metro asian news
Posted January 3, 2010
Asian Businesses In Metro Atlanta Hopeful For 2010
2009 witnessed its share of Asian business failures in metro Atlanta. From business closings in restaurants to community banks, the economic recession has taken its toll especially hard on small business in the Asian community.
“I have lost over 40 percent of my customers since 2008. Basically, I am counting on my regulars to make ends meet,” said Mariah Oh, a hair stylist in a beauty salon on Buford Highway.
Nonetheless, Oh is optimistic that the economy is turning around. She and her partners have recently invested in the renovation of their salon during the holidays.
“We believe 2010 will be a better year. Lately, we’ve witnessed new customers at our salon. We’re hoping things will start to pick up by Chinese New Year in February,” adds Mariah.
Despite the recession, several new restaurants have opened their doors for business catering to Asian consumers. New ethnic eatery ranging from mini hot-pots to traditional cuisines have recently opened in Norcross, Duluth and Chamblee.
“I am hoping for more mainstream customers to dine at my restaurant. I believe more Americans will come when they learn of this new location,” said Lee, owner of Batavia Indonesian restaurant who recently opened a new branch in Chamblee.
Although he has taken over a former restaurant premise, Lee have made a substantial capital investment in interior renovation and flat screen televisions for his new restaurant.
“I am confident that 2010 will see an improvement. Consumers will have more confident to spend,” added Lee.
Big box groceries have competed aggressively for consumers in 2009 especially among Korean-owned supermarkets such as Super H-Marts and Assi Plaza. Super H-Mart recently opened their fifth store in Doraville and Assi Plaza opened their largest store in Georgia in Duluth last October.
Both stores are aggressively courting Latino and South Asian shoppers in addition to Asian consumers. They have stocked their shelves with ethnic selections and lower prices. As a result, it draws shoppers away from independent groceries.
“Our business have dropped considerably. We are surviving only with our regular customers. The Korean supermarkets are beginning to stock the stuff that we carry here,” said Pam who owns a small ethnic grocery in DeKalb County.
Pam and her husband remains optimistic as her small grocery draws an increasing amount of traffic by newly arrived refugees. “They feel much more comfortable here as we helped them with their food selections. They cannot have that type of service at the Korean supermarkets,” adds Pam.
As more Asians migrate into the metro Atlanta area from other states and countries, businesses are catering to the new customers.
One of the beneficiary of the migration is Tom Nguyen, who runs a small business selling cellphones and calling cards. “Many of our customers are refugees who don’t speak English well. They need help in their phone services,” said Nguyen who is optimistic for the coming year.
“In this tough economy, we have to do business with a different approach. As long as they are paying customers, we are willing to provide them the service,” said Nguyen as he summed up.
International Leadership Foundation Announces 2010 Summer Fellowships for Asian Pacific American College Students in Washington, DC
For the eleventh year, the International Leadership Foundation (ILF) will award up to 30 fellowships to Asian Pacific American college students who the ILF identifies as future business, community or professional leaders. Fellows spend eight weeks in the summer interning for a federal government agency in Washington, DC, and gaining firsthand knowledge of the workings of American government.
Any Asian Pacific American undergraduate student with at least a 3.0 GPA is eligible to apply. Applicants must be United States citizens. Interested students can visit ILF’s website at www.ILEADER.org to apply online or to obtain more information. The ILF works with government agencies to place each Fellow in his or her area of interest. Students who wish to apply must submit their applications no later than February 1, 2010.
Each Fellow receives a stipend of $1,500, funded by the ILF and its sponsors. Students must pay for their own travel, housing and living expenses during their fellowships. ILF Fellows attend weekly seminars and other events to learn about government, in addition to their internships.
“The ILF promotes public service, involvement, and effectiveness of Asian Pacific Americans,” said ILF Chief Executive Officer Chiling Tong. “Our purpose is to teach our future leaders how to use the government to serve the community.”
The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta and the Honorable Elaine Chao serve as the Honorary National Chairman and Chairwoman of the ILF. Mineta and Chao are the first two Asian Pacific Americans to serve in the President’s Cabinet.
For more information, www.ILEADER.org
Free Tax Preparation Service Available
Free tax preparation is available for individuals who make less than $48,000 in 2009 under a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.
Individuals who qualified would not have to pay for filing, loans, or rapid refund. VITA e-filings also enable qualified applicants to receive speedier refunds within 7-10 days.
Qualified applicants may also qualify for Earned income Tax Credit (EITC) worth up to $5,657 and Child Tax Credit worth up to $1000 per child.
Applicants must bring along their Social Security cards, 2008 tax return, W-2 for 2009, Form 1098-mortgage interest, property taxes, closing statement, Form 1099, voided check and savings account for direct deposit for refund, and a photo ID.
Joint returns require both filers to be present to sign the return. If you had child or dependent care expenses, bring name, address and tax ID or social security number of the care provider.
Applicants who have educational expenses are advised to bring their 1098-T or 1098-E forms.
