Mobile Courant

City of Mobile issued the following announcement on Nov. 18.

Mobile County Health Department reports 18,943 COVID-19 cases, which is an increase of 138 cases.

We're continuing to make progress collecting the remaining debris from hurricanes Sally and Zeta. Currently all City resources and a majority of our contractor's resources are focused on areas south of Airport Boulevard. Once their work is complete in the southern part of the City, normal trash pickup is expected to resume on Monday, November 23.

Following the Thanksgiving holiday, our contractors will be focusing on the removal of the remaining storm damaged trees and stumps in public rights-of-way, which we expect to have completed in early December barring any unforeseen delays. Tree crews will also be continuing their work trimming low-hanging or damaged tree throughout the City.

A good part of several members of my senior staff and I have participated in the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce's 2020 Leadership Exchange. For 32 years, this annual event has taken business and community leaders from Mobile to cities across the country to learn from those communities and bring those lessons back home. Travel was not an option this year given the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Chamber of Commerce put together a wonderful event here in Mobile that has allowed stakeholders from across our community to come together for a look inward.

Over the past two days, we've explored the opportunities on the horizon for Mobile and had a unique chance to listen to, learn from and connect with one another. We have heard from investors, advocates, small business owners, educators and many, many others leading our city into the future. Members of our own team have also had a chance to highlight some of the great things we are doing in the City of Mobile.

Speaking of great things happening in the city of Mobile, our award-winning Supplier Diversity Program has recently partnered with several local agencies to help historically disadvantaged businesses in our community seeking local, state and federal contracting opportunities. This small business consortium, known as "Together Mobile," includes representatives from the City of Mobile, Alabama State Port Authority, Mobile Housing Board, the Wave Transit System and the Mobile Airport Authority.

Together we are working to educate, train and guide businesses looking to compete for public contracts and assist them in becoming certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. "Together Mobile" is offering its first digital workshop for business owners tomorrow from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. It will also include information on upcoming bidding opportunities at each of these partnering agencies. 

As I was looking back in my journal earlier this week, I noticed comments I had written in years past and one stuck out to me. A few years ago, on November 17, I had written: "One of my ongoing prayers is that God continue to send the people and resources to Mobile to transform the city into what He wants it to be in the timeline and manner he wants. I continue to be amazed at the evidence of His answers. Good things continue to evolve."

I still believe good things are in the pipeline for Mobile, and I hope you will join in that prayer.

Original source can be found here.