COMMUNITY + COMMERCE NEWS
KidsStreet Urgent Care to Open Montgomery’s First Pediatric Urgent Care
This November, Montgomery will have a new urgent care just for children, KidsStreet Urgent Care. The new medical facility features two urgent cares in one building, located across from The Montgomery Academy on Vaughn Road. The dual clinic will be home to KidsStreet Urgent Care, which will be open seven days a week to treat patients up to age 16. In addition, the new clinic will house MainStreet Family Care, which will see patients older than 16 and provide occupational health services.
Mayor Steven L. Reed Selected for Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative
During The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, leaders from across the country will share strategies and discover tools to tackle complex challenges, including moving America’s cities forward amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Steven L. Reed joins a group of 40 mayors from across the United States selected to participate in the Leadership Initiative, a program designed to equip mayors with innovative leadership and management tools to tackle complex challenges and improve the quality of life in their communities. With mayors playing a central role in driving social and economic recovery from the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, this year’s program focuses on the skills required to respond to emerging challenges with an emphasis on equity.
Family Guidance Center of Alabama Contracted as Head Start Program Provider
Family Guidance Center of Alabama, a private, nonprofit organization with statewide programs and services, has been awarded the federal contract to be the provider for the Head Start and Early Head Start Program in Autauga, Elmore, Chilton and Shelby counties. The organization began providing services on October 1, 2020, after completing the transition from the current interim provider. Family Guidance Center of Alabama, founded in 1959 and headquartered in Montgomery, serves more than 40,000 families annually through all of its programs and services.
Montgomery Regional Airport Focuses on Travelers’ Parking Experience
During October, the Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) began implementing a new airport parking system, an upgrade that represents another significant step taken in support of the airport’s core goal to deliver a world-class customer experience.
The airport is replacing current parking equipment with a new, fully automated parking access system, and the transition will be finished by mid-November. Travelers will enter and exit convenient airport parking in a touchless, fully automated environment, and the new system will include credit card terminals at each exit to expedite payment. A cashier will also be available to assist customers.
“Our passengers have consistently ranked the ease and affordability of parking at the airport among the most important motivators to fly MGM. Along with safety and reliability, customer value and convenience top our commitments to this region,” said Marshall Taggart Jr., Executive Airport Director. “The decision to upgrade the management of our parking operations, as well as replace our current parking equipment, upholds these standards.”
Republic Parking System, a subsidiary of REEF Technology, will install the system and provide parking management services for paid parking at the airport. “REEF is pleased to work with best-in-class airports like the Montgomery Regional Airport to provide an excellent technology-enabled customer experience for travelers that is safe, clean and efficient,” said Leonard Carder, President Real Estate Services, REEF Technology.
Huntingdon Announces Master of Athletic Training Program
For more than 166 years, Huntingdon College has offered undergraduate degrees exclusively, but that status will change in the summer of 2021 as the College introduces its first graduate program: the Master of Athletic Training. Applications are being accepted now, with a deadline to apply in January 2021. Huntingdon’s MAT program will be a six-semester commitment. The first cohort of students will enter in the summer of 2021 and will graduate following the spring semester 2023.
Huntingdon Announces New Admission Requirements
The Huntingdon College Office of Admission announced new traditional undergraduate admission standards this week, raising the minimum grade point average for unconditional admission to the College to 3.0 and waiving standardized test scores for those who meet the GPA standard. The new admission requirements pertain to the class entering in fall 2021. The College had previously observed a sliding scale based on GPA and ACT or SAT scores for admission.
Vintage Hospitality Group Expands State-of-the-Art Farm
In partnership with Alabama Power, Vintage Hospitality Group recently expanded MGM Greens by adding Freight Farms Greenery, a fully climate-controlled hydroponic farm built inside of a compact 320 sq. ft. container. This smart farm is self-contained, growing vertically and hydroponically without soil, getting its nutrition from water and light energy from powerful LEDs. This addition lets MGM Greens work within multiple environments to grow additional produce allowing a diverse crop yield for its restaurants, Vintage Cafe and Vintage Year, both 50 feet away. With the Greenery expansion, the group is selling retail and also plans to host its own local neighborhood farmers market on a monthly basis.
The Entrepreneurial 1st Lady, LLC Hosts Teen Entrepreneur Workshop
With so many schools offering virtual classes now, Dr. Jevonnah “Lady J” Ellison wanted to do something to give back and help train the youth here in Montgomery. In her virtual experience called The Teen Entrepreneur Workshop, students ages 13-18 will learn the basics of entrepreneurship and discover how to set the right goals so that they can succeed in business. The topics covered will include: goal setting, business plans and moving from idea to implementation. Students will learn how to get a business off of the ground and be part of something bigger than themselves and how to make some money while helping people at the same time.
Probate Office Announces “No Wait Probate”
The Montgomery County Probate Office announced the new “No Wait Probate” tool to combat the increase in demand of services and help reduce wait time. Now with No Wait Probate, citizens who need to conduct business at one of the Probate Offices will no longer be required to physically stand in line, thus decreasing their risk of exposure to both COVID-19 and any outdoor elements such as extreme heat and rain.
When citizens arrive at one of the four Montgomery County Probate Offices, they can join the waiting list virtually using their smartphone and then wait from the comfort of their vehicle. By visiting mgm.noline.today or scanning the posted QR code, users can enter a mobile phone number and be contacted via text or call when it’s their time to enter the building.
AmeriFirst Bank Acquiring Escambia County Bank
USAL Bancorp, Inc. (“USAL”), parent company of AmeriFirst Bank of Montgomery (“AmeriFirst”) and Escambia County Bank of Flomaton, Alabama, (“ECB”) jointly announced their entry into an Agreement and Plan of Merger pursuant to which ECB will be merged with and into AmeriFirst. The transaction, which has been approved unanimously by each company’s Board of Directors but remains subject to customary closing conditions including the approval of ECB’s shareholders and the receipt of required regulatory approvals, is expected to close no later than the first quarter of 2021.
