• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Eight new Main Street stores could be turned over to retailers by end of June

Posted at 11:12 am May 2, 2017
By John Huotari 3 Comments

TJ-Maxx-Dicks-Sporting-Goods-Main-Street-Oak-Ridge-3-May-2-2017-Web

Eight new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge could be turned over to retailers by the end of June, a city consultant said Tuesday, May 2, 2017. Under construction above are the new Dick’s Sporting Goods and T.J. Maxx stores. These are the entrances closest to South Illinois Avenue. The U.S. Post Office is to the left, and Walmart is to the right. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12 p.m.

Eight new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge could be turned over to retailers by the end of June, a city consultant said Tuesday, but the opening dates for the eight new stores haven’t been announced yet.

Ray Evans, retail consultant for the City of Oak Ridge, gave an update on the Main Street Oak Ridge project during a Tuesday morning Rise and Shine event sponsored by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at Countryside Tire and Auto Service.

Two buildings with six retailers are scheduled to be delivered to retailers between mid-May and the end of May, Evans said. One building will include the new Dick’s Sporting Goods and T.J. Maxx stores, and another will include Maurice’s, Rack Room Shoes, Rue 21, and Ulta. Workers are preparing to pave the parking lot at Dick’s Sporting Goods and T.J. Maxx, Evans said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, Belk, City of Oak Ridge, Dick's Sporting Goods, DOE, Electronic Express, JCPenney, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Maurice's, new stores, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge Mall, Panda Express, PetSmart, Rack Room Shoes, Ray Evans, RealtyLink, Rue 21, Sears Roebuck, T.J. Maxx, Taco Bell, U.S. Department of Energy, Ulta

Housing report recommends more new homes, rental units

Posted at 10:07 am April 20, 2017
By John Huotari 7 Comments

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and its Housing Task Force, which was chaired by Melinda Hillman, right, presented a housing report to the Oak Ridge City Council during a non-voting work session on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and its Housing Task Force, which was chaired by Melinda Hillman, right, present a housing report to the Oak Ridge City Council during a non-voting work session on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. At left is Parker Hardy, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce president. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The competition to provide housing for workers is fierce, and Oak Ridge needs more new homes in the $180,000-$280,000 price range and more rental units in the $900-$1,200 price range, according to a housing report presented to Oak Ridge City Council by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

Also proposed in the housing report: the development of attractive, convenient mixed use gathering spaces; improving the appearance of existing neighborhoods through aggressive codes enforcement; beautification projects in public spaces to make Oak Ridge more appealing; developing and implementing a consistent “brand” for Oak Ridge that encompasses livability, economic development, and tourism; incentivizing home improvements in the Manhattan District Overlay; and developing public/private partnerships to work on housing.

The report, which was presented to City Council in a non-voting work session on Tuesday, studied where Oak Ridge employees live, based upon the zip codes of 7,372 employees from eight major Oak Ridge employers. It found that 22 percent of Oak Ridge workers live in Oak Ridge. That’s compared to 44 percent who live in Knox County, primarily in Farragut, Hardin Valley, Northshore, Karns, and Cedar Bluff.

Ten percent of the Oak Ridge workers live in Roane County, 6 percent live in Clinton, and less than five percent each live in Loudon, Blount, Morgan, and other counties, the report said.

The housing report only reviewed Oak Ridge as it compares to the five most popular communities where people who work in Oak Ridge choose to live (Farragut, Hardin Valley, Northshore, Karns, and Cedar Bluff).

“Competition for residents is fierce, and Oak Ridge competes with some of the most desirable communities in the region,” the report said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Austin Lance, City of Oak Ridge, codes enforcement, housing, housing report, housing stock, Housing Task Force, housing values, Kathryn Baldwin, Kelly Callison, Manhattan District Overlay, Manhattan Project, Melinda Hillman, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Community Development, Oak Ridge Housing Authority, Oak Ridge Schools, Oak Ridge workers, Parker Hardy, Rick Chinn

Performers for Celebrate Oak Ridge (Secret City Festival) to be announced at Primetime on April 27

Posted at 4:44 pm April 18, 2017
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

Ann Bratton, co-owner of Downtown Hardware, helps an attendee register for a door prize at last spring's Primetime Fiesta. This year's event will take place on Thursday, April 27, 2017, and it will feature the announcement about the performers at Celebrate Oak Ridge (Secret City Festival). (Submitted photo)

Ann Bratton, co-owner of Downtown Hardware, helps an attendee register for a door prize at last spring’s Primetime Fiesta. This year’s event will take place on Thursday, April 27, 2017, and it will feature the announcement about the performers at Celebrate Oak Ridge (Secret City Festival). (Submitted photo)

 

Performers for Celebrate Oak Ridge (Secret City Festival) will be announced at the Spring Primetime networking event at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, April 27.

