U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-·è¿ÍÖ±²¥, opened National Small Business Week with a “Terri Talksâ€� virtual discussion featuring Reflections Coffee Shoppe owner Jackie Smith.

The virtual showcase was titled “Sipping on Success: The Story of ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥â€™s Award-Winning Small Business Owner Jackie Smith.â€�

Smith discussed overcoming adversity to open her first coffee shop over a decade ago and admitted she stumbled at the start.

“It was a struggle for me, I didn’t make my first profit until seven years,� Smith said. “My success did not happen overnight. I learned the tricks of the trade.�

Sewell said Smith’s triumph against the odds is an inspiration to several small businesses that failed over the years.

“Jackie Smith gave ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ a place to mingle and eat good food,â€� Sewell said. “She had so many hardships to overcome.â€�

Smith offered advice to people with small business aspirations.

“Don’t give up,� Smith said. “Starting a business is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Do what you love and love what you do. Start a business in your hometown. Invest in your community.�

Smith thanked Sewell for always fighting for small businesses, especially in the seventh congressional district.

Sewell said over half of the country’s workforce consists of small businesses.

“Small businesses are the strongest economic engine in our country and the backbone of our economy, and I am committed to doing what I can to help them thrive,� Sewell said.

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·è¿ÍÖ±²¥â€™s The Coffee Shoppe took home top honors Tuesday in the state as the Gold Alabama Retailer of the Year in the Annual Sales Less Than $1 Million category.

Owner Jackie Smith said the drive to come home and start a small coffee shop was from her love for people and love for the ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ community.

Smith originally was commuting to work in Montgomery from her home in ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ when she finally decided to take the plunge into owning a small business.

“This award is not about me. It is about ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥,â€� Smith said as she accepted her award at the Alabama Retail Day awards ceremony in Birmingham. “It is about the impact, we’ve made on this community, and them giving back … them giving back by coming to buy their lattes, buy their smoothies, get their sandwiches and just come by and say, ‘Hey, y’all are doing a good job, keep it up.’’’

Smith added, “I don’t want people to think that operating this business has been some fairy tale, because it has been far from that. There have been many times that I wanted to just throw the towel in and walk away from it all.� Instead, she worked harder.

In 2018, The Coffee Shoppe developed relationships with local tour companies to capitalize on ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥â€™s role in civil rights history. The shop experienced a 25 percent growth rate in the number of visitors served.

Sheryl Smedley, executive director of the , nominated Smith for the award. “She’s done an excellent job as an entrepreneur in downtown ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥,â€� Smedley said. “For Jackie to receive this award is a major accomplishment for our entire community.â€�

One of the 2019 Retailer of the Year judges noted that Smith is “an example of doing things you have to do to succeed even when you’re not in an affluent community.�

The Coffee Shoppe was one of 14 retail businesses honored today as Retailers of the Year. The Alabama Retailer of the Year awards, started in 1999, honor retailers who have demonstrated growth, innovation and a commitment to their respective communities. This year’s winners came from a pool of more than 70 nominees.

“Jackie Smith is a retailer who stands out every day for The Coffee Shoppe customers, her four employees, the ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ community and tourists from around the world,â€� said Alabama Retail Association President Rick Brown.

The Coffee Shoppe opened on Broad Street in 2011 and in those early years struggled to survive, often leading Smith to doubt if its doors would stay open – just over seven years later, the tiny café has not only survived but thrived.

Smith noted that her business only has five parking spaces and 27 seats, but continues to make an impact in the community by partnering with local businesses, schools and organizations.

Most significantly, Smith said, it’s her four employees that deserve the most recognition.

“Yes, I accept the award as the business owner,� Smith said. “But it’s these four that are touching and feeling the customers each day.�

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On Thursday, the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)’s Ala-Tom Council presented a total of $78,000 in grant money for projects to be completed in Dallas County.

The Ala-Tom RC&D Council covers nine counties in southwest Alabama including: Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Washington, and Wilcox.

