New hotel approved in Trussville

By GARY LLOYD

Trussville will soon be home to more hotel space.

The Trussville City Council in December approved an economic development incentive for a new Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel, to be constructed at 6360 Misty Ridge Drive near Service Road. The $14 million project is expected to include nearly 100 rooms and take about two years to complete, and “bring much-needed hotel space to our city,” said Councilman Ben Short.

The economic development incentive agreement calls for the city to pay the developer, Mansa-TRH, an amount equal to 80% of lodging tax revenues collected by the city from the operations of the hotel during the first five years. The city will then pay an amount equal to 50% of the lodging tax revenues from the hotel starting in the sixth year until the maturity of the term. The city assistance shall not exceed $1 million.

According to the agreement, “the renovation, development and redevelopment of the property is expected to promote and enhance the economic vitality of the city and to support tourism and hospitality which supports the public services the city provides to its restaurants and businesses.”

The project is estimated to produce taxable revenues of more than $3 million per year, lodging tax revenues of more than $180,000 per year, and approximately 25 post-opening jobs.

In other city news, the Trussville City Council in December approved a proclamation declaring the city a trafficking-free zone. In the proclamation, the city states that it is “committed to ensuring that our community is prepared to recognize signs of human trafficking.”

Risks of human trafficking increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic turmoil, financial hardship, isolation and the shuttering of schools and other programs resulted in increased opportunities for human trafficking, particularly online, and resulted in fewer places for victims to turn to report exploitation and fewer chances for the abuse to be recognized.

Trussville will combat the human trafficking of children and vulnerable adults and mitigate the associated public safety, economic and health risks to the city in collaboration with the Child Trafficking Solutions Project and other anti-human trafficking organizations by:

► Combating labor trafficking, servitude and commercial sexual exploitation through comprehensive education of city staff

The Mercedes Doctor, 7341 Gadsden Highway, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in March. 205-661-5880, themercedesdoctor.com

Rosewood Antiques, 1935 Gadsden Highway, is celebrating its second anniversary in March. 205-452-2646

Symply Unique Boutique, 2450 Old Springville Road, is celebrating its fifth anniversary in March. 205-706-0089, symplyuniqueboutique.com

24e Health Clubs, 307 Main St., Suite 131, is celebrating its ninth anniversary in the Trussville community in March. 205-508-5053, 24ehealthclubs.com

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► The implementation and enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy against any act that may support human trafficking

► Supporting collaborative community-based solutions including prevention, recovery of victims and prosecution

Of Perpetrators

Trussville encourages all residents to raise the visibility of this crime and to become more informed about ways to prevent, recognize and respond to potential victims of human trafficking.

Rotary starts Spirit of Service award

The Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club has created an award to recognize the community service of its members.

The club's first quarterly "Spirit of Service" recipient was Marty Adams. He is very involved in the community, as evidenced by his almost 360 hours of service from June to September. He serves Full Life Ahead, an organization for families with disabilities. Adams recently assisted with its "Run for Hope," which raised and matched over $80,000.

In February, Rotarian Ryan Benson was presented the award. Some of Ryan’s activities include serving as a board member at his church, coaching little league baseball and Upward basketball, leading kids' church, serving as a member of the Trussville Redevelopment Authority, and setting up/working the Rotary tent at the Christmas parade.

– Submitted by Diane Poole.

The Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club collected and donated several items to First Light Shelter in January.

Rotary collects, donates winter items

One of January’s service projects for the Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club was the collection of new and gently-used coats, blankets and sleeping bags. All donations were taken to First Light Shelter.

First Light’s mission is to work with homeless women and their children to create hospitality in a safe and nurturing community, to encourage them to maintain dignity, to find hope, to seek opportunity and to grow spiritually, thereby achieving their full potential.

The Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club has been involved in many community projects. Those projects include leadership and scholarship opportunities for local high school students, ribbons at City Hall in recognition of Veterans’ Day, lunch for campers and staff at Smile-a-Mile and trees planted at Civitan Park. The club collected, cleaned and distributed laptops to schools for students who did not have them at the beginning of the pandemic. The Club also provided the benches at the walking track at Cahaba Elementary, the playground equipment at The Mall in historic Trussville and solar benches at the library park and at The Mall. Its largest fundraising event is a golf tournament that has been held for 30 years.

– Submitted by Diane Poole.

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