SBCC JUN 2021

L I V E , S H O P, & P L AY L I K E A LO C A L | J U N 2 0 2 1

outh

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SBaldwin

Featuring our Find It Local Guide 2021

PARKS AND TRAILS

PLAY LIKE A LOCAL | LIVE LIKE A LOCAL

THE NEWSLETTER

PROVIDING INFORMATION, SERVICES, LEADERSHIP AND VISION

19812 Underwood Road | Foley, Alabama 36535 | 251.943.3291 | www.southbaldwinchamber.com

PARKS AND TRAILS South Baldwin Outdors

SO MUCH TO EXPLORE FIND IT LOCAL

bit.ly/FILG2021

Cover Feature: Parks and Trails T he landscapes and waters of South Hurricane Sally, will include new decking
Find It Local Guide 2021 Baldwin are what draw many here, and railing, a new cleaning station with a
both to visit and to live. As home to fish grinder pump, improved turtle
The South Baldwin Chamber’s Alabama’s beautiful beaches, the lighting, and an observation deck that
FIND IT LOCAL Guide, an annual community welcomes millions of visitors overlooks the octagon at the end of the
publication that includes our each year to its white sands and blue pier, making it a popular spot for
membership directory, is shared with waters. Summer fun at the beach is a sightseers as well as fishermen.
the community, local businesses, and mainstay, yes, but what residents of South
visitors of South Baldwin County. We Baldwin know is that, beyond the beach, Inshore fishing is popular, too, with
are delighted to share our 2021 there are trails and waterways that add hundreds of acres of bays, rivers and
edition with you showcasing stories beauty, diversity, and a wealth of creeks in which to cast a line. Of course,
and photographs of our beautiful, recreational opportunities all year round. all these options, both inshore and gulf
diverse, resilient, welcoming waters, are a dream for recreational
communities and businesses who we Enjoying the warm waters of the gulf is boaters. The inland waters are especially
are privileged to serve. a great place to start any time of year. popular among padders. Foley’s Graham
Anglers can choose from offshore and Creek Nature Preserve and Wolf Creek
In this newsletter, we are excited to nearshore options as Alabama’s Park each have kayak launch sites offering
feature a sample of what you can find outstanding artificial reef program, the access to traverse between the two and
in the 2021 FIND IT LOCAL Guide. largest in the country, has created beyond. The sites are also part of the
The cover photo and article are the breeding grounds for a variety of gulf Back Bay Blueway, which connects them
work of the talented Colette Boehm, species. Gulf State Park is also home to with sites in Orange Beach and Gulf
a local writer and photographer. We one of the longest fishing piers on the Shores.
hope you enjoy it. If you’d like a copy gulf. The 1,540-foot structure was
of this publication, let us know. Email refurbished and improved in 2020 and, Wolf Creek Park encompasses 20 acres
[email protected] or call us at after repairs from damage sustained in and is also home to a fishing pier,
the Chamber (251) 943-3291. boardwalks and picnic areas. The Graham
Creek preserve includes 484 acres of
"We know this business natural habitats including pine savannas,
community is the lifeblood of our wetlands and tidal marshes. It also
economy and our people. With its features walking and hiking trails and
diverse landscape, amazing natural archery and disc golf courses. Picnic
resources, and its wealth of areas, an Interpretive Center and an
recreational opportunities, it is where Outdoor Classroom round out the
we all choose to call home. We live amenities. From paddling to mud runs to
and work here because we love it educational programs, the preserve has a
here. Your Chamber is working every host of events to complement its trails
day to keep our businesses strong and activities.
and our community strong. We hope
you’ll join us in that effort. Together The City of Foley offers an array of
we can build a stronger, even more additional parks where residents and
resilient community.” visitors take to the fields and the trails
– Donna Watts. and the walkways. In the heart of the city
sits Heritage Park, a six-acre park that is
You too can have your business in home to a pavilion, the Foley Depot
this beautiful, widely-distributed Museum, Model Train Exhibit, and
publication. If you are interested in Centennial Plaza. Adjacent is John B.
placing an advertisement in our Foley Park with its fountain and beautiful
upcoming 2022 edition, please reach trees and flowers.
out to:
(Continued on page 3)
Keith Lott (251) 458-3707
[email protected]
Alliance Publishing, Inc.
Stay tuned for more exceptional
stories and photography we will be
featuring from the 2021 edition of
our FIND IT LOCAL Guide!