The service is provided under a partnership between the Atlanta Food Bank, Internal Revenue Service, and united Way.
For more information, visit atlantaprosperity.org
Johns Creek Input Sought On Regional Transportation Plan
When the City of Johns Creek conducted a citizen survey in the fall of 2008, one question asked participants to identify the number one problem facing the area. The overwhelming response? Traffic.
Now the Atlanta Regional Commission hopes to help unsnarl the region’s congested roadways through development of a North Fulton Comprehensive Transportation Plan. The process includes a series of charrettes – interactive sessions involving all stakeholders often used in urban planning. Each charrette will discuss the overall comprehensive transportation plan in the context of the community in which it is being held.
The Johns Creek charrette is scheduled for Jan. 14, beginning with a presentation at 6 p.m. and continuing until approximately 8 p.m. It takes place in the Council Chambers on the third floor of City Hall, 12000 Findley Road.
According to ARC officials, the North Fulton Comprehensive Transportation Plan will “provide the foundation and framework to address a complete range of transportation-related issues across the distinctive and unique cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Sandy Springs, Roswell and Mountain Park.” These issues include roadways, transit, bicycles, pedestrians, safety and operational improvements, demand management, freight movement, environmental, land use and market analysis
For more information, contact Project Manager Faye DiMassimo at 404-419-8700 or visit the project Web site at www.atlantaregional.com/nfctp.
Georgia Tech's Researcher Elected as Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Georgia Tech Prof. Zhong Lin Wang is one of six foreign scientists selected as academicians to be inducted into the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) this year.
A CAS academician title is the highest Chinese academic achievement in science and technology and a lifelong honor. New foreign members are added every two years, with no more than 60 total native and six foreign academicians chosen during each election. A total of six foreign and 35 native academicians were elected for 2009.
Wang is the youngest foreign academician to be inducted and the first from any Georgia educational institution. He is also the first foreign member to be named by CAS among the half million Chinese students sent overseas from China for studies for studying from China since 1980.
“This is the most prestigious honor I have received, and it will set my career to a new horizon from where I will work toward my new goals,” Wang said. “I am very honored to be accompanied by these world-class distinguished scholars. It will inspire me to make more contributions in science in years to come.”
The new native academicians were selected from 296 candidates. These new members include six from the mathematics and physics division, eight from chemistry division, five from the life sciences and medical sciences division, five from the earth sciences division, four from the information technological sciences division and seven from the technological sciences division. Wang’s acclaimed work in materials science and nanotechnology stood out to the academy members who championed his membership.
“He is one of the best overseas Chinese professors in the field of materials science and physics worldwide,” said Dr. Ze Zhang, an executive member of the CAS who spearheaded Wang’s membership. “His discoveries and inventions involving nano-electricity motorsgenerators have been well recognized by the international science community and the general public as one of the most influential technologies of the next decade.”
Recognizing Wang, Zhang said, also sends a message of encouragement to the millions of Chinese researchers who have traveled abroad to complete their studies.
“If the CAS can recognize their excellent work, it will promote more overseas Chinese to devote themselves to world science world wide, which in turn shall promote the Chinese science in China,” he said.
An induction ceremony for Wang and the other new academicians will be held next June in Beijing.
"We are thrilled that Dr. Wang's extraordinary work has been acknowledged by his membership in the CAS," said Don Giddens, dean of Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering. "This prestigious honor reflects his groundbreaking accomplishments in nanoscience and further enhances Georgia Tech's reputation as a worldwide hub for nanotechnology. Election as a foreign member of the CAS is reserved for only a select few, and we are extremely pleased to have ZL as a member of our faculty."
The CAS is the leading academic institution and comprehensive research and development center in natural science, technological science and high-tech innovation in China.
Increasing Number of Asian Drivers Fined Over Georgia's Move Over Law
A growing number of Asian drivers were issued traffic tickets for violating a new Georgia's "Move-Over" Law during the holidays.
The law stated drivers must move-over for emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the highway. The new law is designed to keep officers and traffic violators safe from crashes with passing cars.
The Georgia Move-Over Law requires drivers to move-over one lane when possible if an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is parked on the shoulder of the highway. And if traffic is too heavy to move-over safely, the law requires drivers to slow down below the posted speed limit instead and to be prepared to stop.
"I have never heard of such law. The office issued me a ticket without any warning," said Peter Kim of Cobb County who was pulled over for driving next to an emergency vehicle on I-85.
According to Georgia Highway Safety website, a violation of Move-Over-Law Georgia Code, Title 40-6-16 is subjected to a fine of not more than $500.00.
“Georgia’s Move-Over Law was meant to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to police officers, paramedics, firefighters, tow truck operators and highway maintenance workers,” said Director Bob Dallas of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Reports show emergency vehicles of all types have been struck while parked beside Georgia highways, even while their emergency lights were flashing.
"With the recession, I guess the authority will find ways to bring in revenues. The Move-Over-Law fine is an easy money for them to generate," said Kim angrily.