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Registration for Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit closes Monday

Posted at 8:32 am May 13, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Includes discussion of federal missions in Oak Ridge

Registration for the annual Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit closes Monday. The summit will include a discussion of federal missions in Oak Ridge.

Organizers expect more than 300 national and regionals leaders at the 20th Annual Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit. It’s being held at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City on May 27-28. The Summit will be at the D.P. Culp University Center at ETSU.

“Hundreds of regional leaders will gather in Johnson City to focus on education from the business and industry perspective at the 20th annual Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit,” a press release said. “The sessions at the two-day event will focus on how to ensure tomorrow’s workforce has the skills they need to find quality jobs at home and how the region’s educational institutions can partner with businesses and organizations for better success.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: 20th Annual Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit, advanced manufacturing, Alan Levine, Alex Fisher, Brian Noland, business, Chuck Fleischmann, CNS, College of Public Health, Columbus Partnership, East Tennessee State University, education, ETSU, Janice Gilliam, Lockheed Martin, Mountain States Health Alliance, NASA, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Northeast State Community College, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Phil Roe, Randy Boyd, Randy Wykoff, Stephanie Hill, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee Valley, Tennessee Valley Corridor, Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit, Teresa Vanhooser, Thom Mason, workforce

Meredith appointed Chamber of Commerce president

Posted at 6:44 pm March 2, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Front Page News, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County register of deeds, Business Enterprise Resource Office Business Matchmaking, community development, Community Development Division, economic development, Hollingsworth Companies, Jackie Nichols, Phil Bredesen, Rick Meredith, Stephen Harris, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee One Stop Business Resource, Volunteer State Solar Initiative

Randy Boyd named state commissioner of economic, community development

Posted at 8:13 am December 19, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Photo courtesy UT Torchbearer

Photo courtesy UT Torchbearer

East Tennessee businessman Randy Body has been named commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Governor Bill Haslam announced Thursday.

Boyd, 55, is chairman of Radio Systems Corporation, which he started in 1991. Radio Systems is headquartered in Knoxville and has more than 650 associates worldwide with offices in seven countries, a press release said.

Radio Systems is the company that donated $100,000 donation to the PetSafe Dog Park at Big Turtle Park in Oak Ridge.

The press release said Boyd is a successful entrepreneur who served as a full-time, unpaid special adviser to the governor for higher education in 2013, focusing on the “Drive to 55” initiative to bring the percentage of Tennesseans with college degrees or certificates from 32 percent up to 55 percent by the year 2025. Boyd’s work resulted in the Tennessee Promise, a program that provides two years of community college or a college of applied technology free of tuition and fees to graduating Tennessee high school seniors. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: ag gag bill, Bill Hagerty, business, commissioner, Drive to 55, education, PetSafe, Radio Systems Corporation, Randy Boyd, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee Promise, tnAchieves, University of Tennessee

Follow-up: AC Commission concurs with city’s mall TIF extension

Posted at 7:40 am November 4, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Village Area Rendering

Note: This story was updated at 10:02 a.m.

County’s part of agreement does not change

The Oak Ridge City Council has agreed to add another 10 years to the agreement that will be used to help redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall, and during its regular meeting in October, the Anderson County Commission concurred with the change.

There were no objections, and the Commission’s concurrence with the city’s 10-year extension of the tax increment financing, or TIF, passed 15-0. The city’s portion of the TIF has been extended from 20 years to 30, and the county’s remains unchanged at 20.

The city’s TIF extension had also been approved by the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, and the County Commission concurred with that change as well.

Ray Evans, retail consultant for the City of Oak Ridge, told commissioners that Crosland Southeast, the North Carolina firm that has proposed the redevelopment, could close on the property at the end of the year. Demolition could start in the first quarter of 2015, and retailers could have space in the redeveloped 59-acre site by mid-2016, Evans said.

“We think we’re very close to getting across the finish line,” Evans said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Operations Committee, Belk, City of Oak Ridge, Comptroller of the Treasury, Crosland Southeast, JCPenney, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, Oak Ridge Mall, Ray Evans, redevelopment, retailers, tax increment financing, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, TIF, TIF extension

ThreeStar status awarded to 85 counties, including Anderson, Roane

Posted at 9:20 am August 17, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bill Hagerty

Bill Hagerty

Submitted

93 out of 95 counties meet audit committee requirement

NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development on Thursday announced that 85 out of 95 counties, including Anderson and Roane, have been awarded ThreeStar status. In addition, since the ThreeStar community development program began requiring eligible communities to create and maintain a County Audit Committee in January 2013, the number of counties with Audit Committees has increased substantially. As of March 2013, there were 32 audit committees around the state; as of July 2014, there are 93.

