Urban Voice CHATTANOOGA + KNOXVILLE + ATLANTA
Be Empowered!
ISSUED #85 JUNE 2019
WHAT IMPACT WILL OPPORTUNITY ZONES HAVE ON CHATTANOOGA? Erlanger Health System Foundation Announces New Board Members Krystal launches All-You-Can-Eat Krystals and Fries for $5.99
LIFESTYLES
|
BUSINESS
|
BIZ
|
HEALTH
Power of Information.
TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP! The rate of Black homeownership in America – now at 41.1 percent, according to 2019 U. S. Census numbers – is even lower than it was when the U. S. Fair Housing Act was signed into law 51 years ago on April 11, 1968. This means Black homeownership is 32.1 percentage points lower than that of Whites, which stands at 73.2 percent. It also means Black homeownership is 6.3 percentage points lower than that of Latino-Americans, which stands at 47.4 percent. These are just a few of the facts presented to a recent U. S. Congressional hearing by homeownership advocates. The hearing, held by the House Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance, was the first modern day hearing of its kind intended to discover the barriers to homeownership for people of color. “Federal housing regulators and agencies have aggressively pursued lending practices and policies that make access to homeownership more challenging for Black Americans. It is against this backdrop that I give my testimony,” Jeff Hicks, president/CEO of the National Association of Black Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), testified to lawmakers at the hearing. “Our nation has a very complicated and checkered history with providing equal and equitable access to homeownership to Black Americans. At the end of World War II, when Black Americans sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom, dignity and human rights, the United States federal government created an economic divide between Blacks and Whites.” Hicks described how Black veterans and their families were “denied the multigenerational, enriching impact of home ownership and economic security that the G.I. Bill conferred on a majority of White veterans, their children, and their grandchildren.” He concluded that the “unequal implementation of the G.I. Bill, along with federal government policies and practices at the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), including the redlining of Black neighborhoods, were leveled against Black veterans” while at the same time the government financed the construction of suburbs and provided
subsidized mortgage financing for Whites-only. This scenario “set the stage for today’s wealth and homeownership gap statistics,” Hicks said. The hearing, led by Housing Subcommittee Chair Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr. (D-Mo.), marked the anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act (FHA), signed into law one week after the April 4 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. President Lyndon B. Johnson described the road to the 1968 passage as a “long and stormy trip” after it failed three times. Together, the testimony of the 72-year-old NAREB – the oldest organization represented - and the string of witnesses at the 21st Century Congressional hearing, revealed that the storm is not nearly over. “We have not simply failed to make progress; we are losing ground. And we cannot continue to go backward,” Alanna McCargo, vice president for Housing Finance Policy, Urban Institute, stressed the urgency of the moment. The Urban Institute was founded by President Johnson in 1968 to focus on “the problems of America’s cities and their people and to inform social and economic policy interventions that would help fight the War on Poverty,” she described. The witnesses gave facts and anecdotes describing why new legislation and homeownership policies are needed. Among the proposals: The passage of The American Dream Down Payment Savings Plan, a proposal with bipartisan support, which would allow prospective homebuyers to save money in an authorized account, where the savings could grow and be removed for the specified purpose of a tax-free down payment for purchasing a home. A fairer mortgage and underwriting process in which borrowers meet a minimum threshold for approval and all interest rates and costs are the same for everyone; regardless of race; including loan level equality, approval rates, pricing and terms for borrowers - without adjustments for neighborhoods, zip codes or census tracts. Accountability for non-bank financial institutions such as the examination their lending practices to ensure fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory origination, pricing, and terms. This would also include greater accountability and modernization of the Community Reinvestment Act to eliminate loopholes that limit access to mortgage credit to existing and potential Black homeowners.
Overall promotion of homeownership as a High Priority for Public Policymakers. Equal and equitable access to mainstream mortgage credit as prospective Black homeowners have been trapped in predatory mortgage schemes or by an absolute denial of access to home loans. Historically unequal access to credit for people of color was repeated as a key problem during the hearing. “Wide access to credit is critical for building family wealth, closing the racial wealth gap, and for the housing market overall, which in turn, contributes significantly to our overall economy,” Nikitra Bailey, executive vice president of the Center for Responsible Lending, told the Committee. “Today’s hearing is a good step toward acknowledging this history and presents the potential to create opportunities to address it.” The other four witnesses were Joseph Nery, president, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals; Carmen Castro, managing housing counselor, Housing Initiative Partnership; Joanne Poole, liaison for the National Association of Realtors and Joel Griffith, research fellow, Financial Regulations, The Heritage Foundation. Bi-partisan lawmakers on the subcommittee listened intently then fired questions and remarks. When U. S. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) asked the witnesses to raise their hands if they “believe that invidious discrimination has been a significant reason for the inability for African-Americans to achieve wealth in this country…to this very day”, all seven witnesses extended their hands into the air. U. S. Rep. Maxine Waters, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, which oversees the Housing Subcommittee, pressed the lawmakers, saying many of the oppressive policies are still used by banks and are “taken for granted.” Black families attempting to become homeowners have largely been trapped in a vicious cycle of predatory mortgage schemes or by an absolute denial of access to home loans… We need to vigorously renew the importance of homeownership to all families, regardless of their race or ethnicity.” Until Next month,
JD Harper
The best source for events worth your while like the Riverbend Music Festival: May 29-June 1
Lawmakers propose ‘neighborhood homes’ tax credit to attract investment in blighted housing, expand homeownership, revitalize communities ll WASHINGTON -- Bipartisan legislation introduced this week would create a new federal tax credit to fuel rehabilitation of deteriorated singlefamily homes and attract $100 billion in development activity to distressed communities across the country. The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (NHIA), introduced by Reps. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), would encourage private investment in an estimated 500,000 homes that, because of their poor condition, depress nearby property values and thwart broader revitalization efforts. NHIA is designed to address a difficult market reality in many communities: the cost for developers to acquire and rehab blighted properties or build new homes exceeds what they could earn when they sell the homes.
