Designing Alabama's Future tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2008-02-16:/blog//7 2012-05-16T20:57:06Z Your Town Alabama Movable Type Pro 4.34-en Legislature passes several tourism industry bills tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1435 2012-05-16T20:56:32Z 2012-05-16T20:57:06Z The Alabama Legislature approved several pieces of legislation this session that will greatly benefit tourism in the state. Tourism Industry... Joe Watts
Tourism Industry wins longer summer break
The Alabama Legislature passed a bill this session requiring Alabama schools to start on or after August 20th and end before Memorial Day.  Having a full 12-week summer is expected to generate more than $22 million annually in extra state tax revenue.  Henry Mabry, executive secretary of the Alabama Education Association, said the teachers' group supported the bill because this extra revenue will help prevent layoffs of education employees in a tough budget year. State education officials estimate it would reduce teacher cuts from 948 to 648.

Tourism Incentive Bill and Entertainment District Bill goes to governor
House Bill 599 and House Bill 20 also obtained final passage by the legislature.  House Bill 599, the Alabama Tourism Attractions Incentive Act, establishes tax incentives and capital credits for certain tourism attractions.  House Bill 20 allows Class 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 level municipalities to establish entertainment districts that permit open beverage containers.  The Alabama Tourism Incentive Act and the Entertainment District Bill are both awaiting the governor's signature. ]]> Calendar of Events deadline is June 29 tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1434 2012-05-16T20:49:10Z 2012-05-16T20:49:51Z Joe Watts
To submit your event(s), go to www.alabama.travel; scroll to the Site Map at the bottom of the page, click on the "Event Submissions Form" link and fill out the form completely. Please contact Pam Smith (pam.smith@tourism.alabama.gov) or Marilyn Jones Stamps (marilyn.stamps@tourism.alabama.gov) immediately if you experience any problems submitting your event(s) or if you have any questions or concerns about the submission process.

If you have good quality photos that depict your event(s), we encourage you to send your photos to us.  If layout allows and space is available, we will make every effort to use your photo(s) in the printed calendar. Photos must be at least 300 dpi. Please send photos along with the name and date(s) of your event to peggy.collins@tourism.alabama.gov with a cc: to tommy.cauthen@tourism.alabama.gov.
For the complete article please see http://blog.al.com/strange-alabama/2012/05/post_3.html#incart_hbx.

]]> Nongame Wildlife Conference July 23-24 in Auburn tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1433 2012-04-19T16:58:01Z 2012-04-19T16:58:22Z The Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) announces the Third Alabama Nongame Wildlife Conference will be held at the... Joe Watts The Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) announces the Third Alabama Nongame Wildlife Conference will be held at the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences building at Auburn University on July 23-24, 2012. Sessions will be held on the following species groups: Mammals, Birds, Reptiles/Amphibians, Fishes, Crayfishes, Snails and Mussels.
 
It has been 10 years since the Second Alabama Nongame Wildlife Conference was held by WFF. During that landmark meeting, more than 140 participants were involved in discussions on the status, distribution, habitats of, and priority designation for, each species group. Annotated lists of all vertebrate and some invertebrate species (mussels and aquatic snails) and/or subspecies in Alabama were developed and published.
 
WFF Nongame Wildlife Coordinator Mark Sasser says that information produced by the last conference needs to be updated. "Since 2002, the status of many of these species has changed. To maintain healthy and diverse populations of wildlife in our state, we need to reassess many of these species," he said. "Committees have been formed and leaders assigned who are experts in their fields to assist us with this important scientific review."
 
Other sponsors of the conference include Auburn University, the Alabama Wildlife Federation, The Alabama Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Birmingham Audubon Society, Alabama Ornithological Society, Weyerhaeuser and Sybil and Carroll Deschaines.
 
Attendees are encouraged to pre-register for the conference, which is open to the public. Registration is $40 before July 9, after which the fee increases to $50. For registration information, visit http://www.outdooralabama.com/nongameconference. Along with pre-registration, attendees are asked to confirm their attendance on the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Facebook page under "Events."
 
For additional information about the conference, contact co-chairs Mark Sasser or Steve Rider, WFF, 64 N. Union St., Montgomery, AL  36104; (334) 242-3469 or (334) 844-8978.
 
