January 30, 2008 |
|||||
Governor Phil Bredesen Delivers
|
|||||
| Governor Bredesen delivers the 2008 State of the State Address to members of the 105th General Assembly and special guests on Monday, January 28. |
Governor Phil Bredesen delivered his 2008 State of the State Address and Fiscal Year 2008-2009 budget proposal to the 105th Tennessee General Assembly on Monday evening. The common sense, no growth budget, which calls for no new taxes, commits the majority of new state dollars to education and job creation.
"What I am proposing in this budget is to concentrate on the basics, putting our full attention to those things that we need to do well to keep Tennessee moving forward in education, safety, jobs and health," Bredesen said.
In an effort to ensure Tennessee's economy continues to grow and produce good jobs, the FY 2008-2009 budget proposal includes $29.3 million for an economic development jobs package. These funds would allow infrastructure improvements and training to companies looking to relocate or expand in Tennessee. Bredesen also reiterated his commitment to developing more jobs in the rural areas of the state.
For the second consecutive year, the largest portion of the $27.88 billion budget - including $13.84 billion in state dollars - will fund Pre-K-12 education and higher education. With a combined appropriation of $8.41 billion, education represents 30 percent of the total budget.
Bredesen emphasized he will resist efforts to raid the state's reserves, which he said would retreat back to the fiscal policies that once threatened to bankrupt the state.
"I've made clear my commitment to running government in a competent and businesslike manner," Bredesen said. "One of the legacies I would like to leave as Governor is the certainty that we can manage as responsibly through the good times as the bad. The steps we've taken over the past five years have positioned us to weather the current national economic slowdown. Tennessee is ready, prepared to live within its means, and we will make this budget work."
Bredesen's 2008 State of the State Address, proposed 2008-2009 budget and other related materials can be found at www.tn.gov; click on "State of the State Address 2008."
Connected Tennessee has announced the release of the nation's first county by county reading of average Internet speeds across Tennessee. This county based Internet speed map will give providers of broadband and Tennessee policy makers a more accurate understanding of which Tennessee communities remain in need of higher quality service in order to utilize the latest applications that benefit local and state government as well as private industry.
Through a collective effort between SpeedTest.net, the Communications Workers of America's (CWA) Speed Matters Campaign and Connected Tennessee, the project surveyed more than 86,000 people from Tennessee's 95 counties. Tennessee residents can continue to update the data by participating in a speed test on Connected Tennessee's web site, www.connectedtennessee.org. Speed tracking provides the State of Tennessee and Connected Tennessee with an accurate reading of the types of speeds being achieved by consumers around the state.
"The data gathered by Connected Tennessee allows us to see for the first time where improvement is needed and work to localize our efforts," said Governor Phil Bredesen. "Technology adoption and economic development go hand in hand, and we want to work to ensure that Tennesseans everywhere can realize the opportunities that are possible when all communities are truly connected."
The maps reveal that the average statewide upload speed is 575 kilobits per second (Kbps) and the average statewide download speed is 3.4 megabits per second (Mbps). This means that the average Tennessean with broadband service can download a typical 1 megabyte document in less than three seconds. For those on dial-up service, the same process would take almost four minutes. Fifteen of Tennessee's 95 counties registered significantly lower than the average upload speed, while 30 fell short of the average download speed.
The Upload and Download Speed Maps as well as Tennessee broadband availability maps can be accessed on the Connected Tennessee web site at www.connectedtn.org/mapping_&_research/availability_maps/.
Established in 1843, Lewis County was named in honor of Meriwether Lewis, the famed explorer of the Lewis and Clark expedition, who died within the county's boundaries.
Meriwether Lewis died in 1809 while lodging overnight at Grinder's Inn on the Natchez Trace and was buried nearby. Lewis' death was never satisfactorily explained, and debates continue as to whether the death was a suicide or a murder.
In 1925, the federal government designated the grave site as a National Monument, which today includes picnic areas and nature trails, in addition to Lewis' grave and a replica of Grinder's Inn.
Source:
Tennessee Encyclopedia
Feb. 5
Nashville, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend the Tennessee Industrial Development Council/ECD Mixer at 10:45 a.m.
Commissioner Kisber will speak at the TIDC Luncheon at 11:30 a.m.
Commissioner Kisber will attend the TIDC Legislative Reception at 5:30 p.m.
Commissioner Kisber will attend the Tennessee Bankers Association Reception at 6 p.m.