The NHIA tax credit would help them fill that gap, up to 35 percent of the eligible development cost, and thereby reduce their risk of loss. It would encourage investment, create affordable homeownership opportunities, and support widespread revitalization in urban, suburban, and rural communities. “We’ve seen great success with historic, new markets and other tax credit programs that encourage investments in larger projects that have the ability to transform communities,” said Rep. Higgins, who represents the 26th district in western New York. “But true community revitalization must reach into the heart of our neighborhoods. This legislation seeks to provide an incentive to tackle some of the projects that may be more challenging but serve a much larger goal of preserving the character of our communities and lifting up working
families and neighborhoods.” NHIA tax credits would be awarded to project sponsors—which could include developers, lenders, or local governments—through statewide competitions administered by state housing finance agencies. Sponsors could use the credits to raise investment capital for their projects, and the investors could claim the credits against their federal income tax when the homes are sold and occupied by moderate- and middle-income homebuyers. “Every state has neighborhoods where the homes are in poor condition and the property values are too low to support new construction or substantial renovation,” said Carey Shea, a New Orleans-based developer who is part of the Neighborhood Homes Investment Coalition, a group of nonprofit and financial organizations advocating for the
bill’s passage. “The lack of move-in ready homes makes it difficult to attract or retain homebuyers, which causes property values to decline. A modest subsidy through the tax credit would break this downward spiral by simply filling the gap between the cost of building or renovating homes and the price at which they can be sold,” Shea said. The Coalition estimates that the NHIA would support a substantial economic impact over the next 10 years. In addition to the 500,000 homes that would be rehabbed and $100 billion in development activity, estimated impacts of this legislation include: The NHIA Coalition is a national advocacy group comprised of 17 organizations, including housing and community development nonprofits, and financial institutions.
Howard University Class of 1969 Returns 50 Years Later With $1M Class Gift ll WASHINGTON, June 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year, a group of Howard University alumni return to Howard’s campus to celebrate their 50-year class reunion. Reunion events bring a special sense of joy and homecoming to Howard’s campus, as former classmates and lifelong friends return to the place where so much of their life’s path began. On May 10, the class of 1969 announced they had raised a total of $1,129,945 in the 2018-2019 fiscal year. Included in this gift was the Howard University Class of 1969 50th Anniversary Legacy Fund, an endowed fund meant to serve as a lasting contribution to their beloved alma mater. This is the largest class reunion gift in the University’s 152-year history. The Howard University Class of 1969 presented their alma mater with a 50-year class gift of $1,129,945. Included in the gift was launch of the Howard University Class of 1969 50th Anniversary Legacy Fund, an endowed fund meant to serve as a lasting contribution to their beloved alma mater. This is the largest class reunion gift in the University’s 152-year history. The Howard University Class of 1969 presented their alma mater with a 50-year class gift of $1,129,945. Included in the gift was launch of the
Howard University Class of 1969 50th Anniversary Legacy Fund, an endowed fund meant to serve as a lasting contribution to their beloved alma mater. This is the largest class reunion gift in the University’s 152-year history. “We are so grateful to the class of 1969 for their generosity and extraordinary commitment to serving the Howard community,” says Sharon Strange Lewis, director of alumni relations. “Thank you to the planning committee for their vision and for working diligently to achieve this ambitious fundraising goal. As a result of their service, a new bar for other graduating classes and future alumni to follow has been set.” The effort began five years ago when the class of 1969 set out to do something special to recognize their 50th year. Deciding to take up the task of raising one million dollars in the five years leading up to their golden reunion, the class formed a planning committee and went to work. For more than three years, the committee worked to find their former classmates, and ask them each to contribute to the fund and encourage them to continue giving to the university. Using their own personal networks and with the help of the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, a total of 298 members from the class of 1969 successfully exceeded their
million-dollar goal. “When we formed the committee, we began talking with financial planners and with President Frederick who was passionate about making sure Howard supported the effort and committed university resources to work with us. Alumni affairs was a tremendous support, providing us with contact information, monitoring contributions along the way, and reporting on where we stood,” says Edith Gee Jones, class of 1969 reunion chair. “When we rolled out the final figure, it really boosted our excitement.” Approximately 130 alumni from the class of 1969, attended the Howard University 50th Class Reunion celebration in May. Many members were the first African-Americans to take corporate positions. Both then and now, Howard provides African-American students with access to opportunities that they may not have otherwise had. It is in this acknowledgement of the role that Howard and other HBCUs have in addressing educational gaps for African-American students that the class of 1969 dedicated themselves to their million-dollar fundraising goal and it does not stop there. “Because of the lack of support outside of our HBCUs, we have to provide our support from within,” says Everod Coleman, DMD, class of 1969
reunion co-chair. “I’ve been giving to Howard for a long time and I’ve learned that the number of alumni who give to the university makes a big difference, in terms of being able to secure funds from other sources. Even a small amount makes a difference when we can show support from a large base of alumni. Our hope is that our efforts will serve as a model for other classes and we’re already working with the class of 1974 to beat our record.” The class of 1969 created a new model of fundraising that has other reunion classes looking at how with more time, coordination, and support they can create a tremendous amount of opportunity for future students. “The 50th Class Legacy Fund represents an additional source of scholarship opportunity for our students,” says David Bennett, vice president of Development and Alumni Relations. “This fund contributes to the investment assets of the university and it will be used to award students with a demonstrated financial need and merit. The legacy fund can be considered a pilot test and we are taking on a 50th year class reunion campaign to keep the momentum and support for these efforts going. This class has set the bar very high for the future.” In addition to Jones and Coleman, the planning committee also includes:
Social.
events
JUNE BIRMINGHAM JULY 6 BIG3 Basketball Tournament BJCC Legacy Arena | 4pm JULY 12 Kings of Crunk The Boutwell Auditorium Alys Stephens Center JUNE 22 Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Farewell Tour Legacy Arena JUNE 25 FunkTest Tour Legion FIeld
stuff to do in Chattanooga Money School 720 07/20/2019 / 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
AUTO REPAIR CNE DOWNTOWN OFFICE, 1500 CHESTNUT STREET, SUITE 102, CHATTANOOGA / FREE. Come to CNE on Saturday, July 20th from 10 AM to Noon for Money School 720 – a two-part financial education session that focuses on credit
DUNSON AUTO REPAIR 1807 East 23rd Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37404 napoleondunson@comcast.net
literacy and ways a good credit score can work for you. All in-person attendees will be able to sign up for their free credit report – a $27 value.
