Buford Business Alliance
News & Updates
February 2024 | Issue 15 www.VisitBuford.com
Upcoming Events
Monday, February 12, 2024 - 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Buford Business Alliance After-Hours Meeting

American Legion Post 127, 6196 Suwanee Dam Rd, Sugar Hill GA 30518

Join us for the February After-Hours meeting at the American Legion Post 127 in Sugar Hill. Learn about all of the benefits of the American Legion from Jason Treadway.

You are encouraged to bring a door prize so you have the opportunity to talk about your business. We also encourage members to bring someone who you think would potentially like to join the BBA.

Go to visitBuford.com to register.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 - 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. -
Buford Business Alliance Breakfast Meeting

Tannery Row Ale House, 554 West Main St., Buford GA 30518

This month's breakfast sponsor is the Tannery Row Ale House. Mike Neal will be telling us about the Tannery Row Ale House.

We encourage members to bring a guest! Help us grow the Buford Business Alliance!

Click here to register for the meeting.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 - 5 to 6:30 p.m. -
Buford Business Alliance After-Hours Meeting

Leather & Lace Coffee & Company @ Pinspiration Northeast Georgia, 7380 Spout Springs Rd. Suite 150, Flowery Branch GA 30542

Join us for the March After-hours meeting sponsored by Lori and Heather with Leather & Lace Coffee & Company. They have partnered with Pinspiration to bring BBA members an evening of "Amazing Bites, Nibbles, Coffee, Cocktails, Music & Creating!"

You are encouraged to bring a door prize so you have the opportunity to talk about your business. We also encourage members to bring someone who you think would potentially like to join the BBA.

Click here to register for the meeting.
The Buford Business Alliance Spring Festival
The Buford Business Alliance Board of Directors is busy planning the annual BBA Spring Festival.

It is being held on Saturday, April 27th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Buford's Historic Main Street. (A backup date will be announced in the case of inclement weather.)

We are now accepting event sponsors and vendors.

Sponsorship Levels:

Gold - $750 SOLD OUT
Silver - $500
Bronze - $350

Vendors:

BBA Members - $125
Food Trucks & Concession Vendors - $150
Business Vendors - $150
Non-Profit Organizations - $100

We are also accepting performers for the festival. There is no fee for performers to participate in the festival.

If you are interested in being a sponsor or vendor or if you know of a person/group that is interested in being a performer, please contact us at [email protected].
Silver and Bronze Sponsorships still available!
Buford Business Alliance News
Welcome new members!
  • American Landscape Solutions (Cody Shaw)
  • American Legion 127 Sugar Hill (Jason Treadway)
  • Brandt & Company, LLC (John Brandt)
  • Cold Pressed Gwinnett (Lydia Tunstall)
  • Creative Family Counseling and Coaching (Rebecca Muyres)
  • Forever Fitted Jewelry (Mandy Shaw)
  • Georgia House of Representatives (Farooq Mughal)
  • Prime IV Hydration & Wellness (Christa Williams)
  • Roof Pro, LLC (Bill Andrews)
Grace Upon Grace, our 2024 Q1 non-profit
The Buford Business Alliance’s first non-profit of the quarter for 2024 is an organization called Grace Upon Grace. Buford resident Maria Sharrett founded Grace Upon Grace in 2022 to help bridge the gap in services for students with disabilities, especially post-graduation.

Their mission statement says it all — “The mission of Grace Upon Grace is to create a Christ-centered movement recognizing all of God's children as being fearfully and wonderfully made. The world will no longer see the disabilities, and will instead see “infinite” possibilities. Grace Upon Grace will provide education, comfort, community partnerships, and post-secondary opportunities that will shape the future and bring hope to the families we support.”

Through the community’s support, Grace Upon Grace was able to do great things in 2023. 

  • They provided a Buford graduate a full scholarship to attend Kennesaw State University’s Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth. This graduate will attend the Academy which offers programs to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 
  • They were able to provide five families with Christmas.
  • They assisted several teachers by providing them with donations to support their students.
  • They shopped for the Buford City School’s Stuff the Bus Holiday Toy Drive with a Buford Special Education class to help teach life skills.
  • They hosted their first-ever golf tournament fundraiser.

On Mar. 2, they will have their second annual Inclusive Grace Upon Grace Pageant held at the BHS Performing Arts Center. The pageant is open to girls ages 4 to 19+ and being an inclusive pageant, girls with disabilities are encouraged to join in on the fun. Those with disabilities have their fees waived and are offered extra ways to make them feel like a queen.

Here are the ways that members of the Buford Business Alliance can help Grace Upon Grace’s mission.

  • Sponsor or support the upcoming pageant on Mar. 2. Click here for more details.
  • Donate at graceupongracegives.org.
  • Share the word about their book “Wonderfully Super.”
  • Let them know if you know of a business that would partner with them to employ one of their clients.
  • Spread the word about Grace Upon Grace and their mission.
Meeting Sponsorships Still Available
There are After-hours and Breakfast meeting sponsorships still available.

Hosting a meeting gives you a unique opportunity to really sell your business to the other alliance members. It is a great way to promote your business and make new connections.

To host an After-hours meeting, you must host the event at your business or find another suitable location large enough for the meeting. You must also provide food and drinks or have a bar or other way for attendees to purchase their own drinks. After-hours meetings usually run from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

To host a Breakfast meeting, you do not have to host the event at your business as all breakfast meetings are held at the Tannery Row Ale House from 8 to 9 a.m.. You must provide breakfast-type food and drinks (coffee is provided by Tannery Row Ale House).

If you are interested in sponsoring a meeting, please call/text Freda Kalina at 770-596-8178 or email her at [email protected].
Available Meeting Dates:

April 16 - Breakfast Meeting

May 21 - Breakfast Meeting

June 18 - Breakfast Meeting

July 9 - After-Hours Meeting
July 16 - Breakfast Meeting

August 13 - After-Hours Meeting
August 20 - Breakfast Meeting

September 10 - After-Hours Meeting
September 17 - Breakfast Meeting

October 8 - After-Hours Meeting
October 15 - Breakfast Meeting
BBA Member News and Promotions
Your business could be featured here!
Do you have an upcoming event, sale or promotion?

Tell us about it and it could be featured here!

Send the details to Alicia at [email protected]!
BBA Member Perks
Get your business mentioned in the new BBA monthly email newsletter
Members are eligible to have their special events or promotions mentioned in the new monthly BBA newsletter.

Simply send the information by email to Alicia Payne and she will be able to insert it into the next month's newsletter.

All submissions must be turned in no later than the 20th of each month to make the following month's newsletter.
BBA adds more benefits to membership


Members of the Buford Business Alliance now get more benefits than ever before.

Member benefits include:
  • Two monthly networking events
  • Multiple community events including the Holiday Parade and Festival and the Spring Festival
  • Short social media mention once every six months for each member on the alliance's social media accounts
  • Free directory listing on the BBA website
  • BBA will promote member's ribbon-cutting ceremonies and other special events via social media
  • Members' special events or promotions are eligible to be mentioned in the BBA monthly email newsletter
  • Members receive discounts with Inside Buford for advertising, consulting and design services.

For more information contact the BBA at [email protected].
Buford Business Alliance