February 6, 2008

Aligning Schools and Jobs

In 2008, communities across Tennessee will discover even more acutely the relationship between educational attainment and job creation, ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber told members of the Tennessee Economic Development Council this week. The TEDC, formerly known as the Tennessee Industrial Development Council, held its annual "Day on the Hill" event for members and lawmakers on February 5 and heard from a number of state leaders about issues expected to dominate the agenda of the current legislative session.

Commissioner Kisber told TEDC members that despite the slowdown of the national economy, interest in Tennessee as a business location is still strong. "Companies are looking at our state with an eye toward economic recovery in 2009 and 2010," Kisber said. "And in many instances, they're asking whether we have a trainable work force as well as a low tax structure and good roads."

Kisber reminded the members that Governor Bredesen's emphasis on rural job creation is closely tied to the ability of Tennessee schools to produce educated, trainable graduates and he urged support for the Governor's call to expand Pre-K programs and to make it easier for college-bound Tennesseans to maintain their lottery scholarships.

"Tennessee's profile as a business location is rising," Kisber said. "If we can help Tennesseans be successful in the classroom, there's no doubt we can provide them greater opportunity in the workplace."

China Trade Expert Coming to Belmont

Governor Bredesen and Commissioner Kisber led a trade mission to China in Oct. 2007 to open the Tennessee China Development Center. Increased interaction with China has been one of the governor's priorities.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is hosting a breakfast February 19 with China trade expert Liu Yang to brief Tennessee companies on doing business with China. The breakfast will be at Belmont University and will cost $45. Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m., and the presentation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 10, with opportunities for questions and answers. Following the presentation, Yang will also be available for one-on-one counseling sessions.

From 2002 to 2006, China was Tennessee's most rapidly growing export market, particularly in the industrial machinery, cotton, man-made fibers and organic chemical sectors. Yang will provide an overview of the manufacturing and agricultural industries in China.

Registration is required, and will be available online soon at www.buyusa.gov/tennessee. To register in person for the breakfast or a one-on-one appointment, or for more information, contact Ericka Stevens, international trade specialist at the Nashville Export Assistance Center at (615) 736-2224 or ericka.stevens@mail.doc.gov.

Commissioner, Fushi Officials Celebrate Nasdaq Bell

From left: Fushi Copperweld Inc. CFO and President Chris Wang and CEO Fu Li joined two officials from the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, State Commissioner of ECD, Matt Kisber, and State Commissioner of Revenue, Reagan Farr for a bell-ringing ceremony at the Nasdaq to welcome to company to trading on the exchange. Fushi was first listed on the exchange on August 31, 2007.

In Lincoln County, springs were discovered five miles south of Fayetteville at Rainy Falls. In 1899, the Fayetteville Gravity Flow Water System, completed at a cost of $37,000, brought fresh water to the town. This unique gravitational flow system excited the interest of engineers from as far away as New York and brought visitors to see the system in operation.

Source:
Tennessee Encyclopedia

 

Feb. 6
Nashville, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend the TEP Board Meeting at 8 a.m.

Feb. 7
Nashville, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend a Nashville Chamber task force meeting at 9 a.m.

Nashville, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend a meeting of the Southern Technology Council at 1 p.m. and will attend a reception following.

Feb. 8
Nashville, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend a meeting of the Southern Technology Council at 8 a.m.

Feb. 12
Nashville, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend a legislative reception for the Tennessee General Sessions Judges' Conference at 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 13
Nashville, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will speak to the Madison County/Jackson Leadership Group at noon.

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.

Business Development

BERO

Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, Minority and Women-Owned Businesses Interested in Doing Business With The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Are Invited to Join Business Resource Group (TDOT DBE Supportive Services Contractor)  in Partnership with Tennessee Business Enterprise Resource Office (BERO) For Their Next Quarterly Breakfast Meeting Tuesday, February 12, 2008 East Tennessee Economic Development Agency Economic and Community Development Regional Office 10215 Technology Drive, Suite 202 Knoxville, Tenn. 37902 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. The purpose of this meeting is to share information about doing business with TDOT as well as discuss upcoming construction projects.

Community Development

Local Planning

Local Planning Partners for Regional Training in Southeast Tennessee

Officials from McMinn and Meigs Counties and towns joined staff of the Southeast Tennessee Local Planning Office in Athens, Tenn. for Growth Readiness Training January 25. The Tennessee Growth Readiness Program is an initiative designed by TVA, UT-Knoxville and the Southeast Watershed Forum to help local officials make informed decisions about managing growth while protecting valuable water resources in their communities. The project uses strong visual land-use data, particularly predictive data reflecting the environmental impact of growth, to guide local land use planning and watershed protection efforts. 

The following day, local planning and regional economic development specialists participated in a Strategic Planning Workshop in Benton, Tenn. with the officials of Polk County and its towns. The Southeast Tennessee Development District facilitated the meeting, which was first held last year as part of the county's participation in the 3-Star program.

For more information about the Local Planning Assistance program, contact Tim Roach at (615) 741-2211 or tim.roach@state.tn.us.

---

Grants and Loans

Housing Project Energy Star Certified

Two weeks ago, Paula Lovett, a Grants and Loans director, presented Mr. and Mrs. Frank Johnson with the keys to their newly rehabilitated home. The ceremony was the culmination of the Henderson Housing Project, begun in 2006 as the cooperative effort of ECD, THDA, TVA and the Southwest Tennessee Electric Coop.

The housing project is the first to incorporate Energy Star measures, which were applied wherever possible. All of the homes in the project are Energy Star Certified, and include such conscientious features as compact fluorescent light bulbs, energy efficient heat pumps, well-insulated duct work and walls and Energy Star exterior doors.

---

Energy

TNCPE Thanks Energy Director

Ryan Gooch, director of the Tennessee Office of Energy Policy, served on the 2007 Board of Examiners for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence. As an examiner, Ryan received training in the Baldrige-based Criteria for Performance Excellence and assesed businesses and other organizations to fine-tune their operation.

TNCPE President Kathryn Rawls recently honored Ryan's service by sending a letter to ECD Deputy Commissioner Paula Davis, thanking her for ECD's support of Ryan's volunteer work. Rawls expressed confidence that the methods of excellence Ryan studied in his training will transfer well to his tasks at ECD.

2 TN Companies Make Sustainable List

Corporate Knights Inc. and Innovest Strategic Value Advisors released their fourth annual Global 100 list in January, highlighting the most sustainable large corporations around the world.

Sixteen of the corporations are headquartered in the United States, second only to the United Kingdom, home to 24 corporations and two that are dually headquartered. Of the United States' 16 designees, two have a presence in Tennessee. Eastman Kodak Company operates a facility in Murfreesboro and aluminum manufacturer Alcoa, Inc. has a plant in Alcoa, Tenn.

Governor Phil Bredesen has made energy efficiency a priority during his administration, throwing the state's support behind the research of energy-saving methods and alternative fuels strategies. The public education arm of the energy awareness movement is BioTenn a campaign of the governor's Alternative Fuels Working group to increase citizen knowledge and understanding of biofuels in Tennessee.

The Global 100, which represent 17 countries and all sectors of the economy, were chosen based on how effectively they manage environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities relative to their industry peers. This year's honored companies were recognized at a private dinner hosted by Corporate Knights and Innovest at the Davos World Economic Forum. To view the full story, click here.