CALL (423) 622-8941
OpenInvest Challenges Socio-Economic Inequality; Launches Racial Justice Cause SS SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenInvest, the asset management platform that enables customization, direct indexing and impact investing at scale, announced today that it added a Racial Justice cause to its suite of socially responsible investment offerings. The new cause allows investors to invest in the companies committed to racial justice, both in their workforce and among their key company stakeholders. In the U.S., race-based discrimination is illegal, yet progress toward achieving diversity and socioeconomic equality is only incremental. Injustice persists across America. Some corporations have touted their commitments to diversity in their ranks, but results at the executive level are dismal. Caucasian/White men hold 66 percent of all Fortune 500 board seats and 91 percent of chairmanships on those boards.1 There are only three African-American CEOs in the S&P 500. But corporations do not just impact society through their employee base; companies also perpetuate systemic inequality by ignoring the environmental impacts of their businesses on minority communities. Approximately 20 of the top 100 corporate air polluters emit
more than two-thirds of their total air pollution in regions populated by racial minorities2, whereas demand for many of these companies' products comes from predominantly white communities. "Racial justice is a cause that's been on our roadmap since day one," said Claire Veuthey, director of ESG & impact, OpenInvest. "Diversity is not easily defined, and we know that lip service to diversity does not necessarily equate to real diversity. OpenInvest's Racial Justice cause aims to tackle socio-economic inequality head-on by holding Corporate America accountable and empowering investors to use their financial assets as a force for good." OpenInvest delivers custom investment portfolios aligned with the most important environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues facing people today. OpenInvest's Racial Justice cause leverages the power of financial assets to help drive social and economic growth for disenfranchised groups and encourage companies to strive for racial justice. The cause builds portfolios by overweighting companies with the following criteria: Those that have set quantitative targets for racial diversity in their employee base Those that regularly publish
diversity reports on their employee base Simultaneously, the cause divests investors from the following: Companies that have been named in recent diversity controversies Companies that disproportionately pollute in low-income or minority communities The OpenInvest platform integrates multi-sourced ESG data and offers a number of causes, such as divestment from fossil fuel and top greenhouse gas producers; investment in gender equality and LGBTQIA+friendly companies; supporting refugees, and more. Unlike mutual funds or ETFs, an OpenInvest portfolio provides granular customization, direct shareholder engagement, proxy voting, while its proprietary algorithms automatically rebalance portfolios to keep them dynamically diversified as investors divest/invest. For more information on OpenInvest, please visit https:// openinvest.com. About OpenInvest OpenInvest (https://openinvest. com) is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and a financial technology startup dedicated to mainstreaming
values-based investing through technology. The company was founded by two of the architects of Bridgewater Associates' portfolio management and trading systems and a sustainable finance expert from the World Wildlife Fund. OpenInvest is backed by some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley, including Andreessen Horowitz, YCombinator, Kevin Durant's Thirty Five Ventures, and QED, the founders of CapitalOne. OpenInvest now has a team of financial, technology, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) experts across three continents and is recognized as a global thought leader in ESG implementation. OpenInvest's technology platform supports full customization around investor values, in-depth impact reporting, dynamic divest-invest activity, and easy shareholder engagement, while ensuring investors track specified market indices. To get started, contact your adviser, visit openinvest.com, or download the iOS or Android app. Follow OpenInvest on Facebook and Twitter.
Krystal launches All-YouCan-Eat Krystals and Fries for $5.99 ll ATLANTA, June 18, 2019 / PRNewswire/ -- The Krystal Company launched an incredible dine-in deal over Father’s Day weekend – the first of its kind in the hamburger QSR industry. The South’s favorite fast food is featuring All-You-Can-Eat original Krystal burgers and fries for $5.99 per person. “Krystal was born during the Great Depression when people needed a fresh and filling meal at a price they could afford,” said Paul Macaluso, Krystal president and CEO. “We’re honoring Krystal’s heritage and generations of value-conscious customers who count on us to deliver on that original brand promise.” “Krystal is nimble and innovative.
We’re able to lean into this offer, because our small, square burgers taste better in multiples. We’re giving our customers more of what they crave at an unbelievable price point,” said Paul Macaluso, Krystal president and CEO. The company has recently invested in improving the way it cooks this signature product, making it hotter and fresher, and invites customers to
Erlanger Health System Foundation Announces New Board Members
experience even more of this iconic flavor with an industry first, All-YouCan-Eat offer. The All-You-Can-Eat promotion was originally rolled out in Montgomery, Alabama, where the impact on sales was immediate, according to Macaluso. “Since rolling out the new limited time offer, the overwhelming response from customers has been excitement and even disbelief at this great deal,” Macaluso said. All-You-Can-Eat Krystals and Fries are served from 6 a.m. to closing at participating restaurants while supplies last. Krystal is also offering its new Sprite Slushies in Lemonade, Grape and Fruit Punch at a promotional price point of $1 at all
restaurants until September 23 while supplies last. The South’s oldest fast-food brand, Krystal was recently selected to USA Today’s Top-10 Best Regional Fast Food List.
ll The Erlanger Health System Foundation board of directors announces new board members for fiscal year 2020. Board members are: • Jay Dale, southeast market president, First Tennessee Bank • Mary Kilbride, community advocate • Chris Moore, MD, founder and president, Odyssey Co., Conservation Land Development • Carla Morgan, buyer and board of directors member, Southeastern Salvage Home Emporium • Marcus Rafiee, retired finance executive • Vernisha Robinson Savoy, senior technical advisor, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services “I am thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to partner with these community leaders who will bring their talent, energy, and insightful perspectives to our Board as we continue the growing needs in our community,” said Linda Minks Hood, chair of Erlanger Health System Foundation board of directors. Julie Taylor, president of Erlanger Health System Foundation, stated,
“The Foundation has been very strategic in its growth especially around board development. Each of these members was recruited for specific skills and expertise that will more than complement our plan and vision for the future. We couldn’t be more excited to have them join our team.” The Foundation is governed by the Erlanger Health System Foundation board of directors which is comprised entirely of volunteers. Led by Lynda Minks Hood (chair), Lynn Mosier Bryant (vice-chair), Les Lee (secretary), James Purgason (treasurer), and Ashley Davenport and Chris Welch (at-large board members), the board of directors serves to build community awareness and raise funds for the Foundations’ fundraising initiatives. Erlanger Health System Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Erlanger. Through the “Believe” campaign, Erlanger Health System Foundation was instrumental in helping the system raise funds to build the new Children’s Kennedy Outpatient Center which became operational in December 2018. For more information regarding the Foundation and their efforts in fundraising, visit https://www.erlanger.