Projects that will receive grants in Dallas County include the following 2018 projects:

• Craig Fence Project that will provide a safe environment for students served by Craig Elementary School. This fence also ensures the safety of children in the community who sometimes cross through the lumber yard to get to other neighborhoods.
• Bogue Chitto Revitalization Cultural Enrichment Project is an ongoing project to improve the community and is an organized, instructional program that offers opportunities for underserved senior citizens and at risk youth.
• The Mill Village Community Garden and Food Park is a neighborhood garden and park that is open to the public.
• The staff at Central Alabama Regional Child Advocacy Center provides the location and personnel for forensic interviews after an allegation of child sexual abuse or physical abuse. A project is also receiving grant money to help with Child Abuse Prevention Education.
• The ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ PAL After School Enrichment program will be used to support its recreation-oriented crime prevention program that relies on athletic, recreational activities and education to help children.
• Camp Grist’s Enhancement Project will create a safe environment for park attendees and also enhance the facilities, park ground, park equipment and office.
• Youth Leadership ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ – Dallas County is a multicultural program designed to assist youth in developing strong, effective leadership skills to work in diverse community settings.

2019 Dallas County projects and grantees include:

• M. Brown Community Outreach will help continue to provide community outreach in the E.M. Brown Community.
• Doc on a Bus is a service that allows volunteer physicians to come into underserved and rural areas to provide healthcare.
• Mobile Eye Clinic involves vision care that begins today to do free vision screenings at the Edmundite Missions. The clinic comes to ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ once a month. It was started three years ago, and the clinic has been able to help over 5,000 people, according to Barry Elliot who represented the clinic at the grant ceremony.
• The Black Belt Mobile Pantry offers food relief to families in need in the Black Belt area.
• The Dallas County Bicentennial efforts celebrated the county’s 200^th year since being formed. The celebration was held at Old Cahawba.
• Artists Candi Duncan and Charlie Lucas will continue to host their annual summer art camp that brings in students from all over the region, according to the two artists.
• Tremont School Hazardous Material Investigation continues the renovation plans of Tremont School in Old Town. According to Sylvia Smith, who was the representative for the project at the grant day, Tremont School was built around 1912 and was ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥â€™s first public high school. It was also as a middle and alternative schools. Smith said the school was not a priority because of funding and was given to the ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ Historical Society where renovations began. Smith said the group tries to raise money through the ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ Pilgrimage but any grants received help the project.

Noopie Cosby with The Cosby Company a governmental and public affairs agency that worked with RC&D, spoke after each project representative said a few words about what the awarded grants would do for their projects.

“I’m astonished by listening to all of this,� said Cosby adding that there is a lot of projects happening around the area.

Rep. Prince Chestnut, D-·è¿ÍÖ±²¥, attended the meeting. Chestnut is a member of the education budget committee, according to Cosby, which helps fund the grants received by the organizations.

“I just want to say I’m thankful to be in a position to serve and to assist,� said Chestnut. “I’m just overjoyed everyday to help people who are working diligently doing what needs to be done to help kids and adults who need these services.�

Sen. Malika Sanders-Fortier, D-·è¿ÍÖ±²¥, who also is part of the education budget committee said she was excited about all the projects that are occurring in the area.

“I want to say thank you to RC&D,â€� said Fortier. “I’m very excited about what I have heard here today. It makes me want to shout ‘Dallas County strong’. All of the work being done in the community there is so many rich things going on in our community. I am just elated about that. We all know the challenges we face in Dallas County. We know we face issues of violence and our economy but we have great people who are working in our community to make sure that Dallas County is strong. I want to be right there with you all along the way. I am passionate about Dallas County and passionate about ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥. It takes each one of us doing what we are called to do.â€�

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On Tuesday, the ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce hosted a Lunch and Learn to teach potential business owners the basics of turning to entrepreneurship.

Richard Walters, president and CEO of First Cahawba Bank in ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥, provided lunch and spoke to the attendees about the different options the bank can offer in funding for business owners including business accounts, basic business, business advantage, business savings and business interest checking.

After Walters’ presentation, U.S. Small Business Administration Business Advisor Katherine Zobre began her presentation about the basics of starting a business.

