Oak Ridge Today

Anderson County Chamber Headquarters Dedication Set for October 17

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The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will host the dedication ceremony for its new headquarters at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, 500 N. Charles Seivers Blvd., Clinton, after nearly three years of fundraising that brought $1,175,695 in contributions from individuals, businesses, and industries throughout the county.

The new building will honor those who founded the Chamber 93 years ago and community leaders and businesses today that have supported the Chamber and benefited from the Chamber’s work in economic development, community partnerships and preserving the county’s history.

The headquarters will be named the William “Bear” Stephenson Family Chamber Building, honoring the family of the lifelong resident of Anderson County who built the successful Stephenson Realty and Auction business in Clinton, now in its 43rd year. He is recognized throughout the region as an auctioneer who donates his time and talents to help nonprofit organizations raise funds.

Grateful for the support of the community, the Chamber, his parents and his brother, Stephenson is donating $1 million to the Anderson County Chamber Foundation for its headquarters.

“The Chamber is a vital part of economic development and economic activity in the community,” Stephenson said. His only immediate family members, his parents and his brother, have passed away, so he decided to make a major gift to the Chamber. “I’m leaving it to the future of Clinton and Anderson County. I’m just glad I could help.”

The Chamber headquarters is built on land donated by Clinton businessman Joe Hollingsworth, Jr., CEO of The Hollingsworth Companies, an industrial real estate development and construction company. The 1.35-acre lot at the corner of Charles Seivers Boulevard and Weaver Street locates the Chamber on a prominent site on a well-traveled commercial street.

“The new building and location are a clear statement about Clinton’s and Anderson County’s future economic destiny,” said Hollingsworth, whose Aspire Foundation created Clinton’s Aspire Park. “I’m proud to be a small part of helping Bear and Rick (Meredith, Chamber President and CEO) create this foundation for the future of business and industry in Anderson County.”

The Anderson County Chamber Foundation, a nonprofit formed in December 2022, headed the “Building a Better Future” capital campaign for the new headquarters.

The one-story Chamber headquarters, the first the Chamber has owned in its 93-year history, will include a diversified room with up-to-date technology for training and videoconferencing, available for Chamber members, nonprofits, and community partners. A welcoming lobby, a catering kitchen for events, and offices for Chamber staff and the Anderson County Economic Development Association are included in the building’s plans.

MBI Companies, Inc., an architectural, engineering and interiors firm with offices in Knoxville and Chattanooga, designed the building and served as project manager.

Chamber Board Chair Scott Rhea believes the new headquarters will foster talent in Anderson County and attract new and yet unknown resources to the area.

“The ‘GDP’ of our Chamber of Commerce is more than an economic measure used to indicate near-term growth or stagnation. This building represents a long-term commitment to Anderson County’s various measures of success that transcend simple short-term economic measures,” said Rhea, the Supervisor of Fiscal Services & Facilities for Clinton City Schools.

Callie Archer, Chamber Chair when the Anderson County Chamber Foundation began the fund drive for the new building in 2023, views the new headquarters as a hub for the community and a catalyst for future economic development.

“It’s new central and visible location will help elevate the work that the Chamber has always done, bringing local business and community leaders together for collaboration and driving positive initiatives,” said Archer, President of Junior Achievement of East Tennessee.

“I am also excited about it being a space that will be great for hosting workshops, mentorship programs and other business support services that we haven’t had the space for in the past,” she said.

Joey Smith, Chamber Chair in 2022 and Foundation Chair now, made sure the Chamber’s 1932 founders would be remembered with a large photo mural installed in the new headquarters.

“There were 10 founding directors, although quiet a few more folks were involved in wanting a Chamber and promoting business. It was 1932. TVA was about to change the landscape of the county with electricity and Norris Dam,” said Smith, with Sellers Realty in Clinton. “They saw opportunity.”

Trey McAdams, a State Farm Agent in Clinton, followed Archer as Chamber Chair in 2024, as the building campaign continued.

“We are incredibly excited to be moving into our new building. It would not have been possible without the effort and generosity of our Chamber members,” McAdams said.

“Our new building will not only be an excellent place for our Chamber home but will serve as an asset to our community as a meeting and event center for all to share,” he added. We want to thank all who were involved in this process and encourage you to be a part of our grand opening!”

Johnson & Galyon Construction, based in Knoxville since 1914, built and managed construction of the headquarters. United Community Bank, 1110 North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard, Clinton, is the Chamber’s lending partner for the new building. Steve Heatherly, of Commercial Construction Consulting of East Tennessee, is the Chamber’s construction consultant.

For more information, see the Chamber’s website at www.andersoncountychamber.org.

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SL Tennessee Supports New Anderson County Chamber Headquarters

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SL Tennessee presented a check for $50,000 for the new Anderson County Chamber of Commerce headquarters recently while hosting a Chamber Coffee at its Clinton auto parts facility.

“We’ve been longtime members of the Chamber of Commerce, and we had the opportunity to give back with this contribution to the Chamber’s new building,” said Steven Brooks, SL Tennessee Sustainability Manager. The Anderson County Chamber Foundation has led the fund drive for the nearly completed building. Foundation Chair Joey Smith and Chamber President and CEO Rick Meredith accepted the check.