“The ThreeStar program is a vital component to our state’s overall level of success, providing counties with a proven roadmap for continued economic and community strength, which in turn helps Tennessee win new investment and jobs,” Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty said. “Tennessee has been recognized as the number one state in the nation for economic development, and these audit committees support Governor Haslam’s overarching goal of making Tennessee the most efficiently run state on every level. I congratulate all of our ThreeStar counties and those communities who are taking the initiative to create Audit Committees and work toward achieving fiscal strength and efficient government.”

The Audit Committees are designed to help each county improve their financial management and reporting practices, and help ensure the implementation of good internal controls to prevent or detect fraud, a step towards achieving fiscal strength and efficient government. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Front Page News, Government, Roane County, State, Tennessee Tagged With: Audit Committee, Bill Hagerty, Bill Haslam, community development, Comptroller of the Treasury, economic development, Five Pillars, governor, Justin P. Wilson, Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, ThreeStar, ThreeStar status, TNECD

State, SL Tennessee announce 1,000 new jobs in Clinton

Posted at 10:50 am July 25, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Submitted

CLINTON—Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty, along with SL Tennessee LLC officials, announced Friday that the company will build a new 250,000 square foot building to join its two existing facilities in the Clinton/I-75 Industrial Park, a Select Tennessee Certified Site. The South Korean automotive parts manufacturer will invest $80.5 million and create 1,000 new jobs in Anderson County. Located in Clinton since 2001, this will be the company’s fifth expansion.

“I want to congratulate SL Tennessee on its latest expansion and thank the company for the 1,000 new jobs created in Clinton,” Haslam said. “SL Tennessee has been an outstanding corporate citizen in Anderson County for nearly 15 years, and we are grateful to the company for bringing us one step closer to our goal of making Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”

“Tennessee has the greatest concentration of automotive industry employment in the South and with the addition of 1,000 new jobs from today’s announcement, we continue to build on this momentum,” Hagerty said. “Upon completion of this project, SL Tennessee will more than double its workforce, making it the largest employer in Clinton and one of the largest in Anderson County. I appreciate SL Tennessee’s continued investment in our state and for providing quality jobs to our citizens.”

This is the second 1,000 plus jobs announcement in the past two weeks in the automotive sector. Last week, Volkswagen announced a $600 million investment in Tennessee and 2,000 new jobs being created in Chattanooga. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Anderson County, Business, Clinton, Clinton, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Economic Development Association, automotive parts, Bill Hagerty, Clinton, Clinton I-75 Industrial Park, Clinton Utilities Board, Economic and Community Development, Gov. Bill Haslam, jobs, John Bradley, Scott Burton, SL Corporation, SL Tennessee, Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee Valley Authority, Terry Frank, TVA, Volkswagen, Y.K. Woo

Meredith to seek re-election to Anderson County Commission

Posted at 10:27 pm March 25, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Rick Meredith

Rick Meredith

County Commissioner Rick Meredith has announced he is seeking re-election to the Anderson County Commission, representing District 2. District 2 includes the Clinton, South Clinton, and North Clinton precincts.

“It has truly been an honor to represent the residents of District 2 on County Commission,” Meredith said in a press release. “I take very seriously the trust that you have placed in me, and it is my hope that you will allow me to continue serving you and working with my fellow commissioners to move Anderson County forward.”

First elected in 2010, Meredith said he brings extensive experience in economic and community development to the Commission, as well as knowledge of both state and local planning and program management. He joined the Hollingsworth Companies in 2010 as senior vice president for community development. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Anderson County, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Clinton, community development, District 2, election, Hollingsworth Companies, industry, job creation, Main Street, North Clinton, Phil Bredesen, retail, Retail Committe, Rick Meredith, South Clinton, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Three-Star

Second and final state approval granted for Oak Ridge Mall redevelopment

Posted at 12:16 am February 11, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Mall Concept Plan Featured

The site plan for the redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall shows a multi-use, town center development with retail, office, hotel, and residential properties. (Submitted image)

The two state approvals required for the $13 million tax financing agreement for the proposed redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall have now been granted.