Her main objectives were to teach the attendees about the stages of a business, understanding what makes a good business idea, having the attendees draft their own business model canvas, understand how to test the feasibility of a business idea and understand the legal and tax environment for a business.

Zobre said good business ideas are an asset.

“Your money works for you,� she said during her presentation.

Zobre also encouraged business ideas to have a ready market saying it would be easier to break into a market that already exists.

What she said was one of the most important parts was that the business ideas are not a job.

“In a job, you work for money, in a business, your money works for you,� she told the attendees.

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This number in December 2018 increased from November 2018, which was at 863 or 5.8 percent.

Comparing December 2018 to December 2017, the ADOL report shows that 2017’s numbers were at 821 or 5.7 percent.

·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ City saw an increase in December 2018’s unemployment numbers with a 7.9 percent scoring.

In November 2018, ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ city was at 6.5 percent unemployment and in December 2017, the unemployment rate was at 6.4 percent.

Overall, Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 3.9 percent in December, was down from November’s revised rate of 4 percent and is above the 3.8 percent year-ago rate.

The national rate at 3.9 percent in December, was up from November’s revised rate of 3.7, but below the year-ago rate of 4.1 percent. Nonagricultural Wage and Salary employment totaled 2,072,600 in December, which represented an over the month increase of 4,000 jobs. Employment increased in manufacturing; trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; government; other services; and information. Over the year, there was a gain of 44,300 jobs that occurred in all industries. For production workers, the average manufacturing weekly hours increased by 12 minutes over the month and rose by 24 minutes over the year.

Goods Producing employment grew by 2,800 jobs in December due to manufacturing. The number of jobs increased over the year by 15,200 due to growth in all goods producing industries. The Durable Goods employment level increased by 2,100 jobs over the month mainly due to transportation equipment manufacturing, fabricated metal product manufacturing, wood product manufacturing, primary metal manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, computer and electronic product manufacturing, in addition to furniture and related product manufacturing. Over the year, employment rose by 7,300 jobs due to transportation equipment manufacturing, fabricated metal product manufacturing, wood product manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and primary metal manufacturing areas. In Non-Durable Goods, employment grew by 900 jobs over the month. Over the year, the employment level increased by 4,000 due to plastics and rubber products manufacturing, paper manufacturing, textile mills, and food manufacturing.

The Service-Providing sectors rose by 1,200 jobs over the month and this increase was due to trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; government; other services; and information. Annually, Service-Providing sectors added 29,100 jobs and the gains occurred in all service areas.

Total private employment grew by 3,300 jobs over the month to total 1,680,300. Over the year, employment gained 39,300 jobs. Average weekly hours grew by 30 minutes over the month, and 36 minutes over the year. Average weekly earnings, at $857.77 in December, increased by $17.28 over the month and rose by $46.41 over the year. Average hourly earnings, at $23.96 in December, grew by 15 cents over the month and rose by 91 cents over the year.

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Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. announced Tuesday that the corporation that includes a ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ location is not part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed by Sears Holding Corporation.

“Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. is a publicly owned company traded on Nasdaq (symbol: SHOS) that separated from Sears Holdings in 2012,� according to a release. “It remains business as usual at all of our locations, which includes more than 750 retail stores in 49 states across the nation, which are operated by us, our dealer owners and franchises. We currently operate stores under various brand names including Sears Hometown, Sears Appliance and Hardware, Sears Home Appliance Showroom, Sears Outlet and Buddy’s Home Furnishings franchise.�

Sears Holding Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday, with plans to shutter 142 unprofitable stores in the hopes that it can stay in business.

Sears, which started as a mail order catalog in the 1880s, has been on a slow march toward extinction as it lagged far behind its peers and incurred huge losses over the years.

At its peak, the operator of Sears and Kmart had 4,000 stores in 2012 but will now be left with a little more than 500.

“This is a company that in the 1950s stood like a colossus over the American retail landscape,� said Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, a retail consultancy.

The company has struggled with outdated stores and complaints about customer service even for its once crown jewels: major appliances like washers and dryers. That’s in contrast with chains like Walmart, Target, Best Buy and Macy’s, which have been enjoying stronger sales as they benefit from a robust economy and efforts to make the shopping experience more inviting by investing heavily in remodeling and de-cluttering their stores.

