March 20, 2008

Task Force Will Create Energy Plan for TN

Governor Phil Bredesen signs an Executive Order creating a Task Force to write a comprehensive energy plan for the state.

Governor Phil Bredesen signed an Executive Order Wednesday establishing the Governor's Task Force on Energy Policy. The Task Force is charged with developing a state energy plan to make Tennessee a leader in energy efficiency and conservation, use of alternative fuels and renewable energy sources and the development of clean-energy technology.

ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber is among the 16 Task Force members, along with commissioners from the Departments of Environment and Conservation, Finance and Administration and General Services. Other members include Senator Rosalind Kurita, Representative Les Winningham and business leaders throughout the state.

"In the past week, as oil prices hit an all-time high and higher gas prices continued putting a pinch on consumers and businesses, it has underscored the reality of the rising demand for energy. We need to begin thinking about a broader energy policy in Tennessee and across the country," Bredesen said. "Tennessee is truly positioned to be a leader in the development of regional and national energy solutions that can provide economic and environmental benefits to our citizens. We just need to seize the challenge and get to work."

Click here to watch a video about the Executive Order.

In developing the plan, the Executive Order charges the Task Force with identifying:

1. Opportunities for state government to lead by example in energy efficiency and conservation, with an emphasis on building construction and management and vehicle fleet management;

2. Prospective policies, legislation, regulations or incentives to encourage statewide energy efficiency and conservation in the public and private sectors;

3. Possible public-private partnerships and collaborations to encourage research and development of clean-energy technology and increase economic development potential in the state's energy sector;

4. Strategies for expanding the use of alternative fuels and renewable energy sources to support the sustainability of Tennessee's environment.

The Task Force on Energy Policy will hold its initial meeting on or before April 7, 2008. It will present its findings and recommendations on ways for state government to lead by example by July 1, 2008, and deliver the state energy plan to the Governor by December 1, 2008.

TTDC Launches Small Business Program

The Tennessee Technology Development Corporation, the state's lead organization for promoting technology-based economic development, launched an innovative new program to help small businesses improve their potential for securing research and development funding from the Federal Government.

The Phase 0 Grant Program will provide up to $4,000 in funding to qualified businesses that need assistance applying for federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants.  SBIR/STTR is a highly competitive, nationwide grant program designed to stimulate innovation and development in high technology industries.  Phase 0 grant money will be used to improve the quality and competitiveness of SBIR/STTR Phase I proposals coming out of Tennessee.

TTDC has allocated $100,000 for the Phase 0 Grant Program and began accepting applications Monday, March 17.  The agency will accept submissions until the June 30 deadline or until funds are exhausted.

"Tennessee boasts some of the most innovative businesses in the nation, but too often they are held back by a lack of financial resources and industry connections," said Eric Cromwell, president and CEO of TTDC.  "The federal government has billions of dollars in grant money set aside each year that, if secured, could advance the mission of these businesses and, in turn, the economy of our state.   TTDC has created the Phase 0 Grant Program to remove barriers to high tech and biotech businesses applying for these grants."

Increasing the amount of federal research funding coming into Tennessee is a primary focus of TTDC, which recently partnered with the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services to raise awareness of the SBIR/STTR process among small businesses throughout the state.  Last year, the federal government awarded over $2 billion for research to small businesses across the nation, but only a small fraction of those funds came to Tennessee. 

In 2005, the most recent year with complete SBIR/STTR data, Tennessee companies were awarded 43 grants, totaling $12.5 million.  This compares to a state such as Alabama whose companies received 150 awards and $36.3 million in funds. 

TTDC attests that by offering companies modest grants and technical assistance, it will allow them to submit stronger SBIR/STTR applications, improving Tennessee's chances to bring home more federal R&D dollars in 2008 and 2009. The costs covered by the Phase 0 grants will include consultant services, printing supplies, SBIR/STTR conference and workshop registration fees, database search fees and legal fees for provisional patent preparation costs.

"What a shame if the only thing standing between a Tennessee company and a major research grant is the small amount of financial and technical assistance it takes to submit a quality application," said Cromwell.  "TTDC is here to boost innovation and research at a time when our state needs it most.  Tennessee has a large and diverse research base consisting of some of the leading scientific and technology minds in this country.  It is only fitting that the work going on here is fully recognized, rewarded and leveraged."

SBIR/STTR is a two-phase program.  Phase I is a feasibility study to determine the merit of a technology or product for which an applicant can receive up to $100,000 for six months.  Phase II involves R&D focused on prototype development and can draw awards as high as $750,000 for up to two years, occasionally increasing to seven figure awards by some federal agencies.

TTDC's Phase 0 Grant Program is open to U.S.-owned, for-profit businesses in Tennessee with no more than 500 employees. Applications must be submitted before the candidate applies for Phase I SBIR/SBTT funding. TTDC will accept Phase 0 Grant applications starting March 17 through June 30, 2008. To learn more, visit http://www.tntechnology.org/sbirsttr.html.

Maury County welcomes a larger number of tourists each year than any other rural county in Tennessee, except for the resort counties. Visitors pour into Columbia for the annual Mule Day celebration in April and tourists visit the many historical sites scattered throughout the county, including the James K. Polk Home, the Athenaeum and Elm Springs.

