Entrepreneurial award named in honor of Jerry Davis

An award has been created in honor of the late Jerry W. Davis, who led the development of the Shoals Entrepreneurial Center.

The first recipient of the "Jerry W. Davis Appalachian Regional Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence" is Bryan Toney, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.

The Appalachian Regional Commission joined the University of North Alabama and the Jerry W. Davis Award Committee to develop the award, which recognizes outstanding accomplishment in entrepreneurial development by honoring others who have done similar work as Davis.

"Jerry Davis was an inspiration and role model for budding entrepreneurs in Alabama, Appalachia and throughout the nation," said Appalachian Regional Commission Co-Chairwoman Anne B. Pope. "This award recognizes Jerry's leadership and unique contributions to the economic development of the Appalachian Region and encourages others to follow his example."

Jim Blasingame, who serves on both the regional and local award committees, said the award is given with $10,000 per year for the next five years from the Appalachian Regional Commission with a purpose to grow entrepreneurship on the regional level. The award program is also matched dollar for dollar with donations on the local level through the Jerry W. Davis Endowment for Entrepreneurial Development.

Blasingame said local funds that are raised go into an endowment held by UNA where the yield from the investment is distributed, with 50 percent given to UNA to grow local economic development and entrepreneurship, and the other 50 percent is given to the Shoals Entrepreneurial Center.

"The committees needed an entity used to working with funds, and Dan Howard stepped to the table and volunteered UNA, and without them, none of this would have happened," he said.

Funds will continue to be raised on the local level for the next award in 2008.

"For me, it's an opportunity to honor my friend of more than 40 years," Blasingame said. "Jerry was one of the leaders of the entire business incubator movement, not only nationally but also internationally."

Kerry Gatlin, dean of the UNA College of Business, said Davis was a well-respected and talented entrepreneur.

"The Shoals Entrepreneurial Center is an award-winning center and is a model center around the country, and Jerry deserves most of the credit for that," he said.

Davis grew the Shoals Entrepreneurial Center from one facility to five facilities on four campuses and helped hundreds of businesses find their potential, creating 1,200 jobs in the process.

Tana LeMay, who owns Wild Sorbet Frame Co. in Florence, said Jerry Davis helped her sort out her business operating plan and budget, and he offered her a place to operate at the Shoals Entrepreneurial Center, where LeMay has been since February 2006.

LeMay's business has continued to grow, and she said her success has been to the vision Davis had in her business plan and the support the center gives her.

"The word I use to describe him is an encourager," LeMay said. "He really wanted to know everything about my product, and I felt he was genuinely interested in how he could make me successful."

For details about the award program or to learn how to donate, call 765-4401 or e-mail kpgatlin@una.edu.

Kenda Williams can be reached at 740-5720 or kenda.williams@timesdaily.com.