Feb. 6
Nashville, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend the TEP Board Meeting at 8 a.m.
To request ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber to speak or attend an event, please contact Jennifer Alward at (615) 253-1852 or jennifer.alward@state.tn.us
We invite your thoughts on the ECD Hot Sheet. Please click here to contact ECD Communications with any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have.
Green Collar Jobs on the Rise
The American Solar Energy Society projects that as many as one in four U.S. employees will be working in renewable energy or energy-efficiency industries by 2030. These "Green Collar" jobs already number 8.5 million, and by applying appropriate public policy, this number can grow to as many as 40 million U.S. jobs by 2030.
To go green in your industry, small business or local government building, call 1-800-342-1340 in Tennessee for a Free Energy Assessment.
Nashville Attorney Utilizes New Tennessee Clean Energy Technology Grant
Nashville attorney David Lyons recently installed a solar electric generating system in his office building as part of the new Tennessee Clean Energy Technology Grant Program administered by ECD. The 6.5 KW PV system utilizes Sharp PV panels which are made in Sharp Manufacturing's Memphis facility.
The system is connected to a power grid, and Nashville Electric Service purchases the power that is produced. Mr. Lyons' electric bill for November-December, the first full period after installation of his system, was a negative $8.14, meaning the PV system provided more electricity than needed for the period.
Approved program applicants can get a 40 percent grant of the installed system cost (not to exceed $75,000) of a clean energy system such as a PV electric system, a wind energy system, a solar water heating system, a hydrogen fuel cell system or a hybrid solar lighting system. The 60 percent balance of the cost can be financed with a Small Business Energy Loan.
To find out more about the Tennessee Clean Energy Technology Grant and Small Business Energy Loan Programs, contact Clinton Berry at 615-253-1943.
Retire Tennessee Promoting the Good Life at Recent Trade Shows
Retire Tennessee has been busy recruiting retirees to live the "good life" in our state at two recent Live South Real Estate Shows. Snowy locations in the Washington, D.C. and Chicago areas motivated buyers to check out Tennessee's much milder climate.
Attending the D.C. show were Edmund Roberts from Marshall County, Beth Alexander from Cumberland County, Rachel Baker from Hardin County and Retire Tennessee's Ramay Winchester. More than 1,200 leads were collected as a result of the trade show booth.
The Chicago show led to more than 850 leads and was attended by Winchester along with Ellene Duncan from Putnam County, Tammy Kinser from Greene County, Jeanette Scalf and Kira Dykstra from Sullivan County, and Bill Bowen from Hamilton County.
For more information on Retire Tennessee, please contact Winchester at 731-336-2630.
Ellene Duncan from Putnam County and Tammy Kinser from Greene County speak to guests at the Washington D.C. area Live South Real Estate Show. |
Pictured at the Chicago area Live South Real Estate Show from left to right: Edmund Roberts from Marshall County, Beth Alexander from Cumberland County, Rachel Baker from Hardin County and Ramay Winchester from Retire Tennessee. |
|
Knoxville News-Sentinel:
"State Earns High Ranking" The American Legislative Exchange Council, in its first economic ranking of the 50 states, said Tennessee is the fifth-best state when it comes to low business and property taxes. The ranking notes that it takes a worker in Kentucky 13 months to make the income that a Tennessee resident makes in 12 months. The pro-business American Legislative Exchange Council also noted that Tennessee's "right-to-work" status figured into the high rating. In contrast, it chided Kentucky, which placed 46th on ALEC's list, "with its high personal, business, and estate taxes, high workers compensation costs and its forced unionism." ALEC ranked the states by using 16 factors, many of them based on the taxes states assess. |
WVLT-TV: "Million$ Pouring Into Tennessee's Economy"More than $13 million dollars is pouring into Tennessee's economy this fiscal year alone. That's according to a recent economic impact study of Lincoln Memorial University's DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. The study was prepared by the National Center for Rural Health Works and examines four primary areas. Dr. Gerald Doeksen says, "You not only have staff here. You've got construction activities they've created. You've got students that come in and spend money, and then you've got visitors that eventually come in and spend money." Dr. Doekson adds that two sectors in particular are really getting a boost. Retail will gain more than four-million dollars during the current fiscal-year. Dr. Doekson points to the availability of healthcare and a low crime rate as the top two reasons a retiree will locate to an area, potentially making retirees a part of the economic boon to the Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia region that surrounds the LMU campus. |