Oak Ridge Today

Free workshop on health care reform for individuals, small businesses

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A free workshop on health care reform on June 24 will provide an update for individuals and small businesses.

The discussion will include requirements, penalties, the Marketplace, and SHOP program, a press release said. The workshop is scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

It’s offered by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Roane State Community College, in partnership with the Community Health Alliance.

To sign up, call (865) 483-2668, email Jutta Bangs at jbangs@tsbdc.org, or visit www.roanestate.edu/tsbdc.

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center advises and assists entrepreneurs and small business owners at no cost to them.

Free workshop on indirect rates for government contractors

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There is a free workshop on Thursday, June 26, to help government contractors understand indirect rates and how to correctly calculate them.

The workshop is being offered by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Roane State Community College, in partnership with Strategic Consulting Solutions. It’s scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 26 at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

To see more details, and to register, please visit www.roanestate.edu/tsbdc. For questions, contact Jutta Bangs at (865) 483-2668 or jbangs@tsbdc.org.

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center advises and assists entrepreneurs and small business owners at no cost to them.

Career Coach rescheduled at the Library

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Oak Ridge Public Library Career Coach

Due to the Secret City Festival events, the Career Coach is moving its June 11 event to Wednesday, June 18, a press release said.

“So come to the Oak Ridge Public Library parking lot anytime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on that day to receive job assistance,” the release said. “With access to their state-of-the-art computer lab and well-trained team, you can navigate online job searching and get on track to find the job you want.

“Need help with your resume but know you can’t get here for the June 18 Career Coach visit? Their experts will also be here on Wednesday, July 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. so choose the date that best fits your schedule or come to both.”

For more information on the Career Coach, check out the website at www.getonthecoach.tn.gov or find them on www.facebook.com/GetOnTheCoach. This is a free service for the public, and participants do not have to be library members or Oak Ridge residents to receive assistance.

For more information on this free program, call the Library at (865) 425-3455 or email CircLib@oakridgetn.gov. Remember: June 18 and/or July 9.

Startup company licenses ORNL tool that will help consumers lower energy bills

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Fiveworks Licenses ORNL Technology

Knoxville-based Fiveworx has licensed an Oak Ridge National Laboratory technology called CoNNECT that will help consumers reduce their utility bills by analyzing their home energy usage. CoNNECT inventors (from left) Olufemi Omitaomu and Budhendra Bhaduri talk with Fiveworx CEO Patrick Hunt. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

 

Knoxville-based Fiveworx has licensed an Oak Ridge National Laboratory technology that will help consumers reduce their utility bills by analyzing their home energy usage.

The ORNL technology, called Citizen Engagement for Energy Efficient Communities (CoNNECT), enables utility customers to easily monitor their energy consumption in a user-friendly Web-based platform. Fiveworx will apply the CoNNECT tool toward its mission to help utilities increase participation in their energy efficiency programs while reducing their marketing costs.

“Our goal is to motivate consumers to do five or more things to save money on their utility bills,” said Fiveworx CEO Patrick Hunt. “By combining principles of behavioral economics, consumer segmentation, big data, and predictive analytics, we help utilities give their customers a truly personalized energy savings plan that they’ll embrace and use to adopt energy efficient measures and behaviors.” [Read more…]

Y-12 licenses high-powered hydraulic tool to Chattanooga company

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Omni Jaw 5

The Omni Jaw 5—a patented, portable, high-powered hydraulic tool invented to shear and trap bolt heads during demolition projects—has been licensed by Y-12 to Green Arc Labs (GAL) of Chattanooga. (Photo courtesy B&W Y-12)

 

A patented, portable, high-powered hydraulic tool—invented to shear and trap bolt heads during demolition projects—has proven its worth and is moving to market. Y-12 National Security Complex signed a licensing agreement with start-up company Green Arc Labs, or GAL, of Chattanooga for Omni Jaw 5. This is the first time the two companies have partnered.

The hand-held tool, invented a decade ago by Lee Bzorgi of Y-12’s National Security Technology Center, generates up to five tons of force on the cutting jaw and simultaneously collects the trimmings, eliminating environmental and safety hazards. It was designed during demolition of the East Tennessee Technology Park, where asbestos cyanide-dipped bolts posed a problem.

“We are excited about our connection with Y-12. This is a first for us,” said Casey York, founder of the GAL start-up company. “We have existing manufacturers in Chattanooga, and the Omni Jaw tool will be machined right here. There’s such an apparent need for this tool in the construction or demolition of any commercial building, for example, or in ship deconstruction, asbestos removal, or equipment dismantlement.” [Read more…]

Roane State ACE courses available at no cost to qualified students

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Composites Program

Leslie Agron (left) and Dana Hudson work on a class project as part of Roane State’s Advanced Composites Employment (ACE) program. (Photo courtesy Roane State Community College)

Roane State Community College’s composite materials courses were just the challenge Dana Hudson wanted.

Hudson, of Knoxville, completed three introductory courses in composite materials through the college’s Advanced Composites Employment, or ACE, program. Hudson had taken college courses on and off for years. Her previous college work paid off because the number of college credits Hudson had completed qualified her to take the composite materials courses at no cost.

“It was a great experience, and it challenged me in some ways that I needed to be challenged,” Hudson said. “I learned a lot, and the courses added to my resume. The first night I was ready to quit, but I stuck with it and learned a lot, and I feel very proud of the achievement. Like I told my kids, you are never too old to learn.”

