Calendar

March Ambassador Meeting March 1 at noon at Chamber Office Early Morning Coffee/Healthcare Breakfast March 2 at 7:30 a.m. at Cherokee Ridge Country Club; sponsored by Marshall Medical Centers Chamber Board Meeting March 9 at 7:30 a.m. at Chamber Office Junior Ambassador Meeting March 9 at 2:35 p.m. at Arab High School Chamber Annual Banquet March 24 at 5:30 p.m.at Arab Senior Center Delegation Trip To Washington D.C. March 13-16, with Junior Ambassadors and City of Arab

April Ambassador Meeting April 5 at noon at Chamber Office Early Morning Coffee April 6 at 7:30 a.m. location TBD Chamber Board Meeting April 13 at 7:30 a.m. at Chamber Office Business Women’s Luncheon April 27 at 11 a.m. at Arab First Baptist Church

Arab Chamber of Commerce

Celebrate Our Success In Space & Technology The Arab Chamber of Commerce will

host its annual banquet on Thursday,

March 24, 2011.

This year’s event will celebrate our

region’s success in the fields of space

and technology, featuring a keynote

address from Herb Shivers, a deputy

director with Marshall Space Flight

Center.

With help from Hawkins Law, this

year’s presenting sponsor, the Chamber

will recognize the AHS Robotics Program

for their competitive spirit and will award

prizes to students from Arab Elementary

and Arab Junior High Schools for their

space flight original design projects.

The evening will begin with a

reception at 5:30 p.m. where student

projects will be on display, along with

models of the International Space

Station and a large replica of the Space

Shuttle, provided by NASA. Dinner will

be served at 6 p.m. with the awards

program following.

Tickets for the annual banquet are

$30 and businesses are encouraged to

reserve seats early.

“Space and technology played a key

role in the growth of our city over the last

century,” said Katy Norton, president of

Arab Chamber of

Commerce.

“Many individuals

in our community

are involved in the

field of space and

technology, and we

continue to see

new high tech

companies show interest in our city.

In addition, our school administration has

implemented programs to ensure our

graduates will be competitive in the high

tech market,” Norton said.

“Our North Alabama region is known

for space and technology. As a key city

in the region, we must stay competitive

and open to businesses with interests in

these fields.”

During dinner, the Chamber will also

highlight top businesses and present its

Citizen of the Year award.

This event draws close to 300

business leaders from across the county.

For tickets to this year’s annual banquet,

contact the Chamber at 256-586-3138.

this issue

Ribbon Cuttings P.2

Healthcare Breakfast P.3

Join A Chamber Team P.3

Upcoming Chamber Events P.4

3rd Quarter 2010

PO Box 626

Arab, AL 35016

1157 North Main Street PO Box 626 Arab, AL 35016 256.388.9376 www.arab-chamber.org

Biz Review 1st Quarter 2011

Chamber Business of the Quarter

The Chamber is proud to

recognize HYCO as the

Business of the Quarter for

4th quarter 2010.

HYCO is one of Arab’s

leading manufacturers,

producing on average

3,000 hydraulic cylinders a

month. The company’s

product is designed and

built at their Arab plant,

which encompasses two

buildings with a combined

space of 128,000 square

feet.

HYCO employs 107,

including machinists,

welders, engineers,

office staff, and packing

and receiving. The

company recently

received an award for

completing their fourth

year with no loss time

accidents.

Congratulations to

HYCO employees on a

job well done.

Herb Shivers, Marshall Space Flight Center

News and Information

Schools and Retailers Build Partnership

To encourage employees of the Arab City School system

to shop local, Arab City Schools and the Chamber have

joined together to offer a monthly Retailer Spotlight on

Education.

On the 3rd Wednesday of each month during the school

year, a local retail establishment will offer specials for

employees of the city school system.

March retailer will be Factory Connection. On Wednesday,

March 9th, from 3 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. employees from the Arab

City Schools will receive special discounts from Factory

Connection.

Deb’s Gifts and Beyond, located on Main Street in Arab,

will host the April Retailer Spotlight on April 20, 2011.

In the fall of 2010, the Arab City

Schools Foundation awarded $5,453 in

grants for teachers in all four Arab City

Schools.

The grants funded a variety of

classroom learning centers, new

technology, and even the planting of bulbs

at Arab Elementary School in honor of a

drug free school.

Arab City Schools Foundation is a

nonprofit organization created to provide

Ribbon Cuttings

Farmer’s Furniture Located on Hwy 231 Arab, Alabama

2nd Time Around Located on Main Street, downtown Arab

Join A Chamber Team! The Chamber is challenging

you to join the game. Don’t

just sit on the sidelines and

wonder what the Chamber

can do for you.

Get involved in the Game!

The Chamber has

developed two programs of

focus and is offering

members the opportunity to

participate.

If you want to grow a small

business, bring guest

speakers and seminars to

Arab or plan networking

events, then the Business

Team is for you.

If you want to promote

tourism and develop

avenues for our business

leaders to interact with

students, then the

Community Team is for

you.

To find out more about

these new programs,

contact the Chamber at

256-586-3138. Teams meet

monthly at the Chamber

office.

Chamber Hosts Healthcare Update Breakfast

Arab Chamber, in partnership with Marshall Medical Centers,

will offer the first annual Healthcare Update Breakfast on

Wednesday, March 2, 2011. The breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m.

at Cherokee Ridge Country Club. Gary Gore, CEO of Marshall

Medical Centers will be the guest speaker.

No reservation is necessary. The breakfast is open to all

Chamber members.

Thank you to our sponsors: Marshall Medical Center and Dr.

Michael Freeman and Associates.

Junior Ambassadors Take Trip To D.C.

Five Chamber Junior Ambassador’s will travel with city

officials and Chamber leaders in March to Washington, D.C.

The trip will provide these high school students with the

opportunity to meet with their senators and congressmen to

discuss issues facing young people in North Alabama.

The schedule includes meetings with Sen. Jeff Sessions

on Capitol Hill and a private dinner with Congressmen Robert

Aderholt.

The Junior Ambassadors are seeking sponsors for this

trip. If your business would like to offer financial support,

please contact the Chamber at 256-586-3138.

Are You A New Business In Town?

Call the Chamber to schedule a ribbon cutting ceremony.

This is a benefit to chamber membership and a great way to introduce your service or

product to potential customers. 256.586.3138

Join the Chamber at Roller Knights at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2011 for an open

house and ribbon cutting. Chamber members are encouraged to attend and

welcome this new business to Arab.

Schools Foundation Awards 2010-11 Grants

additional financial support to teachers.

Governed by a Board of Directors, the

Foundation is managed by the Arab

Chamber of Commerce. Grants are

awarded in the fall each year. Businesses

can donate to the Foundation and receive a

tax credit. All money raised by the

Foundation goes back to Arab Schools.

For more information about the

Foundation, contact 256-586-3138.

Advertise in the

Chamber Newsletter

Our newsletter is published once each quarter. Distribution includes

over 350 businesses and individuals.

Advertising with the Chamber is a

great way to get your message to potential customers!

Contact the Chamber to find out how your ad can appear in our

next Newsletter!

256-586-3138