Save-A-Lot to Anchor Binghampton Retail Center

Save-A-Lot Food Stores is the anchor tenant for the Binghampton Grocery Center, a new shopping complex at the corner of Sam Cooper Boulevard and Tillman Street developed by the Binghampton Development Corp.

The overall 48,565-square-foot project will bring 50 new jobs with 30 of them going to the 16,300-square-foot grocery store. A job training program will be instituted to serve Binghampton residents.

Construction is expected to begin this summer and continue until summer 2017.

The store’s design will stand out from its standard stores and will “reflect the historical character of the Broad Avenue district,” according to a statement from the BDC. The store will feature an urban design and be easily accessible to Memphians on foot, using the new MATA bus stop or passing through while cycling the Binghampton Hampline, which will stretch from Downtown to Germantown. Outdoor patio space is also planned for the finished development.

In August 2014, the BDC purchased a blighted apartment community that it later demolished to make way for the shopping center. With the grocery store in place, further tenants for the 10,000-square-foot value store and 7,240 square feet of local tenants will fall into place as more leases are signed in the coming months.

Fleming & Associates is the project architect and Kimley Horn & Associates is serving as project engineer. Linkous Construction will be the general contractor. Steve Bowie and Shawn Massey with The Shopping Center Group represented the Binghampton Development Corp. in negotiations with Save-A-Lot. Frank Dyer with Loeb Realty Group represented the tenant in the transaction.

This is the first success story for the Community Builder PILOT, a new tax incentive provided by the Memphis-Shelby County Economic Development Growth Engine. In October 2015, the EDGE board awarded the BDC a property tax reduction estimated to save $1.86 million over 15 years.

– Madeline Faber

Police Department Takes PST Applications

The Memphis Police Department is taking applications through Feb. 8 for the return of police service technicians to the department.

The application process includes two written exams on basic reading comprehension and problem solving and a 1.5-mile run that must be completed in 15 minutes or less as well as a physical ability test.

The PSTs, as they were known in the 1980s, are returning as a way of handling the drop in police ranks in recent years.

The technicians would direct traffic and take accident reports as well as other clerical and support functions, freeing up uniformed police officers to answer calls.

The PST applications are available at police headquarters on the 12th floor of the Criminal Justice Center, 201 Poplar Ave., any of the 10 Memphis police stations or the Memphis Police Training Academy, 4371 O.K. Robertson Road.

The city plans to begin the first recruit class May 30.

– Bill Dries

Tigers’ Burrell Earns AAC Recognition

University of Memphis senior guard Trahson Burrell was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, January 25.

Burrell averaged 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 7 assists per game during the week. He shot 50 percent (14-of-28) from the field, 40 percent (4-of-10) from long range, and 71 percent (5-of-7) from the free-throw line and also added a block and a steal.

Against Cincinnati he scored a career-high 24 points and pulled down 11 rebounds and dished out five assists. He shot 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from the field, 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from long range, and all four of his free throw tries against the Bearcats.

He flirted with a triple-double against East Carolina with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, and hit 6-of-15 from the field (40 percent.

For the season, Burrell averages 10.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while standing second on the team with 47 total assists. He is shooting 45.4 percent from the field (69-of-152), and 78 percent (40-of-51) from the foul line.

– Don Wade

Applications Being Taken Now For Start Co. Accelerator Slots

The window is open now for entrepreneurs to apply for $25,000 in investment capital and a spot in one of the Start Co. organization’s three startup accelerators.

Program dates for the trio of early-stage technology startup accelerator programs running this summer are May 2 through August 11. The deadline to apply is March 1.

The accelerators are Seed Hatchery, which focuses on business-to-business enterprises; Upstart, which focuses on women-led ventures; and Sky High, which focuses on ventures that make a social impact.

During the accelerators, participating teams will use a combination of the investment capital plus hands-on instruction from mentors and business leaders to refine the ideas for their ventures. The goal is that by the end of the program, they’ll have an idea they can pitch to potential investors at a “Demo Day” and hopefully take their ventures to the next level.

– Andy Meek

2 Men Sentenced For Defrauding Memphis VA

Federal prosecutors say two men have been sentenced to prison for defrauding the Memphis VA Medical Center of more than $1 million.

The U.S. attorney’s office said Monday that Andre Reddix and Ronnie White pleaded guilty to fraud conspiracy in September. White received two years and six months in prison on Dec. 11. Reddix received the same sentence Thursday, Jan. 21. The men were each ordered to pay back more than $1.1 million.

Prosecutors said Reddix was a VA employee whose duties included using a company credit card to buy supplies.

In August 2007, Reddix created false purchase orders for White’s company, White Pharmaceuticals, while White made fake invoices matching the purchase orders.

Reddix used the credit card to pay White, and the men split payments from more than 300 fraudulent transactions.

– The Associated Press