. Connecticut has already seen background checks save lives in our state, but guns don’t respect state borders. A powerful political movement has been mobilized – reflecting more than 90 percent of Americans who support expanding federal background checks,» said Sen. Richard Blumenthal. «Congress has the moral imperative to enact sensible reforms like Universal Background Checks to prevent more tragedies. We have no time to waste,» he continued. «I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the Biden Administration to swiftly pass such commonsense gun violence prevention measures. We must put an end to the American epidemic of gun violence.»

«Gun safety is an issue that is deeply personal for me,» said Rep. Jahana Hayes. «Universal background checks are supported by over 90% of Americans. This is not a partisan issue. This is a commonsense solution to a problem that affects every community across the country. I thank my colleague Congressman Mike Thompson for this leadership in the House and Senator Chris Murphy for his tireless work in the Senate. I would also like to thank the incredible advocates in my district and across the state of Connecticut who have made this day possible. I look forward to this vital legislation being considered on the floor of the House and Senate and being signed into law by President Biden.»

The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund has helped pass more than a dozen bipartisan laws to strengthen background checks and create Extreme Risk Protection Orders. The organization led the work to pass the bipartisan STOP School Violence Act of 2018 (H.R. 4909/S. 2495) that is already helping to train millions of students and adults to «know the signs» of gun violence and how to act to prevent it, stopping potential tragedies across the country.

About the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund
Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization committed to protecting all children from gun violence in schools, homes, and communities. The SHP Action Fund champions a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization. It is part of Sandy Hook Promise, founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bipartisan-reintroduction-of-background-checks-legislation-comes-as-us-gun-violence-soars-301238875.html

SOURCE Sandy Hook Promise

Global Travel Taskforce meets to map out safe return to international travel

Global Travel Taskforce meets to map out safe return to international travel

Global Travel Taskforce meets to map out safe return to international travel

PR Newswire

LONDON, 02 March …



Global Travel Taskforce meets to map out safe return to international travel

Global Travel Taskforce meets to map out safe return to international travel

PR Newswire

LONDON, 02 March 2021

LONDON, 02 March 2021 /PRNewswire Policy/ —

Government meets with industry players to develop a safe and sustainable plan to restart international travel.

The Secretary of State Grant Shapps has today (2 March 2021) chaired the first meeting of the new Global Travel Taskforce to set out a plan for restarting international travel in a safe and sustainable way.

Several government departments, industry bodies, transport operators and travel agencies met to discuss the work of the taskforce and how international travel can be re-opened safely.

This includes developing a new risk-based framework to facilitate international travel, using the suite of measures the government already has in place, such as testing and isolation, and the recommendations from the first Global Travel Taskforce last year.

They will also look at how existing measures, such as the government’s testing and isolation schemes, could be used to facilitate travel while managing the risk of imported cases and ‘variants of concern’.

It will also take place in parallel and be closely integrated with the review into COVID-status certification led by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The taskforce will provide a report to the Prime Minister on 12 April, which will be used to help government determine when and how to resume safe international travel no earlier than 17 May 2021.

The decision on when international travel can resume will be dependent on:

– the global and domestic epidemiological picture

– the prevalence and location of any ‘variants of concern’

– the progress of vaccine rollouts here and abroad

– what more the government has learned about the efficacy of vaccines on variants, and the impact on transmission, hospitalisation and deaths

All measures will be kept under review, and people should continue to follow national restrictions for England introduced on 6 January 2021, meaning everyone must stay at home unless travelling for a very limited set of reasons.

Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps said:

«The UK’s leading vaccine rollout has created a wave of optimism and, as a result, the Global Travel Taskforce is charged with exploring safe and secure ways to restart international travel when the time is right.

«By planning carefully considered steps, we will protect the excellent progress made through our vaccine and advanced testing programme, whilst ensuring we are ready to kick-start our travel sector when current travel restrictions can be lifted.

«We will not only consider the progress of our world-beating domestic vaccine programme but also need to review where destination countries have got to with both vaccine and testing capabilities.»

The government has already put in place a range of tough measures to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission at the border, including the:

– introduction of pre-departure testing for all international arrivals

– requirement for those travelling back to the UK from a ‘red list’ country to self-isolate in a government-approved facility for a period of 10 days while there is a heightened risk of transmission from these areas

All international arrivals must also take a COVID-19 test on both day 2 and day 8 of their self-isolation period – with genome sequencing included within the cost of the testing bundle.

