Bowling group named top Arlington small business

The Bowling Proprietors Association of America, which recently pinned down the United States Bowling Congress and the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame for Arlington, has been named the 2009 Outstanding Small Business of the Year by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

The bowling group, along with 10 other Arlington small businesses, will be honored at a Small Business Awards luncheon on May 7 at the Sheraton Arlington Hotel.

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in partnership with the North Texas Small Business Development Center, the chamber and other public and private small business supporters, will recognize Arlington companies during the 2009 Salute to Small Business. The event is co-sponsored by the Office of the Governor.

Keynote speaker for the 11:30 a.m. lunch is real estate developer Donald Huffines, co-owner of Huffines Communities.

The Bowling Proprietors Association (BPAA) began as the nonprofit trade association for bowling centers in 1933 and moved its headquarters to Arlington in 1972. During the past seven years, the BPAA has increased membership from 3,200 to 3,800 and net reserves from $2 million to $8 million.

During this time frame, the BPAA also has taken on the management of Strike Ten Entertainment – the marketing arm of the bowling industry – the International Bowling Pro Shop & Instructors Association, two regional bowling shows and eight of its 40 state affiliates.

In 2008, the BPAA expanded its facilities by purchasing with the United States Bowling Congress an adjacent 103,772-square-foot building to create the International Bowling Campus. The nine-acre, $14 million campus at 621 Six Flags Drive will include training and testing facilities. The property is near the Rangers Ballpark, the Dallas Cowboys stadium and Six Flags Over Texas.

James G. Sturm currently is serving as the president of the BPAA as well as director for the United States Bowling Congress.

Tickets to the Small Business Awards luncheon are $30 each. For reservations or more information, call 817-543-4298 or visit www.arlingtontx.com.