Oak Ridge Today

Meredith appointed Chamber of Commerce president

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Rick Meredith

Rick Meredith

Rick Meredith will become president of the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce on April 1. He will replace the current president, Jackie Nichols, who is retiring effective May 1.

The Chamber’s Board of Directors announced the selection of Meredith, who is an Anderson County commissioner, on Monday.

“My compliments and appreciation to the search committee for their time commitment and to Chamber Board Chairman Stephen Harris for his leadership during the hiring process,” Nichols said. “Meredith was a highly qualified candidate, and I believe the perfect selection to continue the Chamber’s current momentum and growth.” [Read more…]

AC Chamber luncheon to feature Techmer PM president

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Anderson County Chamber of Commerce

The annual Business Luncheon by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will feature Ryan Howley, president of Techmer PM, the company that President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden visited in January.

The Business Luncheon starts at 11:30 a.m. Friday, February 20, at The Hollingsworth Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (Junior Achievement BizTown). The center is located at 2135 North Charles Seivers Boulevard in Clinton.

Obama toured part of the Techmer PM facility in Clinton before making a major announcement about the creation of a $250 million manufacturing innovation hub aimed at strengthening U.S. leadership in next-generation composite materials.

[Read more…]

Gas sells for less than $2 per gallon in Clinton, Anderson County

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Git 'N Go Gas Station in Clinton

Gas was selling for $1.98 per gallon at several stations near Interstate 75 on State Route 61 in Clinton on Thursday, including at this Git ‘N Go Market, right, and at a BP station, left, across the street.

 

Gas was selling for less than $2 per gallon at several gas stations in Clinton and Anderson County on Thursday.

At least three gas stations near Interstate 75 and State Route 61 in Clinton were selling regular unleaded gasoline for $1.98 per gallon. Several other gas stations in Anderson County along SR 61, which turns into Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge, were also selling fuel for $1.98. [Read more…]

Anderson Chamber elects new board officers

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Stephen Harris

Stephen Harris

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce has elected new board officers for 2015. Here is submitted information on those elected.

Stephen Harris has been named chairman of the board, Rob Followell has been elected chair-elect, and Amy Allen has been elected treasurer for Anderson County Chamber of Commerce. Steve Heatherly has been named member-at-large.

Stephen Harris, engineering manager at Powell-Clinch Utility District, where he has worked for 14 years, is responsible for the daily operation of the Engineering, IT, and Building Maintenance Departments. Stephen is a graduate of Leadership Anderson County and has served as co-chair of the Chamber’s Government and Community Relations Council. [Read more…]

Clinton Christmas Parade is Saturday; deadline to register is Wednesday

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Clinton Christmas Parade First Place

A float by Second Baptist Church featuring a large sleigh and reindeer won first place in the Dec. 1, 2012, Christmas parade in Clinton. (File photo courtesy of Janet Hawkins)

 

Clinton’s traditional Christmas Parade of bands, floats, and many other processional entries will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 13. This year’s theme is “The Gifts of Christmas!”

Businesses, churches, schools, and other marching groups are encouraged to register and participate in the parade. The parade entry fee of $10 is payable to the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, and the deadline to register is 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 10. There will be no late entries, a press release said.

Entry forms can either be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office located at 245 North Main Street, Suite 200, Clinton, or to receive a form by mail, fax, or email, call the Chamber at (865) 457-2559. You may also obtain a registration form, map, and instructions at www.andersoncountychamber.org. [Read more…]

3M will invest $135 million, create 100 jobs at Clinton manufacturing facility

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Food Lion Distribution Center and 3M Company Manufacturing

The 3M Company purchased the former Food Lion Distribution Center on J.D. Yarnell Industrial Parkway in the Eagle Bend Industrial Park in Clinton on Friday. 3M paid roughly $14.4 million for the 772,00-square-foot building on 160 acres, and the company will use it to make products for the oil, gas, and automotive industries. (Photo courtesy Tim Thompson/Anderson County Economic Development Association)

 

Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

Note: This story was updated at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 8.

NASHVILLE—The 3M Company has purchased the former Food Lion distribution center in the Eagle Bend Industrial Park in Clinton and will use it to manufacture products for the oil, gas, and automotive industries. The company is expected to invest $135 million and create 100 new jobs in Anderson County.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty joined 3M Company officials in Nashville to announce the company’s investment on Friday afternoon.

3M purchased the 772,000-square-foot building on 160 acres on J.D. Yarnell Parkway in the Eagle Bend Industrial Park for roughly $14.4 million. The sale closed on Friday, said Tim Thompson, president of the Anderson County Economic Development Association. [Read more…]

Update: Repairs to Johnson Gap Road Bridge could begin soon

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Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County Commission Chairman Robert McKamey says he has been in regular contact with a project manager for CSX Railroad, and the repairs planned at the Johnson Gap Road Bridge are still expected to begin before the end of this month.