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Zilkha Biomass Fuels I LLC announced on Friday, Oct. 5 the completion of a $59.8 million refinancing of the Zilkha Biomass ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥, LLC pellet mill operation. The refinancing was completed on Sept. 14.

The company will use the funds to place the mill back in operation to produce Zilkha Black Pellets for the power industry worldwide, according to a release from Zilkha Biomass Fuels.

“Pellets are a biomass-based fuel used as a direct substitute for coal to support power plant operations and production of renewable energy,� according to the press release.

Pellets are a biomass-based fuel used as a direct substitute for coal to support power plant operations of renewable energy.�

Commercial operation will start in the first quarter of 2019 along with the available purchase and delivery, according to Larry Price with Zilkha Biomass Fuels.

Zilkha Biomass ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ LLC will be the only large volume commercial mill producing black pellets worldwide.

In addition, Zilkha Biomass Fuels I LLC, the parent company of the ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ mill, is seeking operators worldwide who will utilize the patented Zilkha Black Pellet technology in the US and abroad to supply the growing renewable energy markets, Price said.

Zilkha Biomass Fuels I LLC is a subsidiary of NextGen Black Pellets LLC and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

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On Friday, Rayco Industrial, Inc. celebrated 20 years of service.
Rayco Industrial, Inc. is a general contractor focused on industrial construction in ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ and the surrounding area.
Rayco specializes in mechanical work such as pipe fab and installation, equipment setting and boiler work. Rayco can perform steel structure fab and installation and can also perform civil work such as concrete and demolition.
Owner Ray Harrelson said the innovation center started in 1998.

“Pioneer Electric was a big help for getting us started,� he said. “I started with five people, and I started with a dream. I took it and we picked up work. We did more the first year than I thought we would.

“We continued to grow,� said Harrelson. “We saw that we needed to diversify. We got into pharmaceutical, food and we got into chemical plants. Now recently we are into the power plants now.

“We are working a power plant in Florida right now,� he said. “Right now we are running about 220 employees, and we see that getting up around 300 by the end of the year. Business is up 40 percent. We work in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

“I thought when I put 20 years in it would be easier, and I would be able to kick back, and take it easy, but since so much work is breaking loose and all over the United States, we are having to turn down work,� he said. “We are going to take care of our clients first. International Paper has been a key player in Rayco’s success. They are having this development now out at Riverdale Mill, and they are making a big investment. We have picked up some work, and look forward to picking up more work. International Paper is trying to put as many local contractors to work as they can because they know if they do that they are going to put local people in the community to work.

“We hope to be a big key player with them,â€� said Harrelson. “This project could go a year and a half, and it is good for the economy here in Dallas County and ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥. We just got our first job with them, and we will start in a couple of weeks and hopefully we will continue to grow from that.â€�

Harrelson said that a lot of his employees are from Dallas County, but a large amount of them travel from other places.

“We try to hire as many local people as we can,� he said. “That is where we go to first to get our help, and we do heavy industrial. We are not residential or commercial. We do a lot of business in Burkville, Alabama for the SABIC plant. We do a lot with them, and we do a lot with the steel mills down in Mobile.

“We do travel,� he said. “It is not our first choice, but sometimes you have to get out and go where the work is. I have been very fortunate though with our turnover in our supervision is nearly nothing.

“I treat my employees well,� Harrelson said. “I take good care of my employees. I treat them good, and pay them good. They have benefits, and we just don’t have a turnover in supervision.�

Harrelson said the company has two shops in ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥, one in Craig Field, and one off Highway 41.

“We have the resources to do almost anything in the construction industry,� he said. “We have all the equipment to do the variety of things that have to be done in structural steel and in piping.

“Anytime you put people to work they are going to spend money,� he said. “By having as many employees as I can from Dallas County, I feel like it is helping enrich the county and the city.

“We have a lot of good workforce in the county,� said Harrelson. “I shop for the top welders in those classes here in the county. It is not the name of the company, it is the people who work for a company that make it.�

Before Harrelson began Rayco, he was still preparing to own his own business.