What are Opportunity Zones? What Impact will these Investments Tools have on Chattanooga?
Opportunity Zones were designed as a development tool for economically distressed communities enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. They’re designed to encourage long-term investments in low-income urban and rural communities created by providing tax benefits to investors. According to the IRS, “Investors can defer tax on any prior gains until the earlier of the date on which an investment is sold or exchanged, or December 31, 2026, so long as the gain is reinvested in a Qualified Opportunity Fund.” There are 176 census tracts in Tennessee (17 in Southeast Region) that are qualified opportunity zones (QOZs). These low-income tracts were nominated by Tennessee and certified by the Secretary of the Treasury. The creators of this program claim that employment in these areas should increase as well as spurred growth and reduced poverty, but will this be the case? The fundamentals for the Opportunity Zones are to help investors, through tax incentives, to transform areas that are declining or already have failed to thrive and create economic hubs.Structured as Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOF), these investments have two distinct capital gains tax benefits. First, federal taxes on any prior capital gains incurred after 12/22/2017 can be deferred until 12/31/2026 if invested in a QOF and reduced by 10 or 15% depending on how long the QOF is held and if certain deadlines are met. Second, if the QOF is held for 10 years, there will be no federal capital gains tax on the QOF itself. To qualify for these tax benefits: The investment vehicle (a domestic corporation or partnership) must self-certify with the IRS as a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) and comply with annual reporting requirements. The QOF must hold 90% of its assets within a qualified Opportunity Zone. Investments will be limited to new developments or capital-intensive projects (substantial improvements to the property within 30 months of acquisition). QOFs will need to adhere to various deadlines and time-frames. Expectations are that areas adjacent to Opportunity Zones can benefit from investments and that these surrounding areas could also see an improvement in real estate fundamentals. Census tracts to be included within the Qualified Opportunity Zones were nominated by each respective state, finalized in June of this year and will retain this designation for 10 years. Under a sixlane span of freeway leading into downtown Baltimore sit what may be the most valuable parking spaces in America. Lying near a development project controlled by Under Armour’s billionaire CEO Kevin Plank, one of Maryland’s richest men, and Goldman Sachs, the little sliver of land will allow Plank and the other investors to claim what could amount to millions in tax breaks for the project, known as Port Covington. They have President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax overhaul law to thank. The new law has a provision meant to spur investment into underdeveloped areas, called “opportunity zones.” The idea is to grant lucrative tax breaks to encourage new investment in poor areas around the country, carefully selected by each state’s governor.
Q. What is an Opportunity Zone? A. An Opportunity Zone is an economicallydistressed community where new investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment. Localities qualify as Opportunity Zones if they have been nominated for that designation by the state and that nomination has been certified by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury via his delegation of authority to the Internal Revenue Service. Q. How were Opportunity Zones created? A. Opportunity Zones were added to the tax code by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017. Q. Have Opportunity Zones been around a long time? A. No, they are new. The first set of Opportunity Zones, covering parts of 18 states, were designated on April 9, 2018. Opportunity Zones have now been designated covering parts of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Q. What is the purpose of Opportunity Zones? A. Opportunity Zones are an economic development tool—that is, they are designed to spur economic development and job creation in distressed communities. Q. How do Opportunity Zones spur economic development? A. Opportunity Zones are designed to spur economic development by providing tax benefits to investors. First, investors can defer tax on any prior gains invested in a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) until the earlier of the date on which the investment in a QOF is sold or exchanged, or December 31, 2026. If the QOF investment is held for longer than 5 years, there is a 10% exclusion of the deferred gain. If held for more than 7 years, the 10% becomes 15%. Second, if the investor holds the investment in the Opportunity Fund for at least ten years, the investor is eligible for an increase in basis of the QOF investment equal to its fair market value on the date that the QOF investment is sold or exchanged. Q. What is a Qualified Opportunity Fund? A. A Qualified Opportunity Fund is an investment vehicle that is set up as either a partnership or corporation for investing in eligible property that is located in a Qualified Opportunity Zone. Q. Do I need to live in an Opportunity Zone to take advantage of the tax benefits? A. No. You can get the tax benefits, even if you don’t live, work or have a business in an Opportunity Zone. All you need to do is invest a recognized gain in a Qualified Opportunity Fund and elect to defer the tax on that gain. Q. I am interested in knowing where the Opportunity Zones are located. Is there a list of Opportunity Zones available? A. Yes. The list of designated Qualified Opportunity Zones can be found in IRS Notices 2018-48 (PDF) and in 2019-42 (PDF). Further, a visual map of the census tracts designated as Qualified Opportunity Zones may also be found at Opportunity Zones Resources. Q: What do the numbers mean on the Qualified Opportunity Zones list, Notice 2018-48? A: The numbers are the population census tracts designated as Qualified Opportunity Zones.