2 | Your Partner in Business

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to C’est Le Vin Wine Bar & Shop, our Business of the Month!
Specializing in fine wines by the glass and bottle, C’est Le Vin is located at 104 C
South OWA Boulevard in Foley. Along with a wonderful selection of wines to
choose from, they also offer craft cocktails, craft beer, charcuterie boards, artisanal
cheeses, and other nibbles to enjoy. “Our goal is to create an ambiance for you to
sip wine and share memories,” said owner, Holly Alberto. Currently, their Facebook
reviews are 5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (5 out of 5). Tripadvisor’s latest reviews for C’est Le Vin
read, “Superb wine & charcuterie board", "Highly recommend! Must try” and “A
beautiful room with high ceilings, a fantastic selection of interesting and well-priced list
of wines by the glass, as well as a carefully curated bottle selection.” 

Directory: http://bit.ly/CestLeVin | 104 C South, N OWA Blvd., Foley AL 36535 | (251) 314-0258

(continued) A pedestrian bridge creates a
convenient way for pedestrians to get from
Foley’s parks to downtown businesses.

The beautifully landscaped Wilbourne
Antique Rose Trail winds through
downtown Foley, showcasing dozens of
varieties of heritage rose bushes, and is
paralleled by a hiking and biking path. The
adjacent Foley Dog Park is the perfect pet-
friendly spot for outdoor fun.
From a Skate Park to Kid’s Park, to ball
fields, tennis courts, swimming pools, and
even a horse arena, there are places here
for activities for young and old to enjoy.
Foley’s Parks and Recreation Department
has a slate of quality facilities. The city owns
and manages the Foley Sports Complex, a
100-acre site that includes the Raymond C.
Christensen Memorial five-plex, used for
baseball and softball, as well as the Ralph
Schumacher Soccer Complex, featuring
three lighted fields, two concession
pavilions, and a children's playground.

Beyond the city limits are a collection of
regional parks and preserves that truly set
this community apart for those looking for a
home to accommodate an outdoor lifestyle.
Gulf State Park, the Bon Secour National
Wildlife Refuge, and the Weeks Bay
National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR)
are all within a short drive. […]

You can read this in its entirety and
other interesting stories about our local

area in the 2021 edition of our
FIND IT LOCAL GUIDE
Available Now

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︎☎

HOW TO GET ACTIONABLE MEMBER FEEDBACK

THAT FUELS BUSINESS GROWTH Nancy Tuggle | BBB.ORG

Better Business Bureau Serving Central & South Alabama

What if this happened at your business?

A customer visited your store with the intent of purchasing six new laptops
for her employees. She approached one of your sales people for help. In-
stead of helping, he responded curtly “That’s not my department” and walked
away. Frustrated and confused, your customer left the store and ended up
making her purchase elsewhere. She also warns her friends and family to
never go to your store. 

It’s likely that situations like this have already occurred without you even
knowing it. Whether it’s negative or positive, most customers, or potential
customers, don’t provide feedback. Why? They’re either never asked or the
process to submit a review is too time consuming. Therefore, businesses like
yours don’t know what they’re doing right or what they need to improve. 

Getting actionable customer feedback will help you not only improve your customer Listen to Customer Service and
experiences, but also create better products or services, stand out from your Sales Calls

competition, and build a stronger brand reputation — all the important things that drive Listening to customer service
ongoing business growth and pro tability. Here are a few ways to get you more or sales calls (whether they’re
actionable customer feedback for your business. live or recorded) can be
extremely insightful. Whether
Create a survey or customer feedback form it’s a demo, customer support
call, or cold call, you will
Offering surveys and customer feedback forms are some of the most common ways many discover a treasure trove of
organizations solicit feedback. But, in order for them to work, you have to ask the right questions. information that helps you
Here are some sample questions you can ask . . . better understand your
✦ On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend us to a friend, family member, or co- customers and their needs. 

