Gov. Joe Manchin in June announced the Charleston Area Alliance would receive a $222,210 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Investment Program.

The project will fund the build-out of 3,522 square feet of additional workspace for the Alliance Small Business Incubator and install energy-efficiency improvements to reduce operating costs. The grant will strengthen entrepreneurship and economic diversification in the region through increased space for new companies and improved sustainability for the incubator. The build-out will create space for up to 18 additional start-up businesses.

East End Main Street would like to congratulate the volunteers and businesses honored recently during the annual Main Street West Virginia Volunteer & Innovation Awards.

Advisory Board Member of the Year
David Epp

Business Person/Business of the Year
Keeley and Jonathan Steele, Trick Fish

Elected Official of the Year
Councilman Marc Weintraub 

Volunteer of the Year
Amy McLaughlin

Gov. Joe Manchin presented the awards June 23 at the Governor’s Mansion.

We are proud of these volunteers and businesses. They are essential to the success of organizations such as EEMS, and they are helping drive the destiny of our region.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, “Great men stand like solitary towers in the city of God.”

No one represents that sentiment more than  the singular Senator Robert C. Byrd , whose contributions to our state and nation have forever changed history. 

Our hearts are heavy on this sad day, which marks the loss of  one of West Virginia’s – and of the country’s – greatest stalwarts.

Sen. Byrd was a leader our nation could count on.  He staunchly defended the intentions of our founding fathers through his stewardship of the Constitution , a copy of which he always carried in his pocket . He often was a voice of reason during times of unrest.

He did not care about doing the popular thing, just the right thing. 

He was accessible. Whenever our sister organization, the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, would desire to discuss a public policy matter with the Senator, he always was willing to listen.

Partisanship didn’t sway his efforts to do what was best for West Virginia. His home state always came first.

Senator Bryd has left a void that can never be filled.  We have lost a great mind, a great heart , a great man  and a great friend. 

On behalf of our 600 members and their 40,000 employees, we extend our sympathy to the Byrd family.  May they be comforted by the prayers and thoughts of all who share their sorrow.

Interested in competing in this year’s YMCA Corporate Cup? Join the Generation Charleston and Charleston Area Alliance team.

The event starts July 10 and runs two weeks.

It’s another way GC is trying to get emerging leaders involved in the local community.

Any GC member not employed by a company that has a Corporate Cup team can participate on the GC team.

Contact DForinash@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org if you are interested in any of the following events: 

Softball (July 10-11)\
Billiards (July 13)
Bowling (July 14)
Closest to the Pin (Golf) (July 21)
Cornhole (July 22)
Darts (July 19)
Hoop Shoot (July 20)
Horseshoes (July 10)
Punt, Pass & Kick|
Putt Putt (July 15)
Swimming Events (July 22)
Table Tennis (July 21)
Tennis (July 18)
Track & Field Events (July 24)
Tug of War (July 24)
Volleyball (July 18)

Please include name, age, t-shirt size and employer.

Roster spots are limited, and we will be as fair as possible when entering names. We might have to be selective if many express interest in certain sports. We apologize if we cannot fit everyone on GC teams.

Please respond by Friday, June 25, which is the roster deadline.

Generation Charleston is looking for more than 20 volunteers for Taste-of-All.

Taste-of-All, the reincarnation of Taste of Charleston, is an annual culinary event during FestivALL showcasing the culinary mindset of the Kanawha Valley.

The event, scheduled for June 27 at the Charleston Civic Center, features 30 of the area’s finest chefs and amazing restaurants and their cuisine during an afternoon that tantalizes the senses and tickles the taste buds as patrons sample a variety of dishes and meals throughout the afternoon.  

This year, the Taste has partnered with FestivALL and Generation Charleston. As part of this new generation of the Taste, additional features will include a stage with live music, a children’s area in the West Virginia room, food and cooking demonstrations and a Beer Garden featuring local breweries.

The event runs from noon to 6 p.m. The two volunteer shifts are 11:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. to 6 p.m.
 
General duties include:
·         18 ticket sellers
·         12-14 table cleaners
·         8-10 for the children’s area
·         4 to man the doors

Each volunteer will receive a FestivALL volunteer t-shirt to keep.
 
Interested volunteers should email emily.wall@ticketmaster.com .  

You can check out the full schedule of FestivALL events at  www.festivallcharleston.com/content/welcome.

Enjoy FestivALL during a stroll downtown.

This special edition of Downtown ArtWalk is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 24.

Participating locations include:

• Art Emporium
• Stray Dog Antiques
• Gallery Eleven
• Annex Gallery Taylor Books      
• Good News Mountaineer Garage
• Chet Lowther Studio
• The Purple Moon
• Romano & Associates Law Gallery
• Visions Day Spa

Click here for a Downloadable ArtWalk Map.

Enjoy the best of downtown Charleston during one of the best times of the year! Visit www.CharlestonArtWalk.com for more information.

Polished table manners will distinguish you in both business and social arenas worldwide.  Since more than 40 percent of business is conducted over a meal, the corporate world has come to recognize the importance of dining etiquette.  The way you present yourself at lunch or dinner influence your business and success just as much as the product or service you provide.  

Join us for our next Food for Thought Luncheon on Wednesday, June 23 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Charleston Area Alliance, 116 Smith St.  This session, led by Loren Smith, will help you improve the image you portray while dining.

This Food for Thought will focus on:

• Silverware Savvy
• Styles of eating-American & Continental
• The Silent Service Code
• Other Dining Do’s and Don’ts

About the speaker:

Loren Smith was trained and certified by The Protocol School in Washington, the only such accredited institute in the country.  Her education background includes graduating summa cum laude from Georgia Southern University with a B.A. in French and German.  She went on to earn a master’s in linguistics from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. 

Ms. Smith taught Japanese at UNC-CH for four years and was awarded the prestigious Undergraduate Teaching Award in 1992. 

Ms. Smith offers seminars in corporate etiquette and international protocol.

Cost to attend this Food for Thought Luncheon is $20 for current Alliance members/$30 for future members.  Seating is limited and an RSVP is required to attend.   Lunch will be provided.  To register, please visit www.charlestonareaalliance.org/events.  For more information, contact Lesley Hager at LHager@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org or (304)340.4253.

We are unable to invoice for groups with fewer than 10 or issue refunds for cancellations received less than 48 hours prior to the event. Thank you.