Passengers arriving from ‘non-red list’ countries still have the option to pay for a private test and shorten their self-isolation period by up to half through Test to Release, on receipt of a negative COVID-19 result.

SOURCE UK Department for Transport

LONDON, 02 March 2021 /PRNewswire Policy/ —

Government meets with industry players to develop a safe and sustainable plan to restart international travel.

The Secretary of State Grant Shapps has today (2 March 2021) chaired the first meeting of the new Global Travel Taskforce to set out a plan for restarting international travel in a safe and sustainable way.

Several government departments, industry bodies, transport operators and travel agencies met to discuss the work of the taskforce and how international travel can be re-opened safely.

This includes developing a new risk-based framework to facilitate international travel, using the suite of measures the government already has in place, such as testing and isolation, and the recommendations from the first Global Travel Taskforce last year.

They will also look at how existing measures, such as the government’s testing and isolation schemes, could be used to facilitate travel while managing the risk of imported cases and ‘variants of concern’.

It will also take place in parallel and be closely integrated with the review into COVID-status certification led by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The taskforce will provide a report to the Prime Minister on 12 April, which will be used to help government determine when and how to resume safe international travel no earlier than 17 May 2021.

The decision on when international travel can resume will be dependent on:

– the global and domestic epidemiological picture

– the prevalence and location of any ‘variants of concern’

– the progress of vaccine rollouts here and abroad

– what more the government has learned about the efficacy of vaccines on variants, and the impact on transmission, hospitalisation and deaths

All measures will be kept under review, and people should continue to follow national restrictions for England introduced on 6 January 2021, meaning everyone must stay at home unless travelling for a very limited set of reasons.

Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps said:

«The UK’s leading vaccine rollout has created a wave of optimism and, as a result, the Global Travel Taskforce is charged with exploring safe and secure ways to restart international travel when the time is right.

«By planning carefully considered steps, we will protect the excellent progress made through our vaccine and advanced testing programme, whilst ensuring we are ready to kick-start our travel sector when current travel restrictions can be lifted.

«We will not only consider the progress of our world-beating domestic vaccine programme but also need to review where destination countries have got to with both vaccine and testing capabilities.»

The government has already put in place a range of tough measures to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission at the border, including the:

– introduction of pre-departure testing for all international arrivals

– requirement for those travelling back to the UK from a ‘red list’ country to self-isolate in a government-approved facility for a period of 10 days while there is a heightened risk of transmission from these areas

All international arrivals must also take a COVID-19 test on both day 2 and day 8 of their self-isolation period – with genome sequencing included within the cost of the testing bundle.

Passengers arriving from ‘non-red list’ countries still have the option to pay for a private test and shorten their self-isolation period by up to half through Test to Release, on receipt of a negative COVID-19 result.

SOURCE UK Department for Transport

Mobility Leaders Prioritize Data Management, Protection, and Privacy While Enabling Users and Providers to Exchange and Monetize Their Most Valuable Digital Commodity

Technology and mobility leaders like DENSO, Ford, and General Motors (GM) join forces with MOBI to co-create industry-wide blockchain-based standards that enable the secure exchange of data for a smarter mobility future

SINGAPORE, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — What if cars could communicate with each other to avoid imminent crashes and use shared data to prevent future accidents while preserving the drivers’ privacy? What if you could use one app with a single payment platform…

Technology and mobility leaders like DENSO, Ford, and General Motors (GM) join forces with MOBI to co-create industry-wide blockchain-based standards that enable the secure exchange of data for a smarter mobility future

SINGAPORE, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — What if cars could communicate with each other to avoid imminent crashes and use shared data to prevent future accidents while preserving the drivers’ privacy? What if you could use one app with a single payment platform to securely coordinate and integrate all of your daily commute needs? What if navigation apps need your permission to track your mobility preferences, or better yet, pay you? Mobility is becoming increasingly connected and intelligent, which in turn creates a nearly infinite amount of valuable data that, if shared securely, could save lives and improve mobility ecosystems at every level. Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI) members, such as DENSO, Ford, and GM, are among many that teamed up to create standards for permissioning, validating, and sharing data in automation networks for connected mobility.

The MOBI Connected Mobility Data Marketplace (CMDM) Working Group releases standards today to enable a marketplace that could securely commodify mobility data and ensure data privacy for mobility users. The CMDM Standards include core services, logical schemas, and sensor identity/ownership certificates. These three components will enable frictionless data sharing to establish communication and collaboration between the data silos of Mobility Service Providers, while maintaining high standards of data privacy and security for all users.