worker? Click here to learn how to calculate a good or bad NPS score (Net Promoter Score) When listening to calls, you’ll
✦ On a scale of 1 to 10, how was our customer service? Follow up: How can we be better? also have the opportunity to
✦ Which products or services would you like us to offer that we don’t already have? hear the full spectrum of the
✦ How did you hear about us?  customer experience —
✦ Was our site easy to use and navigate? insights that could reveal
✦ If you could change one thing about our product or service, what would it be? common themes and trending
✦ Will you be making another purchase in the future? Why or why not? opinions about your product
or business.
Aside from asking better questions, you also need to know when and where to promote these
questionnaires to get the best results. To start, place a feedback form on your website that is easy to What to do with all that
spot, where customers can submit feedback at any point during their journey. You can create a survey feedback . . .
using an online survey tool.
When you’re able to get lots
Request Customer Reviews of great feedback, it’s time to
put them in action. We will be
Another way to better understand the voice of the customer is by asking for customer reviews. Many sharing next month’s article,
organizations collect customer reviews from 3rd party review sites. There, you may potentially see “How to Put Your Customer
unsolicited customer opinions that provide a more un ltered view of what customers really think.  Feedback Into Action” to let
you know all the best ways to
As a BBB Accredited business, you can also collect customer reviews on your BBB Business Pro le help you leverage those
page. No matter where you nd reviews, be sure to respond quickly. It shows customers that you care valuable insights to improve
what they have to say and are willing to do what it takes to resolve problems and address concerns. and grow your organization! ▪︎
Having BBB customer reviews also helps your credibility and reinforces your reputation as a
trustworthy and ethical business.  Here are a couple ways to request a customer review, whether it’s
on your website, email, or other marketing channel . . .
✦ How was your experience? We’d love to hear your feedback. (link to desired online review site)
✦ How did we do? We’d love to hear what you have to say about your experience with us. 

4 | Your Partner in Business



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THE GATEWAY INITIATIVE

PREMIER TRAINING,
APPRENTICESHIPS, AND MORE

G at e way I n i t i at i v e . c o m

School's Out For Summer While MAY/JUNE 2021 | The Gateway Team

Gateway Team Ramps Up for SUMMER CONNECTIONS
Many of Gateway’s initiatives are
built around developing the 2021-2022 school year to inform staff and learning to their curriculum. The major
knowledge, skills, and attitudes students about the many pre- focus was to provide a template for the
that youth need to obtain and participate apprenticeship opportunities available, initiation of Pre-Apprenticeship in technical
in productive work. Our activities in this some starting as early as 9th grade," said fields already being offered by the schools.
area work to bring the private and public Tyler Morgan-Brunson of the Gateway Students can enter into a pre-
sector together to ensure that education Team. Gateway's recent activities in our apprenticeship program at the age of 16
improves both the workforce readiness and local schools are geared towards and begin to fulfill the requirements of a
technical skills necessary for youth to build supporting workforce opportunities for registered apprenticeship while satisfying
a solid foundation and an understanding of Baldwin County youth.  high school graduation requirements. In
career pathing options available right here Baldwin County Guidance & Career addition, most pre-apprenticeships come
in Baldwin County. Coach Counselor’s Work-Based Learning with the opportunity of receiving college
The COVID-19 Pandemic was challenging Workshop • Early in May the Gateway credit through dual enrollment and paid
time for every industry, especially employment. “As a result of the workshop,
education. As the restrictions began to Team joined forces with we have had counselors reach out to begin
slowly lift this spring, the Gateway Team Coastal Alabama the process of registering a pre-
was excited to have the opportunity to Community College to apprenticeship in fields that lead to high-
have one-on-one time with high school organize a workshop to demand, high-wage jobs in Baldwin
students and teachers. "We are looking show guidance County," said Tyler with the Gateway Team.
forward to working with Baldwin County counselors and career Counselors were also real-world examples
Schools this summer and upcoming of the apprenticeship model through
coaches from Baldwin presentations by Panini Pete Restaurant
County’s public and private schools Group and (continued p.6)
innovative ways to introduce work-based

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South Baldwin chamber members! (continued from p.5, Gateway Initiative)
take advantage and save with our Kerby Customer Renovations. The Gateway team will
continue to work towards building pre-apprenticeships
BUSINESS across the region to support the workforce needs.

SAVINGS Foley High School Career Fair • In April
the Gateway Team organized a Career Fair
PROGRAM for juniors and seniors at Foley High

Take advantage of sizzling summer savings with up to School. Twelve businesses attended and
55% off essential items for your small business! Keep cool had the opportunity to speak to organized
all summer long with deals on portable air conditioners & groups of students on the attributes and job
desktop fans, fresh & frozen break room treats, and opportunities their company offers. After each
bluetooth & wireless speakers. With our Office Depot session (where three businesses presented) the students
Business Savings Program, members receive free delivery had the chance to meet the HR representatives, spend
on orders over $50. All you have to do is sign up with us some one-on-one time, and fill out applications. “This was
to access the savings! the best-organized job fair we have participated in,” said
Jenn Murray with Gulf State Park Lodge by Valor. She went
Office Depot® and the South Baldwin Chamber have on to say “we love the format and will participate whenever
partnered to provide exclusive bene ts and savings to Gateway calls”.
its members all year round. You can save on every
purchase as part of your business savings program.   Focus on Career Preparedness • Each year
our County schools organize mock interviews
VISIT: http://bit.ly/SaveAtOD as part of a curriculum requirement in career
Sign up and SAVE! preparation. The Gateway team works to
bring industry professionals to the schools

and participates personally in the program.
According to Sally Westendorf, “a mock interview emulates
a job interview, with students being given an opportunity to
get first-hand experience of the interview process. The
interviewer can be an alumnus, a career coach, or any
individual who has experience in his/her field”. Call to