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com .
]]> Documentary filmmaker shares his Alabama food adventure tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1432 2012-04-14T20:04:42Z 2012-04-14T20:05:18Z Eating Alabama is a film that documents the life of Andy Grace and his wife, Rashmi, as they embark on... Joe Watts
By Andy Grace:

Eating Alabama all started about four years ago, when I talked my wife, Rashmi, into doing something a little ridiculous.  We had recently moved back to Alabama after graduate school out West, and, like a lot of people, we were starting to think more critically about the food we eat - where it's grown, how it gets to us, who grows it.  Both Rashmi and I have farmers in our family histories, but a few generations back there was this clean break with the land.  I understood on a kind of historical/economic/sociological level how that break from the land happened, but I'd never thought much about what it meant to those of us who came afterward.  And so that was the genesis of this idea - what would it be like to try and go back?

Short of selling the house, quitting our jobs and starting a farm, the only way we knew how to go back to a local food economy was to completely change our diets.  We decided to eat only food grown or raised within the state of Alabama.  Some friends joined us too, and we started a blog.  And I started filming.

I had a kind of naive assumption about this movie - that we would do our little eating project, that we would find some connection to all the farmers I assumed were out there, and that everything would wrap itself up into a nice and tidy package.  But that's not usually how documentaries happen, and this one was no different.  The film I ended up making doesn't look much like the one I envisioned.  But that's partly why we're in this in the first place, right?  To try and understand something better?  Anyway, the film is finished.  And now we're proud to show it off.

For more information and to watch the trailer please see www.eatingalabama.com. ]]> Reader's Digest magazine is searching for 'America's Most Interesting Town' tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1431 2012-04-14T19:14:42Z 2012-04-14T19:15:22Z Reader's Digest is looking for personal stories and photos that illustrates what makes their town special. The author of the... Joe Watts
From now through May 29, people are invited to share their stories and photos at www.readersdigest.com/america.

]]> Tourism Department's Calendar of Events deadline is June 29 tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1430 2012-04-14T13:07:43Z 2012-04-14T13:08:20Z Joe Watts
To submit your event(s), go to www.alabama.travel; scroll to the Site Map at the bottom of the page, click on the "Event Submissions Form" link and fill out the form completely. Please contact Pam Smith (pam.smith@tourism.alabama.gov) or Marilyn Jones Stamps (marilyn.stamps@tourism.alabama.gov) if you experience any problems submitting your event(s) or if you have any questions or concerns about the submission process.

If you have good quality photos that depict your event(s), we encourage you to send in your photos.  If layout allows and space is available, every effort will be made to use your photo(s) in the printed calendar. Photos must be at least 300 dpi. Please send photos along with the name and date(s) of your event to peggy.collins@tourism.alabama.gov with a cc: to tommy.cauthen@tourism.alabama.gov. ]]> Natchez Trace ranked in the Top 10 visited National Park sites tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1429 2012-04-14T13:01:21Z 2012-04-14T13:02:41Z The Natchez Trace was recently ranked in the Top 10 Most-Visited Units of the National Park System in 2011 by... Joe Watts
The Natchez Trace is central to tourism in North Alabama, leading many travelers to visit the state. Scenic vistas along the road and historical sites are located in Alabama's section of the Trace, including the site of Chickasaw Chief George Colbert's ferry and stand within a park that includes boat ramps and picnic grounds as well as a swimming beach and rest stop. The Trace is a mere 20 miles from major attractions, such as the Helen Keller Home, Belle Mont Mansion, and the world's only Coon Dog Cemetery in Tuscumbia and the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum Home and the W. C. Handy Birthplace in Florence.  Lodging, gas, and dining options in the Quad Cities of the Muscle Shoals area provide travelers on the Trace with all the amenities.  We are pleased that the Natchez Trace Parkway has received this recognition and that the reports of its traffic show that it plays a major role in our local and state economy.

For more information contact the Colbert County Tourism & Convention Bureau at www.VisitShoalsAL.com. ]]> Towns across Alabama are participating in April Walking Tours tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1428 2012-04-14T12:59:35Z 2012-04-14T13:00:37Z Some 25 towns across Alabama are on display during Saturday mornings in April as part of the Alabama Tourism Department's... Joe Watts  
Huntsville, Constitution Village (April 14 only); Madison, Madison Roundhouse (April 21 & 28 only); Monroeville, Old Courthouse Museum; Montevallo, Chamber of Commerce; Montgomery; Montgomery Visitor Center; Prattville, Autauga County Heritage Center; Selma, Dallas County Public Library; Sylacauga, B.B. Comer Memorial Library; Tallassee, Mt. Vernon Theatre; Tuscumbia, ColdWater Bookstore; Wetumpka, Chamber of Commerce.

