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Today, Gov. Bill Lee announced he has submitted a request for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Once the declaration is made, all Tennessee small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have suffered economic injury as a result of COVID-19 will be eligible to apply for disaster loan assistance of up to $2 million per applicant.

“For most of my life, I’ve been a small business owner and understand the unique challenges each of you face,” Lee said. “While I am pleased with our progress on targeted relief for small businesses, we know this is just a first step from our federal partners to provide liquidity to our businesses. We are in constant dialogue with our delegation members to ensure that federal aid is responsive to our concerns and needs.”

The loans can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable or other bills that can’t be paid due to the disaster’s impact. Interest rates for the loans are 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for nonprofit organizations.

The SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.

More than 94 percent of Tennessee’s private sector business establishments have fewer than 50 employees. This represents 151,500 businesses that employ over one million Tennesseans.

Employment has increased 13.6 percent at these establishments over the last five years, placing Tennessee in the nation’s top 10 states for small business growth.

“Small business is the backbone of Tennessee’s economy, and right now they have been faced with unprecedented challenges,” TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe said. “We will continue to provide the necessary resources, information and support to help our small businesses overcome these obstacles as quickly as possible.”

Additional information about Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance, along with instructions on where to apply, will be announced once the declaration has been received.

Small businesses are encouraged to learn more about resources offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration at sba.gov.

Information about the SBA’s District Office in Tennessee can be found here.

Up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Tennessee can be found here.

By Ashley D. Bell

Regional Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration

White House Policy Advisor for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Black History Month is celebrated every February; a federally recognized, nationwide celebration that calls on all Americans to reflect on the significant roles that African-Americans have played in shaping U.S. history.  I am honored to highlight the significant role that African Americans have made in shaping our economy through entrepreneurship and community investment.

The Small Business Administration has helped to power the American dream for many African American entrepreneurs across the nation and in the Southeastern Region. The SBA backed $210 million in loans to African American owned small businesses across the 8 Southeastern states last fiscal year. $2.3 billion in federal contracts were awarded to the SBA’s 8(a) certified firms; small businesses that have proven to be economically disadvantaged. Over 100,000 start-up and existing entrepreneurs last year were counseled and trained through the extensive resource partners we work with such as SCORE, the Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers and Veterans Business Outreach Centers. The SBA has driven entrepreneurs successfully to the website LenderMatch to help connect a lender to the specific loan needs of a small business owner. We are reaching more entrepreneurs today more than ever before; and this is just the beginning.

Last year, I was humbled by receiving the Drum Major for Justice Award from the President of the Perry County Civic League, Albert Turner, at the historic Marion Baptist Academy located in Marion, Alabama. During the ceremony I explained, “I accept this honor on behalf of our lost loved ones whose deaths have paved our path. I know without any uncertainty that I would not be here today without the sacrifices of those like brother Jimmie Lee Jackson who was killed organizing for voter rights here in Marion. And for the life and legacy of Marion’s favorite daughter Coretta Scott King.”  I mention this award and this occurrence, because it helps to show just how important history is and it ties right into this year’s theme for Black History Month:  African Americans and the Vote, recognizing the struggle for voting rights among both black men and women throughout American history.

We have come so far over time, and yet we have a lot more work to do. My job won’t be finished until each and every African American owned small business has knowledge of what opportunities exist for them towards their success from the programs and services of the SBA to the multiple growth options made available through Opportunity Zones, through supply chain demand, through public and private contracting opportunities, access to capital, and the list goes on. I look forward to continuing to deliver services and opportunities to black-owned businesses across the nation through my role as Regional Administrator for the SBA and as a Policy Advisor on Entrepreneurship & Innovation for the White House office of American Innovation.

Cirrus Aircraft announced a record year of growth and expansion in 2019, marked by the award-winning Vision Jet™ becoming the world’s best-selling jet in general aviation. Deliveries of the Vision Jet surpassed 80 aircraft in 2019, representing a 29% increase over the prior year, while consistent growth in SR Series deliveries resulted in a combined total of 465 aircraft shipments in 2019. With 384 aircraft delivered in 2019, the SR Series maintained its distinction as the best-selling high-performance piston aircraft in its segment for eighteen consecutive years. These combined gains in 2019 represent a 5% increase in total deliveries over 2018 and made it the sixth year in a row that Cirrus Aircraft has grown annual airplane shipments.