More than 40 member organizations of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce have already reserved exhibit space for the event, which is titled “Fiesta Primetime,” a press release said.

The event will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27, under the tent in the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, which is at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Primetime is one of the Chamber’s biggest networking events of the year, the press release said. Anyone—Chamber member or not—is encouraged to attend. During the event, organizers for Celebrate Oak Ridge (Secret City Festival) will announce the performers for the festival this summer. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Celebrate Oak Ridge, Fiesta Primetime, networking, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Primetime, Secret City Festival

Council to receive housing study from Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday

Posted at 8:52 am April 17, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge City Council will receive a housing study from the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

The Council is scheduled to receive the study during a non-voting work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, in the Central Services Complex Multipurpose Room. The Central Services Complex is on Woodbury Lane, off Wilberforce Avenue behind the Kmart shopping center.

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Housing Study will be presented by Melinda Hillman, chair of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Housing Study Committee. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: housing study, Melinda Hillman, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Housing Study, Oak Ridge City Council

Center for Leadership & Community Development starts ‘Encounter Oak Ridge’ program

Posted at 8:18 pm April 14, 2017
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Center for Leadership and Community Development, an organization affiliated with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, has announced a new program, Encounter Oak Ridge.

Encounter Oak Ridge is a new four-session program designed to introduce Oak Ridge to new residents, new employees, and everyone interested in learning more about the community where they live or work. Participants will be introduced to the unique aspects of Oak Ridge. Sessions will take place on four consecutive Mondays, beginning on April 24 and concluding on May 15. Encounter Oak Ridge is sponsored by NSPS.

“Participants in this new program will benefit from learning about our community and from the new business and personal contacts they will make through Encounter Oak Ridge,” said Bonnie Hebert of Oak Ridge National Laboratory/UT-Battelle and chair of the Encounter Oak Ridge program.

“Encounter Oak Ridge is our organization’s latest offering to inform and empower Oak Ridge’s workforce and residents to be engaged in the community where they live and/or work,” said John Garrity of NSPS LLC and chairman of the Center for Leadership and Community Development.

Each session will focus on different aspects of the Oak Ridge community, the press release said: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Bonnie Hebert, Center for Community Leadership & Development, Encounter Oak Ridge, Greta Ownby, John Garrity, NSPS, Oak Ridge, Oak ridge Center for Leadership and Community Development, Oak Ridge Chamber, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

Man indicted on reckless homicide charge in death of Lauren Fritts

Posted at 5:41 pm April 11, 2017
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Troy Andrew Venable

Troy Andrew Venable

 

An Oak Ridge man has been indicted on a reckless homicide charge in the death of an Oak Ridge High School graduate and former goalkeeper for the Lady Wildcats who was, at the time of her death, the member and customer service representative at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Lauren Alexandra Fritts, 26, died Saturday, October 8, 2016, according to her obituary.

Troy Andrew Venable, 28, was indicted on the reckless homicide charge in her death on Tuesday, April 4. He was arrested Friday afternoon and released about four hours later from the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton. His bond has been set at $25,000. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Amy Hawes, Anderson County Criminal Court, Anderson County Detention Facility, Ben Haines, Daniel Freytag, Garrett Robbins, grand jury indictment, John Criswell, John Scott, Lauren Alexandra Fritts, Leigh Ann Corbitt, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats, Oak Ridge Police Department, reckless homicide, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Troy Andrew Venable, William Weaver

TSBDC hosts free export seminar

Posted at 1:22 pm April 7, 2017
By Jutta Bangs Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Roane State Community College is hosting a free workshop for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to learn more about succeeding in the global marketplace.

The free workshop covers export financing options (Ex-Im Bank), logistics and freight forwarding, compliance, legal issues, and information about export assistance available, a press release said.

If you are just exploring exporting, or have done international business in the past, this workshop is for you, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News Tagged With: export assistance, export seminar, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Roane State Community College, small business, Tennessee Small Business Development Center, TSBDC, workshop

Some JCPenney stores closing, but not Oak Ridge

Posted at 2:51 pm March 17, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

jcpenney-main-street-oak-ridge-oct-14-2016

The JCPenney in Oak Ridge is not among the 138 stores closing across the country, the company said Friday, March 17, 2017. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:30 p.m.