«This framework gives mobility providers valuable guidance on how we can all work together to make transportation safer, smarter and more efficient,» said Roger Berg, Vice President of North American Research and Development at DENSO. «Sharing data, securely and through common standards, can unlock a vast array of positive mobility outcomes, from accident reduction to privacy protection to improving traffic flow.»  

The Working Group is co-chaired by DENSO and GM, with support from Accenture, AMO Labs, Cognizant, Constellation Network, Continental, CPChain, DMX, Fifth9, Filament, Ford, IBM, NuCypher, Ocean Protocol, RouteOne, ShareRing, Swedish Blockchain Association, and Toyota Insurance Management Solutions (TIMS).

Trust in data, its provenance, and chain of custody are essential for value creation in business ecosystems. Centralized databases, of the type that currently assign identities and rights on the internet, provide an attractive target for malicious actors and make networks vulnerable to attack and fraud, exposing individual and business data. Blockchain emerged as a solution to these issues and is being adopted by ecosystems such as connected mobility in order to securely share data and protect users’ data privacy.

«For connected mobility data to be efficiently shared, there must be a functioning marketplace for discovery, permission, exchange, and pricing,» said MOBI Co-Founder and COO, Tram Vo. «The standards from the MOBI CMDM Working Group lay the foundation for a secure and viable market.»

Maximizing passenger safety and transportation efficiency requires that vehicle-to-anything (V2X) data be shared and processed locally in near real-time at the «edge» of the network. Edge computing has been a large focus for the distributed computing community, and MOBI believes that the widespread growth of connected and autonomous vehicles represents one of the most exciting and impactful opportunities for a data marketplace, providing speed, cost savings, and new revenue opportunities.

The Working Group explored practical use cases that center around vehicle data generation, ensuring data provenance, and securely sharing data with peers (such as other vehicles and infrastructure). These use cases include:

  • V2X data exchange 
  • Geo-location cross validation
  • Multimodal trip planning through easy, interoperable, and secure sharing of data
  • Coordination between autonomous vehicles, big data, and edge computing that would increase traffic safety and efficiency

CMDM Standards are the first step to ensure data privacy in data exchange and efficient data marketplaces for mobility ecosystems. The standards do not prescribe governance models, but instead prescribe functionalities that can be applied to many governance models in a decentralized marketplace. All MOBI Standards are intended to be GDPR compliant. We do not prescribe specific aspects of GDPR and other privacy regulations such as California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which are left up to the application developers. MOBI and its members hope that the CMDM standards, together with other MOBI standards for blockchain applications in mobility, will promote data privacy, reduce frictional inefficiencies, improve mobility services, and enable new business models.

About MOBI
MOBI is a nonprofit alliance of many of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers, along with startups, NGOs, transit agencies, insurers, toll road providers, smart city leaders, and technology companies working to accelerate adoption and promote standards in blockchain, distributed ledgers, and related technologies.

MOBI is creating simple blockchain-based standards to identify vehicles, people, and businesses in order to securely exchange and monetize data, and pay for mobility services, with the goal of making transportation more efficient, affordable, greener, safer, and less congested.  MOBI itself is technology and ledger agnostic.  For additional information about joining MOBI, please reach out to Griffin Haskins (griffin@dlt.mobi) or visit www.dlt.mobi.

Media Contact:
Kelly Clark, MOBI Communications Manager
Email: Kelly@dlt.mobi | Twitter: @dltMOBI

Mobility Leaders Prioritize Data Management, Protection, and Privacy While Enabling Users and Providers to Exchange and Monetize Their Most Valuable Digital Commodity

Technology and mobility leaders like DENSO, Ford, and General Motors (GM) join forces with MOBI to co-create industry-wide blockchain-based standards that enable the secure exchange of data for a smarter mobility future

SINGAPORE, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — What if cars could communicate with each other to avoid imminent crashes and use shared data to prevent future accidents while preserving the drivers’ privacy? What if you could use one app with a single payment platform…

Technology and mobility leaders like DENSO, Ford, and General Motors (GM) join forces with MOBI to co-create industry-wide blockchain-based standards that enable the secure exchange of data for a smarter mobility future

SINGAPORE, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — What if cars could communicate with each other to avoid imminent crashes and use shared data to prevent future accidents while preserving the drivers’ privacy? What if you could use one app with a single payment platform to securely coordinate and integrate all of your daily commute needs? What if navigation apps need your permission to track your mobility preferences, or better yet, pay you? Mobility is becoming increasingly connected and intelligent, which in turn creates a nearly infinite amount of valuable data that, if shared securely, could save lives and improve mobility ecosystems at every level. Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI) members, such as DENSO, Ford, and GM, are among many that teamed up to create standards for permissioning, validating, and sharing data in automation networks for connected mobility.