“Our growth at Cirrus Aircraft is propelled each year by our mission to create an aviation experience that is defined by innovation and excellence,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO at Cirrus Aircraft. “Our team strives to advance personal aviation with smarter, more connected aircraft and our annual performance is reflective of how our strategy is resonating with customers from both inside and outside of aviation.”

2019 is the sixth consecutive year that Cirrus Aircraft has delivered more than 300 SR Series aircraft. Additionally, the Vision Jet continues to deliver into new global markets and has now surpassed 170 Vision Jets in service around the world. Expansion of Cirrus Services™ also fueled enterprise growth, including the opening of a new Cirrus Aircraft facility in the Dallas Metroplex area. Finally, the total number of Cirrus employees grew by over 10% in 2019 as team members were added in all locations including Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Knoxville, Tennessee and McKinney, Texas.

The Most Connected SR Series Ever

In January, the company announced the launch of the all-new 2020 G6 SR Series, the most technologically advanced models ever of the world’s best-selling SR20, SR22 and SR22T high-performance piston aircraft. The highlight of the new model year is the introduction of the Cirrus Aircraft mobile app powered by Cirrus IQTM – providing a real-time digital connection to the airplane from virtually anywhere in the world. Further enhancements include re-imagined interior and exterior aesthetics featuring a line of bold new colors.

These new features alongside additional upgrades to the industry-leading Cirrus Perspective+TM by Garmin® flight deck make the 2020 G6 SR Series the most comprehensive, integrated and intelligent flight experience available today, enabling a smarter aircraft, a smarter pilot and smarter flying.

Cirrus Aircraft’s first high-performance SR Series airplane – the SR20 – was first delivered in 1999 and transformed general aviation with intuitive avionics, game-changing performance and revolutionary safety systems, including the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®). The SR Series portfolio includes the SR20, SR22 and the turbocharged SR22T. Today, the worldwide fleet of SR Series aircraft has surpassed 7,500 aircraft with over 11 million flight hours in 60 countries around the world.

A New Generation of the Vision Jet

In early 2019, the company announced the launch of the next generation Vision Jet – “G2” – with enhanced performance, comfort and safety. Evolutionary features include increased cruise altitude, speed and range, along with a newly-upgraded Perspective Touch+TM by Garmin® flight deck. In addition to upgrades, several innovative technologies were added to the G2 Vision Jet, including a category-first Autothrottle, Flight Stream connectivity and more. Interior amenities further enhanced the passenger experience with new executive seats, thoughtfully- engineered noise reduction and a passenger productivity console. Later in the 2019, Cirrus Aircraft announced the upcoming addition of Safe ReturnTM – a revolutionary emergency Autoland system that enables passengers to land the Vision jet with just the touch of a single button.

“Relentless innovation is one of our core values,” said Pat Waddick, President, Innovation & Operations at Cirrus Aircraft. “Much like our first twenty years of re-imagining the SR Series with constant improvements to performance and safety, the G2 Vision Jet and addition of Safe Return are the culmination of that same spirit of innovation and a testament of our dedication to revolutionize the aviation experience in the many years ahead.”

In 2016, Cirrus Aircraft ushered in a new era in personal transportation with the FAA certification of the world’s first single-engine Personal JetTM – the Vision Jet. The turbine aircraft defined a new category in aviation – the Personal Jet – with its spacious pilot and passenger-friendly cabin featuring panoramic windows, reclining seats, comfortable legroom for five adults and two children and the only turbine aircraft with a whole airframe parachute system as standard equipment. A new milestone in the journey of the Vision Jet was reached in 2018, with the historic win of the Robert J. Collier Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association.

Fleet and Special Mission Expands Around the Globe

Professional flight training organizations continue to grow their fleets with the technologically advanced, industry- leading SR Series aircraft as they prepare the next generation of airline pilots. This year, Oklahoma State University added a new fleet of SR20 aircraft as the flagship of their aviation program. Other world-renowned flight training academies using Cirrus aircraft include Emirates Airlines, Lufthansa, Southern Utah University and Vincennes University.

In 2019, Cirrus Aircraft announced the TRAC Series, a purpose-built configuration of the best-selling SR Series line of aircraft developed specifically for flight training institutions. The TRAC Series is thoughtfully crafted with reliability, durability and economy in mind to meet the rigors of high-tempo flight operations, while providing industry-leading safety and performance for both the student pilot and flight instructor. Combining the Perspective+TM by Garmin® flight deck along with the unrivaled performance and safety uniquely found in the SR Series, the TRAC Series includes tailored features such as rear seat push-to-talk functionality and a landing gear simulator aimed at increasing training productivity.