Roane State offers specialized composite materials courses as part of its Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in General Technology. Composite materials, such as carbon fiber, are used to make automotive body parts, pontoon boats, wind turbine blades, and much more. [Read more…]

UT study: Lackluster growth in first quarter, but overall gains expected in 2014

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KNOXVILLE—An abnormally harsh winter led to lackluster economic growth the first quarter of 2014, but a dip in unemployment rates and expected increases in housing investments signal stronger gains for the remainder of the year.

The gross domestic product is expected to increase 2.4 percent this year as a whole, compared to 1.9 percent last year, according to the spring 2014 Tennessee Business and Economic Outlook released Friday at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

The national unemployment rate will likely average 6.5 percent this year compared to 7.4 percent last year, the report shows. It is expected to decrease to 6 percent in 2015.

The study, prepared by UT’s Center for Business and Economic Research, predicts the direction of the state and national economies by examining many economic and fiscal factors and trends. [Read more…]

U.S. judge denies request to stop Lake City’s name change to Rocky Top

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Tim Isbel at Hearing on Lake City Name Change to Rocky Top

Tim Isbel, president of the Rocky Top Marketing and Manufacturing Co., at a federal court hearing in May on Lake City’s proposed name change to Rocky Top.

A federal judge on Wednesday denied for now a request to stop Lake City from changing its name to Rocky Top.

The preliminary injunction had been requested by House of Bryant Publications LLC, the Gatlinburg publisher of “Rocky Top,” a well-known bluegrass song closely identified with the University of Tennessee and its Volunteers athletics program.

The Lake City Council could reconsider the name change as early as June. The council endorsed the name change in November, and it was approved by the Tennessee General Assembly this year in a bill that has already been signed by Gov. Bill Haslam. Anderson County Commissioner Tim Isbel has said Lake City could become Rocky Top on July 3 under the new state law.

Isbel is president of Rocky Top Tennessee Marketing and Manufacturing Co. That company has proposed a development that could be worth up to $450 million over six years and include an indoor and outdoor water park, coal miners theater, children’s museum, train rides, restaurant, and a candy company on some 300 acres near two exits off Interstate 75. Officials have said it could bring 200 new jobs to Lake City and generate another $6 million in sales tax per year. But the project hinges on the name change. [Read more…]

Tennessee Labor Department to host job fair in Oak Ridge on Friday

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The Tennessee Department of Labor is hosting a job fair for those seeking a unique and highly skilled workforce.

The American Centrifuge Manufacturing facility is ceasing operations, and as a result, approximately 120 highly skilled personnel responsible for the full breadth of facility operations and advanced technologies manufacturing activities are available for immediate hire. All workers are U.S. citizens with DOE-Q security clearances, and skill levels ranging from advanced engineering and physics degrees to a highly skilled craft workforce.

The job fair will be held on May 30, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the University of Tennessee Outreach Center at 1201 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. If you’re interested in entering your business into the job fair, contact Adina Chumley at (865) 594-0139 or Adina.Chumley@tn.gov.

Free small business start-up seminar on Friday

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Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is pictured above.

A free Friday workshop will give small business owners and entrepreneurs a better understanding of how to start a new business.

The workshop is from 11:30 a.m.– 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 30, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The workshop is offered by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Roane State Community College.

Registration is required. To see more details, and to register, please visitwww.roanestate.edu/tsbdc. For questions, contact Jutta Bangs at (865) 483-2668 or jbangs@tsbdc.org.

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center advises and assists entrepreneurs and small business owners at no cost to them.

Anderson Chamber announces ‘Tribute to Business’ award winners

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Oak Ridge High School String Quartet

Rising juniors from the Oak Ridge Schools Orchestra Program will be providing live music for the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce’s 3rd Annual Tribute to Business on Friday, June 6, at the Museum of Appalachia. From left to right are Megan Peters, cello; Brittany Rowe, violin; Evelyn Pieper, violin; and Lucas Potter, viola.

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce has announced its Tribute to Business Awards, and they will be honored during a June 6 celebration at the Museum of Appalachia.

Here are the winners:

  • Small Business—Samuel Franklin,
  • Mid-Sized Business—All Occasion Party Rentals,
  • Large Business—Techmer PM,
  • Woman-Owned Business—Temp Systems Inc., and
  • Lifetime Achievement Award—The Fox Family. 

“Everyone is invited to join us in honoring these businesses for their contribution to the economic growth of Anderson County,” a press release said.

The Friday, June 6, celebration will start at 6:30 p.m. with valet parking, social hour, photos, and live music, the press release said. Dinner on the Lawn begins at 7:30 p.m. with a brief live auction and awards ceremony. The Museum of Appalachia is at 2819 Andersonville Highway near Norris. [Read more…]

Sitel has charity concert for injured vets Saturday, announces 100 new jobs

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Travis Rice Country Concert at Sitel

Sitel is having a fundraising concert to benefit Wounded Warriors and veteran charities this evening (Saturday evening) and offer 100 new full-time jobs in Oak Ridge.

The free event starts at 5 p.m., and it will raise funds and awareness for the needs of injured service members, a press release said. It will also include a variety of family activities.

The festivities start at 5 p.m. Saturday (today) in Sitel’s lot at 1089 Commerce Park Drive at the Tech 5 Building in Oak Ridge. A number of local country bands will provide the music, followed by headliner Travis Rice at 7 p.m., with patriotic songs honoring America’s brave service men and women, the press release said.

Attendees will enjoy barbecue, hamburgers, hot dogs, and other foods, along with face painting and additional fun activities. Sitel will also give away multiple prizes, including: [Read more…]