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HIBBETT BOARD OF DIRECTORS NAMED TOP 20 FINALIST FOR 2022 NACD DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION AWARDS

Hibbett, Inc.

Hibbett, Inc. announced today that their Board of Directors is one of four finalists in the category of public company small cap 2022 for the NACD Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Awards. The awards recognize boards that have improved their governance and created long-term value for stakeholders by implementing forward-thinking diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) practices. “We are honored and grateful to receive this recognition from NACD amongst such an impressive group of fellow finalists,” said Tony Crudele, Chairman of the Board, Hibbett, Inc. “Our team believes that leading with inclusiveness is critical at all levels to cultivate an authentic representation of our communities and to create a competitive advantage. In building the team, our approach is simple; hire the most qualified candidate that brings a unique skill set and perspective.” “Hibbett has worked to achieve great strides in creating an equitable boardroom,” said NACD president and CEO Peter Gleason. “NACD is proud to honor Hibbett for advancing DE&I in their boardroom and throughout their organization." Hibbett has strategically repositioned the company while prioritizing diversification of the Board. Since 2018, Hibbett, Inc. has undergone a significant transformation of its Management and Board of Directors composition. The company is currently represented by a Board of Directors with 80% who self-identify as diverse. Hibbett’s Board sets the tone for the inclusive culture of the company. Hibbett has taken important steps to integrate DE&I into many aspects of the company to positively impact both associates and customers including: Creation of Hibbett MVPs – Mission-Vision-Position Principles to celebrate individuality and self-expression Implementation of Human Capital Management System (HCM) to impact diversity of employees and leaders, increase employee engagement and prioritize pay equity Creation of “ Ignite ”-our employee resource group to empower emerging female leaders Recruiting at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Sole School® community giveback programs to support underserved schools and athletic programs Support Her Sole™ program to highlight successful women in sports and business and support millennial and Gen Z women Celebrating Heritage Months and Identity Recognitions Winners will be announced at the NACD DE&I Awards Gala at Gotham Hall in New York City on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. Visit the NACD DE&I Awards site to learn more about the gala and sponsorship opportunities. For more information on NACD’s commitment to the advancement of DE&I at the board level, and for further insights, trends, and perspectives on this issue, please visit the NACD Center for Inclusive Governance™ and the NACD Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Resource Center. About Hibbett, Inc. Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1,117 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 36 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. About NACD The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is the premier membership organization for board directors who want to expand their knowledge, grow their network, and maximize their potential. As the unmatched authority in corporate governance, NACD sets the standards of excellence through its research and community-driven director education, programming, and publications. Directors trust NACD to arm them with the relevant insights to make high-quality decisions on the most pressing and strategic issues facing their businesses today. NACD also prepares leaders to meet tomorrow’s biggest challenges. The NACD Directorship Certification® is the leading director credential in the United States. It sets a new standard for director education, positions directors to meet boardroom challenges, and includes an ongoing education requirement that prepares directors for what is next. With an ever-expanding community of more than 23,000 members and a nationwide chapter network, our impact is both local and global. NACD members are driven by a common purpose: to be trusted catalysts of economic opportunity and positive change—in business and in the communities we serve. To learn more about NACD, visit www.nacdonline.org. Contact Details Wendy Yellin pr@hibbett.com NACD Shannon Bernauer sbernauer@nacdonline.org Company Website https://www.Hibbett.com

December 01, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

ALR Technologies Announces Co-branded Distribution Partnership with Covetrus for GluCurve Pet CGM, the First Continuous Glucose Monitoring System for Diabetic Pets

