September 24, 2008

Verizon Wireless Opens Headquarters

Commissioner Matt Kisber, holding scissors, joined officials from Verizon Wireless, Franklin and Williamson County leaders and state colleagues Tuesday to cut the ribbon at Verizon Wireless' new regional headquarters facility in Franklin. Left to right: Jerry Fountain, Verizon Wireless Carolinas/Tennessee region president; Rep. Charles Sargent; Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson; Verizon Wireless President and CEO Lowell McAdam; Revenue Commisioner Reagan Farr; Franklin Mayor John Schroer; Jim McGean, President, Verizon Wireless, South Area.

Lowell McAdam, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless, and Jerry Fountain, Verizon Wireless Carolinas/Tennessee region president, this week joined with dignitaries and guests to celebrate the official grand opening of the company's $54 million regional headquarters facility in Franklin, Tenn.

"We are thrilled to officially open the doors of the new Verizon Wireless regional headquarters and celebrate our commitment to both employment and economic growth in the Middle Tennessee technology corridor," Fountain said . "We currently have 85 new employees in training this month alone and will hire an additional 500-600 employees over the next three to five years at this state-of-the-art green facility."

Verizon Wireless currently employs over 2,200 people in the state of Tennessee. Nearly 700 Nashville, Tenn.-area Verizon Wireless employees relocated to the 191,142 sq. ft. regional headquarters facility, which is building to a capacity of more than 1,300 when it is fully operational.

"The mission of our office is to create higher skilled, better paying jobs for all Tennesseans, and the opening of the Verizon Wireless regional headquarters is indicative of Tennessee's success in that regard," commented Matthew Kisber, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. "In a five-year period, we have brought more than 145,000 new jobs to Tennessee and attracted more than $22 billion in new capital investments. Our state recently earned the 'National Competitiveness Award' from Site Selection magazine, ranking Tennessee first among the 50 states for economic development performance."

Read the full press release here.

Governor's Energy Task Force Convenes

Governor Phil Bredesen convened the fifth meeting of the Governor's Task Force on Energy Policy last Friday as part of the ongoing effort to develop a new state energy plan. The 17-member panel includes key state officials as well as representatives of business, environmental and other interests.  The task force is charged with making recommendations to help Tennessee become a leader in energy efficiency and conservation, development of clean-energy technology, and use of alternative fuels and renewable energy sources.

At the transportation-themed meeting in the newly opened headquarters of Nissan North America, representatives with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), of Palo Alto, Calif., discussed what the future holds for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Nissan officials discussed the automaker's commitment to zero-emission vehicles, including electric vehicles. Representatives from the University of Tennessee gave an update on UT's partnership with DuPont to develop a cellulosic ethanol refinery in East Tennessee. Finally, officials with the Tennessee Public Transportation Association (TPTA) highlighted opportunities in mass transit.

Clean Energy Summit Coming to Knoxville

Tradition has it that Mousetail Landing in Perry County received its name when a tannery burned during the Civil War era. So many mice fled the burning tannery that the area became known as Mousetail Landing. Postal letters are still in existence today that bear the postmark of Mousetail Landing, Tennessee.

Source:
Perry County Chamber of Commerce

Thursday, Sept. 25
Jackson, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will give a presentation at the Tennessee Economic Development Council Fall Conference at 9:45 a.m.

Friday, Sept. 25
Johnson City, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will participate in a panel discussion at the American Planning Association Fall Conference at 12 p.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

ARC Counties Eligible for Award

The Jerry W. Davis Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence seeks applications from throughout the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) region for inventive, creative and visionary approaches to entrepreneurial development. Applications will be received at the University of North Alabama, Florence, Ala.; the DEADLINE is Oct. 23, 2008. Applications will be reviewed by the Jerry W. Davis Award Committee, which will choose a winner on an annual basis. The award for 2008 will be announced at the ARC-NBIA Business Incubation Conference November 5-7 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

ARC Eligible Tennessee Counties: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Carter, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Coffee, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Franklin, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Macon, Marion, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Smith, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Washington and White.

Click here to download the award application.

Community Development

Retire Tennessee

Retire Tenn. Shows Off In New York

Tammy Kinser of Greene County, left, and Galia Greer of Henry County answer questions about Tennessee at the Live South Real Estate Show.

The first Live South Real Estate show for the Retire Tennessee program was held this past weekend in Melville, N.Y. Melville is in the Huntington Township, which is centrally located on Long Island.

Attendees were largely from the affluent "North Shore" and towns to the east and west. After living in a region with a median home value of more than twice the national average, the attendees are motivated to move South. High taxes, traffic and declining quality of life are a few reasons people in this area are seeking a southern retirement destination. It was reported that some of the Retire Tennessee communities received calls from attendees as quickly as Monday afternoon. The next trade show at which Retire Tennessee will exhibit is in January in McLean, Va., followed by a show in Philadelphia, Pa. in February. For more information, call Ramay Winchester, Retire Tennessee Program Manager, at (731) 336-2630.

Local Planning

Communities Receive FIRM Maps

Local community officials in Claiborne, Cocke and Wayne Counties have now received preliminary copies of their new Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) from FEMA.  The community will have 30 to 45 days to review the maps prior to meeting with FEMA, study contractors and Local Planning Office staff. This meeting will allow them an opportunity to ask questions and discuss any mapping problems with FEMA. 

After the meeting, FEMA will place two public notices in local newspapers to advise property owners of the new maps and locations where they can view the maps.  The public will then have 30 days to contact FEMA regarding any concerns they might identify. If no concerns are identified, the mayor will be sent a Letter of Final Determination that will establish an effective map date six months after the date of that letter. This will give the community time to adopt the new maps in order to remain in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Questions regarding the FIRM mapping process or the NFIP may be directed to Stanley Harrison at (423) 434-6476 or stanley.harrison@state.tn.us.