“We’re big believers in what the Chamber does in the county, and they’ve been big supporters of SL Tennessee, highlighting our business, allowing us to host events and to bring people into the plant,” Brooks said. The plant welcomes groups of adults and students for tours, giving them a view of a modern factory that’s bright, clean, climate controlled, and using robotics and other highly automated manufacturing techniques.

The dedication of the new headquarters, the first that the Chamber has owned in its 93 years in Anderson County, will take place Oct. 17 at 500 N. Charles Seivers Blvd, Clinton.

“We are so grateful for our partners in industry like SL Tennessee, which contributes to our community in so many ways,” said Smith, the Foundation Chair. “From the Magnet Mills days in the early 1900s, industry in Clinton and Anderson County has been a foundation for our residents, our businesses, and our local economy.”

SL Tennessee, a Korean-owned business, opened its Clinton factory 2011. It now occupies 3 buildings and 750,000 square feet and employs about 1,000 people, making it the largest non-government employer in the county. Front and rear light assemblies, mirrors, and manual shifters are among auto parts products manufactured there. Among newer products made there are charge port doors for electric cars.

The one-story Chamber headquarters will include a diversified room with up-to-date technology for training and videoconferencing, a welcoming lobby, a catering kitchen for events, and offices for Chamber staff and the Anderson County Economic Development Association.

For more information about the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, see www.andersoncountychamber.org.

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Photo Cutlines:

Ben Fredericks, left, SL Tennessee Electrification Division Plant Manager, and David Deorto, second from right, SL Tennessee General Plant Manager for Lighting, present a check from SL Tennessee to Joey Smith, second from left left, Chair of the Anderson County Chamber Foundation, and Rick Meredith, right, Anderson County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO.

Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters

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As construction of the new Anderson County Chamber of Commerce headquarters gets closer to completion, the deadline is quickly approaching for businesses and individuals to order a laser-engraved brick for the pathway leading to the new Chamber building.

June 1 is the last day to order a brick to be placed near a sidewalk leading to the buildings entrance from the parking lot.

To purchase a brick, make an appointment at the Chamber office at 245 N. Main St., Clinton, by calling 865-457-2559, to talk with a staff member about ordering a brick. Orders may also be placed by going to the web site at www.fundraisingbrick.com/accoc/.

The bricks may display individual names, be placed to honor or to remember someone, or feature a company name or logo. Bricks may also display a favorite saying or quotation. Purchasing a brick will support the Chambers future and offer the opportunity to place your name or your companys name permanently in downtown Clinton.

The admiral red bricks are available in two sizes, 4-by-8 inches for $125 and 8-by-8 inches for $300. The 8-by-8-inch brick with a logo is available for $500. An option is to combine four 8-by-8 bricks that can include a logo and text. A mini replica of the small brick may be ordered for $25 and of the larger brick for $35.

The Anderson County Chamber Foundation is leading the Building a Better Future capital campaign to build the new 7,700-square-foot headquarters at 107 East Washington Ave., Clinton, for the Anderson County Chamber. The one-story Chamber headquarters will include a diversified room with state-of-the-art technology for training and videoconferencing, available for Chamber board meetings and community gatherings.

To learn more about the Anderson County Chamber Foundation, visit the Foundation website at www.acccfoundation.org. For information about the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, see the Chambers website at www.andersoncountychamber.org.

Photo Cutlines:
Individuals and companies can leave a mark with laser-engraved bricks that will line a walkway to the new Anderson County Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Clinton.

Clinch River Fall Antique Festival starts Friday

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Clinch River Antique Festival
File photo

The Clinch River Fall Antique Festival starts in downtown Clinton on Friday, October 1.

It’s the 20th annual festival.

“The Clinch River Fall Antique Festival is an autumn tradition that keeps growing as the years
go on,” a press release said. “What was created to commemorate the Clinch River mussel pearls and their
economic contributions to East Tennessee in the early 1900s is now the largest fall event
in Anderson County. Each year, the festival that’s held just a few miles away from I-75 in
Historic Downtown Clinton, Tennessee, brings in upwards of 15,000 people to the
community over two days.”

The 20th Annual Clinch River Fall Antique Festival is hosted by the Anderson County
Chamber of Commerce. It is scheduled from noon-10 p.m. on Market Street on downtown Clinton.

Day one of this two-day event will begin with many vendors set up on Market Street beginning at noon, the press release said.

[Read more…]

ESPN writer to speak at benefit for AC Middle College students at Roane State

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ESPN Senior Writer Chris Low will be the featured speaker at a September luncheon to benefit Anderson County Middle College students attending Roane State Community College.

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Roane State Community College Foundation and Anderson County Schools to host the luncheon. It’s scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 15, at The Hollingsworth Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, also known as Junior Achievement of East Tennessee, at 2135 North Charles Seivers Boulevard in Clinton. Individual tickets are $30, and tables of 8 are $250, a press release said. Tickets are available at https://tinyurl.com/RSCCMiddle.

