Business Archives - Page 62 of 145

DOE sites provided $1.5 million in funding for AMSE in FY 2015

Posted at 4:38 pm June 13, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The auditorium at the American Science and Energy Museum in Oak Ridge was nearly full during a community meeting to discuss AMSE’s future in July 2014. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Three U.S. Department of Energy sites in Oak Ridge provided $1.5 million in funding for the American Museum of Science and Energy in Fiscal Year 2015, an official said Monday.

The funding varies each year, and the funding for Fiscal Year 2016, the current fiscal year, hasn’t been determined, said Claire Sinclair, a spokesperson in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Site Office Public Affairs. ORNL manages AMSE for DOE, which owns the museum.

In FY 2015, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex each contributed $630,000 to AMSE, and the East Tennessee Technology Park provided $240,000. That’s a major portion of AMSE funding, the museum says on its website. (AMSE also has memberships, and the museum charges for admission.)

Questions about the future of AMSE have been raised as the Oak Ridge City Council considers a resolution on how the city would like the land transferred, if the DOE and General Services Administration decide to dispose of the property at some point in the future. [Read more…]

AMSE: Transfer of federal property usually takes few years, public notice would be given

Posted at 12:29 pm June 13, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The American Museum of Science and Energy is at 300 South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge. (Photo by Sara Wise)

AMSE over-sized, operationally challenged, spokesperson says

The transfer of federal property such as the American Museum of Science and Energy usually takes a few years, and if a new use were proposed for the AMSE property, adequate public notice would be given, an official said Monday.

There has been no public announcement that the federal government wants to get rid of the 17.12 acres of federal property that includes AMSE.

But the Oak Ridge City Council will consider a resolution tonight (Monday, June 13) that would allow City Manager Mark Watson to negotiate with the U.S. Department of Energy and General Services Administration, as well as the company redeveloping the former Oak Ridge Mall, for the property transfer. The GSA is responsible for disposing of federal property.

RealtyLink, the company redeveloping the 58-acre mall site, has said that any redevelopment of the AMSE property that competes with its project, known as Main Street Oak Ridge, would be devastating to its efforts to provide the city a much-needed, quality, retail-centered mixed-use town center. RealtyLink said it must be able to control the redevelopment of the AMSE property. [Read more…]

Chamber supports AMSE land transfer resolution

Posted at 11:03 am June 13, 2016
By John Huotari 8 Comments

The American Museum of Science and Energy is pictured above on November 15, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 8:50 a.m. June 14.

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce supports a resolution that would allow the city manager to negotiate with business executives and federal officials to transfer about 17 acres of federal property at the American Museum of Science and Energy to help Main Street Oak Ridge, the project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider the land transfer resolution during a meeting tonight (Monday, June 13). Under that resolution, the 17.12 acres could either be transferred to the city or to RealtyLink, the company redeveloping the mall. The transfer would also include 1.87 acres of city-owned land that are on the north, south, and west sides of the AMSE property.

On Friday, Chamber of Commerce President Parker Hardy said the Chamber supports the land transfer resolution.

“It’s entirely consistent with our overall support for the Main Street Oak Ridge project,” Hardy said. “This has been a long time getting here, and we’re proud to lend our support.” [Read more…]

‘Dine and Donate’ returns Monday, June 13

Posted at 11:04 am June 10, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

El Cantarito offers authentic Mexican cuisine, all-you-can-eat specials, many meals that are under $6, and a variety of margaritas, beer, and wine. (Photo by ADFAC)

School is out, and Father’s Day is around the corner: These are just two of the many reasons to celebrate with a Dine and Donate meal!

On Monday, June 13, several local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC, as part of Dine and Donate. Dine and Donate is a year-long event, with different restaurants participating on the second Monday of each month.

“Whether celebrating the fathers in our lives or simply beating the heat, dining out in at least one of Monday’s Dine and Donate restaurants is a fantastic way to enjoy the season,” said Cande Seay, who chairs the Dine and Donate committee.

Monday’s participating restaurants are: [Read more…]

Main Street: Ready to close by end of June, AMSE property the one remaining hurdle

Posted at 5:22 pm June 9, 2016
By John Huotari 25 Comments

The American Museum of Science and Energy property is pictured above in central Oak Ridge. The wide road running vertically at center-right through the aerial photo is South Tulane Avenue. The proposed Main Street Oak Ridge would be on the right side of South Tulane Avenue at the former Oak Ridge Mall. The road running horizontally at bottom is South Illinois Avenue. AMSE is the brown-roofed building at top-center.

Note: This story was last updated at 8 p.m. June 13.

RealtyLink, the developer that has proposed redeveloping the former Oak Ridge Mall, says it is ready to close on the roughly 60-acre site by the end of June and start construction immediately, but there is one last hurdle: The company is concerned about any redevelopment of the property across the street at the American Museum of Science and Energy that could compete with its proposed project, known as Main Street Oak Ridge.

So, RealtyLink has asked that, if the federal government wants to dispose of the AMSE property at some point in the future, the city would negotiate with the U.S. Department of Energy through the General Services Administration to either have the property transferred to the city, or allow RealtyLink to negotiate directly with DOE and GSA for a property transfer.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider a resolution allowing the city manager to start the negotiations, should they become necessary, during a meeting on Monday, June 13.