ALR Technologies SG Ltd

SINGAPORE- Media OutReach - 1 December 2022 - ALR Technologies SG Ltd (“ALRT”) (OTCQB: ALRTF), the diabetes management company, today announced it has entered into a co-branded distribution agreement (the “Agreement”) with Covetrus, Inc. (“Covetrus”), a global leader in animal-health technology and services, for ALRT’s GluCurve Pet CGM, a continuous glucose monitoring (“CGM”) system for diabetic cats and dogs. The GluCurve Pet CGM is the first and only continuous glucose monitoring system designed for diabetic cats and dogs and sold directly to veterinarians. “After meeting with many of the largest animal-health companies, Covetrus stood out as the clear choice as our partner to launch the GluCurve Pet CGM,” said Sidney Chan, chairman and CEO of ALRT. “Covetrus is uniquely suited for the sale and distribution of the GluCurve Pet CGM because of their industry leading service organization and differential go-to-market strategy that will help drive GluCurve to become the new standard of care for millions of diabetic animals around the world.” According to studies 1,2, 1 in 300 dogs and 1 in 175 cats have diabetes and until now, treating them could be a challenge for pet parents and veterinarians. The GluCurve records blood sugar levels every 3 minutes for up to 14 days, readings are displayed for the pet owner in the GluCurve app for iOS and Android and uploaded to a veterinary patient management web portal. In the web portal, the data are analyzed and organized into time saving graphs and tables, along with additional features such as glucose curve comparisons and overlays, insulin dose calculators, best practice guidelines, and more. “We welcome the opportunity to bring innovative technologies and devices, such as the GluCurve Pet CGM, to market to help animal health professionals battle a progressive but often manageable disease such as diabetes, in new and innovative ways,” said Cesar França, president, Global Proprietary Brands at Covetrus. “Veterinarians and their patients are our first priority and bringing products and technology to our customers that improve access, reduce burden and enhance care are the cornerstones of our mission.” Under the terms of the Agreement, Covetrus will have the exclusive rights to sell ALRT’s GluCurve Pet CGM as a co-branded product to veterinary clinics throughout the U.S., Brazil, United Kingdom, the European Union, and various other countries globally. Sales in the U.S. are expected to commence by the end of 2022. The quantity of available units will ramp up monthly to support a full U.S. launch followed by a global launch as inventories permit. 1 O'Neill, D G et al. “Epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus among 193,435 Cats Attending Primary-Care Veterinary Practices in England.” Journal of veterinary internal medicine vol. 30,4 (2016): 964-72. doi:10.1111/jvim.14365 2 Yoon, Samuel et al. “Epidemiological study of dogs with diabetes mellitus attending primary care veterinary clinics in Australia.” The Veterinary record vol. 187,3 (2020): e22. doi:10.1136/vr.105467 About ALR Technologies SG Ltd. ALRT is a data management company that developed the ALRT Diabetes Solution, a comprehensive approach to diabetes care that includes an FDA-cleared and HIPAA compliant diabetes management system that collects data directly from blood glucose meters and continuous glucose monitoring devices, and a patent pending Predictive A1C algorithm to track treatment success between lab reports and an FDA-cleared Insulin Dosing Adjustment program. The overall goal is to optimize diabetes drug therapies to drive improved patient outcomes. In addition, the animal health division of ALRT has developed the GluCurve Pet CGM; a solution to assist veterinarians better determine the efficacy of insulin treatments and to help to identify the appropriate dose and frequency of administration for companion animals, thereby delivering the same optimization of diabetic drug therapies to pets as to humans. More information about ALRT can be found at www.alrt.com and https://sg.alrt.com. About Covetrus Covetrus is a global animal-health technology and services company dedicated to empowering veterinary practice partners to drive improved health and financial outcomes. We are bringing together products, services, and technology into a single platform that connects our customers to the solutions and insights they need to work best. Our passion for the well-being of animals and those who care for them drives us to advance the world of veterinary medicine. Covetrus is headquartered in Portland, Maine with more than 5,700 employees serving over 100,000 veterinary customers around the globe. For more information about Covetrus, please visit https://covetrus.com/. ALR Technologies SG Ltd Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements about our plan, objectives, expectations and intentions. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Factors that could adversely affect our business and prospects are set forth in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of our management team and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligations to make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Contact Details ALR Technologies SG Ltd. Media Relations media@alrt.com ALR Technologies SG Ltd. Jacqueline Wu Jacqueline.wu@alrt.com

December 01, 2022 08:28 AM Eastern Standard Time

Holiday Gadget Guide

News Media Group, Inc.

Contact Details News Media Group Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/

December 01, 2022 06:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Crowdfunding 2.0 May Attract Larger, More Profitable Companies

ACFN Franchised Inc.