Source:
Tennessee Encyclopedia

 

March 24
Nashville
Commissioner Kisber will participate in the Future of Telecommunications Forum Panel Discussion at 2:30 p.m.

Fall Creek Falls
Commissioner Kisber will speak at the Community Development Field Summit Dinner at 6 p.m.

March 25
Nashville
Commissioner Kisber will attend a budget hearing at 1:30 p.m.

March 26
Nashville
Commissioner Kisber will speak at the Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare at 11:30 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.

Business Development

BERO

 

BERO To Co-Sponsor SBA Loan Workshops

ECD's Business Enterprise Resource Office will co-sponsor an SBA loan workshop with SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Business.

The loan workshop will instruct business owners in the step-by-step process of applying for SBA Community Express Loans, which range from $5,000 to $25,000.

WHAT: Community Express Loan Workshop
WHEN: Thursday, March 20
Morning Session: 10-11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Session: 2-3:30 p.m.
WHERE: 2200 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. (was Metro Center Blvd.), Nashville, Tenn.
WHO: Full- and part-time businesses are eligible for the loan
Reservations are not required. For more information, please click here.

Doing Business with the Government Workshops

Save the dates for the upcoming workshops in Clarksville and Cookeville on how to do business with the government. Attendees will learn valuable tools and insights to enable them to more successfully work with federal, state and local governments and agencies.

WHAT: Doing Business with Federal, State and Local Governments
WHEN: April 22, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. with a Federal Procurement Session from 2-3 p.m.
WHERE: Clarksville, Tenn.; venue TBD
WHO: Small business, woman-owned, minority-owned and rural businesses interested in working with the government.
The workshop is free of charge, but reservations are required. Further registration and location information will be announced soon. Click here to check the calendar.

WHAT: Doing Business with Federal, State and Local Governments
WHEN: May 6, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
WHERE: Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, One West First Street, Cookeville, Tenn.
WHO: Small business, woman-owned, minority-owned and rural businesses interested in working with the government.
The workshop is free of charge, but reservations are required. To register contact the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce at 931-526-2211.

Community Development

Local Planning

Staff Helping Greeneville Create a Comprehensive Plan for the Future

The Upper East Tennessee Local Planning Office is assisting Greeneville with the development of a new 20-year comprehensive plan. Staff members have already helped to host two highly successful community planning workshops during which stakeholders laid out their vision for Greeneville and explored the best ways to achieve those goals. Participants in the workshops included local elected officials, community department heads, the Greene County Partnership and other community leaders. The Local Planning staff will continue to assist Greeneville in offering future workshops, compiling data from each community department and acquiring the other data needed to develop a comprehensive plan.

For further information concerning the Greeneville planning process contact Glenn Rosenoff at (423) 434-6476 or glenn.rosenoff@state.tn.us.

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Main Street

2007 Reinvestment Numbers Available

The Tennessee Main Street Program will join 42 coordinating partner programs at the National Main Street Conference in Philadelphia to celebrate the economic impact of the Main Street Program in communities across the country. The National Main Street Center will unveil 2007 nationwide reinvestment statistics for Main Street Communities.

Below are the 2007 numbers for Tennessee's 21 Main Street Communities:

943 Net new jobs                                                        
98 Net new businesses                                               
213 Building Rehabilitation projects                                
92 Public Improvement projects                                   
33 New Construction projects                                     
48 Housing units created                                            

Number of volunteer hours contributed in 2007:         
73,134

Value of all private investment into MS district:         
25,254,622

Value of all public investment into MS district:           
32,269,836

Total 2007 investment in Tennessee Main Street Communities:
57,524,458  

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Tennessee Leadership Center

TBEDC Registration Now Available

The Tennessee Leadership Center is offering the second annual Tennessee Basic Economic Development Course May 12-16, 2008 for community leaders and local, state and federal economic development professionals. Topics for this year's course will include global trends, community development and process and practice of economic development.

The course is accredited by the International Economic Development Council and can be applied toward certification as a professional economic developer. Registration is required, and costs $525 through April 4 and $595 from April 5 through the deadline, May 2. Scholarships for tuition and hotel costs will be available. For more information about scholarships, contact Michelle Williams at Michelle.Williams@state.tn.us.

To view the pdf brochure and registration form, click here. Online registration is currently available. To register click here and click on "TBEDC register online" on the upper right of the page.

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Three-Star

ECD to Sponsor Rural Development Conference

ECD is a sponsor of the 13th Annual Rural Development Conference April 2 and 3 in Cookeville, Tenn. Commissioner Matt Kisber will deliver welcoming remarks and Three-Star Program Director Melinda Keifer will sit on a panel discussing the role housing plays in economic development.

The conference, which is the second largest on economic development in the state, is being hosted by USDA Rural Development, Tennessee Technological University College and the Tennessee Valley Authority. This year's conference theme is "Tools for Economic Success," and the keynotes and workshops will explore topics including industrial recruitment, community leadership development, nurturing entrepreneurs and attracting retirees to rural towns.

Click here for more information and to register for the conference.