So far, DOE and GSA have not publicly announced plans to dispose of the 17.12 acres in and around AMSE. But there have been public discussions about what to do with the property during the past 15 years or so. DOE has said it is not in the museum business. [Read more…]

Centrus becomes benefactor sponsor for ADFAC

Posted at 10:23 pm June 7, 2016
By Annie Cacheiro Leave a Comment

Centrus Energy Corporation’s Jeff Cooper, left, presents the 2016 Corporate Membership contribution to ADFAC’s Executive Director Annie Cacheiro. (Submitted photo)

ADFAC’s Corporate Committee is excited to announce Centrus Energy Corporation as the first 2016 Grand Benefactor Corporate Member. The generous donation was recently presented by Jeff Cooper, Centrus’s lead cascade project manager to ADFAC’s executive director, Annie Cacheiro, a press release said.

“This corporate contribution is going to help lead the way for other corporate contributions for ADFAC,” said Ray Smith of ADFAC’s Board of Directors. “It’s so appreciated and will truly help AFDAC fulfill their mission of ‘neighbors helping neighbors.'” [Read more…]

Lavender Festival on June 18 celebrates herbs, crafts, food, music

Posted at 10:19 pm June 3, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Several thousand people visit Jackson Square Lavender Festival each year, now in a newly renovated Jackson Square. (Photo by Shawn Millsaps)

The 18th annual Lavender Festival on Saturday, June 18, will celebrate herbs, crafts, food, and music.

It’s scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 18 in the renovated Jackson Square, which now features a fountain and pleasant sitting area in the center, a press release said.

The festival will celebrate the “Herb of the Year,” Capsicum, or hot peppers.

New this year, “A Taste of Tennessee Wines” brings wine tasting to Lavender Festival, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tasting is hosted by Great Valley Wine Trail, which is made up of five independent wineries in East Tennessee. Many of these Tennessee wines earned silver, gold, and concordance gold medals in the Wines of the South Regional Wine Competition in October 2015 at the University of Tennessee, the press release said. Adults over 21 may purchase a $10 tasting ticket, and will receive a free glass and wine tote, and the opportunity to buy bottles of Tennessee wine and meet the winemakers. Customers may enjoy the wine at seating areas at the festival, with lunch served all day by several food trucks, caterers, and restaurants. A portion of the proceeds of the wine tasting will benefit the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge resident proposes craft beer market

Posted at 4:43 pm May 31, 2016
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Oak Ridge resident Christopher D. Keever has proposed a craft beer market that could open in July in central Oak Ridge.

The business would be called Crafter’s Brew Market and Social. It would be located at 856 Oak Ridge Turnpike, which was a demonstration site for Waterworks Pool and Spa.

With approval, the site would be remodeled with a building and bathrooms, according to a beer permit application filed with the city.

It would be a craft beer market with on-site and off-site consumption of craft beer and international bottled beer. To enter after 9 p.m., customers would have to be 21 years old or older. [Read more…]

June 2 seminar: How to win friends, influence people in digital age

Posted at 5:15 pm May 30, 2016
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce building is pictured above.

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce has again teamed up with Dale Carnegie of Tennessee to offer a workshop series on leadership essentials. The June 2 session is titled “How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age.”

“The digital age is changing how we work, play, communicate, and think,” a seminar description said. “It is an exciting frontier that rewards those who leverage the power that it presents. This workshop provides and introduction to the tools needed to develop the attitudes of success necessary to move to new levels of effectiveness in the digital age.”

A discount is available for members of the Chamber. The June 2 session is scheduled from 8-10 a.m. at the Chamber, which is located at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Genesis Brain Health Institute to open in September

Posted at 10:55 am May 24, 2016
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

Mike Mursten, left, and Andrew Dougherty are co-founders of the Genesis Brain Health Institute. (Submitted photo)

Andrew Dougherty and Mike Mursten, two men who share a passion to combat Alzheimer’s Disease, or AD, have founded the Genesis Brain Health Institute to offer a medically based program aimed at baby boomers that has been shown to delay, and in some cases even reverse, cognitive decline.

“Current medical studies have conclusively shown that a lifestyle of exercise, proper nutrition, brain utilization, and stress management can delay the onset of cognitive decline,” said Andrew Dougherty, co-founder and president of Genesis.

With current science on the brain and memory loss as their guide, they are offering a multi-faceted program beginning in September in the Provision Wellness building in Knoxville, the first such program in East Tennessee. Beginning with a complete medical assessment, the program includes an educational series on topics critical to brain health.

“What we have found is that baby boomers do have general knowledge about health and wellness, but lack the specific knowledge and tools to implement it into their daily lives,” said Mike Mursten, co-founder and chief executive officer. “The Genesis program is a practical, medically based program to give you the tools to fill your tool box.” [Read more…]

TVC Summit to focus on entrepreneurism in five-state region

Posted at 9:40 am May 23, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Howard Baker at Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit in 1995

Former Tennessee Senator Howard Baker addresses the first Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit held in Oak Ridge in 1995. (Submitted photo)

The registration deadline is quickly approaching for the annual Tennessee Valley Corridor National Summit, which will make its first visit to Cookeville on June 1-2. The Summit, themed “Where Entrepreneurs and Technology Meet,” will be held on the campus of Tennessee Tech University , and it is hosted by TTU President Phil Oldham in cooperation with Tennessee Congressman Diane Black.

Leaders from throughout the region will be at the event to focus attention on the vital role entrepreneurs provide in turning the brain power and technologies from the region’s universities and federal programs into new business start-ups and the expansion of existing businesses.

Main speakers scheduled for the event include: [Read more…]

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