In April 2012, President Barack Obama signed the JOBS Act (Jumpstart Our Business Startups), also known as “the crowdfunding bill,” into law. The JOBS Act aimed to lessen regulatory burdens on small businesses and legalized equity crowdfunding, including removing the ban on a general solicitation that prevented entrepreneurs from publicizing that they were raising money. In practical terms, the JOBS act allowed businesses and investors to connect earlier in the development cycle enabling private investors to gain benefits previously reserved only for wealthy investors and Venture Capitalists (“VCs”). The initial bill imposed a maximum of $1,070,000 on the amount raised. Indiegogo and Kickstarter developed as two of the most popular crowdfunding platforms where entrepreneurs, startups and people with creative projects could raise capital to fund development. This appealed to a particular sector of business development but left out a lot of larger, more profitable quality businesses with larger capital needs. Crowdfunding 2.0 – building on the initial success of Crowdfunding and to expand the addressable market that can benefit from this relatively new method of raising capital, on November 2, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commissions (“SEC”) announced new rules for equity Crowdfunding. Those new rules went into effect on March 15th, 2021. Key Takeaways: Regulation Crowdfunding annual limits increased from ~$1 million to $5 million Some other improvements made it easier to raise via equity crowdfunding Crowdfunding Market to Grow by USD 196.36 Billion during 2021-2025 With these new rules in place, will equity crowdfunding finally live up to its promise of disrupting early-stage financing? With the higher limit of $5,000,000, some companies like ACFN Franchised Inc. (“ACFN”) took note and are taking action. Crowdfunding platform Republic is one of the largest and most successful SEC-approved platforms facilitating Crowdfunding offerings with more than $1 Billion raised. ACFN decided to conduct its Crowdfunding campaign on Republic “They seemed very organized and had a corporate approach to the process that was a good fit for ACFN,” said Jeffrey D. Kerr, Founder and CEO of ACFN. “They have a due diligence process that both limits and qualifies the offerings on their platform resulting in higher quality offerings for their community of investors,” said Mr. Kerr. With audited financials reflecting revenue of $12,225,000 and a net profit of $613,000 in 2021, ACFN is a larger, more profitable company compared to the typical company raising capital with Crowdfunding. “We had no interest in Crowdfunding when the limit was only $1,070,000. There are simpler and quicker ways to raise capital at that rate as we did when we raised $2.25 million to help fund acquisitions in 2018 and then again in 2020,” said Jeffrey D. Kerr, Founder and CEO of ACFN. “When the limit was increased to $5 million, that was a game changer for ACFN and other companies like us,” said Mr. Kerr, that expects other larger, more profitable companies to enter the space as platforms and other support systems and services continue to develop. Of the 102 live opportunities listed on Republic, as of November 21 st, 2022 ACFN is the largest company by annual revenue and the only company with annual revenue above $10 million with ACFN revenue in the most recent 12 months reaching $14.5 million. “We are Crowdfunding to raise capital for current and specific acquisitions opportunities that will grow revenue substantially and profits exponentially,” said Jeffrey D. Kerr Founder and CEO of ACFN. “Crowdfunding is a great way for good companies with real growth opportunities to connect with investors directly, creating the opportunity for greater returns,” said Mr. Kerr. Both Founders and Investors are embracing Crowdfunding and billions of dollars have already been raised through SEC approval and regulated portals. Crowdfunding is connecting investors and companies directly and earlier in the growth cycle, creating mutually beneficial opportunities. Learn more about ACFN and other Crowdfunding opportunities on Republic Founded in 1996 and franchised in 2003, ACFN Franchised Inc. (“ACFN”) provides services to 2,700+ businesses in 46 states in collaboration with our network of 220+ franchise owners.Since inception, ACFN has provided a cumulative $5,000,000,000 of spending power to support and increase sales for our partner businesses. In just the last 12 months a total of $367,566,000 was dispensed through our network, generating more than $14,500,000 in fee revenue for ACFN. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Jeffrey Kerr Investor-Relations@acfn-solutions.com Company Website https://acfn-solutions.com/