The tours are being coordinated by Brian Jones with the Alabama Tourism Department.  "These walking tours are a great way to get out and enjoy the spring weather and find out about the history of our state.  We have done more than 1,500 walking tours since the beginning of the program nine years ago and they keep increasing in popularity every year," Jones said.

More information about the April Walking Tours is available by going online at www.alabama.travel.

Florence extends walking tours
Florence/Lauderdale Tourism will extend the April Walking Tours in Florence through Saturday, May 5 to accommodate an increased demand from participants. The first walking tour in Florence drew a record crowd of 110 people last Saturday. The Florence walking tours will start from Wilson Park on April 14, the tennis courts parking lot on the University of North Alabama campus on April 21, the Wood Avenue Church of Christ on April 28, and the Florence City Cemetery on May 5.  All the walks will begin at 10 a.m. and last for approximately one hour.  For more information on Florence tourism please see www.visitflorenceal.com.
]]> Governor Bentley Signs Aviation Amendment as Part of Economic Development Agenda tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1427 2012-04-14T12:57:21Z 2012-04-14T12:58:58Z Joe Watts  
Commonly called the "Aviation Amendment," House Bill 39 provides a state sales tax exemption that applies to aviation-related businesses. Specifically, the exemption covers aircraft manufacturing parts, components, and systems involved in the maintenance and repair of aircraft.

The exemption is needed because more than 10 other states currently provide similar exemptions and use those exemptions to attract new business. With the Governor's signing of the Aviation Amendment, Alabama can now be more competitive in attracting that business to this state.

"The Aviation Amendment gives us a vital tool to help aviation companies have what they need to attract customers and create future development," Governor Bentley said. "The end result will be more secure, well-paying jobs for people in our communities."

Bill Hafner, vice president of operations at ST Aerospace Mobile Inc., which repairs and renovates airliners, said the plan could protect and add jobs by offering an exemption enjoyed by other facilities in Florida, Georgia, and other states. "I'm very pleased," Hafner said. "It puts us on a level playing field, so now we're not imposing additional costs on our customers. I think it will help assure that work will remain here and help attract future work."

Senator Ben Brooks was the Senate sponsor of the legislation.
"This bill levels the playing field for Alabama to compete in the aircraft industry," Senator Brooks said. "It sends the signal to the nation and the world that Alabama is aircraft friendly for businesses and for workers."
 
]]> Seminar To Focus on Do's & Don'ts of International Business Etiquette tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1426 2012-04-13T20:22:35Z 2012-04-13T20:22:52Z In today's global economy, it is more important than ever for companies to take international protocol into consideration when planning... Joe Watts  
In an effort to educate Alabamian business leaders on the importance of international protocol, Alabama State University, in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Commerce's International Trade Division, will host a seminar on April 26, 2012.
The event, sponsored by a Title VI-B grant from the U.S. Department of Education, will be held at ASU's Acadome Banquet Room from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided. While there is no fee to attend, registration is required
.
Hilda Lockhart, director of the International Trade Division for the Alabama Department of Commerce, said it is imperative that all levels of management be aware of the intricacies of doing business with a culture different than one's own. "Alabama's global community continues to grow and anyone who is involved in hosting foreign visitors or traveling overseas should attend this program. Gaining international protocol intelligence will increase an individual's ability to work in a global environment by learning how to communicate and minimizing language barriers." Lockhart said.
 
Lockhart said first impressions carry a lot of weight; something as simple as a greeting could, potentially, make or break a deal. "Having a basic understanding of the culture of the country one plans to do business in conveys to a potential client that one is sincerely invested in creating a strong and lasting business alliance," she said.
 
Chief of Protocol and Director of International Affairs for the State of Georgia Chris Young will be the speaker for the event. Young has extensive knowledge and experience in the field of international protocol. He has held his current position with the State of Georgia since 2005 and was the first individual to be appointed to this post. His duties include handling the state's foreign affairs (on behalf of the Governor and Commissioner of Economic Development), organizing visits for heads of state, ambassadors, and prime ministers, and planning and participating in official trade missions to 25 foreign countries. Effective May 1, 2012, Young will begin his tenure as the Executive Director of The Protocol School of Washington®, "the first and only accredited institute of higher education and training devoted to protocol, cross-cultural communication, and business etiquette."
 
