Our purpose

The Sewanee Business Alliance's mission is to support business growth and development, as well as local efforts to help our neighbors, and to help create a welcoming and caring community.

Our history

In the fall of 2010, the Sewanee Business Alliance (SBA) filed legal its “document of incorporation” with the State of Tennessee. Leading the effort was Louis W. Rice Jr., John Goodson, Ed Hawkins, and Jimmy Wilson. The mission of the Sewanee Business Alliance is to support business growth and development, as well as local efforts to help our neighbors, and to help create a welcoming and caring community. The pandemic has been difficult, but together we have continued working to make a difference in our town.

Friends and neighbors in Sewanee have noticed the many areas where the SBA has impacted the community over the past ten years, including:

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Placing the “Welcome to Sewanee” banner on the side of Taylor’s Mercantile;

• Supporting the University’s moving University Book & Supply Store to Downtown;

• Helping the University raise funds for Village improvements during the annual Tiger Tuesday events ( $24,000 in 2020);

• Participating in the “Finding Your Place” program with the University to welcome incoming freshmen to Sewanee;

• Participating in the University’s Domain and Student Flex Dollars program;

• Producing a promo video for Sewanee;

• Assisting in the creation of the Village Improvement Plan.

ANGEL PARK

• Planned and coordinated building Angel Park with dozens of community partners;

• Producing free community-wide concerts, and plays for Friday Nights in the Park during the summer;

• Hosting Sewanee Summer Music Festival events in Angle Park;

• Producing the annual AngelFest children’s events and free concert each Fall;

• Producing the annual Christmas tree lighting in Angel Park complete with Santa, carolers, hot chocolate, and cookies;

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Maintaining Angel Park;

• Actively fund-raises for the Monteagle-Sewanee Rotary’s Hunger Walk, Housing Sewanee, and Mountain Goat Trail Alliance;

• Providing Angel Park to nonprofits for free;

• Facilitating the installation of free wi-fi in Angel Park;

• Paying for, and installing lighting for the Angel Park with community partners;

• Purchasing multi-colored Adirondack chairs for downtown and Angle Park;

• Producing “Light Up the Village” each December and January providing and installing LED Christmas lights for all participating Village businesses and the Post Office;

• Hosting the Sewanee Fourth of July Street Dance in conjunctions with the Sewanee Fourth of July Committee;

• Assisting in the creation of the Village Improvement Plan.

Join the SBA

Your application for membership will be reviewed by the membership committee within 10 days and will be voted on by the entire group at its next regular weekly meeting.

Our success depends on the participation of all its members. Dues are paid annually and should be paid promptly. There also will be opportunities to participate in several levels of SBA sponsored events.

If you have questions about membership, email sewaneebusinessalliance@gmail.com.

Click below to apply or renew your membership.