By Hollice Smith
Joe Rich, Huntsville lawyer and chairman of the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee, told Scottsboro Rotarians at the Western Sizzlin' Tuesday not to worry because funding for the big transfer program at Redstone Arsenal will definitely be available.

There had been a little doubt earlier that the project might be delayed due to a possible shortage of funds, but Ritch said the funds are there and the transfers to Redstone Arsenal through the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) is coming about.

Of the 5,000 jobs being transferred from other bases to Redstone, Ritch said some will begin moving late in 2007, some in 2008, the vast majority will be transferring from 2009-11.

The Women’s Business Center of North Alabama (WBCNA) has partnered with the South Regions Minority Business Council (SRMBC) to bring the annual Business Connections event to Huntsville on May 30 & 31st at the Huntsville Embassy Suites Hotel & Von Braun Center.

Business Connections is designed to create opportunities for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) owners and Women Business Enterprises (WBE) owners to establish business relationships with other MWBEs and Corporations. The planned reception, workshops, luncheon, business matchmakers, and trade show will attract minority- and women-owned businesses and corporations from across the nation. With corporate executives, buyers, government agencies, and business resource organizations, the value for participants is immeasurable.

By Alice Thrasher

A ranking published by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine names Fayetteville as one of the five best cities in the country for mid-level professionals between the ages of 30 and 44 with no children.

“The rankings are about good financial health,” said Robert Frick, Kiplinger’s senior editor.

Kiplinger’s and Richard Florida, a professor of public policy at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., selected the “Best Cities for Every Stage of Your Life ” for the magazine’s June issue.

The rankings recognize 25 cities that the magazine and Florida’s research group selected as the best places for people in certain age groups.

Federal regulators gave final approval Tuesday for the Tennessee Valley Authority to restart its oldest nuclear reactor after a 22-year shutdown that was prompted by safety concerns.

The green light came after Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors determined that the unit met standards to go online again.

"TVA has completed an extensive refurbishment of Unit (nyse: UNT - news - people ) I and the NRC staff has closely monitored their progress throughout the project," said Victor McCree, a deputy regional administrator for the commission.

TVA, the nation's largest public utility, said it spent $1.8 billion over five years overhauling Unit 1 at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, located in rolling cotton fields about 95 miles north of Birmingham.

GREGG L. PARKERFor the Madison Spirit
Designer clothing boutique carries all the hot names

People tell Kendra Wood that her shop, SOBE Couture, is like an exclusive boutique on Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive or Miami's Ocean Drive.

"It's like having a designer row in one store," Wood said. The shop's name shortens the address South Beach, a haven for designer couture in Miami.

Drawing customers as far away as Nashville, Wood encourages "everyone to come in and feel comfortable and at ease. Nobody wants to dress up to go shopping."

The largest building permit issued during the week of April 30-May 4 in the city of Huntsville went to Barger Tanner Construction, $1.5 million, for a building for WB Sports of Huntsville LLC at 7242 Bailey Cove Road.

The facility being built just south of Four Mile Post Road is D1 Sports Training, which specializes in speed, strength and agility training, sports therapy and nutrition.

Spending up 13% over 2005; special events set for this year

More than 2.5 million tourists and other visitors came to Madison County last year, handing the travel industry here another record.

And travel-related spending reached more than $779 million for 2006, up 13 percent compared with 2005 spending.

"It's exciting to see continued growth and the potential for future growth," said Judy Ryals, the president and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "I believe next year will be a banner year."

http://www.al.com/business/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/business/1179048170106370.xml&coll=1

Posted by Staff reports May 13, 2007 12:03 PM
The Huntsville Times earned first-place honors for General Excellence and more than a dozen other awards in the 2007 Alabama Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.

"Receiving top honors in such a broad range of categories reflects the talent and caring of The Times staff," said Times Editor Melinda Gorham. "In this challenging time for the industry in general, we are even more passionate about sustaining old-fashioned credibility and constantly improving the quality of our work.

Posted by Patricia C. McCarter May 11, 2007 6:21 PM
Former secretary of state Gen. Colin Powell will speak at Leadership Huntsville/Madison County's 20th anniversary celebration Tuesday night at the Von Braun Center.

"For his leadership abilities and for his appeal to our military community, Gen. Powell is perfect," said Allison Gregg, public relations manager of the leadership program.

Gregg said 1,200 people will attend.

"We wanted to make sure that the alumni had the first chance to get tickets, and then we were going to open it up to the general public," Gregg said. "But it was sold out just through the alumni."

Powell, 70, was secretary of state from 2001 to 2005. The retired general also was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 until 1993, which included the Gulf War.

Imperial Insurance Agency announced the opening of an office on Friday May 11th at 3225 Bob Wallace Ave.

Imperial Insurance Agency is a one-stop-shop for insurance policies from a host of other insurance companies. The agency provides home, auto, life, health care and business insurance

For more information, call 489-4206/ 529-0078 or visit www.imperialcoverage.com