Q: How can I find the census tract number for a specific address? A: You can find 11-digit census tract numbers, also known as GEOIDs, using the U.S. Census Bureau’s Geocoder. After entering the street address, select ACS2015_Current in the Vintage dropdown menu and click Find. In the Census Tracts section, you’ll find the number after GEOID. Q. I am interested in forming a Qualified Opportunity Fund. Is there a list of Opportunity Zones available in which the Fund can invest? A. Yes. The list of designated Qualified Opportunity Zones can be found in IRS Notices 2018-48 (PDF) and in 2019-42 (PDF). Further, a visual map of the census tracts designated as Qualified Opportunity Zones may also be found at Opportunity Zones Resources. Q. How does a corporation or partnership become certified as a Qualified Opportunity Fund? A. To become a Qualified Opportunity Fund, an eligible corporation or partnership self-certifies by filing Form 8996, Qualified Opportunity Fund, with its federal income tax return. For additional information, see Form 8996 and its instructions. The return with Form 8996 must be filed timely, taking extensions into account. Q: Can a limited liability company (LLC) be an Opportunity Fund? A: Yes. A LLC that chooses to be treated either as a partnership or corporation for federal tax purposes can organize as a Qualified Opportunity Fund. Q. I sold some stock for a gain in 2018, and, during the 180-day period beginning on the date of the sale, I invested the amount of the gain in a Qualified Opportunity Fund. Can I defer paying tax on that gain? A. Yes, you may elect to defer the tax on the amount of the gain invested in a Qualified Opportunity Fund. Therefore, if you only invest part of your gain in a Qualified Opportunity Fund(s), you can elect to defer tax on only the part of the gain which was invested. Q. How do I elect to defer my gain on the 2018 sale of the stock? A. You may make an election to defer the gain, in whole or in part, when filing your 2018 Federal Income Tax return. That is, you may make the election on the return on which the tax on that gain would be due if you do not defer it. For additional information, see How To Report an Election To Defer Tax on Eligible Gain Invested in a QO Fund in the Form 8949 instructions. Q. I sold some stock on December 15, 2017, and, during the required 180-day period, I invested the amount of the gain in a Qualified Opportunity Fund. Can I elect to defer tax on that gain? A. Yes. You make the election on your 2017 return. Attach Form 8949, reporting Information about the sale of your stock. Precise instructions on how to use that form to elect deferral of the gain will be forthcoming shortly. Q. How can I get more information about Opportunity Zones? A. Additional information can be found at the Tax Reform site of the IRS.gov website. Scroll to Opportunity Zones and click. Also, by entering “Opportunity Zones” in the search box available at Treasury.gov and IRS.gov.
Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Migos, H.E.R., Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lizzo, Mustard, Lil Baby, Yung Miami, Lucky Daye And Kiana Ledé Set To Perform At The “BET Awards” 2019
By Rebekah Barber Contributing Writer ll NEW YORK, June 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today BET Networks announces Tyler Perry will be honored with the Ultimate Icon Award at the 19th annual “BET Awards.” The entertainment powerhouse and business mogul will be presented with the Ultimate Icon Award for his continued cultural impact in entertainment. The 2019 “BET Awards” will air LIVE on Sunday, June 23 at 8pm ET from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, CA on BET. Tyler Perry, the now world-renowned
producer, director, actor, screenwriter, playwright, and author, built his entertainment empire up from meager beginnings. Inspired by a simple piece of advice from Oprah Winfrey, Perry began his career by simply putting his thoughts and life experiences to paper, creating the foundation of his acclaimed catalog of plays, films, television series, and award-winning novels. Taking his iconic character Madea from stage to screen, Perry introduced the world to a “God-fearing, gun-toting, loud-mouthed grandmother,” in 2005’s “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.” He’s since gone on to create numerous successful feature films and scripted series like “House of Payne” and “The Haves and The Have Nots” that bring messages of spiritual hope and down-home humor into homes across the country. In the Fall of 2006, Perry opened a 200,000 square foot studio in Atlanta which during its operation, was home to over 15 films and 800 episodes of Perry’s five television series. In 2015, Tyler Perry expanded and opened a
state-of-the-art film and television studio on the historic grounds of the former Fort McPherson army base. The new 330-acre campus is one of the largest production studios in the country boasting 40 buildings on the national register of historic places, 11 purposebuild sound stages, 200 acres of green space and an expansive backlot. His unique brand of inspirational entertainment has authentically spoken to and impacted black culture and helped shape the future of black entertainment. As previously announced, the first group of performers for the 19th annual “BET Awards” include Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Migos, H.E.R., Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lizzo, Mustard, Lil Baby, Yung Miami of City Girls, Lucky Daye and Kiana Ledé. Additionally, Taraji P. Henson, Lena Waithe, Morris Chestnut, Yara Shahidi, and Marsai Martin were also announced as presenters. The “BET AWARDS” 2019 will simulcast LIVE at 8pm ET across seven Viacom networks in the U.S. including
BET, BET HER, MTV, MTV 2, MTV Classic, VH1, and Logo. Internationally, the show will simulcast for the first time on BET Africa at 2 am CAT on June 24th, followed by international broadcasts in the UK on June 24th at 9pm BST, South Korea on June 25th at 9 pm KST and in France on June 25th at 9pm CEST. Internationally, BET will honor Best International Act in-show, along with the fan-voted category Best New International Act and BET International Global Good Award during the live red carpet pre-show. Connie Orlando, Executive VicePresident, Head of Programming at BET will serve as Executive Producer for the “BET Awards” 2019 along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment. BET.com/betawards is the official site for the “BET Awards” and will have all the latest news and updates about this year’s show.