The MOBI Connected Mobility Data Marketplace (CMDM) Working Group releases standards today to enable a marketplace that could securely commodify mobility data and ensure data privacy for mobility users. The CMDM Standards include core services, logical schemas, and sensor identity/ownership certificates. These three components will enable frictionless data sharing to establish communication and collaboration between the data silos of Mobility Service Providers, while maintaining high standards of data privacy and security for all users.

«This framework gives mobility providers valuable guidance on how we can all work together to make transportation safer, smarter and more efficient,» said Roger Berg, Vice President of North American Research and Development at DENSO. «Sharing data, securely and through common standards, can unlock a vast array of positive mobility outcomes, from accident reduction to privacy protection to improving traffic flow.»  

The Working Group is co-chaired by DENSO and GM, with support from Accenture, AMO Labs, Cognizant, Constellation Network, Continental, CPChain, DMX, Fifth9, Filament, Ford, IBM, NuCypher, Ocean Protocol, RouteOne, ShareRing, Swedish Blockchain Association, and Toyota Insurance Management Solutions (TIMS).

Trust in data, its provenance, and chain of custody are essential for value creation in business ecosystems. Centralized databases, of the type that currently assign identities and rights on the internet, provide an attractive target for malicious actors and make networks vulnerable to attack and fraud, exposing individual and business data. Blockchain emerged as a solution to these issues and is being adopted by ecosystems such as connected mobility in order to securely share data and protect users’ data privacy.

«For connected mobility data to be efficiently shared, there must be a functioning marketplace for discovery, permission, exchange, and pricing,» said MOBI Co-Founder and COO, Tram Vo. «The standards from the MOBI CMDM Working Group lay the foundation for a secure and viable market.»

Maximizing passenger safety and transportation efficiency requires that vehicle-to-anything (V2X) data be shared and processed locally in near real-time at the «edge» of the network. Edge computing has been a large focus for the distributed computing community, and MOBI believes that the widespread growth of connected and autonomous vehicles represents one of the most exciting and impactful opportunities for a data marketplace, providing speed, cost savings, and new revenue opportunities.

The Working Group explored practical use cases that center around vehicle data generation, ensuring data provenance, and securely sharing data with peers (such as other vehicles and infrastructure). These use cases include:

  • V2X data exchange 
  • Geo-location cross validation
  • Multimodal trip planning through easy, interoperable, and secure sharing of data
  • Coordination between autonomous vehicles, big data, and edge computing that would increase traffic safety and efficiency

CMDM Standards are the first step to ensure data privacy in data exchange and efficient data marketplaces for mobility ecosystems. The standards do not prescribe governance models, but instead prescribe functionalities that can be applied to many governance models in a decentralized marketplace. All MOBI Standards are intended to be GDPR compliant. We do not prescribe specific aspects of GDPR and other privacy regulations such as California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which are left up to the application developers. MOBI and its members hope that the CMDM standards, together with other MOBI standards for blockchain applications in mobility, will promote data privacy, reduce frictional inefficiencies, improve mobility services, and enable new business models.

About MOBI
MOBI is a nonprofit alliance of many of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers, along with startups, NGOs, transit agencies, insurers, toll road providers, smart city leaders, and technology companies working to accelerate adoption and promote standards in blockchain, distributed ledgers, and related technologies.

MOBI is creating simple blockchain-based standards to identify vehicles, people, and businesses in order to securely exchange and monetize data, and pay for mobility services, with the goal of making transportation more efficient, affordable, greener, safer, and less congested.  MOBI itself is technology and ledger agnostic.  For additional information about joining MOBI, please reach out to Griffin Haskins (griffin@dlt.mobi) or visit www.dlt.mobi.