The JCPenney in Oak Ridge is not among the 138 stores closing across the country, the company said.

Three Tennessee stores are closing. One is at Knoxville Center, another is at Greeneville Commons, and the third is at County Market Place in Union City.

JCPenney said the closures are “part of a continuing effort to advance sustainable growth and long-term profitability.”

Parker Hardy, president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, said JCPenney is a “linchpin” store for the new Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

“JCPenney has been a very important part of our retail mix—particularly for apparel—ever since Mr. Penney participated in the original grand opening,” Hardy said Friday. “Penney always has been a draw for Oak Ridgers and for customers who live outside the city but inside our broader retail trade area…The fact that Penney is staying with Oak Ridge while closing stores in nearby cities says something strong about their confidence in Main Street, their confidence in our market, and their confidence in our business climate.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: JCPenney, JCPenney Company Inc., Main Street—Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge Mall, Parker Hardy

‘Atomic Integration,’ photo exhibit on African-American life during Manhattan Project, opens Feb. 23

Posted at 10:41 am February 9, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

African American Post Office 1940s (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

African American Post Office 1940s (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

 

In honor of Black History Month, the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will host “Atomic Integration,” a photography exhibition focusing on African-American life during the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, a press release said. The month-long exhibit will open on Thursday, February 23, with a reception starting at 4:30 p.m.

The photo exhibit is sponsored by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and Explore Oak Ridge.

The images displayed in the photo exhibit illustrate the experiences and contributions of African-Americans during the Manhattan Project period during the 1940s in Oak Ridge, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News Tagged With: African-American life, atomic bomb, Atomically Integrated, Black History Month, Cold War, Explore Oak Ridge, James Edward Westcott, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, National Park Service, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, photography exhibition, U.S. Department of Energy

Free workshop on government contracting on Feb. 7

Posted at 5:59 pm January 25, 2017
By Jutta Bangs Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center will offer a free workshop on February 7 on the GSA Schedule (for government contracting).

The seminar is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, February 7, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, which is at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. Call (865) 483-2668 or send an email to [email protected] to register.

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: government contracting, GSA, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, seminar, Tennessee Small Business Development Center, workshop

Free seminar on how to do business with the government on Feb. 8

Posted at 11:24 am January 25, 2017
By Jutta Bangs Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center will offers a free workshop on February 8 on how to do business with the government.

The government contracting seminar is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, February 8. It’s at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, which is at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. You may register by calling (865) 483-2668 or sending an email to [email protected].

This press release was submitted by Jutta Bangs.

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News Tagged With: government contracting, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, seminar, small business, Tennessee Small Business Development Center, workshop

Free small business start-up seminar on Jan. 27

Posted at 11:04 pm January 22, 2017
By Jutta Bangs Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center is offering a free workshop on January 27 on how to start a small business.

The seminar is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. January 27. It will be at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Attending is free, but registration is required. To register, call (865) 483-2668 or send an email to [email protected].

This press release was submitted by Jutta Bangs.

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, seminar, small business, small business start-up seminar, Tennessee Small Business Development Center, workshop

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Search Oak Ridge Today

Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Recent Posts

  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers
  • Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters
  • Democratic Women’s Club to Discuss Climate Change, Energy and Policy
  • Estate Jewelry Show at Karen’s Jewelers Features Celebrity Jewelry
  • Keri Cagle named new ORAU senior vice president and ORISE director
  • ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal+ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal More than $1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares Oak Ridge, Tenn. —ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares nonprofit organizations. ORAU has raised more than $1 million over the past 10 years through this campaign. A total of $126,839 was pledged during the 2024 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares or both. “ORAU has remained a strong pillar in the community for more than 75 years, and we encourage our employees to consider participating in our annual giving campaign each year to help our less fortunate neighbors in need,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. “Each one of our employees has the power to positively impact the lives of those who need help in the communities where we do business across the country and demonstrate the ORAU way – taking care of each other.” ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeAssociatedUniversities Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/orau Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau ###
  • Children’s Museum Gala Celebrates the Rainforest
  • Jim Sears joins ORAU as senior vice president
  • Oak Ridge Housing Authority Receives Funding Assistance of up to $51.8 Million For Renovating Public Housing and Building New Workforce Housing
  • Two fires reported early Friday

Recent Comments

  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Mysti M Desilva on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Mel Schuster on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Cecil King on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Rick Morrow on Roads, schools, businesses closed after heavy snow
  • Diana lively on Free community Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 25
  • Anne Garcia on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student
  • Raymond Dickover on Blockhouse Valley Recycling Center now open 6 days per week
  • Mike Mahathy on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student

Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today