Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Local Entrepreneur
While dining at Subway, we had the pleasure of meeting a local entrepreneur. She owned a jewelry repair business called Camden Jewelry and Gifts, with a store in Camden and several stores spread across the Black Belt counties. She gave us first-hand knowledge on the various activities that tourists can engage in throughout Wilcox County. The thing that we are most impressed by is the pure, historic southern-tradition and lifestyle that visitors can experience in this area.
Monday, July 18, 2011
First Day in Camden
We arrived at The Southern Inn in Camden after two hours and fifteen minutes. The trip was full of beautiful scenery and the drive to Camden was surprisingly comfortable.
The Southern Inn, located at 40 Camden Bypass, offered clean rooms and a very quiet environment. We dropped our luggage in our various rooms and ten minutes later we went to lunch at Ms. Kitty's, located at 101 Union Street. The menu had a nice mix of Southern delicacies such as collard greens, fried fish and black eyed peas. The hostess was professional and the service was fast.
After lunch, we quickly headed back to The Southern Inn, rested for an hour and headed to the local Chamber of Congress to meet a few students from the high schools in Camden. At the Chamber of Commerce, we met the director of Black Belt Treasures, Sulynn Creswell, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Floyd Harris, the public school teacher, Brenda Autry and a history teacher at Wilcox Academy, Farrell Wright. We brainstormed a few ideas that could bring in fantastic tourist and retirees. We informed the students of the diverse group of people at UAB as well as UAB's wide range of opportunities.
Our meeting was very successful and we left for Southern Inn shortly after. After a few hours at the hotel, we had a quick dinner at Subway located at 2 Camden Bypass.
The Southern Inn, located at 40 Camden Bypass, offered clean rooms and a very quiet environment. We dropped our luggage in our various rooms and ten minutes later we went to lunch at Ms. Kitty's, located at 101 Union Street. The menu had a nice mix of Southern delicacies such as collard greens, fried fish and black eyed peas. The hostess was professional and the service was fast.
After lunch, we quickly headed back to The Southern Inn, rested for an hour and headed to the local Chamber of Congress to meet a few students from the high schools in Camden. At the Chamber of Commerce, we met the director of Black Belt Treasures, Sulynn Creswell, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Floyd Harris, the public school teacher, Brenda Autry and a history teacher at Wilcox Academy, Farrell Wright. We brainstormed a few ideas that could bring in fantastic tourist and retirees. We informed the students of the diverse group of people at UAB as well as UAB's wide range of opportunities.
Our meeting was very successful and we left for Southern Inn shortly after. After a few hours at the hotel, we had a quick dinner at Subway located at 2 Camden Bypass.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
About Wilcox County
Wilcox County is located in the center of the ‘Black Belt’ region of southern Alabama. This region is named for its dark black topsoil that lies over a limestone base. It extends from the Mississippi state line in the west. Wilcox County is also near the Georgia state line to the east, Tuscaloosa to the north and Florida to the south. This unique geology has been key in shaping the area’s history along with the modern day physical, cultural and economic landscape.
Wilcox County was founded in 1819 and covers an approximate area of 888 square miles. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population of Wilcox County in 2008 to be 12,803 people. The largest cities in the county include Pine Hill with a population near 1,000 and Camden, the county seat, with approximately 2,250 residents. The county is largely rural with the majority of land being used for timber or crop production.
The Alabama River flows through the county and is a major economic and recreational resource. Lake Dannelly located to the northeast of Camden is created by the Miller’s Ferry Lock and Dam on the Alabama River. This lake provides many recreation opportunities within the county and is a destination for many local residents and tourists.
Wilcox County was founded in 1819 and covers an approximate area of 888 square miles. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population of Wilcox County in 2008 to be 12,803 people. The largest cities in the county include Pine Hill with a population near 1,000 and Camden, the county seat, with approximately 2,250 residents. The county is largely rural with the majority of land being used for timber or crop production.
The Alabama River flows through the county and is a major economic and recreational resource. Lake Dannelly located to the northeast of Camden is created by the Miller’s Ferry Lock and Dam on the Alabama River. This lake provides many recreation opportunities within the county and is a destination for many local residents and tourists.
Friday, July 15, 2011
What is the meaning of "One Tank Treasures"?
UAB students decided to name the project "One Tank Treasures" because Wilcox Co./Camden, AL offers many tourism treasures. It only takes one tank of gas to travel to and from Wilcox County from many of Alabama's major cities.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Wilcox Co./Camden Project Objectives
The following activities will be executed by the UAB interns in Wilcox County this summer:
3. Interns will work with high school students from both the private and public schools .
a. Work with the principals from both schools to select participants (one teacher and five students) from each school (total of 10 students and 2 teachers).
1. Assist Black Belt Treasures business, specializing in retail sales of artistic works, by providing technical assistance for their website: http://www.blackbelttreasures.org
a. Black Belt Treasures is implementing a barcode point-of-sales retail system that should be in place by 7/15/2011.
b. UAB students and local high school students can assist this implementation effort by tagging and bar-coding all the artwork and linking them to the website.
c. UAB students can get hands-on experience with the detailed software issues that are involved with promoting sales of the artwork on the black belt treasures website while managing data and supporting interviews and profiles of the artists.
