About 20 representatives from businesses on South Avenue, community groups and local agencies took the first steps Wednesday toward formally organizing a business association for the corridor.
“We were hoping to get a core [membership]. We're not sure how many businesses are going to be involved, but we want about 40. Today, we got almost half,” said the Rev. Al Yanno Jr., pastor of Metro Assembly of God Church.
Six Volunteers formed a steering committe for the association, B.J. Duckworth, an account manager for Coca Cola Refreshments at the intersection of South and Indianola avenues, said. The committee will set up the framework for the organization, deciding how often to meet and what projects will be done.
"They'll set up our bylaws and help us become a 501(c)3," he explained. "That will legitimize us as a true business association. We will be membership-based with legal standing and the legal power to get things done."
Yanno presided at the inaugural meeting held in his church and is chairman of the South Avenue Area Neighborhood Initiative – S.A.A.N.D.I. -- which will operate the business association until it is fully formed.
Saandi is an effort to bring businesses and residents together to revitalize the area, Yanno added, as well as talk to city officials how to resolve the problems they face.
“A lot of the concerns are over issues of security and safety for their company. We’re concerned about what happens to this corridor because as its health goes, so will go the health of their business,” he said.
On Nov. 19, Abdullah Nagi Mahdi, owner of Reema's Fashion, 2068 South Ave., was shot and killed during a robbery. Several of the business owners at Wednesday's meeting knew Mahdi.
Duckworthtold those attending that the organization has the full support of Mayor John McNally and that all issues they present the mayor “will at least be considered.”
Duckworth, who described the turnout as “good,” urged “increased support. We can't have 10 people show up one week then six [the next week] then four,” he told the group. “It needs to be 10, then 16, then 20 for this to succeed.”
To build the initial support, Duckworth told the representatives at the meeting to bring someone, even if they don't own a business, to every meeting.
"That will bring one more car down South Avenue and that car might mean one more visitor to a pizza shop or another bottle pop at a convience store," he said. "It's our responsibility to build this association and not let it flounder."
7th Ward Councilman John R. Swierz told the group about just how effective business groups can be, referring to the merchants’ association for South Avenue in the 1980s.
“When they first came out with the plan to close the South Avenue bridge, it was going to be something like a seven-year project,” he recalled. “Because of people like you coming out and talking, it was about two years.”
In September, Saandi hosted Clean Sweep, an event where business owners removed litter in the areas surrounding their stores and volunteers cleaned up vacant lots. Such events will be components of the business association's work, Swierz said.
“We'll be looking at things like cleaning up South Avenue, reinvesting in properties and driving economic developments,” he said. “Those are all long-range goals but they're goals that we think we can achieve if we get an association together.”
Those who attended Wednesday’s meeting formed a steering organization for the organization, a crucial step toward a fully formed association. Until that time, Duckworth said, those on the committee will report to Saandi with a goal of spinning themselves off.
“Should something happen four or five years down the road where Saandi stops operating,” Duckworth said, explaining rationale on separating the groups. “We don't want to stop what we're doing because something happens to them.”
To read the full story from the Business Journal, click here.
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