Up & Coming Weekly

Chairmansspeaks peaks Experience China Your Chamber wants you to be a part of the trip to China! Your fee also covers the cost to visit the World Expo of 2010 in Shanghai! This marks the first time that this world event has been held in a de- veloping country. According to the Expo site, the world Expo aims to promote the exchange of ssSpotlightSpotlight Business ideas and development of the world economy, culture, science and technology, to allow ex- hibitors to publicize and display their achieve- ments and improve international relationships. Accordingly, the World Expo with its 150-year history is regarded as the Olympic games of the economy, science and technology. The 2010 Expo is a grand international gathering, attracting 200 nations and inter- national organizations. Join them for a happy reunion of citizens from all over the world. For more information and to see how you can become involved, please contact Cathy Johnson at cjohnson@fayettevillencchamber. org or 433-6773. Self Help Center Gives Small Businesses a Downtown Address For years, 100 Hay Street was a premier address for Fayetteville’s downtown business district. Built in 1925 in Neo-classical style, the handsome, 10- story building was once the local headquarters of First Citizen’s Bank. But the bank moved elsewhere, the building was abandoned, and became a blight on the city’s redevelopment of the Hay Street corridor. Today, the building is fi lled with tenants and visitors since being redeveloped in 2003 by Self-Help, a Durham-based nonprofi t that makes small busi- ness and home mortgage loans to North Carolinians underserved by traditional lenders. The Self-Help Center offers single-room offi ces for as little as $125 per month, utilities and janitorial service included, to nonprofi ts and small businesses. “This building is an ideal location for businesses that want to be part of a dynamic downtown,” said Malcolm White, director of marketing and leasing for Self-Help. “It has design features like terrazzo fl oors that create a unique character. Almost every suite has won- derful natural light, and most fl oors have spectacular views of Fayetteville and the surrounding areas.” For companies seeking contracts with the United States military, Market Square Business Center (MSBC) affords two advantages: it is both a historic building, and is located in a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) district — two fac- tors that weigh heavily on contracting decisions. Jami McLaughlin, downtown development manager for the City of Fayetteville, said the combination of these two factors, added to its proximity to Hay Street’s emerging restaurant and entertainment scene, makes the MSBC “a very attractive option” for companies working on contracts with the military. “It’s a beautiful building in a great location, and Self-Help does a wonderful job managing it,” McLaughlin said. “They took a chance when the revitalization of downtown Fayetteville was barely underway, and they anchored an important section of Where the Smart Shoppers Go! Coffman Commons • 4251 Legion Rd. at Elk Rd., Near Southview High School • Hope Mills 14 UCW MAY 19-25, 2010 Mills • 424 2900 424-2900 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM The The Now Accepting Spring/ Summ Summer Clothes • Name Brand Clothing • Furniture • Toys

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