Tennessee Comptroller Justin P. Wilson notified mall redevelopment representatives of his approval in a Feb. 5 letter.

Earlier, in January, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development notified project representatives that it had approved the proposed tax increment financing, or TIF, but would not issue a separate letter.

Under Tennessee law, the comptroller and ECD both had to approve the TIF after considering whether its use is in the state’s best interest. The comptroller said it was in the Feb. 5 letter.

ECD approval was granted in a different manner. In a January e-mail, ECD General Counsel Sharon Kolb said the department had received the request for a “best interest” determination for the Oak Ridge Mall on Dec. 19. Since the department did not approve or deny the request within 30 days, it was deemed approved under the Tax Increment Financing Act, Kolb said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Government, Oak Ridge, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Arant, Bradley, Bradley Arant Boult and Cummings, Crosland Southeast, ECD, Justin P. Wilson, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, Oak Ridge Mall, Sharon Kolb, tax increment financing, Tax Increment Financing Act, Tennessee Comptroller, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, TIF

Clinton industrial site one of four state certified sites

Posted at 7:15 pm December 15, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Four additional sites are declared “shovel ready”

NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced the next four Select Tennessee Certified Sites, and a site in Clinton is among those selected.

The four newest sites are:

  • American Way Site: Lauderdale County (American Way, Ripley)
  • City of Milan Industrial Park Site: Gibson County (Denton Fly Road, Milan)
  • Clinton/I-75 Industrial Park Site 2R: Anderson County (Frank Diggs Drive, Clinton)
  • Rialto Industrial Site: Tipton Co. (US Highway 51N, Covington) [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Clinton, Front Page News, Government, State Tagged With: Anderson County, Austin Consulting, Bill Hagerty, Brandon Talbert, Clinton, Clinton/I-75 Industrial Park, Deane C. Foote, development, Frank Diggs Drive, investment, Select Tennessee, Select Tennessee Certified Sites, Site 2R, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, The Foote Consulting Group

Haslam recommends ARC grants, including for Anderson County, Tech 20/20

Posted at 9:06 am August 2, 2013
By John Huotari 6 Comments

Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

NASHVILLE—Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam this week recommended 19 Appalachian Regional Commission grants, including $200,000 for Anderson County sewer improvements and another $200,000 for a Tech 20/20 project.

The grants are meant to help state and local agencies, governmental entities, local governing boards, or nonprofit organizations with infrastructure improvements, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: AMP rapid prototyping project, Anderson County, Appalachian Regional Commission, ARC, ARC grants, Bill Haslam, Eliza Drive, grants, Pathway Lending Appalachian Community Capital, sewer improvements, Tech 20/20, Ted Townsend, Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

State announces first Select Tennessee Certified Sites, including Horizon Center area

Posted at 6:26 pm June 25, 2013
By Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Leave a Comment

Tennessee Certified Site at Horizon Center

The Select Tennessee Certified Site is pictured above at Horizon Center. (Submitted photo)

NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced on Tuesday the first six Select Tennessee Certified Sites.

As previously reported on Oak Ridge Today, one of the sites is at Horizon Center in west Oak Ridge.

The Select Tennessee program was launched in June 2012 with the goal of helping Tennessee communities prepare available sites for investment and expansion. The program sets a consistent and rigorous standard upon which companies can rely in making critical location decisions. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Government, Oak Ridge, Roane County, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Bill Hagerty, Development Area 6, expansion, Horizon Center, investment, Oak Ridge, Roane County, Select Tennessee Certified Sites, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

State certification means 110-acre Horizon Center site is ready for development

Posted at 5:15 pm June 19, 2013
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Tennessee Certified Site at Horizon Center

The Select Tennessee Certified Site at Horizon Center is pictured at center above. A 28-acre portion of the parcel at left has been identified as a primary data center site. (Submitted photo)

Tennessee officials have identified 110 cleared acres in Horizon Center as one of the first sites in the state to be named a certified site, meaning the property has met certain rigorous standards and is ready for development.

It’s now the second certified site in Horizon Center, a business park on State Route 95 in west Oak Ridge.

The 110-acre site has been designated as a Select Tennessee Certified Site by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Government, Oak Ridge, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Bill Hagerty, certification, certified site, date center site, development, expansions, Horizon Center, Kathy Barber, Kim Denton, Oak Ridge Economic Partnership, relocations, Select Tennessee Certified Site, TECD, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee Valley Authority

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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...]

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