For more information and/or to register for the event, please send an e-mail to Dara Steele (Dara.Steele@commerce.alabama.gov) or call her at 334-353-1762 at the Alabama Department of Commerce.
]]> Extending southern hospitality tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1425 2012-04-13T20:20:50Z 2012-04-13T20:22:12Z Joe Watts Great article shared by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama
By Ariel Tung (China Daily)
 
When residents of Monroeville, Alabama, heard that about 300 Chinese people were coming to their city, they lined the street with welcome banners in English and Chinese, and donated homemade cookies and desserts to the symposium that hosted the visitors.
 
About 40 Chinese companies flew in from China and across the United States to attend a two-day symposium beginning on March 15 to learn about investment opportunities in Alabama. This visit was the first - for most of these 300 business executives - to a state whose economic growth centers around its automotive manufacturing industry.
 
Alabama is the headquarters for Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Mercedes-Benz US International and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama.
 
Besides having a competitive advantage in aerospace products and car components, the state's industrial outputs include iron and steel products; paper, lumber and wood products; mining (mostly coal); plastic products and apparel.
 
On the first day of the symposium, The Monroe Journal, a newspaper in Monroeville, printed two double spread editorials in Chinese about the conference, never mind that most of the 7,000 residents can't read Chinese.
 
The two-day conference was sponsored by Alabama China Partnership (ACP) and supported by the Alabama state government and China's 21st Century Media.
 
The aim of this symposium was to help Chinese executives understand the American tax system and labor laws, how to finance a project and how to choose a site in the United States.
 
The governor of Alabama may have signed a bill specifically to attract Chinese investors, but it is the local people that are winning them over.
  full article here>>>
]]> Dothan and Montgomery on national list of most affordable cities tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1424 2012-03-28T14:24:43Z 2012-03-28T14:25:24Z Joe Watts
From the article "Dothan recognized for low hotel rates" by Lance Griffin in the Dothan Eagle:

Passing through?  Stay a spell.  Dothan is one of the most affordable stays in the country.  Dothan Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Bob Hendrix said the recognition is good for Dothan heading in to the spring break and early summer season. "This is wonderful for us. This is like buying advertising we could never afford," Hendrix said.  

Hendrix said a growing trend for travelers is the use of smart phone applications to find low cost hotel rooms while on the road and this should help the city land more motorists on their way to the beach. Dothan currently has about 3,000 hotel rooms and Hendrix said the occupancy rate is a healthy 64 percent. He added that upcoming events such as Dothan CityFest and the Alabama Wildlife and Outdoor Expo, the Tri-State BBQ Festival and the USTA Pro Women's Classic will continue to bring people to the city's hotels.

For the complete article please see http://www2.dothaneagle.com/news/2012/mar/26/dothan-recognized-low-hotel-rates-ar-3484918/. ]]> Statewide walking tours set for Saturdays in April tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1423 2012-03-28T14:22:44Z 2012-03-28T14:23:13Z Some 25 towns across Alabama will be on display during Saturday mornings in April as part of the Alabama Tourism... Joe Watts
Towns and starting places for the April Walking Tours are: Abbeville, Abbeville Welcome Center; Ashland, Ashland City Hall; Athens, Athens Visitor Center; Atmore, Heritage Park; Birmingham, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; Butler, Jackson's Jewelry & Gifts; Courtland, Park on the Square; Cullman, Cullman County Museum; Decatur, Delano Park Rose Garden; Enterprise, Rawls Hotel; Eufaula, various locations; Fairhope, Fairhope Welcome Center; Gadsden, various locations; Hartselle, Historic Depot.
 
Huntsville, Constitution Village (April 7 & 14 only); Madison, Madison Roundhouse (April 21 & 28 only); Monroeville, Old Courthouse Museum; Montevallo, Chamber of Commerce; Montgomery; Montgomery Visitor Center; Prattville, Autauga County Heritage Center; Selma, Dallas County Public Library; Sylacauga, B.B. Comer Memorial Library; Tallassee, Mt. Vernon Theatre; Tuscumbia, ColdWater Bookstore; Wetumpka, Chamber of Commerce.

The tours are being coordinated by Brian Jones with the Alabama Tourism Department.  "Alabama is the only state in the nation to hold statewide, simultaneous walking tours.  These walking tours are a great way to get out and enjoy the spring weather and find out about the history of our state.  We have done more than 1,500 walking tours since the beginning of the program nine years ago and they keep increasing in popularity every year," Jones said.

More information about the April Walking Tours is available by going online at www.alabama.travel.

