February 28, 2008 |
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Four Companies Create a Combined 840 New Jobs for TennesseansIn the span of a week, four major corporations celebrated significant jobs announcements in all three grand divisions of Tennessee, creating a combined 840 new positions and retaining 486 current jobs. The newly locating or expanding companies are: Colgate-Palmolive, Fluid Routing Solutions, Inc., Riviana Foods Inc. and Corrections Corporation of America.
Colgate-Palmolive "Morristown, Tennessee has brought us everything we could ask for: a pool of talented and skilled people, solid infrastructure and convenient location, a supportive business environment and support from state and local officials," said Ian Cook, president and CEO of Colgate-Palmolive. "We want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Morristown and to the State of Tennessee for welcoming Colgate and its people into the community and for helping us get off to a terrific start."
Fluid Routing Solutions, Inc. "Lexington's excellent work force and the commitment of the state and local officials to work with our company made this expansion a logical next step for Fluid Routing Solutions," said Russell Williams, manager of the plant in Lexington. "We're glad to be growing in this community, and we look forward to continued growth and prosperity."
Riviana Foods Inc. "Development of the new facility will help us reach our goal of transforming Riviana into the world's most efficient, technically advanced rice company," commented Bastiaan de Zeeuw, Riviana president and CEO. "In addition to its central geographic location, this state-of-the-art facility will allow us to reduce our cost for processing, packaging, storage and distribution and will provide important economies of scale. It also represents Riviana's renewed commitment to the Memphis community, and we appreciate their cooperation and support."
Corrections Corporation of America Pending final negotiations with the county, CCA will commence construction of the $143 million Trousdale Correctional Center in summer 2008 on a 108-acre site in Hartsville's Power Com Industrial Park, with an estimated completion time of 16-18 months. "With this new endeavor, CCA brings enhanced economic vitality to northern Middle Tennessee through purposeful careers and millions of dollars in salaries, benefits and tax revenue. This infusion of capital improves the lives of families and bolsters public services," said John Ferguson, CCA president and CEO. For more information on the latest ECD news, please visit www.tnecd.gov. |
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Tennessee Quick FactsMadison County is home to Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park, the site of three separate mound groups discovered in 1820 by surveyor Joel Pinson. Pinson Mounds is the largest Middle Woodland Period mound group in the United States and includes a seventy-two foot mound, the second tallest in the country. Source:
Schedule AlertFebruary 28 Nashville February 29 March 4 Nashville March 5 Nashville Nashville 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 FeedbackWe invite your thoughts on the ECD Hot Sheet. Please click here to contact ECD Communications with any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have. |
News BriefsBusiness Development
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ECD Business Development staff participated in the Chattanooga Business Expo on February 19. Events included a SBA sponsored small business hearing on federal regulations, small business awards ceremony, business training and expo opportunities. Pictured from left to right: Scott Cooper, Michelle Proctor, Millie Callaway and Kazumi Iino. |
The MTSU College of Business & Entrepreneurship is celebrating Entrepreneurship Week with educational sessions and guest speakers through Friday, February 29. The week's theme, "Create Your Future" encourages creativity and innovation in young job seekers. For more information, visit: http://mtsu.edu/~eweek/.
BERO will co-sponsor the Tennessee Department of Transportation Quarterly Meeting in March to educate companies on doing business with TDOT, as well as discuss upcoming construction projects. If you want to conduct business with TDOT or if you would like to increase your current business, this quarterly breakfast is a great opportunity for your firm.
WHAT: TDOT Quarterly Meeting
WHEN: Tuesday, March 4
WHERE: TDOT Regional Office, 6601 Centennial Blvd., Nashville
WHO: Companies interested in doing business with TDOT
HOW: Please RSVP by February 26 to Bonnie Daniels at (901) 276-0157 or toll free at (866) 765-4274.
The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services - Procurement Technical Assistance Center and honorary co-hosts Congressman John Tanner and Congressman Steve Cohen will present the West Tennessee Veterans Small Business Conference March 31 – April 1 in Millington.
Special emphasis will be placed on "Celebrating our Veterans." As troops return home from service, they will enter the business community, and veterans attending the conference will learn about programs designed to make their return to business easier.