In addition, Cirrus Perception™ – the company’s sensor-capable special mission aircraft – continues to enhance law enforcement search and rescue efforts around the world with a cost-effective multi-use platform.

Cirrus Services Grows, Further Enhances a Lifetime of Airplane Ownership

In 2019, Cirrus Services expanded with the opening of two new facilities. Cirrus Aircraft opened a new Factory Direct location in McKinney, Texas in early 2019 offering factory service, with additional services to include flight training, maintenance and aircraft management in the future. The company also opened a new Factory Service Center at its Vision Center Campus in Knoxville, Tennessee, increasing service center capacity and opening up additional space for a dedicated Paint and Detail center.

“Cirrus Services is our enterprise-wide commitment to innovation throughout the entire ownership experience,” said Todd Simmons, President, Customer Experience at Cirrus Aircraft. “Our team is working to continue developing a premium, comprehensive experience over a lifetime of ownership. Growing our training, service and support capabilities with additional facilities, locations and talent focuses more resources on delivering world-class care to make owning and operating a Cirrus rewarding, safe and simple for a lifetime.”

The launch of Cirrus Services in 2018 signified another milestone in Cirrus Aircraft’s ongoing plans to redefine the personal aviation ownership experience by providing world-class customer service for life. Cirrus Services recognizes the customer’s needs before, during and after initial aircraft delivery by combining Flight Training, Service and Support into a single, dedicated business unit. The dedicated group is focused on growing capabilities and offerings at the company’s expanding list of Factory Direct centers, as well as through a network of authorized service and training partners across the globe.

Cirrus Approach Continues Innovation and Leadership in Pilot Training

Recognized as the first recipient of the Joseph T. Nell Safety Award from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Cirrus Aircraft continues to transform pilot training and safety with Cirrus Approach. As a comprehensive program, Cirrus Approach provides ongoing training to new and experienced pilots with their lifestyle in mind through award-winning in-person and online training courses. The company has continued to innovate pilot training in recent years, with the launch of the redesigned cirrusapproach.com and the addition of Flight Fix – a unique monthly video podcast to further support its mission of “training as a lifestyle”. Over 16,000 pilots and owners have joined the program as of early 2020.

Cirrus EmbarkTM – the company’s transition training program designed for new owners of pre-owned Cirrus aircraft – also continues to expand, exceeding 1,100 training completions awarded since its launch in 2017. This revolutionary program provides Cirrus-specific, standardized differences and transition training for a licensed pilot who purchased a pre-owned Cirrus Aircraft. Included in the program is access to the Cirrus Approach Learning Portal, the Cirrus FOM and aircraft POH, access to the iFOM and one-on-one Cirrus Transition Training with an authorized Cirrus training provider.

Company Operations Continue to Expand

Growth in overall facilities and employment was also noted across the company’s locations, including significant expansion of career opportunities in engineering and product development. This growth includes plans to establish a new engineering design center in Phoenix, Arizona.

The company’s global customer experience center, the Vision Center Campus, continues to grow with the inclusion of a state-of-the-art Flight Training center which features world-class FAA-approved ‘part 142’ type rating training for the Vision Jet and a custom Level D full-motion simulator. Cirrus has currently issued over 330 Vision Jet type ratings.

In the fall of 2019, Cirrus Aircraft hosted its first Vision Pilots and Owners (VPO) symposium at its Vision Center, demonstrating a strong dedication to the owner community and continued sharing of learning and best practices for the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet. Over 70 Vision Jet owners and operators attended the event, bringing over 40 Vision Jets from the worldwide fleet to the McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville for the inaugural event.

DENSO, the world’s second largest mobility supplier, today announced the opening of its Central Technical Training Center at its Maryville, Tennessee, facility. DENSO designed the state-of-the-art technical training center to educate its employees about the latest technologies and best practices in advanced manufacturing, a move that helps ensure the company and its workforce will remain leaders in manufacturing as it becomes more automated, connected and data-rich.

The development is part of DENSO’s 2017 commitment to invest $1 billion in the Maryville location. That investment has helped DENSO in Maryville expand its production of vehicle safety and electrification systems, create 1,000 jobs, establish new employee training opportunities, and reinforce the site’s ability to be a primary manufacturing center for DENSO in North America. All of this supports DENSO’s Long-Term Policy 2030, which aims to create new value for advanced mobility.