November 30, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

CORRECTION: Expansion of Pipeline to Mental Health

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Nearly half of U.S. psychologists in a new survey say they cannot meet the growing demand for services and three-quarters say they have longer waiting lists than before the pandemic. “This new survey confirms what we have already heard from patients: people are having a hard time accessing the mental health services they need,” said Dr. Michele Nealon, Psy.D., President of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. “It is critical now more than ever to expand the pipeline for mental health professionals and promote integrated behavioral health into primary care.” The 2022 COVID-19 Practitioner Impact Survey of almost 2,300 psychologists by the American Psychological Association found that demand for treatment of anxiety and depression remained high for the third consecutive year, along with increased demand for treatment of stressor-related disorders, and substance use disorders. Six in 10 practitioners said they had no more openings for new patients, nearly half (46%) said they had been unable to meet treatment demand and nearly three quarters (72%) have longer waiting lists than before the pandemic. On average, psychologists reported being contacted by more than 15 potential new patients seeking care per month. Nearly eight in 10 psychologists (79%) said they had seen an increase in the number of patients with anxiety disorders since the start of the pandemic, and 66% had seen an increase in the demand for treatment for depression. Almost half (47%) said they had seen an increase in demand for substance use treatment (compared to 43% last year) and 64% had seen an increase in demand for trauma treatment (compared to 62% last year). 2021). Additionally, two-thirds of psychologists reported seeing an increase in symptom severity among patients in 2022. “The social, emotional, and economic effects of a pandemic are still with us and will be for quite some time. In addition, the stressors associated with inflation, social and racial inequities, political upheaval, and international tensions are creating an unsettled nation. At a time when mental health services are needed the most, we are struggling the most to meet those needs,” said Dr. Nealon. “Policy makers have to make a bigger investment in financial and programmatic support to ensure that everyone who seeks psychological services can find a professional who can understand and help them.” The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is a non-profit majority minority institution, educating 6,000 students at seven campuses in major metro areas around the national. Two of three identify as students of color, including a significant number of first-generation college students. About The Chicago School of Professional Psychology: Integrating theory with hands-on experience, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology provides education rooted in a commitment to innovation, service, and community for thousands of diverse students across the United States and globally. Founded in 1979, the nonprofit, regionally accredited university now features campuses in iconic locations across the country (Chicago, Southern California, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Dallas) and online. To spark positive change in the world where it matters most, The Chicago School has continued to expand its educational offerings beyond the field of psychology to offer more than 30 degrees and certificates in the professional fields of health services, education, counseling, business, and more. Through its engaged professional model of education, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and an extensive network of domestic and international professional partnerships, The Chicago School’s students receive real-world training opportunities that reflect their future careers. The Chicago School is proud to be a part of TCS Education System, a nonprofit, integrated system of colleges and universities that works collaboratively to advance student success and community impact. To learn more, visit www.thechicagoschool.edu. Contact Details Vivien Hao +1 323-893-4743 vhao@thechicagoschool.edu