The bridge has been closed for almost a year and a half after state inspectors determined it was unsafe for travel. Residents and emergency responders have complained bitterly about the extra time that it now takes to get to and from Clinton from that part of Dutch Valley.

Earlier this year, the company gave the county two options for addressing the problem—replacing it at county expense or repairing it at theirs. The County Commission voted to let the company pay for repairing the bridge, and McKamey told WYSH Radio in Clinton that the project is slated to begin sometime in the second half of November and could be completed by the end of the year.

Chamber Seminar Series: Protect your small business from fraud

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Jason Mooney

Jason Mooney

A November 5 seminar at the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will feature a seminar on small business and fraud.

The seminar by Jason Mooney of Regions Bank will be titled “Protect Your Small Business from Fraud.” It’s scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, November 5, at the Chamber office.

“Financial loss due to fraud is something that companies are experiencing more and more,” a press release said. “This seminar is geared to help business owners spot and mitigate the risk of potential financial loss due to fraudulent activity. This course will go over the different types of fraud that occur, as well as go over steps that can help prevent these different types of fraud from occurring. Actual fraud cases and the lessons learned will be reviewed during this informative seminar.” [Read more…]

AC Chamber Council starts discussions on educational resources, workforce needs

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Randy Boyd

Randy Boyd

Submitted

CLINTON—Leaders from business, local, and post-secondary education across Anderson County gathered at the Hollingsworth Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership on Tuesday for an Anderson County Workforce Development Training Resources Luncheon hosted by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce Education and Workforce Development Council. The council plans for this to be the first of a series of in-depth county-wide discussions about how to ensure that our educational resources are focused at meeting the businesses workforce needs in Anderson County.

Randy Boyd, Governor Bill Haslam’s special adviser on higher education, spoke about Tennessee’s “Drive to 55” initiative and the five main aspects to this statewide initiative: get students ready, get them into school, get them out of school, finish what we started with adult students, and tie education directly to workforce needs.

“There are nearly a million Tennesseans that have some college credit but no degree—that’s an untapped pool of people that we can get to complete a certificate or degree,” Boyd said. [Read more…]

Anderson County Chamber has industrial job fair on Thursday

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Anderson County Chamber of Commerce Logo

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will host an industrial job fair to recruit employees for local industries on Thursday in Clinton.

The job fair is scheduled from 2-8 p.m. Thursday, October 16, at Roane State Community College’s Higher Education and Workforce Training Facility at 214 Nave Street in Clinton (at the Anderson County Fairgrounds). This one-day event allows job seekers to connect face-to-face with local industries seeking employees, a press release said. [Read more…]

Dine and Donate, an ADFAC fundraiser, returns Monday

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ADFAC Dine and Donate at Salsarita's

Will and Leo Mauk-Olson help deliver supplies to Salsarita’s in Oak Ridge. Salsarita’s is a first-time Dine and Donate participant and one of five local restaurants participating year-round. (Submitted photo)

Dine and Donate, a fundraiser for ADFAC, begins its second year of food and fellowship on Monday, October 13.

On Dine and Donate Mondays (the second Monday of each month), seven to eight local restaurants donate a significant portion of their daily sales to ADFAC (Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties).

“Dine and Donate is a great way for local residents to try new restaurants or visit their favorites,” said ADFAC Board Member Cande Seay, who also chairs the Dine and Donate committee. “Last year, hundreds of local families and over a dozen restaurants came together to raise thousands of dollars to support ADFAC’s mission.”

Restaurants participating on Monday, October 13, are Hoskins and Riverview Grill in Clinton, and Mediterranean Delight, The Other One, Papa Murphy’s, Razzleberry’s, and Salsarita’s in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Clinch River Antiques Festival continues through Saturday

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Clinch River Antiques Festival

The Clinch River Antiques Festival in 2012 is pictured above. (Photo by Carl Warner)

 

The 14th Annual Clinch River Antiques Festival kicked off on Friday evening, October 10, from 6-9 p.m. in Historic Downtown Clinton with shops open late, food vendors, and live entertainment. It continues through Saturday evening.

Friday entertainment—Live entertainment on Friday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Hoskins Lane Park in Gazebo Park with the unique music of The Walker Boys. The Walker Boys are a gospel and traditional bluegrass band consisting of five brothers and their father. The family has performed for several years at churches, festivals and special events. They live locally in Clinton. [Read more…]