Moxy Hotels And Tattoo Artist Megan Massacre Will Leave Their Mark On Guests Through Art-Inspired Traveling Studio
BETHESDA, Md., June 20, 2019 / PRNewswire/ -- Moxy Hotels has joined forces with tattoo goddess Megan Massacre, to offer complimentary tattoos inspired by the brand’s Blank Canvas art program. Moxy’s pop-up tattoo studios kicked off this past spring at the official opening party for Moxy Washington, D.C, giving guests the opportunity to celebrate emerging artists from the program in a permanent
way. Those still hoping to get inked by Massacre are in luck – the famed NYC tattoo artist will continue to tattoo images inspired by artists from the program at Moxy Chattanooga on June 25, and at Moxy Atlanta Midtown this fall, two of the brand’s newest hotels. Blank Canvas invites innovative painters, photographers, film-makers, sculptors, illustrators and graffiti artists to submit unique works of art for the chance to be one of the showcased artists at new Moxy Hotels. Selected works become the cornerstone of a permanent contemporary, emerging art collection at each Moxy hotel. Owner of New York-based studio Grit N Glory, Massacre will put her own vibrant spin on Moxy’s Blank Canvas artists’ works, offering guests original tattoo designs available exclusively at Moxy hotels. “Moxy’s Blank Canvas program embodies a fun and playful approach to
curating art, and similar to the tattoos I create, it’s an expression of individuality that inspires creativity,” said Megan Massacre, Owner of New York-based studio Grit N Glory. Massacre tattooed guests during Moxy Washington, D.C. Downtown’s opening party, creating original designs inspired by artist Rahul Jha. Jha’s Blank Canvas piece, on display at the D.C. hotel, provides an unexpected lens on the Dada art movement and showcases an eagle, D.C.’s map and objects including Jenga blocks, pools and lemon wedges that play into the Dada art aesthetic and Moxy’s fun atmosphere. Hailing from Kolkata, India, the multi-talented artist started his career as a mechanical engineer and then followed his true passion to become an artist. On June 25 at Moxy Chattanooga, Massacre will interpret the original
artwork created by the hotel’s Blank Canvas artist Petra Braun. After starting with passionate illustrations in her schoolbooks, Austria-based Braun worked as a graphic designer, before going to study at the University of Art and Design in Linz, where she honed her painting and graphics skills. Highly inspired by nature, her art reflects the playful, peaceful, calm and balanced nature of nature itself. “Moxy Hotels are a playground for travelers and locals alike to engage in spontaneous experiences that are bold and culturally captivating,” said Toni Stoeckl, Vice President, Distinctive Select Brands, Marriott International. “Through our collaboration with Megan Massacre, we’re celebrating our Blank Canvas artists in true Moxy fashion – by transforming our walls into permanent wearable art for guests.”
Cavett, Abbott & Weiss Expands with High Profile Additions ll CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Chattanooga-based law firm Cavett, Abbott & Weiss, PLLC is pleased to announce that Kevin Christopher and Bill Killian have joined the firm. Kevin Christopher is the founder of Ridgeline Venture Law, which is Tennessee’s first B Corp law firm and a 2018 Best for the World Honoree for community impact. Before founding RVL, Christopher led bioinformatics, bioscience and biotech development and licensing activities with top secret security clearance at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He has also steered large scale partnerships in renewable energy and synthetic biology at the University of California, Berkeley
and has also consulted the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Christopher is a Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Lawyer and regularly speaks on corporate social responsibility, intellectual property and leadership. His past community involvement includes serving as a Putnam county commissioner in Cookeville, Tennessee as well as a board member to several environmental and social impact nonprofits. “Kevin’s experience and commitment to community impact makes him a great fit for our firm,” said Barry L. Abbott, Managing Member, Cavett, Abbott & Weiss. “Having someone
with his background in corporate social responsibility and intellectual property is a great fit for a city of entrepreneurs like Chattanooga. We look forward to connecting Kevin with companies who will benefit from his expertise.” Bill Killian served as the former United States Attorney for Eastern Tennessee (2010-2015). Killian brings a wealth of knowledge in government relations, federal investigations, administrative and regulatory compliance and civil and criminal matters. Bill has more than 40 years of trial experience representing and defending clients in sophisticated cases, including high stakes fraud mediations and negotiations, national security investigations and multi-million
dollar corporate settlements, including negotiating the largest criminal settlement in the history of the Eastern District of Tennessee. Before joining Cavett, Abbott & Weiss, Killian was a member of his previous firm’s Government Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense practice groups. “With more than four decades of legal experience, Bill’s passion for the law and philosophy he applies to it mirror our own,” said Abbott. “His expertise in high profile and complex cases is unmatched and we’re looking forward to representation he will be providing to existing and new clients alike.”
Trump Administration rule would undo health care protections for LGBTQ patients
ll (Special from khn.org) — A new Trump administration proposal would change the civil rights rules dictating whether providers must care for patients who are transgender or have had an abortion. Supporters of the approach say it protects the freedom of conscience, but opponents say it encourages discrimination.
The sweeping proposal has implications for all Americans, though, because the Department of Health and Human Services seeks to change how far civil rights protections extend and how those protections are enforced. Roger Severino, the director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights, has been candid about his intentions to overturn an Obama-era rule that prohibited discrimination based on gender identity and termination of a pregnancy. In 2016, while at the conservative Heritage Foundation, he co-authored a paper arguing the restrictions threaten the independence of physicians to follow their religious or moral beliefs. hhs-mission-change-061719 His office unveiled the proposed rule on May 24, when many people were focused on the start of the long Memorial Day holiday weekend.
The rule is the latest Trump administration proposal to strip protections for transgender Americans, coming the same week another directive was proposed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that would allow homeless shelters to turn away people based on their gender identity. The public was given 60 days to comment on the HHS proposal. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about it. What would this proposal do? Fundamentally, the proposed rule would overturn a previous rule that forbids health care providers who receive federal funding from discriminating against patients on the basis of their gender identity or whether they have terminated a pregnancy.
