East End Main Street wants to share the results of a recent grocery store feasibility study with the public.

The EEMS Grocery Store Task Force hired Scott Day of Urban Development Services in San Antonio, Texas, and Josh Blood of CLUE Group in Washington, D.C., to conduct a district- and city-wide study and market analysis for a grocery store on Charleston’s East End.

They will present their findings at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Charleston Area Alliance, 1116 Smith St.

The public is invited to attend the presentation. Those interested in attending should RSVP no later than 10 a.m. Aug. 23 to DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org.

Questions? Contact EEMS Program Director Ric Cavender at RCavender@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org or (304) 340-4253.

Join us for our monthly Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at Ramada Inn and Wingate Inn in South Charleston.

It’s a tailgate-themed Business After Hours so be sure to wear your favorite team’s colors!

Register here.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to network and meet new people in the community. Enjoy music, food and beverages.

The cost is $15 for Alliance members and $25 for future members.

Online registration for this event ends at noon on Aug. 26. Prices increase to $25 and $35 at the door.

The Alliance will be able to invoice only for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org for more information.

The Alliance cannot issue cancellation refunds within 48 hours before the event. Thank you.

Join us from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday as nine businesses open their doors to showcase the best of Charleston!

Participating businesses 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

Take a stroll downtown and enjoy the best of what Charleston has to offer.

For more details, visit www.charlestonartwalk.com.

Stray Dog Antiques will present several new framed lithographs from the Erie Lithograph Company (1890’s-1960’s) in it’s new second floor gallery space. New prints originally commissioned for Hershey’s and Amoco companies from the 40’s and 50’s are featured. In addition to the prints, new furniture, jewelry and other unique collectibles are on the floor.

Stray Dog Antiques also will create an environment on the second floor gallery filled with signs. Signs tell a story. They are a reflection of our culture, whether created by hand on rustic and primitive materials or manufactured digitally. Much can be revealed in the simplicity of a sign about history, culture, and art. They are used to direct attention, boost commerce or simply for their visual impact. Striking in text and color, signs offer a heartwarming appeal to any setting and are ideal decorations.

And at Gallery Eleven, Sonja Adkins is the featured artist for August. The gallery is hosting a reception for Adkins during ArtWalk. The title of her exhibit is “Clendenin, WV in Watercolors.”

Trying to get that perfect photo? Then join us Sept. 10 for an introduction to digital photography. The class kicks off DigiTools, an exciting five-week course taught by our very own Charleston Area Alliance members. 

Digi-Tools will teach you the basics in working with digital photography and Adobe software. The classes will run on consecutive Friday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. The schedule is as follows:

Friday, September 10: Introduction to Digital Photography.  Instructor: Mark Wolfe, Mark Wolfe Design (Alliance member since 2009).

Friday, September 17: Introduction to Photoshop.  Instructor: Mark Wolfe, Mark Wolfe Designs (Alliance member since 2009).

Friday, September 24: Introduction to Illustrator.  Instructor: Josh Martin, Kanawha County Public Library (Alliance member since 1996).

Friday, October 1: Introduction to InDesign.  Instructor: Josh Martin, Kanawha County Public Library (Alliance member since 1996)

Friday, October 8: Introduction to Web Design.  Instructor: TBA

Classes are meant to build on each other; however, you do not have to take all of the classes.

Alliance member prices are $30 per class and $100 for the entire course.

Future member prices are $70 per class and $300 for the entire course.

Space is limited so sign up as soon as possible!  A special thank you to Bridgemont Community & Technical College for donating the iMacs we will be using for this course.

Visit www.CharlestonAreaAlliance.org/Events to sign up for individual classes.

Contact Lesley Hager at LHager@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org to sign up for the entire course.

Leadership Kanawha Valley, a program of the Charleston Area Alliance, is now accepting registrations, and space is limited

Click here to download the application form. 

Half-day classes will be scheduled twice a month in October and November. From December through May, classes will meet for one full day each month.  

The program’s objective involves developing, informing and training potential leaders so they understand the issues and needs of the community. It looks to create an environment that nurtures involvement in the community through volunteerism, service organizations and board appointments.

Leadership Kanwha Valley, sponsored by Chesapeake Energy, creates the opportunity for potential leaders to meet, establish rapport and maintain ongoing professional relationships.

Applicants may be self-sponsored and self-nominated. In addition, community members may nominate individuals with leadership qualities for the program.

Participants can miss no more than the equivalent of one full-day session.

The tuition rate is $495 for Charleston Area Alliance members and $595 for future members. The fee covers all expenses for the program.

The program is limited to 35 people.

Contact Susie Salisbury for more information.

The story below appeared in yesterday’s Charleston Gazette.

By Jim Balow

Eighteen feet tall and about 40 feet long, the new sign along Greenbrier Street will be pretty hard to miss. And that’s exactly the point.