“I spent 20 years in the business getting ready to start a business,� he said. “I started planning this, and when I went into business I never had in my mind if I was going to make it. I knew I had to make it because everything I had worked for for 20 years was invested, and I didn’t want to start over.

“It was a tough go,� he said. “The first five years were hard, and I remember never leaving the office before 8 or 9 p.m. There was no quit in me, and I stayed after it and just kept pushing.�

Harrelson said he wanted to thank the community and leaders of ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ and Dallas County.

“Without them we probably couldn’t have made it,� he said. “I want to thank Pioneer Electric. I will always be in debt to them. I want to thank the people that work for me. They are hardworking people and good people, and my wife has been by my side through the entire time. The good Lord is someone I owe the most too as well.� 

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Unemployment slightly rose in ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ and Dallas County between June and July according to the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) numbers released on Aug. 17.

In ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥, the civilian labor force dropped from 6,265 to 6,281, employment dropped a mere nine points from 5,709 to 5,700 and unemployment rose from 556 to 581 yielding a rate increase from 8.9 to 9.3 percent.

In Dallas County, the civilian labor force decreased from 14,873 to 14,881.

Employment dropped from 13,657 to 13,636.

Unemployment rose from 1,216 to 1,245 yielding a rate increase from 8.2 to 8.4 percent.

Despite this increase, the state broke employment records claiming that over 2.1 million people are working with average weekly wages the highest in 11 years.

ADOL Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced that 2,105,513 people were counted as employed in July, up from June’s count of 2,098,121 and up from July 2017’s count of 2,077,406, representing a yearly increase of 28,107.

In July, 90,987 people were counted as unemployed, compared to 89.302 in June and 89,858 in July 2017.

“We continue to break employment records in Alabama,� said Washington. “Nearly 30,000

more people are working now than they were last year. The message is clear, Alabama: we have jobs.

“Those jobs are coming with higher wages,� said Washington. “We’ve seen wages increase both over the month and over the year. In fact, workers in Alabama are earning more weekly than they have in the past 11 years.�

Total private average weekly earnings rose to $830.55 in July, up from $815.97 in June, and up from $798.62 in July 2017.

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 22,200, with gains in the manufacturing sector (+8,300), the professional and business services sector (+6,700), and the leisure and hospitality sector (+5,200), among others.

The preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July is 4.1%, which is unchanged from June’s rate, and equal to July 2017’s rate.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 3.1 percent, Cullman County at 3.5 percent, and Marshall, Elmore, and Baldwin Counties at 3.7 percent. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 11.2 percent, Clarke County at 9.1 percent, and Perry County at 8.6 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Vestavia Hills at 2.7 percent, Hoover at 3 percent, and Homewood and Alabaster at 3.1 percent. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are Prichard at 8.8 percent, and Anniston at 6.0 percent.

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Dr. Julie R. Sams was met with hugs, smiles and congratulatory words Thursday evening as she unveiled the newly renovated Julie R. Sams Family Dentistry. The brand-new downstairs is now equipped with seven operating rooms and more sitting space for customers. Sams said the night could not have been more perfect as her family, friends and patients gathered around to see the updates to the office.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the love and support everyone gave me today,� she said. “I was seeing patients and the girls called me to the front, and there were truckloads of flowers and plants coming from our patients and those that have supported us.�

Each room was filled with the flowers and plants donated to Sams, and she said she could not be happier than to share this moment with the people that believe in her business.

“This is something to let the patients see the final product, and just enjoy being with us,� she said. “We want the patients to see what we have to offer. It’s for me, but it’s for them also.�

Sams said even though she was the center of attention, God was to be glorified in everything she has accomplished with her business.

“I give glory to God, and I would not be able to do this without Him,â€� she said. “My biggest hope is that this glorifies Him, and that through this, people see that ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ is alive and it’s growing. There’s revival here and I hope that others will join in on that spirit.â€�

After the meet and greet, everyone headed outside for the official ribbon cutting with Sheryl Smedley, executive director of the ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce.

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