“DENSO’s manufacturing philosophy is to produce products in the region, for the region,” said Kenichiro Ito, senior executive officer of DENSO Corporation and chief executive officer of DENSO’s North American headquarters. “As a leading mobility supplier, we manufacture products and systems for all major automakers in North America. It’s crucial that we remain at manufacturing’s leading edge as we help our customers realize new mobility solutions. The technical training center helps us accomplish that.”

DENSO in Maryville plans to educate more than 1,500 employees annually at the training facility, which features labs focused on electrical, robotic and mechanical applications in manufacturing. DENSO employees will have access to more than 50 hands-on courses in production-related areas, including electrical, mechanical and mechatronic technologies, and automation fundamentals. In the future, course programming will expand into rapidly evolving fields, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data analytics. DENSO also collaborates with local colleges and high schools to better prepare students interested in manufacturing for successful and rewarding careers in the industry.

“We’ve manufactured technology in east Tennessee that makes cars safer and cleaner for more than 30 years, and that sustained production is impossible without the support and skill of our local community,” said Jack Helmboldt, president emeritus at DENSO in Maryville. “Opening the Central Technical Training Center demonstrates not only our commitment to our employees, but also to maintaining DENSO and east Tennessee’s position as a manufacturing leader in North America.”

Speakers at the training facility’s grand opening include Ito and Bob Booker, a senior manager of Legal Services and Corporate Compliance at DENSO in Maryville, as well as Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell; and Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Bob Rolfe.

The Central Technical Training Center’s opening comes after DENSO invested $1.95 million last year in its thermal manufacturing facility in Battle Creek, Michigan, to open the North Technical Training Center. Both bolster DENSO’s manufacturing expertise across North America.

DENSO’s Maryville location has nearly 5,000 employees and specializes in production of vehicle safety systems and electrification components. DENSO has other Tennessee locations in Athens, Mount Juliet and Jackson.

Whether you’re interested in production or engineering, human resources or sales, if you want a career that reimagines transportation and manufacturing, visit densocareers.com.

AESSEAL^®, the global manufacturer of mechanical seals and support systems, has increased capacity in its US operations with investments totalling almost $16 million.

Over the past year the AESSEAL group, which is held by Rotherham based AES Engineering Ltd, has ploughed around $11 million into its US manufacturing facility in Rockford, Tennessee. The plant now has six state-of-the-art nine-axes machine tools.

The company will invest a further $5 million in its fully owned subsidiary, MS&S, in Odessa, Texas which primarily focuses on the oil & gas industry. The bulk of the investment will finance the construction of a $3.7 million building having outgrown its current location. This will bring it up to the AESSEAL^® standard and further raise the profile of MS&S in the oil & gas industry.

The increased productivity will mean that 85 per cent of mechanical seals and support systems offered for sale by AESSEAL Inc will be made in the USA.

AESSEAL Inc. CEO Pete Rouleau said “This investment represents the confidence the company has in the opportunity for our products in North America and recognises the importance of our ability to manufacture in the USA.  Our ability to manufacture locally will further improve what we already believe is the best customer service in our industry, which ultimately will be to the benefit of our customers.”

Chris Rea, Group Managing Director of AES Engineering Ltd, said: “As our US business, AESSEAL Inc, has grown, the group has concluded that investment in the US market is essential to ensure that we continue to be true to our central goal of providing exceptional customer service. 

“It is also a sign of confidence in the United States, which is the largest and most dynamic market in the world.”

Barge Design Solutions today announced that it has acquired Nashville-based Gould Turner Group (GTG), bringing together two of Nashville’s most well-established and successful companies.

“We are thrilled to announce that Gould Turner Group has officially become part of Barge,” said Bob Higgins, CEO of Barge Design Solutions. “GTG has set the standard in the architecture and interior design world for nearly 40 years. This is a partnership that will double the size of our architectural team, adding top-tier professionals with expertise in health care and higher education design. We will also benefit from GTG’s strong interior design service offering.”

In the past two years, Barge has experienced nearly 38 percent growth, adding more than 180 new employees and opening two new offices. Barge’s staff count grows to 470 with the merger.

“By becoming part of the Barge family, we sustain our brand and become part of a very well-run organization with hundreds of building and design professionals with offices in six states, as well as a fantastic administrative support team, all of whom share our commitment to excellence and commitment to creating a great work environment,” said Linda Marzialo, CEO of Gould Turner Group.

As part of the merger, GTG will retain its name and become a division of Barge. The merger provides GTG with a partner with deep engineering expertise, as well as ancillary services like landscape architecture. It will also receive administrative support in HR, financial management, marketing and other back-office services.

