Brownsville Merchant and Restaurant Association

Minutes

March 7, 2006

5:30 p.m.

Twenty-two members of the business community were in attendance Tuesday, March 7, 2006, for the organizational meeting of the Brownsville Merchant and Restaurant Association. Those present were: Jo Anne Finn, Brenda Lea, Rick Ridley, Joe Ing, Kent Moore, Doyle Burroughs, Kristy Alexander, Darlene Knox, Sonia Outlaw-Clark, Pat Bailey, Elmira Manns, Leigh Turnage, Vickie McCartney, Paulette Campbell, Albert Campbell, Betty Morris, Scottie Morris, Pat Cummins, Tim Stokely, Clinton Thomas, Harvey Livingston and Richard Carraway. Fourteen area businesses were represented.

Richard Carraway, Brownsville Business Director, opened the meeting and asked everyone to fill out a short survey about their business. The chamber will use this information as a reference when fielding calls about products and services offered.

Members present discussed possible ways to market Brownsville and Haywood County including creating a “wish list” that might include tools such as a video and other tools to promote our retail environment. Another discussion included the lack of incentives for existing and new businesses and the need for developing an incentive plan. Suggested incentives were employee and rent subsidy and matching funds for advertising.

One of the advantages of forming the association will be the opportunity to advertise as a group to reduce costs. Members decided to pay a $10 yearly membership fee to the association with some of the money going towards supplementing advertising costs.

Officers for 2006 were elected. They are: Pat Bailey, president; Sonia Outlaw-Clark, secretary; and Tim Stokely, treasurer.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, April 11, 2006, at 5:30 p.m., downstairs at the chamber. Each member is asked to bring a business tip to the next meeting that will be shared with the group.

Respectfully Submitted,

Sonia Outlaw-Clark

Secretary