A plumbers and steamfitters union wants to use a former hardware store for a trade school.
A rezoning for the project was recommended in a voice vote by the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission on Thursday. There was no opposition.
An airport update, potential comments about mercury storage, and an overview of a proposed 69-kilovolt electrical line for the TRISO-X project at Horizon Center are on the agenda for an Oak Ridge City Council work session on Tuesday.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom.
The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission on Thursday will consider rezoning 110 acres at Horizon Center for a nuclear fuel fabrication company.
The property (Lot 6a) has been purchased from the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board by TRISO-X LLC, a nuclear fuel company that announced expansion plans in Oak Ridge in April 2022, the city staff said. The company said it hopes to bring hundreds of highly skilled, high-paying jobs to the Oak Ridge area and further “Oak Ridge’s well-earned reputation as the center of U.S. nuclear innovation and excellence.”
A city official will give an update on the proposed development of downtown Oak Ridge during a lunchtime meeting Tuesday.
The presentation will be led by Wayne Blasius, director of the Oak Ridge Planning and Development Department. The online Lunch with the League meeting has been organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, and it is scheduled from 12 to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 15.
“Because of its unique development as a community to support the Manhattan Project (during World War II), the City of Oak Ridge lacked a central downtown,” a press release said. “In the fall of 2019, the city prepared a vision for a new city center, which included zoning changes, property acquisition, and soliciting development. With zoning changes and property acquisition in place, on August 6, 2021, the Oak Ridge Land Bank held its ‘Toast the Town’ event to hear the formal announcement of the call for development. Two excellent proposals were received in response to the (request for proposals) and will be considered for approval by the Land Bank Board at their business meeting, March 15, 5:30 pm (location to be announced). Interested community members are encouraged to attend.”
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Teresa Frady, president of the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee, is the Spotlight Interview guest on this week’s episode of the Gone Fission Nuclear Report podcast, which covers U.S. Department of Energy environmental management activities around the nation.
Hosted by Michael Butler, the episode is available on all podcast platforms and can be accessed at www.gonefissionpodcast.com, a press release said.
Frady shared with Butler’s listeners CROET’s mission to help DOE transition underused assets such as land, buildingsm and equipment to private sector companies at the East Tennessee Technology Park, also known as the Heritage Center. She recently replaced Lawrence Young, who had served as CROET’s president and chief executive officer since its founding in 1995.
“Our partnership with DOE in transferring federal land helps the region with creation of quality jobs but also adds the property to Roane County and City of Oak Ridge tax rolls,” she said in the press release. “This helps the communities and saves the federal government money since DOE no longer has to maintain those assets.”
[Read more…]
The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce recently presented Willow Ridge Garden Center with its Small Business of the Month designation for February 2022. Pictured are Christine Michaels, Greg Steele, Kelley O’Dell, Scott Russell, Chris Johnson, April Fugate, Lora Barker, Florenda Howard, and Norm Nelson. (Submitted photo)
Willow Ridge Garden Center has been named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for February 2022.
The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union.
Willow Ridge Garden Center is located at 97 Oak Ridge Turnpike.
“When the weather is bleak, wet, dreary, and cold, it may not seem like the time to visit Willow Ridge Garden Center,” a press release said. “But, according to garden center retail manager Greg Steele—or ‘Greg the Friendly Garden Guy’ to followers of the Willow Ridge Facebook page—it’s always planting season. ‘We are here year round and you can plant year round. There is not a time when you can not plant, so you can always get your hands dirty—it’s good for you!'” [Read more…]
Teresa Frady has been named president and chief executive officer of the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee.
CROET is a regional economic development nonprofit organization that helps find new uses for U.S. Department of Energy facilities and property, including at sites that are no longer used or needed. The goal is to spur private development and create jobs.
Frady’s appointment was announced during the January meeting of the CROET Board of Directors. She replaces Lawrence Young, who is retiring after serving more than 26 years as CROET’s president and CEO.
“I am so pleased that Teresa has accepted the challenge of leading CROET into its next phase,” Young said in a press release. “Teresa has been an integral part of the success of the organization, and I am confident that she, as my successor, will enhance upon the legacy established by the organization’s founders.”
Frady began her career with CROET 22 years ago, the press release said. She has risen through the ranks with increasing responsibility by serving in such roles as account manager, accountant, chief accountant, chief operating officer, and executive director.
[Read more…]
Note: This story was updated at 9:45 a.m. Dec. 30 to correct that the NNSA has purchased the LeMond building.
The National Nuclear Security Administration has purchased a building in west Oak Ridge that has been the site of two major industrial announcements, one by CVMR and the other by LeMond Composites. Both projects had promised at least $125 million in investments and hundreds of jobs, but neither has proceeded as expected.
The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will honor area business leaders and businesses during an awards dinner in January.
It’s the second annual An ExtraORdinary Evening Installation and Awards Dinner. It’s scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Friday, January 7, at the Oak Ridge Children’s Museum. The cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m.
Jim Dodson and David Wilson will be presented with the Chamber’s most prestigious awards at the event, a press release said.
Dodson will be the recipient of the Eugene L. Joyce Lifetime Achievement Award, the press release said. [Read more…]
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in Jackson Square from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, December 18, and members of the Oak Ridge Choral Society will lead people in Christmas carols at 4 p.m.
The celebration is being sponsored by the merchants of Jackson Square.
“Come join us as we gather around the tree,” a press release said.
“Giving and receiving are an important part of the holiday season and our ‘Lights of Hope Tree Decorating Contest’ is currently going on until December 30,” the press release said. “There are seven trees secured to lamp posts around the Square. Each tree was decorated by a nonprofit in our area. You cast votes by donating dollars. Each vote is worth one dollar.”
[Read more…]
Cook’s Comfort Systems of Oak Ridge donated a heating and air-conditioning unit to Oak Ridge Nursery School, and workers installed it this month.
The donation, which included the labor of two workers, was valued at about $8,000, said Jawrell Cook, owner of Cook’s Comfort Systems on Union Valley Road in Oak Ridge.
“They need the help,” Cook said of Oak Ridge Nursery School. The pandemic has been difficult for many organizations, Cook said.
He said he had three sons attend Oak Ridge Nursery School more than 20 years ago, and one of his employees has a son at the nursery school now.
[Read more…]
Promo Joe by Jessica was named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for December. Craig Peters of Enrichment Federal Credit Union, sponsor of the monthly award, is pictured with Jessica Diveto, owner of Promo Joe by Jessica. (Submitted photo)
Promo Joe by Jessica was named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for December.
The monthly award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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