Low has been covering college sports for more than 34 years, a press release said. Before he joined ESPN in 2007, Low worked at The Tennessean in Nashville for 10 years covering University of Tennessee athletics. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Low was born in St. Charles, Missouri, and he grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He lives in Knoxville will his wife Julie, and they have three sons, Josh, Adam, and Sean.

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Roane State hosts launch of ‘Dream It. Do It.’ competition

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Roane State Dream It Do It Oct. 14 2019
Roane State Community College hosts the 5th annual ‘Dream It. Do It.” competition launch at the Clinton Higher Education and Training facility on Oct. 14, 2019. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

Roane State hosted the launch of the fifth annual “Dream It. Do It.” competition last week at the community college’s mechatronics campus in Clinton, and it is also providing judges for the months-long events.

Now in its fifth year, the unique student competition highlighting manufacturing careers is sponsored by Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, the contractor that operates the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, and the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce.

The event is held each October as part of the National Manufacturing Day celebration.

Chamber President Rick Meredith during the competition kickoff expressed appreciation for the college’s assistance. Gordon Williams, director of the mechatronics program in the Clinton Higher Education and Training facility, showed the students the various types of equipment used in mechatronics.

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Deadline today to vote in student manufacturing competition

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The videos are in, and it is now time to vote in Anderson County’s “Dream it. Do it.” middle school competition.

The program is in its fourth year, and it includes six schools from Anderson County and Oak Ridge school systems.

“Dream it. Do it.” is sponsored by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, Anderson County and Oak Ridge schools, and Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC. The competition is designed to bring student awareness of job opportunities in advanced manufacturing, a press release said.

Using GoPro cameras provided by CNS, six teams of eighth-graders were paired with area industries to create videos about the companies, the press release said. These videos are now posted online for public voting.

[Read more…]

AC Chamber to show animated video of new Clinton bridge, downtown vision

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Visual of the location of the new bridge over the Clinch River connecting downtown Clinton to South Clinton. (Image via Clinton Mayor Scott Burton/Facebook)

Visual of the location of the new bridge over the Clinch River connecting downtown Clinton to South Clinton. (Image via Clinton Mayor Scott Burton/Facebook)

 

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will show a video this month that will include 3D animations of the new bridge over the Clinch River in downtown Clinton and other images highlighting a new downtown vision.

The video, titled “Clinton: The Downtown Vision,” will be shown from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, September 25, at Faith Promise’s Anderson County campus, which is at 96 Mariner Point Drive, a press release said.

“The Chamber has partnered with QK4 Inc. to create a video that showcases 3D animations of the new ‘green bridge,’ streetscapes, and more of what the vision holds,” the press release said. “This will be the first time that the video has been shown publicly.” [Read more…]

ASAP of Anderson celebrates 10 years of prevention

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ASAP of Anderson is celebrating 10 years of prevention on Tuesday, September 4.

ASAP’s mission is to prevent and reduce substance misuse among youth and adults in Anderson County.

You can join them for a 10th Anniversary Celebration and logo reveal on from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, September 4, at Anderson County Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the logo reveal, there will be light lunch, cake, and takeaway “swag” for attendees, a press release said. [Read more…]

AC Chamber president named TN Chamber executive of year

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The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives named Rick Meredith, president of the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber Executive of the Year at an annual meeting in Clarksville on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. The award was presented by Suzie Lusk, associate vice president of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Anderson County Chamber of Commerce)

The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives named Rick Meredith, president of the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber Executive of the Year at an annual meeting in Clarksville on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. The award was presented by Suzie Lusk, associate vice president of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Anderson County Chamber of Commerce)

 

Anderson County Chamber of Commerce President Rick Meredith was named Tennessee Chamber Executive of the Year this month, a press release said.

Meredith, who also serves on the Anderson County Commission, received the honor from the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives at an annual meeting held in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Thursday, August 23, the press release said. TCCE is a statewide chamber professional association that identifies the most effective chamber professional who has made a significant difference in a local Tennessee chamber, the release said. [Read more…]

Final presentation on revitalization of downtown Clinton is Thursday

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The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will host the final presentation for the revitalization of downtown Clinton on Thursday.

This event will feature a presentation by Gianni Longo, president of Gianni Longo and Associates. Longo has conducted visions, many in Tennessee that have led to the redesign of Chattanooga’s riverfront, downtown Franklin, and even Knoxville’s Market Square, a press release said.

The closing presentation given on February 22 at the end of the four-day Clinton charrette focused on unveiling the results of the effort. The ideas presented have since been expanded to include specific implementation steps on how to turn the community vision into reality. [Read more…]

Anderson County Chamber hosts county election candidate forum

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The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will host a forum in Clinton this month for candidates in the Anderson County primary election in May.

The candidate forum will be moderated by Gene Patterson, community relations lead for Consolidated Nuclear Security, which manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex.

The candidate forum will be hosted by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce Government/Community Relations Committee. It is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, at The Ritz Theater at 119 North Main Street in downtown Clinton. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the concession stand will be open, a press release said. [Read more…]