Opinion: Smith deserves Phoenix Award – The Selma Times-Journal

The Phoenix is ​​one of the most recognizable icons from Greek mythology. It is a bird that could be reborn in its ashes. That is the origin of the expression ‘rising from the ashes’.

Why that matters to Selma is because we recently learned that Jackie Smith will receive the Phoenix Award for Outstanding Small Business Disaster Recovery from the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience (ODR&R).

Smith owns Reflections Coffee Shoppe and The Coffee Shoppe in downtown Selma, and she has been one of the driving forces behind rebuilding here after last year’s tornado affected much of our community and county.

“Immediately after the tornado, I knew The Coffee Shoppe had to do everything we could to help Selma get through this big event,” Smith said of receiving the award. “From allowing disaster organizations to set up a workspace, to feeding first responders, to helping coordinate community giveaways, to being a mentor to my business colleagues. We lost over 100 businesses in the 2023 tornado, and because The Coffee Shoppe did not sustain any major damage, all the things I did to help were just the natural response of someone who loves her city and her community. Together we are ‘Selma Strong.’”

According to its website, since 1998 SBA has presented Phoenix Awards to “entrepreneurs, public servants and volunteers who have demonstrated selflessness, ingenuity and tenacity in the aftermath of a disaster while helping to rebuild their communities.”

Smith leaves next week to attend National Small Business Week, April 28 to May 4 in Washington, D.C.

It is fitting that Smith receives this award and is part of the event that focuses on the success of small businesses in the country. Her help helped Selma rise from its own rubble a year ago, and that process is still ongoing here. It is far from complete, but we have come much further thanks to the help and leadership of her and many others who have worked diligently to help us rebuild.

We thank Smith for all you have done for our community. You are very deserving of this honor.