Media Contact:
Kelly Clark, MOBI Communications Manager
Email: Kelly@dlt.mobi | Twitter: @dltMOBI

Georgia Power set to enable electric vehicle fast charging access across major travel corridor

ATLANTA, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — With an increase of electric vehicles (EVs) on Georgia roads every day, Georgia Power is committed to assisting customers with access to efficient and reliable charging options. Southern Company, the utility’s corporate parent, today announced plans to join other utilities across the South, Midwest, Gulf Coast, Central Plains and mid-Atlantic to enable EV drivers’ seamless travel through a coordinated network of Direct Current (DC) Fast Chargers.

…

ATLANTA, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — With an increase of electric vehicles (EVs) on Georgia roads every day, Georgia Power is committed to assisting customers with access to efficient and reliable charging options. Southern Company, the utility’s corporate parent, today announced plans to join other utilities across the South, Midwest, Gulf Coast, Central Plains and mid-Atlantic to enable EV drivers’ seamless travel through a coordinated network of Direct Current (DC) Fast Chargers.

This effort, called the «Electric Highway Coalition,» represents an unprecedented level of coordination to increase charging options along major highway routes from Texas to Washington, D.C., and provide easier access to environmentally friendly vehicle options for drivers.

«As the sixth largest market nationally for EV fast charging, Georgia Power is committed to continuing growth of EV infrastructure across the state and providing increased access to customers looking to drive electric,» said Nicole Faulk, senior vice president for customer and corporate services. «As Southern Company’s largest subsidiary, our commitment plays a significant role in the increasing growth of electric vehicle adoption, and the connection of communities across Georgia and the country.»

Working with the Georgia Public Service Commission, the company has installed 49 DC fast chargers in locations statewide and is investing $6 million over three years in fast-charging infrastructure across Georgia. The installation represents the newest technology in EV fast chargers, offering charging speeds up to 125kW – adding 100 miles in 12 minutes – dual dispensers and power sharing capabilities to maximize the number of ports that can be deployed and still receive an optimal charge.

Additionally, the company has partnered with Cox Automotive Mobility to complete one of the largest EV charging single property installations in the southeast at the Pivet Atlanta facility near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Georgia Power also supports 24 charging stall stations through Electrify America, Tesla and the EVgo Fast Charging Network. These investments further enable electric vehicle adoption and the connection of communities across the country.

Last year, Georgia Power announced it will electrify portions of its vehicle fleet as part of Southern Company’s plans to convert 50 percent of its system fleet vehicles across the auto/SUV/minivan, forklift and ATV/cart/miscellaneous segments by 2030. The internal fleet goal is part of a larger focus on electrification of the transportation industry and the company’s commitment to expanding zero-emission electric vehicles and clean transportation options.

Now offered by most major manufacturers, EVs continue to advance in range, performance and features. In addition, EVs benefit the environment with zero direct emissions, specifically improving air quality in urban areas, have a lower cost of ownership than petroleum vehicles and, with their domestic energy source, promote local jobs.

EV Resources for Customers
In addition to developing public charging infrastructure, the company is committed to explaining the benefits of EV ownership and making the decision to switch easier than ever by providing customers with the resources they need to learn more about the benefits and potential savings of driving electric. By visiting www.GeorgiaPower.com/EV, customers have access to information on:

  • buying an electric vehicle,
  • understanding electric vehicle options,
  • charging an electric vehicle,
  • charging locations,
  • electric transportation news, and
  • frequently asked questions.

Georgia Power also offers EV charger rebates for business and residential customers, an online calculator to help customers find out how much driving electric may save them and a special rate for EV customers. The company’s Plug-in Electric Vehicle rate offers lower prices from 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. to encourage nighttime EV charging.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America’s premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company’s promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/georgia-power-set-to-enable-electric-vehicle-fast-charging-access-across-major-travel-corridor-301238863.html

SOURCE Georgia Power

Georgia Power set to enable electric vehicle fast charging access across major travel corridor

ATLANTA, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — With an increase of electric vehicles (EVs) on Georgia roads every day, Georgia Power is committed to assisting customers with access to efficient and reliable charging options. Southern Company, the utility’s corporate parent, today announced plans to join other utilities across the South, Midwest, Gulf Coast, Central Plains and mid-Atlantic to enable EV drivers’ seamless travel through a coordinated network of Direct Current (DC) Fast Chargers.

…

ATLANTA, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — With an increase of electric vehicles (EVs) on Georgia roads every day, Georgia Power is committed to assisting customers with access to efficient and reliable charging options. Southern Company, the utility’s corporate parent, today announced plans to join other utilities across the South, Midwest, Gulf Coast, Central Plains and mid-Atlantic to enable EV drivers’ seamless travel through a coordinated network of Direct Current (DC) Fast Chargers.