Other small businesses and industries will have opportunities to learn more about expanding their current markets through selling to the government.
WHAT: West Tennessee Veterans and Small Business Conference
WHEN: Monday, March 31 – Tuesday, April 1
WHERE: Pat Thompson Conference Center, 5700 Attu Street, Millington, TN
WHO: Community leaders and organizations; economic development professionals; all business including: veteran-owned, service and manufacturing.
HOW: Please click here for more information and to register.
ECD's Local Planning Office is providing written reports developed by the Watershed Alliance to 14 counties participating the in Map Modernization process. The reports outline mapping needs before the actual map studies begin. Counties receiving reports beginning this week include: Claiborne, Cocke, Crockett, Dickson, Grundy, Humphreys, Johnson, Macon, Madison, Monroe, Overton, Polk, Union and Wayne.
For additional information on the Map Modernization Program or the National Flood Insurance Program contact Stanley Harrison at 423-434-6476 or stanley.harrison@state.tn.us.
The ECD Grants and Loans Division recently closed a Small Business Energy Loan with Farragut Health Care Center, L. P. for its property occupied by Summit View of Farragut nursing home.
The company borrowed $83,331 at 3 percent interest to install new energy efficient windows and lighting. The improvements will save Farragut Health Care Center $14,447 per year in energy costs, while also improving the work environment and boosting employee productivity.
Call the Grants and Loans Division at (615) 741-6201 for a free energy assessment of your small business building and become part of the energy efficient solution to help build a better world.
Ronald E. Lawrence accepts a Small Business Energy Loan check from ECD's Sammy Duke on behalf of the Farragut Health Care Center. |
Economic development professionals will convene at the Community Development Field Summit on March 24-26 at Fall Creek Falls State Park. In light of the Governor's increased emphasis on rural economic development, the seminar is designed to help agencies work together to maximize resources and innovation.
Break out sessions and facilitated discussions will target the development of local strategies to address economic and community development issues by region. The summit will also provide an enrichment opportunity to new and experienced staff alike, refining the knowledge and developing the leadership skills that will profoundly increase each organization's positive impact.
The Community Development Field Summit is a critical first step in aligning goals and streamlining efforts of all involved. Through a team approach, regional partners will hone in on exactly how to turn their plans into results.
Retire Tennessee recently participated in the Indianapolis Golf Show, sharing a booth with Tennessee Tourism and Tennessee State Parks. Potential retirees learned more about our wonderful golf courses and the benefits of retiring to Tennessee. |
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Associated Press:
"Bredesen Plans to Create State Energy Policy" The state will begin by addressing what the governor called the "low-hanging fruit" of finding ways to make its buildings and vehicle fleet more efficient. Last weekend's National Governors Association meetings in Washington illustrated that there is far from a consensus on energy issues among the states, Bredesen said in a speech to the state Chamber of Commerce. "It just reinforced the fact that this is one of those instances where Tennessee is best served by just rolling up our sleeves, getting to work and accomplishing some things," Bredesen said. "We, as a state, can focus on driving innovation," he said. "The rest will sort itself out at the national and regional levels." Bredesen said the field provides economic development opportunities and that Tennessee can position itself as a national leader if it gets working on the topic. |
Tennessean: "La Vergne Plant to Make Displays for Trade Shows"A marketing firm with ties to Nissan North America is expanding its presence in Middle Tennessee with a new production facility that could employ more than 100 skilled workers. George P. Johnson, an Auburn Hills, Mich.-based firm that specializes in trade show displays, said it will open a production facility this spring in the CentrePointe industrial park in La Vergne. George P. Johnson has an office in Franklin that works with Nissan, but the facility in La Vergne will be only the company's third manufacturing site. The plant will turn out displays for companies in the technology and auto industries, including Nissan, General Motors Corp. and International Business Machine Corp. "There's kind of a creative piece because they do a lot of work for trade shows," said Carlyle Carroll, vice president of recruitment and economic development with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. "That kind of thing tends to stay strong even when the building market is down." The La Vergne facility will take up 300,000 square feet and will open in May or June. It won't begin hiring until then. |