“The culture of our two companies really fit together well,” Higgins said. “We like each other and share a common philosophy about business and commitment to creating positive work environments for our teams. Both of us are extremely excited about the new opportunities this will present to our firms and team members.”

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Greater Tennessee has honored The Christman Company with an Excellence in Construction award for the University of Tennessee Student Union in Knoxville.

The Christman Company was presented a Merit Award in the category of mega-projects over $150 million at the 24th annual Excellence in Construction Awards on Sept. 26 in Nashville.

“This is our company’s 37th project for the University of Tennessee, and it is really special,” said Marty Gibbs, vice president and general manager for The Christman Company’s Knoxville operations. “Our team took tremendous pride in constructing an efficient and beautiful gathering space for students, alumni, visitors and the community.”

The Christman Company oversaw all construction on the multi-phase project, starting with preconstruction in 2011, phase one in 2012 and then completing the final phase in December of 2018. McCarty Holsaple McCarty & Barber McMurry Architects Joint Venture was the architect for the project, which included 70 subcontractors and vendors.

The state-of-the-art facility is 395,088 square feet and boasts eight new food venues, a production kitchen, billiards area, classrooms, conference rooms, ballroom, auditorium, conference rooms and office suites for 14 university departments. Its exterior features include two city blocks of pedestrian-friendly hardscaping and landscaping and a pedestrian bridge.

The Excellence in Construction Awards honor contractors, project architects, engineers and owners and recognize outstanding construction projects throughout Middle and East Tennessee.

Nisus Corporation announced that it completed the acquisition of the assets of Lord’s Additives, LLC, from owners Sandra and Steve Bales. The purchase includes all EPA and Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency registrations, product names and intellectual property. The Lord’s Additives LLC name will remain with the existing company; however, Lord’s will no longer be in the zinc borate business. According to Kevin L. Kirkland, President and CEO of Nisus Corporation, “Zinc borate was a natural next step for Nisus Corporation as it is a great product for our Wood Preservation Division and our Agricultural Division that will sell liquid micronutrients.”

The purchase of the Lord’s Additives assets will jump-start the Nisus zinc borate business by giving Nisus immediate access to EPA and PRMA registration and an existing customer base. Nisus is currently the largest purchaser of Disodium Octoborate Tetrahydrate (DOT) in both the pest control industry and the wood preservation industry.

Zinc borate is currently used as a preservative in oriented strand board (OSB), siding and other composite products, and is also used as a fire retardant.

“Working with Steve and Sandra Bales on this purchase has been a real pleasure,” says Kirkland. “They have built a wonderful business and we look forward building on that success.”

Nisus’ mission is to offer quality, sustainable pest and wood preservative products to industry professionals while providing the lowest possible impact to the environment.  

Blount Partnership President/CEO Bryan Daniels was one of 14 new executives named to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Committee of 100 (CCC100), the organization announced Tuesday.

These experienced leaders advise the U.S. Chamber’s board of directors, enhance lobbying and coalition work, recommend programming, and strengthen outreach to the business and chamber communities.

“I’m honored to be named to this committee,” said Daniels, who is in his 10^th year serving as the Blount Partnership’s chief executive. “Our group is a great cross section of the United States with both large metropolis areas and smaller communities like Blount County represented. I’m looking forward to helping advise the board as it works as the voice of business in America.”

“The CCC100 has a long-standing reputation as one of the most prestigious appointments in the chamber community,” said Sara Armstrong, Vice President at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “These new members reflect our continued dedication to naming diverse, high-profile leaders from across the country to serve on this distinguished committee, and we look forward to the contributions they will provide to the CCC100.”

Other members of the committee are Betsy Bishop, President, Vermont Chamber of Commerce; Miles Burdine, President and CEO, Kingsport (TN) Area Chamber of Commerce; Bruce Bustamante, President and CEO, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce; Julie Coons, President and CEO, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce; Robert Duffy, IOM, President and CEO, Greater Rochester (NY) Chamber of Commerce; Tim Giuliani, CCE, President and CEO, Orlando Economic Partnership; Kristopher T. Johnson, IOM, President and CEO, Association of Washington Business; Jack Lavin, President and CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; Tracey Osborne Oltjen, IOM, CCE, President, Overland Park (KS) Chamber of Commerce; Mike Ralston, President and CEO, Iowa Association of Business & Industry; James Rooney, President and CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce; Maria Salinas, President and CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce; Alfred Sanchez, President and CEO, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

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