This effort, called the «Electric Highway Coalition,» represents an unprecedented level of coordination to increase charging options along major highway routes from Texas to Washington, D.C., and provide easier access to environmentally friendly vehicle options for drivers.

«As the sixth largest market nationally for EV fast charging, Georgia Power is committed to continuing growth of EV infrastructure across the state and providing increased access to customers looking to drive electric,» said Nicole Faulk, senior vice president for customer and corporate services. «As Southern Company’s largest subsidiary, our commitment plays a significant role in the increasing growth of electric vehicle adoption, and the connection of communities across Georgia and the country.»

Working with the Georgia Public Service Commission, the company has installed 49 DC fast chargers in locations statewide and is investing $6 million over three years in fast-charging infrastructure across Georgia. The installation represents the newest technology in EV fast chargers, offering charging speeds up to 125kW – adding 100 miles in 12 minutes – dual dispensers and power sharing capabilities to maximize the number of ports that can be deployed and still receive an optimal charge.

Additionally, the company has partnered with Cox Automotive Mobility to complete one of the largest EV charging single property installations in the southeast at the Pivet Atlanta facility near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Georgia Power also supports 24 charging stall stations through Electrify America, Tesla and the EVgo Fast Charging Network. These investments further enable electric vehicle adoption and the connection of communities across the country.

Last year, Georgia Power announced it will electrify portions of its vehicle fleet as part of Southern Company’s plans to convert 50 percent of its system fleet vehicles across the auto/SUV/minivan, forklift and ATV/cart/miscellaneous segments by 2030. The internal fleet goal is part of a larger focus on electrification of the transportation industry and the company’s commitment to expanding zero-emission electric vehicles and clean transportation options.

Now offered by most major manufacturers, EVs continue to advance in range, performance and features. In addition, EVs benefit the environment with zero direct emissions, specifically improving air quality in urban areas, have a lower cost of ownership than petroleum vehicles and, with their domestic energy source, promote local jobs.

EV Resources for Customers
In addition to developing public charging infrastructure, the company is committed to explaining the benefits of EV ownership and making the decision to switch easier than ever by providing customers with the resources they need to learn more about the benefits and potential savings of driving electric. By visiting www.GeorgiaPower.com/EV, customers have access to information on:

  • buying an electric vehicle,
  • understanding electric vehicle options,
  • charging an electric vehicle,
  • charging locations,
  • electric transportation news, and
  • frequently asked questions.

Georgia Power also offers EV charger rebates for business and residential customers, an online calculator to help customers find out how much driving electric may save them and a special rate for EV customers. The company’s Plug-in Electric Vehicle rate offers lower prices from 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. to encourage nighttime EV charging.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America’s premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company’s promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/georgia-power-set-to-enable-electric-vehicle-fast-charging-access-across-major-travel-corridor-301238863.html

SOURCE Georgia Power

Blake Willson Group Wins $25M USDA Rural Development BPA Prime Contract

ARLINGTON, Va., March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Blake Willson Group is proud to announce our recently awarded $25M Blank Purchase Agreement (BPA) prime contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (USDA-RD). USDA-RD’s mission is to help improve the economy and quality of life in rural America through loans, grants and loan guarantees to support rural housing, small business, economic development, etc. USDA-RD also supports and guarantees loans…

ARLINGTON, Va., March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Blake Willson Group is proud to announce our recently awarded $25M Blank Purchase Agreement (BPA) prime contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (USDA-RD). USDA-RD’s mission is to help improve the economy and quality of life in rural America through loans, grants and loan guarantees to support rural housing, small business, economic development, etc. USDA-RD also supports and guarantees loans to businesses through banks, credit unions and community-managed lending pools and provides technical assistance to help communities develop community empowerment programs.

This opportunity combines Blake Willson Group with Summit Consulting, a specialized analytics advisory firm that is an industry leader supporting federal agencies, financial institutions, and litigators as well as CohnReznick, one of our nation’s top accounting and advisory firms supporting federal, state, and local government agencies.

We are excited to bring together a dynamic team with complementary skill sets and backgrounds to support USDA-RD’s critical mission during one of our nation’s most difficult times.