November 29, 2022 06:18 PM Eastern Standard Time

Dolia Cats NFT Metaverse is Set for the Leaderboard

Dolia Cats

The hotly anticipated Dolia Cats NFT metaverse is in the final phase of deployment ahead of its multichain launch in a couple of days. The metaverse will be followed by the second iteration of the Dolia Cats Original NFT collection, first release Dolia Cats Genesis collection of which, sold out in less than 24 hours and granted its owners access to DAO. Each Dolia Cats NFT will give its holder the ability to enter the Meowverse where the community can enjoy play2earn games, DeFi tokenomics, showcase art, upgrade their NFTs in order to boost their value, and donate their spare MEELK tokens to real-world cat charities. Exactly 9,999 Dolia Cats NFTs will be available to mint shortly after the metaverse launch, each one programmatically generated from a pool of more than 150 assets spread out of 7 traits during the minting process. Not content with simply launching a one-of-a-kind metaverse, the Dolia Cats ecosystem will incorporate games, a decentralised finance platform, a charity, and Instagram AR effects that will allow you to bring your Dolia Cats NFT to life. The Dolia Cats NFT Backstory Renowned artist Daniil Dolia has a penchant for cats, and has 11 cats himself, all of which were rescued from the streets. His clowder gave him the idea to help millions of cats all around the world by creating and selling the Dolia Cats NFT collection. A portion of all revenue from the mint will be donated to cat shelters all around the world. The rest was dedicated to the final stages of the Meowverse metaverse development. In the Meowverse, the Dolia Cats NFT affectionate name for its metaverse, the community will be able to live a fully-fledged cat life and play games that are merged from an already successful Meowrush series, supported by the NEAR Foundation. It is important to note that Meorush is already a AAA multiplayer PVP game, powered by NEAR Protocol, and will play an integral part of the Meowverse metaverse. Talking about the community, it sits at the heart of the project. In fact, it is set to become the most inclusive community out there, where NFT owners and metaverse players are like one. When the metaverse goes live, early birds will be able to mint a grand total of 9,999 Dolia Cats Original NFTs, each one being totally unique and stored on the Ethereum blockchain. This highly anticipated NFT drop is expected to sell out in record time, and with an OpenSea listing secured, it’s expected that there will be significant aftermarket trade volume as well. MEELK Tokenomilks Explained Tokenomics are a core part of all metaverse projects, and the Meowverse is no exception to the rule. The Meowverse employs advanced tokenomilks to reward Dolia Cats NFT holders for their time in the virtual world, acting as a unique decentralised financial system with different reward programs for Dolia Cats holders. Players will be able to earn MEELK by taking part in a variety of play2earn games, from drops, selling or renting land, and special competitions inside the Meowverse. MEELK can then be used to purchase or rent land, upgrade NFTs with new attributes, and donate to real-world charities. MEELK is the lifeblood of the Meowverse, and without it the Meowverse wouldn’t be able to operate. Dolia Cats Goes Multichain! The Dolia Cats NFT Meowverse will be going live multichain in the coming days. The collection that is tied to its launch, will sell out incredibly fast, so making sure you’re all prepared nice and early, will give you the biggest chance of success when it comes to minting a Dolia Cats NFT. Of course, if you miss out on the mint, you’ll be able to buy from secondary NFT marketplaces such as OpenSea once the mint is complete. The Meowverse, play-to-earn games, 3D-printed cats, and Instagram AR effects will deploy at various intervals once the minting process has been completed. Out of the whole package, the metaverse is set to be the first to go live, with the other additions coming shortly after. About Dolia Cats Original Dolia Cats Original NFT collection is 9,999 programmatically generated cat-themed NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain. The collection was formed at random from a pool of more than 150 assets spread out over 7 trait categories. Profits from the mint and Meowverse are set to be donated to cat-focused charities from around the globe. The Meowverse serves as the pinnacle of the Dolia Cats roadmap and will provide utility to the Dolia Cat NFTs, injecting meaning that is often lacking in other NFT projects. Overall, Dolia Cats is on track to take over the NFT world and give it a depth, previously unachievable by already-established industry members. Useful Links Dolia Cats Ecosystem: https://www.doliacats.xyz/ Original Collection: https://original.doliacats.xyz/ Meowrush: http://meowrush.com/ Genesis Collections: https://opensea.io/collection/doliacatsgenesis Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoliaCats Discord: https://discord.com/invite/RetekYNarD Daniil Dolia’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/doliacat Contact Details Dolia Cats Antony Bekker antony.bekker@doliacats.xyz Company Website https://www.doliacats.xyz/

November 29, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Kombucha Town Is Creating Beverages For A Better World — Here’s How To Invest

Real McCoy Tea Company (DBA KombuchaTown)