The “gateway” sign, which will spell out “City of Charleston” in letters up to 30 inches high, is intended to welcome visitors to the capital city. And in case anyone might think they’re near the ocean, the sign adds the words “West Virginia.”

If all goes well — designers are in final safety negotiations with the state Division of Highways — the sign could be erected this fall.

“The city of Charleston and the Charleston Area Alliance identified this as one of the major gateways into the Charleston,” said David Gilmore, land development services manager with GAI Consultants. “That’s where we have visitors coming into the city, especially from the airport.”

Gilmore got the design job about two months ago. His firm has gained a high profile around town lately as the prime civil, structural and architectural consultants on the riverfront projects — the canopy and stage at Haddad Park, the nearly completed overlook and canopy at the foot of Court Street and the soon-to-be-built floating boat dock.

“The assignment was to design a gateway that was iconic, that used natural regional materials identifiable to the area that kind of harked back to the area’s history. We wanted something simple and attractive, not something you’d see in other towns.

“The other requirement was to design something that could be scaled down to be used at other places around the city.”

Except for a few details, Gilmore’s work is nearly done. “It’s been approved by all the parties involved. We’re wrapping up some final decisions on material choices with the Department of Highways. We’re working with them to get final signoff on the materials.”

Gilmore’s original concept called for a steel beam, about 40 feet long, 18 inches high and a foot wide, running parallel to the road. DOH officials thought the beam could create a hazard if a vehicle ran off the road, so he’s come up with alternatives.

“Some sort of lightweight material — a thinner-gauge metal, like aluminum,” he said.

The uphill end will be anchored in a mound of boulders. The other will be supported by a stone monument, 18 feet tall. “It will be cut stone, sandstone, in an ashlar pattern typical to that seen in buildings around town.” (more…)

The story below appears in today’s Charleston Gazette.

By Eric Eyre

An economic development group is hosting a return trade mission to China.

The Charleston Area Alliance, which sponsored a trip to China in April, held an informational meeting Tuesday about a second Chinese excursion — this one tentatively scheduled for April 2011.

“We’re going back because it was so successful,” said Matt Ballard, the Alliance’s CEO. “There was a lot of push to return. We already have people starting to sign up.”

Last spring, about 70 people took part in the Alliance-sponsored trip to China. The economic development organization offered two options: a business tour and cultural tour.

Those on the cultural tour visited Beijing and Shanghai, and sites such as the Forbidden City, Great Wall and Buddhist temples. The 20 people who took the business tour met with Chinese economic development specialists to learn about trade with China.

“These trade missions are all about creating more opportunities for West Virginia businesses,” Ballard said Tuesday. “It’s our policy to think very globally. It’s a global economy.”

He said several area business leaders who attended the trade mission last April already have returned to the country to “follow up on business leads.”

“It’s all about relationships,” Ballard said. “You want to build your credibility with Chinese companies. You have to lay the groundwork. It takes time.”

Ballard said the April trade mission hasn’t spawned any contracts between West Virginia and Chinese businesses. He said the trip is designed to help local companies increase exports to China.

“If a company has a widget, we want to help them find a buyer for their widgets,” Ballard said.

He said the Alliance would pay for two or three staff members to attend the trade mission. Ballard and several Alliance employees went on the April trip to China.

Others who decide to go to China must pay their own way. The price is $2,399 for Alliance members; $2,799 for future members; and an additional $450 charge for single occupancy.

The prices include round-trip air fare from New York, flights from Beijing to Shanghai and other cities, three meals day, and four- and five-star hotel accommodations.

A promotional brochure also promises “exclusive meetings with high-ranking [Chinese] government officials and business leaders.” (more…)

Please join us for this exciting five week course taught by our very own Charleston Area Alliance members. 

Digi-Tools will teach you the basics in working with digital photography and Adobe software. The classes will run on consecutive Friday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. beginning September 10. The schedule is as follows:

Friday, September 10: Introduction to Digital Photography.  Instructor: Mark Wolfe, Mark Wolfe Design (Alliance member since 2009).

Friday, September 17: Introduction to Photoshop.  Instructor: Mark Wolfe, Mark Wolfe Designs (Alliance member since 2009).

Friday, September 24: Introduction to Illustrator.  Instructor: Josh Martin, Kanawha County Public Library (Alliance member since 1996).

Friday, October 1: Introduction to InDesign.  Instructor: Josh Martin, Kanawha County Public Library (Alliance member since 1996)

Friday, October 8: Introduction to Web Design.  Instructor: TBA

Classes are meant to build on each other; however, you do not have to take all of the classes.

Alliance member prices are $30 per class and $100 for the entire course.

Future member prices are $70 per class and $300 for the entire course.

Space is limited so sign up as soon as possible!  A special thank you to Bridgemont Community & Technical College for donating the iMacs we will be using for this course.

Visit www.CharlestonAreaAlliance.org/Events to sign up for individual classes.

Contact Lesley Hager at LHager@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org to sign up for the entire course.