Ellington

Upgrade ya business
Seven businesses will receive more than $50,000 in grants from the city of Jackson to make technology and operational improvements as well as facade upgrades. The city council authorized the grants, part of the city's small business development grant and storefront improvement grant programs, at the Dec. 27 meeting.

Businesses operating within an area designated for urban renewal are eligible to receive up to $15,000 from each program, while businesses outside the zone can get $10,000 from each program, according to a news release.
The list of grantees is as follows:

• Broad Street Baking Company, SBDG, $10,000
• Arrington Dental, LLC, SBDG, $10,000
• Prompt Tax and Financial Services, SIG, $8,540
• Stover Developments, SBDG, $8,000
• The Hair Company, SBDG, $7,580
• Capital City Security, SBDG, $7,160
• Klean Jokers Barber Art Studio, SBDG, $4,040

The city reimburses the business owner for 75 percent of approved spending up to the maximum amount; technological equipment is reimbursed 100 percent as long as it does not exceed $5,000. The city is still taking applications for both programs. Business owners can call 601-960-1100 or visit the Office of Economic Development at 200 S. President St., Suite 223.

Sports 'round-the-clock
College sports fans can feed their hunger 24 hours a day with Ole Miss and Mississippi State sports radio channels from VSporto, a Ridgeland-based technology startup. Founder and president Keith Jasper wants his company to do for college sports what Pandora did for Internet radio by offer team-specific around-the-clock sports news.

"Different fan bases have different traditions, almost different personalities," he said in a phone interview.

VSporto has 30 employees, most of which are on-air hosts, Jasper said. The company is working on adding two more Southeastern Conference team channels, Alabama and Auburn, with the hope of having all the SEC teams by the time the 2012 football season gets underway.

Fans can access the channel at Vsporto.com, on the company's Facebook page, or by downloading the free mobile application, available for the iPhone as well as Android devices.

Sears and No Bucks
Citing lackluster holiday shopping sales, Sears Holdings will close its Metrocenter Mall location on Highway 80 along with more than 100 stores across the country. After same-store sales slipped 5.2 percent in the eight weeks that ended Christmas Day, which sent the company's stock on a nosedive, the Chicago-based retailer announced the closures. Sears, Roebuck and Co. has anchored Metrocenter Mall since the shopping center opened in 1978. As a result of steady decline as newer shopping centers were developed outside of Jackson, Sears remains the last of two retail anchors, along with Burlington Coat Factory. No closing date for any of the stores has been set.

In other mall news, the Northpark Mall will hold a grand opening for its new Kidgits Soft-Surface Play Area on Saturday, Jan. 14, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the food court.

That's Swell
Swell-O-Phonic skate shop will add roller-derby stock this year. The store will keep between four and six pairs of skates in stock for beginner and intermediate-level skaters in addition to more soft wheels, bearings, lube and pads, according to an emailed statement. The company is also designing and selling fixed gear and single-speed bikes and parts.