Literacy grants, old tech among this week's business news

Dollar General Literacy Foundation awards more than $540,000 to Texas organizations

Goodlettsville, Tennessee – On May 16, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) announced the award of more than $540,000 in literacy grants to Texas non-profit organizations, libraries and schools.

Texas recipients include the Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle in Amarillo ($8,000), Storybridge, Inc. in Amarillo ($3,000), Lovett Memorial Library-Pampa ($500) and the Hansford County Library in Spearman ($800).

The funds are part of the Foundation’s more than $10.6 million donated to support adult, family and summer literacy programs in the 48 states in which Dollar General operates. With today’s grants, the DGLF also surpasses helping more than 20 million individuals achieve their educational dreams since its inception in 1993.

“We believe individuals of all ages deserve access to a quality education, and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation is thrilled to support thousands of learners across the country as they enrich their lives with literacy and education,” shared Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “This year’s spring grant cycle is equally exciting as we surpass impacting more than 20 million individuals. We hope these funds provide resources needed to positively change students’ lives, helping them to build a brighter future for themselves and generations to come.”

Funding may be used to purchase new technology, books, materials, or software to enhance literacy programs. A comprehensive list of grant recipients may be found online at www.dgliteracy.org.

AT&T: New service updates old tech in Amarillo

More than 70% of U.S. adults live in households that exclusively use wireless phone service, according to the CDC. In Texas, landline phone usage among AT&T customers has decreased by 41% in the last two years alone, the company noted in a news release.

For those who keep a landline for nostalgic reasons or as a second phone, a new service is helping modernize this nearly 150-year-old technology. Now available in Amarillo, AT&T Phone – Advanced is home phone service that works like a traditional landline, but is upgraded for today’s world. AT&T Phone – Advanced does everything a traditional landline does but at a comparable or lower cost.

Customers can hang on to their existing number and even use their old telephone equipment. By using a wireless connection or a broadband connection as a back-up, customers can stay seamlessly connected during an outage. It also has a back-up battery to keep it powered for up to 24 hours. And it has the ability to detect and block pesky robocalls for added security. For more information, contact your local AT&T representative.

Go BIG in Amarillo with Business Improvement Grant Program

Commercial property owners and business owners in the Barrio, Eastridge, North Heights and San Jacinto neighborhoods of Amarillo can take advantage of a big opportunity to improve the exterior of their property with the City of Amarillo's Business Improvement Grant Program – or BIG Program.

Commercial property owners and business owners with exterior improvement projects can participate in the BIG Program, which offers a matching grant of up to 50 percent of total project costs with a maximum match of $20,000 for projects costing $40,000 or more. Projects must be to the exterior (pedestrian-side) of the commercial property or business.

“The BIG Program is an excellent opportunity for owners to significantly improve the value of their business or property,” said City Assistant Director of Planning Drew Brassfield. “There are many possibilities for exterior improvement, from new paint and doors to historical preservation.”

The BIG Program provides technical and conceptual design guidance and financial assistance to enhance property exterior. The restoration of significant architectural features is also a primary factor in the grant process.

For more information and for the application process, go to: Business Improvement Grant | City of Amarillo, TX Also for more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager David Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov .

Celebrate National Iced Tea Day with HTeaO

National Iced Tea Day, June 10, is coming up and HTeaO is offering a special promotion to celebrate with half-priced cups of tea all day.

On Monday, June 10, guests can enjoy happy hour pricing (half priced-cups of tea) all day long at all HTeaO locations. Whether you're a classic iced tea aficionado or an adventurous flavor explorer, HTeaO offers a range of ultra-premium tea, water, and coffee products and caters to customers both in-store and drive-thru services.

For more information on HTeaO please visit www.HTeaO.com.

WTEC, TMAC partner to support manufacturing-industry entrepreneurs

The WT Enterprise Center and the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center are continuing a series of workshops to help local manufacturers streamline production. The partnership between the WTEC, a department of West Texas A&M University’s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, and TMAC will assist entrepreneurs in creating and improving processes, products and technologies.

The May installment, “Manufacturing a Growth Mindset,” took place May 22. Future events for the TMAC development series include “Spring Cleaning & Workplace Organization” on June 24; “Strong Leaders & Strong Teams” on July 24; and “Uncovering Hidden Waste” on Aug. 21.

The networking event and monthly workshops are free and include one-on-one coaching sessions for manufacturing members of the WTEC’s Incubator program. Seating is limited. For information or to RSVP, visit WTEnterpriseCenter.com/TMAC.

Women's healthcare company Watkins-Conti receives FDA clearance for new product

EDMOND, Okla. - Watkins-Conti Products, Inc., a company that develops innovative and accessible solutions for women's pelvic health, has obtained 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Yōni.Fit Bladder Support. The product is intended for the temporary management of urine leakage caused by stress urinary incontinence in women aged 18 years and older.

"As an early investor and board member, this was a 4+ year journey, challenging but exhilarating," an email about the announcement notes. "Many investors reside in the Panhandle of Texas. Congratulations to founder and CEO Allison Watkins Conti!"

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area business news and developments for May 26, 2024