 ]]> National Center on Accessibility Seeks Land Managers with Trails to Participate in National Study tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1422 2012-03-21T17:51:17Z 2012-03-21T17:51:53Z In a collaborative effort between the U.S. Access Board, the National Center on Accessibility (NCA), and Oklahoma State University, NCA... Joe Watts  
Participation in this phase of the study requires completing an administered online survey that will take about ten (10) minutes to complete.
 
http://www.ncaonline.org/?q=node/1458
]]> Alabama Bass Trail Opens tag:www.yourtownalabama.org,2012:/blog//7.1421 2012-03-21T17:33:34Z 2012-03-21T17:34:09Z Gov. Robert Bentley helped unveil the Alabama Bass Trail at Lake Guntersville State Park earlier this month. "This is a... Joe Watts  
The trail is a joint effort among the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Alabama Tourism Department, Bass Anglers Sportsmen's Society (BASS), the Governor's Office, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association and the tourism offices in the various communities located near the trail lakes. Fishermen already consider Alabama one of the top states, if not the top state, in the nation in terms of bass fishing. The Alabama Bass Trail will continue to spread the word about how great the fishing is throughout the state, from the Tennessee River lakes to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. The Alabama Bass Trail will consist of 11 lakes that offer outstanding bass fishing in a variety of watersheds and fishing conditions. The lakes are Guntersville, Wheeler, Pickwick, Lewis Smith, Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Lay, Jordan, Eufaula, the Alabama River and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.

Don Logan, former CEO of Time, Inc., said he firmly believes the Alabama Bass Trail will be a very successful program. "This has been a project, a labor of love, that we've been working on for a long time," said Logan, who brought BASS back to Alabama last fall after several years in Florida. "Gov. Bentley was accurate in his statement about the first time we sat down and talked about this.  He said, 'Count me in. Let's make it happen.'

"The thing is, if you can take your children out fishing and spend a few days with them on the water, you're going to create memories that will last a lifetime. We think that is terribly important." DCNR Commissioner N. Gunter Guy Jr. said the benefits of the recreation for individuals and families are obvious, but some may not know how much fishing means to the state of Alabama in terms of the economy. "No one is more pleased than I am for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to be working with Don and the Alabama Bass Trail," Guy said. "We're going to be promoting angling and conservation all across Alabama on our beautiful waterways. I've got some numbers I'd like to share. Expenditures by anglers in Alabama for goods and services exceed $878 million annually with an economic impact of more than $1 billion. Freshwater fishing recreation supports more than 15,000 jobs in this state. We look to forward to increasing those numbers. The Alabama Bass Trail will help do that."

Kay Donaldson of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, the Alabama Bass Trail program director, said each of the 11 lakes will present different opportunities for the anglers. "The opportunity that people have to fish when they come to Alabama is not found anywhere else," Donaldson said. "The opportunity to challenge yourself on these different waters is unbelievable.  "This has been a dream of mine. We go to eight to 10 trade shows a year to promote the great fishing in Alabama. We think overall, we have more quality and challenging fishing than anywhere. The Alabama Bass Trail is geared toward recreational anglers and those touring anglers who go on trips to fish several lakes during one trip."

The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association will also be working with the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association to hold conservation projects at each lake. "I just got back from Lake Eufaula and watched 252 high school kids weigh in fish," Donaldson said. "That's exciting to see our sport get down to this grass roots effort. When we first started, we thought it would be a Web site and brochure. It's grown so much since then." The Alabama Bass Trail Web site (alabamabasstrail.org) is going to make it easy for anglers to plan their fishing trips by providing information on the lakes, local fishing guides, camping and hotel facilities, as well as weather, lake conditions, fishing reports and tips from the pros.

"We really believe this will be one-stop shopping for the anglers," Donaldson said. "We hope by April 1 to have the hotel booking engine up and running that will allow people to book their trips totally online." Donaldson did say there is a misconception that the Alabama Bass Trail is a tournament trail. "This is where we grow a lot of pros," she said. "A lot of them are born here, live here, but we have a lot of people who just love to fish for bass. This is not a tournament trail. We just want to promote our great bass fishing in the state."

Of course, Donaldson said it would be easy to get the wrong impression, considering the number of top professional anglers who hail from Alabama. "For each of the past two years, Alabama has sent 10 anglers to the Bassmaster Classic," she said. "This year, Alabama placed first [Chris Lane of Guntersville], second [Greg Vinson of Wetumpka] and third [Keith Poche of Pike Road] in the Classic. This state has the reputation of being a great bass fishing state, and we plan to promote that even further."

For more information on the Alabama Bass Trail please see www.alabamabasstrail.org.
 ]]>