Jackson Free Press

Jackson's premier vinyl convention, 4 the Record, looks to be skipping next year after a number of larger vendors cancelled to attend the Alabama Record Collector's Association CD & Record Show.

4 the Record was originally slated for Saturday, March 7, the second day of ARCA's spring festival, which takes place at the Bessemer Civic Center in Bessemer, Ala.

Phillip Rollins, owner of Offbeat and the event's organizer, says, "Even though we have enough local vendors to make 4 the Record happen, we didn't have a good turnout at the last one. 4 the Record is pretty much on hiatus right now."

Rollins attempted to reschedule the event before finally making the decision to postpone it for the time being. He recently formed a planning committee to help him decide on the event's future and whether it will be held annually or reconfigured altogether.

"(This should) take some of the pressure off of me. Up to this point, it's been pretty much just me trying to make people happy, including the vendors," he says. "It's been an extremely stressful experience in that aspect."

In the past, a second event has taken place in September, so there is still the possibility of a return next fall. For more information, visit 4therecordswap.com or find it on Facebook.

RimTyme Comes to Jackson

On Dec. 17, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce performed a ribbon cutting for a new RimTyme Custom Wheels and Tires location at 2714 Greenway Dr.

RimTyme offers custom rims and tires for cars, trucks and SUVs. RimTyme wheel and tire shops have over 1000 custom wheels and tires available from popular manufacturers like Akita Racing wheels, Bigg Wheels, KMC Wheels, Sacchi, Lorenzo, and ION Alloy Wheels. If a customer's desired rim and tire combo isn't in stock, the store can order it and have it installed.

In addition to a variety of wheel brands, RimTyme also offers a wide selection of sizes and materials for rims. RimTyme carries chrome rims, black rims, alloy wheels, and aluminum wheels to help to allow customers to customize their vehicle any way they like. The store also carries a number of reputable tire brands, including Nitto tires, Falken tires, Sumitomo, Kumho tires, BF Goodrich and Pirelli.

For information call 601-923-5000 or visit http://jacksonrims.com/.

J. McLaughlin Comes to Highland Village

Highland Village will soon be home to Mississippi's first J. McLaughlin, a modern, classic American sportswear and accessories brand for men and women.

WS Development, the retailer's owner, announced in a release that the new J.McLaughlin location is set to open in the spring of 2015, with the grand opening coming just before the beginning of summer.

J.McLaughlin comes just months after the arrival of newly opened popular picks kate spade new york, lululemon athletica, Red Square, and Whole Foods Market. Additionally, the renovation of Highland Village is now well underway. ASD of Atlanta and CDFL of Jackson are leading the architectural design, with a common goal of bringing the center to the next level while respecting and celebrating its history. Enhancements include brightening the facades, bringing in an abundance of new greenery and resurfacing hardscapes.

SBA Emerging Leaders Series

The U.S. Small Business Administration recently launched its 2015 Emerging Leaders executive-level training series in 48 cities and communities across the country.

The initiative has trained more than 2,400 promising small business owners in underserved communities, helping small businesses grow and create jobs throughout the country. 22 new cities have joined the initiative, including Birmingham, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, Puerto Rico and Providence.

Emerging Leader graduates have secured more than $1 billion in government contracts and accessed $73 million in new financing. Graduates also reported having created nearly 2,000 new full-time jobs since the program's inception. Sixty-two percent of surveyed participants reported an increase in revenue while 70 percent of those surveyed reported maintaining or creating new jobs in their communities. The initiative graduated nearly 400 small business owners in 2014, representing the largest graduating class since it began in 2008.

The seven-month executive intensive entrepreneurship education series includes approximately 100 hours of classroom time per participant and provides the opportunity for small business owners to work with experienced mentors, attend workshops and develop connections with their peers, city leaders and financial communities.

Local recruitment for the 2015 training cycle is underway at selected SBA district offices, and classes are scheduled to begin in April. Information on how interested small business owners can apply and eligibility criteria can be found at www.sba.gov/emergingleaders.

State Trade and Export Program Funding

The U.S. Small Business Administration recently awarded the Mississippi Development Authority funding for the Mississippi State Trade and Export Promotion Program. The STEP Program allows MDA to provide financial and technical assistance to small- and medium-sized Mississippi companies interested in growing their business through trade. MDA's Trade Bureau administers the program, which helps reduce some of the financial obstacles qualifying businesses face when identifying export opportunities.

Mississippi companies that have participated in the STEP Program include BankTEL Systems, BioSoil Enhancers, Flathau's Fine Foods, Heartland Catfish, Hyperion Technologies, Mississippi Aerospace Corporation, Multicraft International, Navagis, Thomasson Company, Trilogy Communications, and more.

The Mississippi STEP Program helps offset certain costs related to participating in trade missions and other international business development activities. The program reimburses eligible businesses up to 50 percent of their travel costs, including airfare and lodging, and it provides translation services at no cost. Additional services may include pre-arranged appointments with prospective qualified buyers, local transportation assistance and a customized trip itinerary.

Mississippi companies interested in learning more about the STEP Program should contact MDA's International Trade Office at 601-359-3155 or visit www.mississippi.org.