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The Northport Advisory Council meeting at Steamers on Monday, July 21st at 6 PM will be a Mayoral Candidate Forum where contenders will answer questions from our members. We’d like to have the questions in advance and would really appreciate your input. Please submit questions by emailing them to donny@tuscaloosachamber.com or calling 391.0552.
A record number of candidates are in this Northport mayoral race: Businessman Bobby Herndon, former City Council members Billy Booth and Robert Thomas and retiree Frank Chandler are running against incumbent Mayor Harvey Fretwell. Historically, the race has drawn two candidates with one exception in 1972, when four ran. But five have never run at one time.
The race, so far, has been focused on change. Issues that are likely to be discussed are water rates and the state of Northport's finances.
All Chamber members and prospective members are invited to attend. Cost is $18 for members and $25 for non-members, which includes a great dinner. Please RSVP by calling 391.0554 or emailing tracy@tuscaloosachamber.com by Thursday, July 17th.
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 Celebrating 23 years, the annual Adopt-A-School Breakfast is set for Thursday, July 31st and will officially kick off the 2008-9 Adopt-A-School year. The seminar will be held at University Church of Christ and will begin with breakfast at 7:30 AM. This is a unique opportunity for school personnel in both the Tuscaloosa County and Tuscaloosa City systems to network with community businesses and leaders. All area citizens are invited to benefit from the keynote address by Pat Williams, Senior VP of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, one of America’s top motivational, inspirational, and humorous speakers. Learn more about him at www.patwilliamsmotivate.com. For more info, contact Loo Whitfield at 391.0563 or loo@tuscaloosachamber.com. Click here for a registration form.
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 A before hours networking event was held at the historic University Club in early June. A good crowd enjoyed breakfast and learning more about each other.
Our next mixer is an after hours event set for Tuesday evening, August 19th from 5 to 7 PM at the Bryant Museum and will be sponsored by Bryant Bank. Please plan to be there!
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 Our first-ever E-Cycling Day in January made a huge impact on our area. Back by popular demand, a second event will be held for the community on Thursday, August 28th from 8 AM to 5 PM in the back parking lot of University Mall. We'll accept items early, from Chamber members only (as a benefit to you), on Wednesday, August 27th. Times TBA. Please keep this in mind. Event is sponsored by The Chamber, the City of Tuscaloosa and the City of Northport. To get more info, including a list of acceptable items, visit www.tuscaloosachamber.com/ecycle.
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 A group of Chamber delegates will visit DC on September 16th and 17th. Registration cost is $150/person, which is due no later than August 1st. Headquarters will be the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill with a room rate of $289/night + taxes. Space is limited. Each person is responsible for making their own air travel plans, arriving by early afternoon on Tuesday, September 16th and returning after 4 PM on Wednesday, September 17th. Program agenda will include a meal function with our U. S. Senators and Representatives and individual meetings with delegation members and professional staff members. If interested, email johnnie@tuscaloosachamber.com.
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We would like to hear from our members and citizens on key issues which effect our local ecomony and quality of life. So please take a moment and let us know were you stand!
Current survey question on our website homepage is "What is your opinion of the condition of local streets in Tuscaloosa and Northport?" Please visit www.tuscaloosachamber.com to choose one of 3 possible answers prominently posted there. Thanks so much for your input.
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 Our Technology Council’s Wi-Fi Task Force, led by George Hamner of the UA’s Business School, has been working with students from a UA business management information systems class on wi-fi possibilities. One idea is to convert parts of downtown Tuscaloosa into wireless internet areas, creating a hotspot for “casual users” or people visiting the area to eat or shop, which would time out users after a couple of hours so it wouldn't compete with commercial Internet service providers for business customers. This could attract more people to downtown and make us an even more progressive city.
The students found that a city block could be turned into a hotspot with students programming the server, the city providing labor and equipment and an Internet service provider donating bandwidth. The Chamber would provide support and help coordinate the efforts. “The technology is now practical,” Hamner said.
Two sites were identified for pilot hotspots. One is the Temerson Square area to the block between 22nd and 23rd Avenues on the north side of University Boulevard, an area frequented by students and young professionals. The second is the new Federal Park under development south of City Hall. For more info, contact Donny Jones at 391.0552. |
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You’re invited to use The Chamber’s Calendar of Events at www.tuscaloosachamber.com.
Have you ever worked hard to plan an event only to discover too late that it conflicts with another community function? Be a part of the solution by entering your event on The Chamber’s Calendar of Events and encourage other groups in which you participate to do the same. This lists community events and functions as well as Chamber events.
It’s a great reference to use when selecting a date for your important events and it also lets others in the community know the date of your function. Anyone can submit an event.
Follow these steps to place your event on The Chamber’s Calendar of Events:
1. Log on to www.tuscaloosachamber.com
2. Click on Community Calendar
3. Scroll to Bottom of page to Submit Your Event
4. Click Submit when finished.
Once the event has been approved, it will appear on the Calendar of Events for others to reference. |
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The purpose of the City of Tuscaloosa’s new Minority Inclusion Program is to give disadvantaged businesses an opportunity to compete for work in the city.