R.J. Blake, Founder & CEO at Blake Willson Group said, «We are honored to have been awarded this contract and look forward to supporting USDA-RD’s mission in helping improve the economy and quality of life of rural Americans. This one is near and dear to our hearts.»

Drew Griffin, Sr. Vice President further stated, «This is a huge win for Blake Willson Group as it deepens our valued relationship with USDA where we’ve supported as prime under the OCFO since 2019 and brings us into new types of work serving as a testament to all the hard work, dedication, and professionalism shown by our entire team. A big component of winning this work was having strong past performance, only possible through the day-to-day impact every team member makes with our customers that leaves a positive reputation for us as a whole.»

About Blake Willson Group

Blake Willson Group is a licensed CPA firm with a skilled team of dynamic individuals dedicated to providing timely, cost-effective, and forward-thinking solutions to clients. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, BWG serves the Washington, D.C. metro area and beyond. The firm holds Department of VA-certified (CVE) Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) status, is an SBA 8(a) program participant, and is ISO 9001:2015 certified.

Follow Blake Willson Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook

Blake Willson Group Media Contact: Marilyn Dyess | HR & Operations Manager | mdyess@blakewillsongroup.com

For more information on Summit Consulting, visit http://www.summitllc.us

For more information on CohnReznick, visit http://www.cohnreznick.com

Media Contact

Marilyn Dyess, Blake Willson Group, +1 571-397-2234, mdyess@blakewillsongroup.com

 

SOURCE Blake Willson Group

Global Airport Commercial Situational Awareness Report 2021: Achieving Connectivity for Secondary and Tertiary Airports

DUBLIN, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The «Employing Airport Commercial Situational Awareness to Create Growth» report has been added…

DUBLIN, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The «Employing Airport Commercial Situational Awareness to Create Growth» report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

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The aviation industry is in a crisis and airports are one of its hardest hit participants.

Passenger volumes have severely declined due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and airport revenues have dried up without passengers. Passenger confidence is not expected to rebound quickly, and so passenger volume is not anticipated to return to pre-pandemic levels for a few years.

Airports must identify their strategic advantages over competitors to combat this. By analyzing macro and micro factors affecting operations, any airport will be able to identify risks to be mitigated and growth opportunities. This is especially important in terms of route network development in the wake of the crisis and considering the future. Airports must identify ways to share risk with airlines to provide the best possible service.

Tier 3 and 4 airports are especially vulnerable because they typically see less than 10 million passengers annually. These airports may feel the effects of COVID-19 deeper and longer than Tier 1 airports that already have some services resuming.

Tier 2 to 4 also may not have well-defined route network planning divisions and would benefit immensely from analyzing threat and opportunity areas.

Key Topics Covered:

Strategic Imperatives

  • Why Is It Increasingly Difficult to Grow?
  • The Strategic Imperative
  • The Impact of the Top Three Strategic Imperatives on Airport Route Development Industry
  • Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine

Global Market Overview

  • Market Segmentation: Passenger Volume

Airport Segmentation by Tier

  • Tier 1
  • Tier 2
  • Tier 3
  • Tier 4

Airport Segmentation by Region and Tier

  • Africa: Tier 1
  • Africa: Tier 2
  • Africa: Tier 3
  • Africa: Tier 4
  • Asia-Pacific: Tier 1
  • Asia-Pacific: Tier 2
  • Asia-Pacific: Tier 3
  • Asia-Pacific: Tier 4
  • Europe: Tier 1
  • Europe: Tier 2
  • Europe: Tier 3
  • Europe: Tier 4
  • Latin America: Tier 1
  • Latin America: Tier 2
  • Latin America: Tier 3
  • Latin America: Tier 4
  • Middle East: Tier 1
  • Middle East: Tier 2
  • Middle East: Tier 3
  • Middle East: Tier 4
  • North America: Tier 1
  • North America: Tier 2
  • North America: Tier 3
  • North America: Tier 4
  • Market Restructuring Post-COVID-19

Definitions and Tools

  • Airport Commercial Situational Awareness
  • Growth Analysis Tools – ACSAR

Case Study Example

  • Growth Analysis Tools – ACSAR Case Study

Growth Opportunities

  • Growth Opportunity 1: Route Development Plan for Traffic Growth
  • Growth Opportunity 2: Develop Air Route Tactics through Growth Channels
  • Growth Opportunity 3: Incorporate Risk Strategies
  • Appendix

Next Steps

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bebxuw

Media Contact:

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com

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SOURCE Research and Markets