October 1, 2008

Commissioner Speaks At Planning Conference

 
Left to right: ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber, Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Joe Gaines and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke. 

ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber traveled to Johnson City last week to address the Tennessee Chapter of the American Planners Association during their 2008 Fall Conference.

The Theme of the Conference was Progress vs. Preservation: Coming Together Through Planning, Practices, Policies and Projects. Among the audience were community planning professionals, community planning commissions, local government elected officials, developers, chamber of commerce officials, staff and students of ETSU, media and local citizens.


Clean Energy Summit Coming to Knoxville

 

Tennessee Quick Facts

Robertson County took its name from General James Robertson, often called the "Father of Middle Tennessee."

Source:
Tennessee Encyclopedia

Schedule Alert

Thursday, Oct. 2
Knoxville, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will speak at a Taxation and Mobility Conference at 12 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 2
Kingsport, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will speak at a groundbreaking ceremony for a Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing at 3:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3
Spring Hill, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend a ceremony launching the GM Traverse at the automaker's assembly plant at 9:30 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

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News Briefs

Business Development

BERO

New Workshop On Calendar

Details about a new BERO Doing Business with the Government workshop can be found at the ECD Upcoming Events Calendar.


Organizations Honored at Corn Fest

 
Attendees of the Corn Fest Business and Community Recognition luncheon.

West Tennessee BERO participated in the Corn Fest Business and Community Recognition luncheon in Obion County.  Twenty-two organizations were recognized for their personal or business contribution to Obion County, including the University of Tennessee at Martin Regional Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (REED) Center and Main Street Union City, Inc.  For a complete list of businesses recognized, click here.

New DA's Office Opens

The Greater Gibson County Chamber of Commerce headed by Ms. Marilyn Williamson, Executive Director, hosted a ribbon cutting to formally open the District Attorney General's Office, Child Support Division in Trenton, Tennessee.  Attorney General Garry Brown serves as the District Attorney for Gibson, Haywood and Crockett counties in West Tennessee.  This office collects more than one million dollars in child support payments each month. 

Community Development

Grants and Loans

New Community Events Posted

Information about the Appalachian Regional Commission's annual conference is now available on ECD's upcoming events calendar. Click here to view the details.



Recent News

Times Free Press: "State Plans To Pursue VW Engine Facility"

While Volkswagen of America's plans for a U.S.-based engine plant remain unclear, Tennessee's chief economic recruiter says if the German auto giant does decide to build such a facility, the state intends to compete for it.

"At this time, we and everyone else are awaiting information on that project, and when that information comes forward we will pursue that," Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber said.

"I can assure you we will do all we can to make sure - that makes sense - to make sure that that's a Tennessee facility."

Mr. Kisber's comments came during a question-and-answer session at the state's recent annual Economic and Community Development conference in Nashville.

Volkswagen's July 15 announcement that it would locate its $1 billion auto assembly plant in Chattanooga was a major topic of discussion at the conference, along with ongoing state efforts to secure manufacturers who will supply VW.



Knoxville News Sentinel: "Governor's Clean Energy Summit in Knoxville in October"

Tennessee government and business leaders will gather next month in Knoxville for a summit on clean energy technology, the state Department of Economic and Community Development announced.

Gov. Phil Bredesen, former Sen. Howard Baker, and the University of Tennessee's Baker Center for Public Policy will host the first-ever Governor's Summit on Clean Energy Technology Oct. 14-15 at the Knoxville Convention Center.

The summit is sponsored by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The purpose of the event is to "develop strategies for making Tennessee a leader in the clean-energy technology sector," according to the announcement.

Keynote speaker on the first day will be Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, which announced in July plans to build its first U.S. assembly plant in two decades in Chattanooga last July.

  To view last week's ECD Hot Sheet, click here. // Tomorrow Starts Today