Interested in investing in Kombucha Town’s campaign? Click here to get started! In 2011, Chris McCoy was met with the devastating news of his mother being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. McCoy had learned how to brew kombucha while studying environmental science at university, and in his small homemade tap room, he initially started brewing to spend more time with his mom. The two started brewing together and selling in local farmers markets. Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage that, when done right, has amazing health benefits. It’s made by adding a symbiotic colony of good bacteria and yeast to sweetened tea. The culture feeds on the sugars during fermentation, which produces alcohol and amino acids. This process is what produces so many health benefits. Kombucha is beneficial to digestion, and the amino acids can help to detoxify the liver. Kombucha also boasts antioxidants to protect the body and support the immune system. Overall, kombucha is a perfect drink to help lead a happier and more balanced life. While McCoy was brewing kombucha for the people in his life, he learned that the health industry may not be as healthy as we are led to believe. The beverage industry is wrought with sugary drinks and artificial ingredients. This is even true for the “functional beverage” industry, which is intended to focus on healthy options for consumers. Despite the demand for healthy drinks and the growing interest in the wellness industry, functional beverages often fall under two umbrellas: unhealthy and toxic or healthy and poor taste. With that knowledge, McCoy embarked on a mission to create a functional beverage company that offers truly healthy drinks that taste good and are environmentally friendly. Out of this mission came Kombucha Town. Kombucha Town debuted its first kombucha product in 2011 and since then has expanded its product line to include kombucha, balanced energy drinks, seltzer and a sports drink line. Each product is designed to maximize health benefits and intended to provide customers with functional beverages that actually work. Kombucha Town is also dedicated to helping the environment. It was the first kombucha brewery to package products in a 16-ounce aluminum can. This packaging is recyclable, lightweight and space efficient – helping cut down on distribution waste. The cans are also U.S.-made. The facility is 100% offset by renewable energy through Puget Sound Energy. Kombucha Town also has a partnership with One Tree Planted — when the company has held investment raises, One Tree Planted has planted trees corresponding with different raise amounts. Ready To Take Off? Like many companies, Kombucha Town struggled during the pandemic. Prior to COVID, Kombucha Town had grown from distribution in three states to 30 and brought in $1.2 million in revenue in 2019. But the company lost 75% of its revenue within the first month of the pandemic. Today, Kombucha Town reports flourishing and becoming a pioneering company in the kombucha space with its canned kombucha. Kombucha Town is sold in over 1,200 stores nationally. It is available in Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, Safeway/Albertsons, Sprouts and other chains. In 2021, the company had over $555,000 in sales. In 2022 Kombucha Town has sold over $850,000 and is on track to surpass pre covid numbers in 2023 and do it profitably. The company is currently holding a crowdfunding raise on Republic to help with its expanded growth. McCoy is hopeful that Kombucha Town will continue to grow into even more of a leader in the functional beverage space. The company is forecasting a return to pre-COVID sales in 2022 and expects to keep growing from there. Click here to read more about Kombucha Town’s raise and how to invest. Founder & CEO Chris McCoy brewed his first kombucha in 2007 while studying Environmental Science and Economics in college. He founded Kombucha Town in 2011 to support his mother with early onset Alzheimer’s. Now he is on a mission to disrupt the toxic food system and repair environmental damage done by large manufacturers. Kombucha Town’s mission is to enable healthy and active lifestyles. We believe in being good for and good for the planet by being fair trade and organic certified. Kombucha Town is based out of Bellingham Washington where we do all our manufacturing with the natural ingredients to bring you healthy and delicious beverages. Kombucha Town is focused on doing business a better way by better good for consumers and good for the planet. We embody environmentalism in our partnership and certification such as 1% for the planet and 1 tree planted. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Chris McCoy Chris@KombuchaTown.com

November 29, 2022 09:20 AM Eastern Standard Time

‘Hybrid’ Sports Tourism and Community Recreation Facility Development Increases 33% -- Signaling Major Transformation for Future of Parks & Recreation

Sports Facilities Companies

The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), a national consultancy, developer, and operator of sports, recreation, and events properties, predict that the $39.7 billion youth and amateur travel sports and the $218 billion parks and recreation industries are colliding, signaling a major transformation in the operations of local government. This prediction is based on SFC's analysis of 2,000 communities over the last 20 years, including analyzing parks and recreation budgets, sport and recreation funding mechanisms, political pressures, the rise of sports mega-complexes to drive tourism, and the budget constraints of municipal government. SFC predicts that assets traditionally operated by local government through their parks department will require new types of operating and management models to keep pace with private sector demands and to ensure local citizen activation. Numerous factors are impacting the way parks and recreation departments are structured, operated and how they deliver services to communities. What has gone unchanged is the popularity and significance of parks in the political landscape at the local level and as a proven amenity that impacts the quality of life, health and social outcomes, community engagement, and revenues for the cities where parks and recreation are prioritized. According to the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) 82% of U.S. adults agree that parks and recreation is essential and 72% of U.S. adults are more likely to vote for local political leaders who make park and recreation funding a priority. “What many community leaders don’t realize is that this shift is already underway. Now is the time to get strategic with your sports, parks, and tourism assets – or get left behind,” said Mike Kelly, former CEO of the Chicago Park District and NRPA chair, now Executive-Vice President of Community Development for SFC. “In my thirty-year tenure serving the City of Chicago, we chose to privatize twenty-plus properties – particularly those with an emphasis on sports, tourism, or those where driving revenue was an important factor.” According to SFC Partner Evan Eleff, who oversees the firms’ planning and advisory services, evidence of this shift is clear during the pre-development phase. Eleff’s team, which performs 150+ studies each year, reports a 33% increase in studies for facilities from municipal clients that combine multiple tourism, recreation, and events components since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Community leaders are challenged with meeting the needs of their cities and growing consumer expectations around sports and events, balancing the multitude of municipal infrastructure needs, and driving economic growth,” says Eleff. “With the rising cost of construction and materials, it means the average project cost is upwards of $30 million. For parks and recreation, which have been traditionally heavily subsidized, this means more pressure on revenue generation and cost recovery. This is a paradigm shift for most parks departments.” The rise of sports tourism since the early 2010’s has been a major contributing factor to this impending shift. According to a 2015 Industry Report by the Sports Events and Travel association (now called SportsETA), the youth and amateur sports tourism industry was valued at $9.45b. In their latest report from 2021, that figure is now $39.7 billion, a 320% increase in six years. That growth has predicted to continue to rise and reach $77.5 billion in 2026, according to Wintergreen Research, Inc. New hybrid facilities are being developed and opened in cities large and small. The City of Albertville, AL (population ~22,000) opened their $58 million Sand Mountain Park and Amphitheater in 2021 with a mission to serve both local residents with camps, clinics, and leagues and to drive economic development through sports tourism by hosting large sports tournaments and live entertainment. With two new hotels opened or under development, big-name quick service restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings and Beef O’Brady’s, and $23.2 in direct economic impact, the venue, operated by SFC, is outperforming original forecasts and driving economic development. “It’s tough for the traditional government approach to work in this dynamic environment. Developing and operating such diverse assets with such high expectations is not something with which most municipalities have experience,” said Jason Clement, CEO and co-founder of Sports Facilities Companies. “It’s why we purpose-built our team over the last twenty years to serve public entities. Our mission, to improve the health and economic vitality of the communities we serve, lives most vibrantly when we balance the competing needs of social equity and access, revenue generation, tourism development, emotional, physical, and mental health, and combatting the obesity epidemic. These are key elements of a flourishing community and operating partnerships with professional management firms are the way to maximize those results.” There may be no better example of this transformation than in Hoover, AL with the Hoover Met Complex. Forward-thinking leaders in Hoover re-imagined their existing AA (double-A) baseball stadium, former home to the Birmingham Barons and current host of the SEC baseball tournament, into a sports and recreation mecca. In 2017, the City opened the 155,000 square-foot indoor sport and event facility, the Finley Center and expanded RV Park. In 2019, the second phase of the project opened including an accessible playground, splash pad, outdoor baseball fields, rectangle fields, and tennis center. The operation has provided more than 10,000 hours of free community access annually, hosted premier tournaments like Perfect Game Baseball and community events including Market Noel and Vintage Market Days while providing financially for additional programming and capital investment projects. Additionally, the complex generated $68 million in economic impact in 2021 alone supporting the residential and commercial real estate development surrounding the Hoover Met Complex property. The City of Hoover oversees the SFC team, who manages daily operations and partners closely with City parks leadership to collaborate, not compete, with well-established programs and team members. “It’s examples like Hoover and Albertville demonstrating that not only can communities balance the multitude of outcomes demanded by residents, but they don’t have to do it alone,” said Kelly. “Communities of all sizes – as large as the City of Chicago and as small as twenty-thousand – have the opportunity to adapt now. The proverbial train has left the station. Change is coming. Now is the time to re-think old models and embrace what is next.” ### The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) are the Nation’s leading resources for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. As a turn-key solution for community leaders and developers alike, SFC services span the gamut of sports and recreation needs from sports tourism & recreation master planning, program planning, and feasibility through professional facility management services. Our 30+ managed venues and 1500+ team members, represented by the SF Network, welcome more than 25 million guest visits and produce over $250 million in economic impact each year. To learn more, please visit SportsFacilities.com and theSFnetwork.com. Contact Details Eric Nemeth nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://sportsfacilities.com/

November 29, 2022 08:35 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Family Gift Guide for the 2022 Holiday Season