The Trump administration proposal would eliminate those protections, enabling providers to deny these groups care or insurance coverage without having to pay a fine or suffer other federal consequences. That may mean refusing a transgender patient mental health care or gender-confirming surgery. But it may also mean denying patients care that has nothing to do with gender identity, such as a regular office visit for a bad cold or ongoing treatment for chronic conditions like diabetes. “What it does, from a very practical point of view, is that it empowers bad actors to be bad actors,” Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, told reporters. The proposal would also eliminate protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity from several other health care regulations, like
College is Becoming Choice for Aspiring Black Coaches ll When former Michigan star and longtime NBA player Juwan Howard finally got his shot at a head coaching job last week, it wasn’t exactly what many anticipated. Howard played over 1200 NBA (1,208 to be exact) games and had been a member of two NBA title teams with the Miami Heat. After spending 19 years as a player, Howard worked six years as an assistant in the league, and interviewed for multiple openings. It was widely assumed he’d land at least one of them. Instead, Howard ended up accepting the job as new head coach of his alma mater Michigan. Howard had previously been part of the “Fab 5,” joining Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson on a team that twice reached the NCAA title game. Still, it was a surprise Howard became a college rather than pro coach, and an even bigger surprise was some felt his lack of head coaching experience was why he hadn’t landed an NBA job. Howard joined the growing ranks of former players who have grown tired of waiting for NBA jobs and instead turned to college. At a time when colleges are under fire for being so reluctant to hire Black head football coaches, more of them are opting for former Black NBA players to head their basketball teams. It makes perfect sense from
the standpoint major colleges are still viewed as a pipeline to the NBA, and it’s hard not to feel former pros, especially those who’ve played for many years, would be able to not only spot but develop talent, and help college players emerge more polished and prepared for professional careers. The list besides Howard also includes Vanderbilt’s Jerry Stackhouse, the University of Pacific’s Damon Stoudamire, Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing, Central Florida’s Johnny Dawkins, and Aaron Mckie at Temple, to cite only a few. It’s odd that currently there are more Black former NBA players coaching in college than in the league. Only Doc Rivers with the Clippers, Nate McMillan with the Pacers and new Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams formerly played in the NBA. Now no one’s arguing you should have to be a former player to get a coaching job, and there are certainly outstanding Black coaches in pro basketball who weren’t players, but rose through the assistant ranks. Still, the problem with the NBA seeming to ignore former players, and especially past Black ones, is that it looks as though a league that prides itself on being progressive and inclusive seems a bit less, at least when it comes to offering former Black players head
coaching jobs. Some of this is related to the growing impact of analytics, which has also made its way into the NBA. The vast majority of front offices adopting this approach tend to recruit coaches from the ranks of people who are firm believers in increased emphasis on advanced stats over intangibles and areas that can’t be statistically measured. There’s also a new tendency to look overseas for coaches with Euroleague or international experience vs. former players who’ve only been assistants. In addition, some former players rightly ask why they are being overlooked despite spending many years as assistants. Stackhouse was an assistant on two NBA teams, plus a head coach in the G League prior to taking the Vanderbilt job. Ewing was a longtime assistant who got bypassed three different times, and finally decided he’d rather be the head man in college than part of a pro coaching staff without ever getting a shot at being in charge. The same holds true with Stoudamire, who was a Memphis Grizzlies assistant. It will be interesting to see if more former players continue to choose being head coaches in college over waiting until a pro spot becomes open. The biggest test for Howard and others won’t be recruiting, but navigating the tactical
end of in-game coaching and handling the inevitable high expectations of fan bases with little patience. How they deal with that will be the biggest test of whether this trend continues, and whether choosing a college job will really prove a good option for former players, rather than waiting until an NBA team comes calling. To address this, the Foundation has an ongoing national lupus awareness and education campaign, Be Fierce. Take Control® that aims to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of lupus among Latino and African American women ages 18 - 25: a population at higher risk for the disease. Lupus can strike anyone of any age. Half of those surveyed said their lives had been touched by lupus in some way – whether they were living with lupus themselves or knew a family member or friend with lupus. Because lupus affects so many lives, the public is encouraged to raise awareness of the disease and its symptoms this May, during Lupus Awareness Month. Anyone can take the pledge and spread the word. An executive summary of the Lupus Awareness Study is on the Lupus Foundation of America website.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY/LEGAL Want to Do Business with your Local Government? REQUEST FOR BIDS City of Chattanooga, Tennessee Seperate sealed bids for furnishings all supervision, material, labot, tools, equipment, and appliances necessary for the constrauction of the following described project, will be received by the City of Chattanooga at City Hall, Purchasing Department, Suite G13, located at 101 E. 11th Strett, Chattanooga, TN 37402, until 2:00 p.m. , local time, on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, and then at said place publicly opended and read aloud. Brownfield Cleanup at Former Glover Tract - Riverwalk Trail $35 CONTRACT NUMBER D-17-008-201 The scope of work shall consist of but not limited to the following: CONSTRUCTION OF APPROXIMATELY 2,800 Linear feet of multi-use trail from Workman Roadto East 42nd Street in Chattanooga, TN including various appurtuances such as the installation of a seating area, box culvert, and sidewalk connection to Workman Road. The Contract Documents may be examined at the: Purchasing department G13 City Hall 101 E 11th Street, Chattanooga TN Phone Number : (423) 643-7230 Fax Number: (423) 643-7244 Specifications are available for pick up from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Copies of the Contract Documents may be purchased at the same location upon payment of the $35 per set; no part of the purchase price will be refunded. The Bid-Opening meeting has been rescheduled for June 4, 2019, Tuesday at 2:00 PM at the City of Chattanooga Purchasing Department Suite G13, located at 101 E. 11th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402. All Bidders must be licensed and shall comply with all requirements of the State of Tennessee Contractor’s Licensing Act. REQUEST FOR BIDS Sealed Bids in triplicate will be received by the City of Chattanooga, Purchasing Department Suite G13 City Hall. Chattanooga, Tennessee until June 27, 2019 Time_2:00 P. M._ for the Contract of: Contract for: Grounds Maintenance for Enterprise South Industrial Park Bid forms and additional specifications may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing department G13 City Hall 101 E 11th Street, Chattanooga TN. Pre-Bid Conference will be conducted on June 19, 2019 at 10:00 AM EST at the Paul Clark Building, 900 East 11th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403 The City of Chattanooga, at its discretion, may not open a single bid. The City of Chattanooga reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids received, Waive any informalities in the bids, and to accept any bid which in its opinion May be the best interest of the city. The City of Chattanooga
