In this episode of "Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.", the host interviews participants of the Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce’s Follow Me into Business program.

Tyrone begins the show interviewing JMCAACC Executive Director Don A. McCorry about the JMCAACC, its history, who it serves and about its programs, especially its Follow Me into Business program. Participants (their name, their age and the school they attend) interviewed in this episode include:  Kenyon Manning, 17, Liberty Tech; Dana Jones, 15, Madison Academic; A’dereon Blalark, 13, North Parkway; Ashton Hart, 15, Madison Academic; Bray’lon Klyce, 14, Early-College High, and tony Billingsley, III, 13, West Bemis.

JMCAACC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a three-fold mission: The Growth and Development of  Member Businesses, Youth Entrepreneurial Development and Community  and  Economic Development in West Tennessee and particularly in Jackson  Madison County.

According to the organization’s website: “As the resource for African American business owners, partnerships and corporations in Rural West Tennessee, our objective is to help new and existing businesses reach their potential by using its resources to connect them with major corporations, community leaders, and other business owners so that they learn, grow and network for greater economic development and success. The strength of the businesses determines the strength of our communities and families. Our watchword is focus.”

The organization’s website also said: “In keeping with that mission, the organization highlights outstanding contemporary and historical business owners through our Annual Jewel Awards Banquet.  We train and educate young people, ages 12-18, for success in business (and in life) through our Follow Me Into Business® youth workforce development program that offers soft skills training, shadowing, mentoring and internships or paid summer jobs.  As part of the eight-week summer program, we also offer a tour of government offices and provide community service opportunities. We provide support for business owners with workshops and our latest effort is a new small business conference, the West Tennessee Business Showcase and Economic Development Conference.”

It also offers a morning of golf in fun with its Follow Me Celebrity Golf Classic held the second Tuesday in September.

For more information about JMCAACC, its programs, how to join and how to donate, visit jmcaacc.org.

In this episode of "Hub City Now" host Tyrone Tony Reed Jr. interviewed City of Brownsville Mayor Bill Rawls, Jr. and Gwen Gavin, owner and director of Eagles Nest Family Services.

Rawls and Gavin, who is the Community Health Liaison for City of Brownsville, announced the City of Brownsville's Annual Health Fair on Saturday, April 24th from 10 a.m. - 12 Noon.  For safety reasons relating to COVID-19, this year's Annual Health Fair will be in the form of a WALKING EVENT at three different locations (with vendors set up at each one) throughout Brownsville at the same time to allow proper social distancing.   

You are invited to the annual community health event with Mayor Rawls and Haywood County Mayor David Livingston for "Walking with the Mayors."   

They are encouraging everyone to come out and join in making healthy moves.  

There will be free health screening, music and give a ways from our vendors. Stanton Health Center Mobile Clinic will be onsite along with Lebonher, UT Extension, TN voices for youth, Forever Communications JJ97, Wise 2 Market, Amerigroup, just to name a few.   

Put on your walking shoes and let's make healthy moves one step at a time. April 24, 10am to 12 p.m.  Join them at Heritage Park, Webb Banks Park and L Z Hurley  Stadium This event is free and open to all ages and genders.  They will be following CDC guidelines for this event and social distancing will be enforced.  

 Rawls and Gavin said it is imperative now more than ever to continue prevention efforts towards physical health to help combat the underlining conditions for COVID-19.  According to County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, the Adult Obesity rate for Haywood County is ranked ant an alarming 47%.  Initially, the Health Outcomes for Haywood County was 94 overall in 2014/15.  Through partnership and collaboration with community agencies, we were able to decrease that rate to 82.  Currently that rate is increasing again; up to a ranking of 87; also according to County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.  

If you would like to be a vendor at this event, call Ms. Gavin at 731-300-5131.

In this episode of Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr., the hosts interviews: Liliana Tschanett, Public Affairs Specialist, Field Operations Center - East, Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience (ODR&R), U.S. Small Business Administration and Retired Army Lt. Col. Jack Pagano, ran a TV station in Afghanistan, and is now the COO-Chief operating Officer for Shamshad Radio Television Network, an over-the air and satellite television channel in Afghanistan, and is part of the FEMA Response Strike Team.

The pair were on the show to talk about disaster assistance offered by SBA in Tennessee in your area after the natural disaster that occurred from March 31 – April 1, 2023.

The disaster declaration covers Cannon, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Rutherford, Tipton and Wayne counties in Tennessee, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA.

Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Bedford, Chester, Clay, Coffee, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, DeKalb, Fayette, Henderson, Hickman, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Madison, Marshall, Maury, Perry, Shelby, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Warren, Williamson and Wilson in Tennessee; Lauderdale, in Alabama; Crittenden and Mississippi in Arkansas; Allen and Monroe in Kentucky; and Alcorn, Benton, Tippah and Tishomingo in Mississippi.

What’s available:

Only Primary Counties, including Mobile in the declaration can apply for the following loans with SBA:

1.       Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible. Max. loan 2 million dollars.

2.       Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles. Residents that sustained physical damages need to register with FEMA first. Max. loan $200,000 for homeowners (primary residence) & $40,000 for personal property including renters.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is June 6, 2023.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

All businesses and private non-profit organizations qualifying in primary counties (including Tipton and Haywood) and contiguous counties (including Shelby (Memphis), Lauderdale and Fayette) may apply with SBA for EIDL without any proof of physical damages.

1.       Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period. Max. loan 2 million dollars.

The deadline to return economic injury applications is January 8, 2024.

SBA is operating since April 11, 2023 one Business Recovery Center to assist business owners and residents in filling out a disaster loan application and providing one-on-one help and program information. The center is operating as indicated below until further notice: