Tweedy Mile Association Copes with Less Funding

The , a local business organization that supports commerce along Tweedy Boulevard, is facing tough financial challenges in the current economy.

The group was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2007 and given a $600,000 grant by the City of South Gate. The grant was meant to cover the association's funding for a three-year period. 

“The city only gave us funding for three years and we made it last four,” said Laverne Bates, Tweedy Mile Association treasurer and owner of Bates Realty on Tweedy Boulevard. “We are very conservative [with our funding].”

But that funding has now run out.

Even with nearly 300 business owners as members, the Tweedy Mile Association’s ability to effectively promote business along the boulevard, has grown weaker. The group has been forced to cut back on some popular and traditional activities that it sponsored and organized every year.

“Tweedy Mile used to do a lot of different promotions, like the Christmas ham and Thanksgiving turkey drawings,” said Eduardo Díaz, owner of , a clothing store on Tweedy Boulevard, and a board member of the association.

“For Christmas we also used to have a sled with Santa where kids could take pictures in the boulevard,” he said.

The activities were not just a fun experience for those who attended, but also helped get people out to Tweedy Boulevard, drawing potential customers to the area's businesses during tough economic times.

“Without those things it can get even slower,” said Díaz.

To cope with the funding cut, the association was also forced to eliminate its full-time executive director post. The position was important to effectively manage the various activities of the organization, which is now operated mostly by volunteers.

“Having an executive director was a lot of help,” said Díaz. With many of the business owners busy with work and family responsibilities, he said, “a lot of people don’t get involved because they don’t have the time.”

The Tweedy Mille Association website is not regularly updated, even less so without the executive director, making communication efforts less efficient. The cancellation of this year’s annual Halloween trick or treat drawing, for example, did not reach everyone.

“People thought we would be doing it this year [again],” said Rene Ornelas, president of Tweedy Mile Association and owner of “They came to Tweedy Boulevard expecting it.” He, Laverne Bates and other merchants had to improvise and buy a few boxes of candies, spending their own money to avoid dissapointing the children.

"More children showed up this year than last year," said Laverne. Knowing that people were expecting them was enough for them to try and do something similar.  "It is important to have continuity of things."

Despite the difficult financial reality the association is facing, it does promise to try and do the most it can with what it has. The association will be raffling a bicycle on December 18. The group also plans to hold its yearly art classes for children at the Azalea Festival, and will also organize the Annual Street Fair at Tweedy Boulevard that has been held in the summer.

”We won't be able to do as much,” concluded Bates, “but we'll manage someway.”

To help or join the association, South Gate residents can contact Laverne Bates at 323-564-8233.