2. Develop a marketing plan for the local chamber of commerce.
a. Both UAB students and the local high school students will help develop a marketing strategy report.
b. There are two target markets to be addressed: tourists and retirees.
c. Students will analyze the data and help develop the brand and tag line that the chamber can use for their branding campaign to promote businesses in their area.
d. Students will also research and develop the information packets for both target markets (i.e., packets for fishermen/hunters and packets for retirees).
e. Students will investigate the feasibility of the chamber of commerce developing an incubator for a food kitchen that can be used by local start-up businesses.
3. Interns will work with high school students from both the private and public schools .
a. Work with the principals from both schools to select participants (one teacher and five students) from each school (total of 10 students and 2 teachers).
b. UAB faculty and students will work with high school students to develop a written document and presentation about how they view the economic opportunities/possibilities for jobs in Camden.
c. UAB students will also work with the high school students to expose them to skills that are needed in order to be successful in college (college prep).
d. Students and teachers will be paid to participate in this program.
4. Provide services to the Snow Hill Institute, founded in 1893 for the descendants of African slaves.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Who are We are / What is the Wilcox Co./Camden, AL Project?
Welcome to the official blog site for the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Business (SoB) Student Volunteers/Scholars and Faculty for the Wilcox Co./Camden, AL Project. Students from the UAB school of Business are developing a marketing plan for the local chamber of commerce in Wilcox County. The plan is aimed at promoting tourism and retirement opportunities available in the Camden.
Wilcox County is home to many attractions such as:
1.The Wilcox County Courthouse/ Public Library-Downtown Camden
Black Belt Treasures - www.blackbelttreasures.com
Wilcox Female Institute
First Presbyterian Church-Downtown Camden
United Methodist Church-Downtown Camden
2. Gee’s Bend Ferry - http://www.geesbendferry.com/
3. Gee’s Bend Quilters - http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/
4. Lower Coastal Plain Substation
5. Roland Cooper State Park
6. Bridgeport Public Use Area
7. Gaines Ridge Dinner Club - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
8. Snow Hill Institute - http://www.wilcoxareachamber.org/history/snow_hill_institute.htm
9. Pine Apple Historic District - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
10. Millers Ferry Campground - http://www.reserveamerica.com/campgroundDetails.do?subTabIndex=0&&contractCode=nrso&parkCode=milf
11.East Bank Public Use Area
12. Training Dike Park
13. Shell Creek Park
14. Clifton Ferry Public Use Area
15. Pine Hill Depot Museum
16. Holleys Ferry Access Point
17. Gullett’s Bluff Park
18. Bear Creek Park
19. Winters Pecans - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
20. Alabama River
For lodging, Wilcox county provides hotels and motels such as
1. Southern Inn - http://www.southerninn.net/
2. American Inn
3. Pine Apple Lodge - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
4. Riverbend Hunting Lodge - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
Wilcox County offers a variety of restaurants including :
1. AL Seafood Market & Restaurant
2. Broad Street Café
3. Southern Seafood and Steakhouse - http://www.southerninn.net/restaurant2.htm
4. Hunter’s Run Pub and Grill - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
5. Frankland’s Fried Chicken
6. Gainesridge Dinner Club - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
7. Hunter’s Run
8. Jackson Fried Chicken
9. Pancake House
10. Uncle Red’s Soul Food & BBQ
Wilcox County is home to many attractions such as:
1.The Wilcox County Courthouse/ Public Library-Downtown Camden
Black Belt Treasures - www.blackbelttreasures.com
Wilcox Female Institute
First Presbyterian Church-Downtown Camden
United Methodist Church-Downtown Camden
2. Gee’s Bend Ferry - http://www.geesbendferry.com/
3. Gee’s Bend Quilters - http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/
4. Lower Coastal Plain Substation
5. Roland Cooper State Park
6. Bridgeport Public Use Area
7. Gaines Ridge Dinner Club - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
8. Snow Hill Institute - http://www.wilcoxareachamber.org/history/snow_hill_institute.htm
9. Pine Apple Historic District - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
10. Millers Ferry Campground - http://www.reserveamerica.com/campgroundDetails.do?subTabIndex=0&&contractCode=nrso&parkCode=milf
11.East Bank Public Use Area
12. Training Dike Park
13. Shell Creek Park
14. Clifton Ferry Public Use Area
15. Pine Hill Depot Museum
16. Holleys Ferry Access Point
17. Gullett’s Bluff Park
18. Bear Creek Park
19. Winters Pecans - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
20. Alabama River
For lodging, Wilcox county provides hotels and motels such as
1. Southern Inn - http://www.southerninn.net/
2. American Inn
3. Pine Apple Lodge - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
4. Riverbend Hunting Lodge - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
Wilcox County offers a variety of restaurants including :
1. AL Seafood Market & Restaurant
2. Broad Street Café
3. Southern Seafood and Steakhouse - http://www.southerninn.net/restaurant2.htm
4. Hunter’s Run Pub and Grill - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
5. Frankland’s Fried Chicken
6. Gainesridge Dinner Club - http://www.wilcoxwebworks.com/www/clients.htm
7. Hunter’s Run
8. Jackson Fried Chicken
9. Pancake House
10. Uncle Red’s Soul Food & BBQ
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