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/5srhLRhXTBU A new survey finds holiday shoppers are planning to spend more than $800 on average this season. That’s a lot of gifting for those who were either naughty or nice on your shopping list. Lifestyle Expert, Bethany Braun-Silva has compiled a few family-focused gift ideas to help consumers navigate the holiday hustle and bustle. MAKE IT A STYLISH AND AFFORDABLE SEASON Online sales continue to reign supreme this holiday season and Bethany Braun-Silva, lifestyle expert and mom of two boys, says style is important, as is how the clothing is manufactured. She highlights one company, Gerber ® Childrenswear, saying, “Their new line, Our Softest Edit, is so buttery soft and comfy for little ones to sleep or play in.” Shoppers can feel confident in its quality, as the line is developed in partnership with Livaeco by Birla Cellulose for a more sustainably produced and environmentally-friendly product. The clothing is made from natural eucalyptus blended with Spandex, adding to its durability and stretch for the most active toddlers. Braun-Silva adds, “I also love that everything is under 25-dollars. That makes it affordable to add multiple pajamas, rompers or dresses in great solids or fun prints to your shopping list.” Gerber ® has been trusted by parents for generations. For more, go to Gerberchildrenswear.com Social media handles: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerberchildrenswear Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gerberchildrenswear/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gerberchildrenswear Twitter: https://twitter.com/gerbercw Brand Hashtag: #GCWbaby Style and comfort are important no matter your age. The lifestyle expert says she’s a big fan of a pop of plaid, lux fabrics and thoughtful details for women’s clothing. She points to J.Jill, a brand that “Has the perfect gifts for all the women in your life, including yourself!” J.Jill has styles for every moment with high-quality fabrics and details that make the difference. In addition to the versatile selection of items, they have a variety of sizing, inlcuding XS – 4X online and XS – 2X in-store. “Something else that makes this brand special—they make it easy to give back for the holidays with their snowflake printed scarf.” It’s part of the J.Jill Compassion Fund, where 100% of the net proceeds will be donated to organizations that support and empower women. Shoppers can visit their local J.Jill store or JJill.com to find their favorite pieces from the holiday collection for themselves or anyone on their gifting list. For more information, go to https://www.jjill.com/. Social media handles: Instagram: @jjillstyle Facebook: @jjillstyle KEEP IT COZY Braun-Silva says it’s a perfect season to spend time with your loved ones, adding, “The holidays are all about those warm and cozy moments.” That’s why she says it’s so easy to find your cozy and charming moments inside and outdoors this holiday season with Bedsure’s Wearable Blanket Hoodies. “My kids and husband love them, especially since there are family sets so we can match,” admits Braun-Silva, “It’s the perfect gift for the whole family.” The hooded blankets come in a range of sizes and variety of colors and patterns, featuring super-soft sherpa fleece and pockets to keep families snuggly and warm. Braun-Silva adds they are perfect for any occasion, “These blanket hoodies are perfect to use while working from home or outside on a walk.” Shoppers can find out more by visiting Bedsure’s store on Amazon. For those looking for a deal, they can get up to 51% off for shopping and gifting for a limited time. For more information, visit the Bedsure store on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bedsure-Sweatshirt-Wearable-Families-Standard/dp/B095WRRTWR?maas=maas_adg_F2AB75A62099517F9948BAE867077AC8_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas&th=1 Social media handles: Facebook: @BedsureHome Instagram: @BedsureHome TikTok: @BedsureHome PAY OVER TIME After selecting the best gifts for your family and friends, Braun-Silva says there is a convenient way to manage holiday spending while not breaking the bank. “If you’re looking for flexibility, PayPal Pay Later lets you spread out payments over time to better suit your budget,” the lifestyle expert adds, “I really like this approach, because it helps me balance out my spending and doesn’t stress me out.” PayPal Pay Later provides options to break purchases into four payments every two weeks or monthly payments for larger purchases. Braun-Silva thinks this is a great option, saying, “Now we can surprise loved ones with the best gifts this holiday season and stay on budget. Shoppers can learn more by checking out with PayPal Pay Later and selecting the option that suits them best to pay for all the special gifts for the people in their lives. For more information, visit paypal.com/buynowpaylater. Facebook Address: @PayPal Instagram Handle: @PayPal Twitter Handle: @PayPal Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 28, 2022 03:17 PM Eastern Standard Time

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