will be non-discriminatory in the purchase of all goods And services on the basis of race, color, or natural origin. City of Chattanooga Mark McKeel. Buyer/Purchasing20190614 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Sealed Proposals will be received by the City of Chattanooga, Purchasing Department, 101 East 11th Street, Suite G13, Chattanooga, Tennessee, until: July 11, 2019TIME: 4:00 pm, est RFP # _186021_ At that time, Sealed Proposals will be accepted for: RFP - Parks and Greenways Master Plan Deadline for questions is June 25, 2019, 4:00 pm, est. The City of Chattanooga at its discretion may not open a single proposal. The City of Chattanooga reserves the right to reject any and/or all proposals received, waive any informalities in the proposals received, and to accept any proposal that, in its opinion, may be for the best interest of the City. City of Chattanooga will be non-discriminatory in the purchase of all goods and services on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Deidre Keylon, Buyer Purchasing Department City of Chattanooga101 East 11th Street, Suite G13Chattanooga, TN 37402(423) 6437231rfp@chattanooga.gov20190613 REQUEST FOR BIDS Sealed Bids in triplicate will be received by the City of Chattanooga, Purchasing Department Suite G13 City Hall. Chattanooga, Tennessee until June 20, 2019 Time 2:00 P. M. for the Contract of: Contract for: Waste Disposal of Vehicle Fluids & Filters Bid forms and additional specifications may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing department G13 City Hall 101 E 11th Street, Chattanooga TN. Pre-Bid Conference will be conducted on June 13, 2019 at 10:00 AM EST at City Hall, Purchasing Conference Room, 101 East 11th Street, Suite G13, Chattanooga, TN 37402The City of Chattanooga, at its discretion, may not open a single bid. The City of Chattanooga reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids received, Waive any informalities in the bids, and to accept any bid which in its opinion May be the best interest of the city. The City of Chattanooga will be non-discriminatory in the purchase of all goods And services on the basis of race, color, or natural origin. City of Chattanooga Mark McKeel Buyer/Purchasing20190610 PUBLIC NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the City of Chattanooga’s “the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Operations Budget”, as more fully described below, will come before the City Council of the City of Chattanooga for first reading on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 6:00 p.m., and for second and final reading on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. An ordinance, hereinafter also known as “the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Operations Budget”, providing revenue for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020; appropriating same to the payment of expenses of the municipal government; fixing the rate of taxation on all taxable property in the City, and the time taxes and privileges are due, how they shall be paid, when they shall become delinquent; providing for interest and penalty on delinquent taxes and privileges;
amending Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 2, Section 2-267, relative to paid leave for active-duty training and to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 31, Sections 31-36, 31-37, 31-41, and 31-43, Sections 31-322 and 31-354.Nicole S. Gwyn Clerk of the Council This 12th day of June 2019. Legal Notice Sealed Bids in Duplicate will be received by the City of Chattanooga at the office of the Purchasing Agent, 104 City Hall Annex, Chattanooga, Tennessee until June 19, 2019. (TIME) _2:00 PM_ Req._#__R184937At that time Bids will be publicly opened and read for the purchase of: Bus Transportation Services Bid Forms and additional specifications may be obtained by contacting Purchasing Department www.chattanooga./ gov/purchasing/bidssolicitations The City of Chattanooga, at its discretion, may not open a single bid. The City of Chattanooga reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids received, waive any informalities in the bids received, and to accept any bid that, in its opinion, may be for the best interest of the City. The City of Chattanooga will be non-discriminatory in the purchase of all goods and services on the basis of race, color, or natural origin. City of Chattanooga REQUEST FOR BIDS Sealed Bids will be received by the City of Chattanooga, Purchasing Department, 101 East 11th Street, Suite G13, Chattanooga, Tennessee, until: June 11, 2019TIME: 2:00 pm, est Bid # _305560_ At that time, Sealed Bids will be accepted for: Public Art Collection Assessment and Conservation Plan Deadline for questions is June 4, 2019, 2:00 pm, est, by email to dmkeylon@chattanooga.gov. The City of Chattanooga at its discretion may not open a single bid. The City of Chattanooga reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids received, waive any informalities in the bids received, and to accept any bid that, in its opinion, may be for the best interest of the City. City of Chattanooga will be nondiscriminatory in the purchase of all goods and services on the basis of race, color, or national origin. This Request for Bids 305560 replaces Request for Proposals 185006 for same purchase posted May 28, 2019. Deidre Keylon, Buyer Purchasing Department City of Chattanooga101 East 11th Street, Suite G13Chattanooga, TN 37402(423) 643-7231dmkeylon@chattanooga.gov REQUEST FOR BIDS Sealed Bids in duplicate will be received by the City of Chattanooga, Purchasing Department Suite G13 City Hall. Chattanooga, Tennessee until June 18, 2019 Time_2:00 P. M. EST_ for the Contract of: Contract for: Police & Special Service Vehicles Pre-Bid Conference will be conducted on June 5, 2019 at 10:00 AM EST at City Hall, Purchasing Conference Room, 101 East 11th Street, Suite G13, Chattanooga, TN 37402Bid forms and additional specifications may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing department G13 City Hall 101 E 11th Street, Chattanooga TN. The City of Chattanooga, at its discretion, may not open a single bid.
The City of Chattanooga reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids received, Waive any informalities in the bids, and to accept any bid which in its opinion May be the best interest of the city. The City of Chattanooga will be non-discriminatory in the purchase of all goods And services on the basis of race, color, or natural origin. City of Chattanooga Mark McKeel Buyer/Purchasing20190531 REQUEST FOR BIDS Sealed Bids in duplicate will be received by the City of Chattanooga, Purchasing Department Suite G13 City Hall. Chattanooga, Tennessee until June 5, 2019 Time_2:00 P. M._ for the Contract of: Contract for: Lumber & Lumber Products Bid forms and additional specifications may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing department G13 City Hall 101 E 11th Street, Chattanooga TN. The City of Chattanooga, at its discretion, may not open a single bid. The City of Chattanooga reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids received, Waive any informalities in the bids, and to accept any bid which in its opinion May be the best interest of the city. The City of Chattanooga will be non-discriminatory in the purchase of all goods And services on the basis of race, color, or natural origin. City of Chattanooga Mark McKeel Buyer/ REQUEST FOR BIDS Sealed Bids in duplicate will be received by the City of Chattanooga, Purchasing Department Suite G13 City Hall. Chattanooga, Tennessee until June 18, 2019Time_2:00 P. M.for the Contract of: Contract for: Vibration Analysis & Infrared Thermographic Services Bid forms and additional specifications may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing department G13 City Hall 101 E 11th Street, Chattanooga TN. The City of Chattanooga, at its discretion, may not open a single bid. The City of Chattanooga reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids received, Waive any informalities in the bids, and to accept any bid which in its opinion May be the best interest of the city. The City of Chattanooga will be nondiscriminatory in the purchase of all goods And services on the basis of race, color, or natural origin. City of Chattanooga Amanda Berkowitz Buyer/Purchasing 20190606