Murphy Texas,

Center focuses on helping small businesses

By Megan Figuly
Staff Writer
news@murphymonitor.com

Upcoming Chamber events include:
11:30 a.m. July 23 – Come and Go lunch at Niki’s Italian Bistro
featuring Murphy Parks Superintendent
David Bottlinger

MURPHY (Juy 17, 2008) - Murphy Chamber of Commerce held its monthly luncheon meeting Tuesday at the Woodbridge Golf Club Pavilion.

Guest speaker James Tucker spoke of his job as a consultant with Collin County Small Business Development Center.

“The person I help the most is a person like you,” said Tucker. “A person starting a business, trying to get some traction, trying to get some new customers.”

The SBDC is a non-profit organization funded on the federal level by the Small Business Administration and on the state level by the state of Texas. The SBDC provides one-on-one consulting in business planning, strategic planning, human resources, marketing and promotion, financial analysis, and accounting.

“Eighty percent of the time the people we are helping have been in business less than one year,” said Tucker. “Ground zero step one for a lot of people is our ‘How to Start a Small Business’ class. If you have no small business experience we strongly encourage you to attend that.”

The one-on-one, confidential consulting is provided at no charge, and the workshops are offered for a nominal fee.
“What’s different about what we do is we try to identify your need and get you to the next step. We help people identify where their gaps are, write a business plan and provide guidance to put together a presentation for an SBA loan,” said Tucker. “I am thrilled that I can be in the position I am to help people. I love doing it.”

Also at the lunch an auction was held with all the proceeds going toward the Chamber scholarship fund. Two tickets to Motor Speedway were sold for $100, and a phone brought in an additional $25.

Upcoming events include a come and go lunch at 11:30 a.m. July 23 at Niki’s Italian Bistro in Murphy with David Bottlinger, Murphy parks superintendant, and a Chamber Ambassador workshop for all current Ambassadors and anyone interested in becoming one at 9 a.m. Aug. 1 at the Branding Iron Restaurant in Garland.

P&Z’s Comprehensive Plan available for review

MURPHY (July 10, 2008) - The Murphy Planning and Zoning Commission’s Comprehensive Plan draft is available for review until July 14.

Copies of the proposed update for public review are available online at www.murphytx.org. It can also be seen at Murphy City Hall at the receptionist’s desk, building permit counter, water billing counter and second floor reception desk between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Copies of the draft will also be available at the public hearing to be held at 6 p.m. July 14 in Council chambers at City Hall.
A Comprehensive Plan is a guide for policy decisions concerning the physical and economic development of the community. Murphy’s plan includes recommendations for land use, transportation and local aesthetics.

Murphy City Hall is located at 206 N. Murphy Rd.

For more information or to submit a question or comment about the Comprehensive Plan update, contact Assistant City Manager Jeff Bickerstaff by phone at 972-468-4000 or by e-mail at jbickerstaff@murphytx.org or Kim Green at 972-468-4040 or kgreen@murphytx.org.

Murphy Marketplace 85 percent occupied

By Megan Figuly
Staff Writer
news@murphymonitor.com

Eric Langford, developer of Murphy Marketplace, held a come-and-go lunch for the Murphy Chamber of Commerce at Amado’s last week.

More than 40 people attended the lunch which was part of the Murphy Chamber’s fourth Wednesday lunch series.
“I remember when we first had a lunch meeting. There were five people,” said Deb Proctor, Chamber chairman.

Langford provided an update on the 76-acre Marketplace, saying that it is 85 percent committed. Although some businesses have decided to go to the Woodbridge Crossing center being built further down FM 544 in Wylie, (Target has committed to Woodbridge Crossing.)

Langford said they are gaining tenants every day.
“Ultimately I think the two centers will bring in so much business we will help each other,” he said. “It’s all very positive.”

In addition to Lowe’s Home Improvement, other businesses committed to the development include Azura Nails, Chick-fil-A, Christina’s Restaurant, Dental One, Dunkin’ Donuts, First Choice, La Flor Mexican Cuisine, Massage Envy, Mattress Giant, Monarch Dental, Face Logic, Firehouse Subs, Planet Tan, Red Brick Pizza, Saxby’s, Smoothie Factory, Sprouts Grocer, 24-Hour Fitness, Wachovia, Wendy’s and Zaxby’s Restaurant.

Chamber to hear small business expert

The Murphy Chamber of Commerce will meet at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 15 at the Woodbridge Golf Club Pavilion, 7400 Country Club Rd. in Wylie.

Guest speaker will be James Tucker of the Small Business Development Center.

Tucker consults with startups and existing businesses on their marketing and sales strategies both in their creation and upgrades. According to information from the chamber, he is adept at identifying gaps in performances and processes, then prescribing solutions. Through the Collin SBDC he also teaches several classes, most recently developing a new class for business owners “Sales for the Non-Sales Type.”

Tucker holds a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of North Texas and has extensive experience working in small businesses including 10-plus years in senior management retailing.

He also has 10-plus years in Fortune 50 management roles including sales, sales management, sales operations, marketing, training, and business analyst positions in both consumer and business-to-business arenas.

For information about the Murphy Chamber or to make a reservation, contact Sammie Hampton at 972-881-2342.
Luncheon tickets are $12 with a reservation if made before noon the Friday before the luncheon; $15 without a reservation.

The Chamber’s July “Come-and-Go” lunch will be July 23 at Niki’s Italian Bistro.

For more information on the Murphy Chamber of Commerce, visit the Web site www.murphychamber.org.

At the Dec. 3 City Council meeting, Council approved the meeting schedule for 2008. Regular meetings are the first and third Mondays of the month. The new calendar includes a scheduled work session on the fifth Monday of the month. Council meetings begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

July 7 and July 21

Aug. 4 and Aug. 18

Sept. 2
(changed to Tuesday due to Monday holiday) Sept. 15

Sept. 29 (work session)

Oct. 6 and Oct. 20

Nov. 3 and Nov. 17

Dec. 1 and Dec. 15
Dec. 29 (work session)

Source: City of Murphy

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