Town and Gown Initiative Invites Business Owner Participation in Annual Event

Sep. 26, 2024

Michelle R. Eubanks , UNA, at meubanks@una.edu, 256.765.4392

FLORENCE, AL – The Town and Gown Task Force, comprised of members from the University of North Alabama and the City of Florence, have developed a unique initiative in advance of Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30. The initiative will spotlight and support local small businesses, with a particular focus on those founded and/or owned by UNA alumni.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Florence, and we are proud to collaborate with UNA to support and uplift those who are invested in our community,” said Andy Betterton, Mayor of Florence.

As Small Business Saturday approaches, members of the Town and Gown Task Force are asking that UNA alumni business owners complete a simple online document. Businesses that participate will have the opportunity to be highlighted and celebrated through a series of social media campaigns, receive educational resources, and partner with the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, UNA’s Mane Agency, and the Small Business Development Center on the UNA campus.

“There is no doubt that UNA graduates are having a positive effect as business owners in our community, region, and state,” said UNA President Dr. Ken Kitts. “The initiative provides both UNA and the City of Florence an opportunity to identify those businesses, which are the driving force in our economy and vital to the ongoing connection between the University and the City.”

Those interested in participating are encouraged to complete the form at this link. For additional details, please visit RoarFlorence.org. The deadline to sign up is Oct. 16.

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.