Action: If you are
interested in
participating in future
mock interviews, please
contact a Gateway team
member. ▪︎

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6 | Your Partner in Business



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ALABAMA’S 10 FASTEST GROWING CITIES
FROM 2019 TO 2020
al.com | Updated Jun 07, 2021
By Ramsey Archibald | [email protected]

Four of the 10 fastest Three other cities in Baldwin County made the top 10 -
Fairhope (No. 3), Gulf Shores (No. 7) and Daphne (No. 8).
growing cities in Alabama are
Alabama’s second fastest growing city - Athens - shouldn’t be
in Baldwin County, new a surprise, either. It’s part of Limestone County, another fast-
growing county and part of the Huntsville metro area. Athens
population estimates show. grew by 4.5% between 2019 and 2020, helping Limestone
County become Alabama’s fastest growing county over the last
If you’ve been paying attention to population trends in two years.
Alabama over the last decade, that fact shouldn’t surprise
you. Baldwin County, home to most of the state’s beaches, has The fourth fastest growing city in Alabama isn’t actually a city
been one of the fastest growing counties in the state over the last at all. Pike Road is a town in Montgomery County, and nowhere
few years, and the No. 1 fastest since 2010. It’s also the state’s else in the state can compete with its growth over the last
largest county in terms of physical size, with more square miles decade. In 2010, it was home to just 5,400 people. Since then,
than the entire state of Rhode Island. its population has nearly doubled, now standing at 10,500, for a
And Baldwin County is also home to Foley, a city of around growth rate of more than 95%. […]
21,000 people and the fastest growing city in Alabama between
2019 and 2020, according to recently released population Some of these numbers could soon change. The population
estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. gures discussed here are estimates, speci cally part of
Foley added more than 1,000 people in that one year, a growth a program used to gauge the accuracy of the Census Bureau’s
rate of 5.1% - the fastest rate among Alabama cities with at least ability to make good educated guesses about population totals.
10,000 people in 2020. And over the last decade, Foley’s growth is To do that, these estimates will be compared to the 2020
even more impressive. Between 2010 and 2020, it added nearly Census, the once-a-decade head count of each person living in
7,000 people, or a growth rate of around 47%.
the United States. ▪︎

City/Town 2020 Population Change Percent Change Change Percent Change
Estimate 2019-2020 2019-2020 2010-2020 2010-2020
1 Foley city
2 Athens city 21,446 1,047 5.1% 6,828 46.7%
3 Fairhope city 28,643 1,243 4.5% 6,746 30.8%
4 Pike Road town 23,584 4.0% 8,258 53.9%
5 Calera city 10,552 903 3.6% 5,146 95.2%
6 Chelsea city 15,248 370 3.5% 3,628 31.2%
7 Gulf Shores city 14,608 510 3.2% 4,425 43.5%
8 Daphne city 13,166 448 3.1% 3,425 35.2%
9 Auburn city 27,719 400 3.0% 6,149 28.5%
10 Cullman city 68,343 806 2.9% 14,963 28.0%
16,564 1,902 2.6% 1,789 12.1%
419

Related Article: Move over, Montgomery. Baldwin is now Alabama’s fourth largest county

5.1% 4.5% 4.0% 3.6% 3.5% 3.2% 3.1% 3.0% 2.9% 2.6%

FOLEY ATHENS FAIRHOPE PIKE ROAD CALERA CHELSEA GULF SHORES DAPHNE AUBURN CULLMAN

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BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
MOYER FORD

JUNE 24 • 5PM-7PM

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BALDWIN COUNTY COMMISSION OCTOBER 1
NEW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
“THE STATE OF THE COUNTY”
PRESENTING SPONSOR VULCAN, INC. CONTACT US TODAY
251.943.3291
AUGUST 26 • 11:30AM-1PM

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A: 19812 Underwood Road
P: 251-943-1036

E: [email protected]