Tuscaloosa City Councilman Harrison Taylor says, “It’s not a handout program but a hand up,” as the program brings people in. A Minority Contractor List, broken into categories/types of work, is currently posted on www.tuscaloosa.com. Program is for suppliers, too. Much effort went into compiling the list, which may soon be morphed into a searchable database. Job opportunities and bids are posted on the site to keep the majority contractors up to date, too. Majority contractors will find the Minority List helpful in finding a subcontractor, especially since some projects require minority participation.
Five Steps to Becoming Part of the Inclusion Program:
- Visit the City of Tuscaloosa's website, www.tuscaloosa.com, to gain access to information and stay current on bid opportunities.
- Make sure you have fulfilled all of the licensing and certification requirements.
- Be persistent and keep chasing the job opportunities--Persistence does pay off!
- Network and collaborate with other minority and majority contractors to expand opportunities.
- Market your business by letting others know that your company exists.
Minority Business Checklist:
- Have you identified specific work, customers and opportunities to pursue?
- Does your marketing material explain exactly what you do?
- Have you applied for a business license? (The Chamber’s One Stop Business Licensing Center, www.onestop.com, can help.)
- Have you successfully completed the process of obtaining the proper paperwork to become bonded and insured?
- Did you contact the South Regions Minority Business Council (www.SRMBC.org) for a business certification?
- Are you building a network of contacts through membership in organizations?
For more info about the Minority Business Inclusion Program, contact TALA Professional Services at 205.323.1993 or call 311.
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 A handsome marker was recently installed in the riverfront park by the Bama Belle. The Chamber funded it in memory and honor of Captain Mike Medeiros. Medeiros, who brought the Bama Belle to Tuscaloosa, died in a fall in early December 2005. The inscription reads as follows.
Mike Medeiros was affectionately known to the community as Captain Mike. Captain Mike always greeted his passengers on the Bama Belle Riverboat with energy, optimism and a desire to make their experience a wonderful memory. He was a role model for civility. By the designation of this area of the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk as “Medeiros Point” the City of Tuscaloosa desires to express to the family of Mike Medeiros it’s heartfelt appreciation for the leadership, morals, devotion, compassion and love for the City that was demonstrated by him as the City’s first riverboat captain and owner of the City’s first riverfront attraction.
Designated Medeiros Point by resolution of the Tuscaloosa City Council on January 25th, 2007. |
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Fast Trac Express Car Wash is now open at 3011 McFarland Blvd. E. in Tuscaloosa, across from Buffalo Wild Wings. Washes offered are: Express for $5; Deluxe for $7; Premium for $9; and Ultimate for $12 (a $3 mail-in rebate makes it $9). Each wash includes a powerful, free self vacuum and use of an innovative mat cleaner. It's fast, easy, thorough and inexpensive. Check them out today!
Business is owned an operated by Nowlin Development Co., Inc., based in Decatur, and is not a franchise. For more info, please contact Mickey Moseley at 256.351.8041. |
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ABP Open House Blues Café is Friday
The Alabama Blues Project Summertime Blues Camp culminates with an Open House Blues Café on Friday, July 11th at 1 PM on location at Covenant Presbyterian Church. The Blues Café is free and open to everyone. Students will perform the music they have learned and written as well as showcase their artwork. For details, contact Cara Lynn Smith at 752.6263 or 361.3710.
School Supply Drive Starts Monday
Tuscaloosa’s Promise, Tuscaloosa County Children’s Policy Council, and B 101.7 are joining forces to help provide school supplies for students in the City and County school systems. Please help by donating items to be taken to area schools for distribution. Collection bins will be located at area agencies, businesses and churches. Supplies will be collected from Monday, July 14th through Sunday, August 3rd. For more info, call Kristy Brown or Jennifer McMullen at 462.1000.
Re/Max Premiere Group Grand Opening is July 24th
The Re/Max Premiere Group recently moved and will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 24th from 3 to 6 PM for its new location at 225 McFarland Blvd., Ste. A in Northport (next to Green Jeans). Please stop by to see owners Johanna Shirley and Phyllis Olive. Call 366.1999 for details.
Aimee Mann Concert Tickets On Sale Now
The Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa will present Aimee Mann at The Historic Bama Theatre on September 4th at 8 PM. Tickets are available only through www.etix.com or 800.514.ETIX and are $25 for reserved seats and $20 for general admission. For more info, visit www.aimeemann.com; www.myspace.com/bamatheatre; www.tuscarts.org.
Dale Carnegie Offers Three-Day Seminar in August
Strictly Business: Dale Carnegie Immersion Seminar will be presented August 18th, 19th and 20th from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM each day at a local location TBA.
If you have always wanted to take the world-famous Dale Carnegie Course but could not free up the time to do it, here's great news: They've taken the essential business skills taught in the 12-week program and compressed them into an action-packed three-day seminar. Learn to handle people more professionally and keep pace with fast-changing workplace conditions. Become equipped to perform as a persuasive communicator, creative problem-solver and intelligent risk-taker. Develop a take-charge attitude that will help you get recognized as a confident, enthusiastic leader. Take that important first step toward joining the ranks of the world's most successful business leaders.
Cost is $1695. To register, call 256.679.8747 or email Nancy_Covert@dalecarnegie.com. |
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