Category: Uncategorized

Ruth and Steve West Workforce Development Center opens in Blount County 

Posted on August 16, 2022 by - Uncategorized

Pellissippi State Community College, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville and community leaders from throughout Blount County celebrated the opening of the Ruth and Steve West Workforce Development Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday. 

The $16.5 million workforce development center is located on Pellissippi State’s Blount County Campus in Friendsville, but also includes space for TCAT Knoxville and a Corporate Training Center for business and industry partners. 

“This workforce development center was created with Blount County partners to serve the Blount County community,” said Aneisa Rolen, executive director of the Pellissippi State Foundation. 

The 51,000-square-foot workforce development center was designed to help fill the area’s need for highly skilled, college-educated employees. Blount County has experienced $2.1 billion in new capital investment and announced 4,570 new jobs since 2015, according to the Blount Partnership. 

“The Ruth and Steve West Workforce Development Center will help us prepare Blount County students for high-demand careers that will sustain them and their families economically and allow them to stay right here at home instead of leaving in search of well-paying jobs,” said Pellissippi State President L. Anthony Wise Jr. 

The workforce development center will include four Pellissippi State programs: 

  • Computer Information Technology, Cyber Defense and Networking concentrations 
  • Culinary Arts, including its new Baking and Pastry Arts option 
  • Business, Management and Hospitality Management concentrations  
  • Electrical Engineering Technology 

The building will include three TCAT Knoxville programs, giving that school its first footprint in Blount County: 

  • Industrial Maintenance/Mechatronics 
  • Machine Tool Technology 
  • Welding Technology 

“We are honored to bring TCAT Knoxville to Blount County,” said TCAT Knoxville President Kelli Chaney. “Developing and being a part of the coalition of educational providers, area businesses, community leaders and community organizations who are focused on promoting hands-on learning to the next generation is exciting and energizing! No one organization can do it alone. It takes all of us working together to drive economic and workforce development.” 

The workforce development center will allow Pellissippi State to increase its dual enrollment opportunities with Alcoa, Maryville and Blount County high schools, helping fill the local pipeline with educated and experienced employees. 

“It’s not like it was when I was young,” said philanthropist Steve West, longtime owner of West Chevrolet and a former mayor of Maryville. “A good attitude and willingness to learn, while important, are not enough in today’s economy. We need more specialized training to fill these jobs.” 

Meanwhile, the 3,250-square-foot corporate training center will increase the college’s capacity to provide training for industry partners. Pellissippi State’s Business and Community Services already trains more than 4,000 individuals annually. 

“This facility is exactly what our employers need to train staff with the necessary skills to quickly introduce them into the workforce,” said Bryan Daniels, president and chief executive officer of Blount Partnership. “This is a huge asset for business retention.” 

In addition to the Wests, the workforce development center received significant donations from the Blount County Economic Development Board (Blount County Government, City of Maryville, City of Alcoa), Arconic Foundation, Appalachian Regional Commission, Blackberry Farm Foundation, Blount Memorial Hospital, Care Institute Group Inc., Clayton, Clayton Foundation, DENSO, William E. Harmon, Crissy and Bill Haslam, Ted and Drama Russell Family Foundation and The Thompson Charitable Foundation. 

Pellissippi State’s fall classes start Monday, Aug. 22. The Blount County Campus is located at 2731 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Friendsville. 

Register for the Arconic Foundation Global Internship program

Posted on July 22, 2022 by - Uncategorized

REGISTER HERE

August 1 – September 14, 2022

―Customized for young adults 18 – 26 who want to explore careers in manufacturing.

The program consists of three paid components: 3 weeks of Workforce Readiness Training; 100 hours of hands-on manufacturing experience interning with a Blount County manufacturer OR equivalent online training through Tooling U-SME (https://www.toolingu.com/); and three half-days of Follow-up, a Career Fair, and Graduation. Participants must complete all three components.

What You Do:

  • Actively participate in 15 (4-hour) days of workforce readiness training
  • Work 100 paid hours with a local manufacturer OR complete Tooling U-SME courses
  • Earn 3 paid half-days of follow up, including a job fair and graduation

What You Gain:

  • A nationally-recognized Certified Manufacturing Associate certificate
  • Competitive resumes, reference lists, and job interview skills
  • Skills that will help you succeed at work
  • Hands-on experience with a local manufacturer OR technical skills gained online through Tooling U-SME
  • Certificates with some manufacturers, in areas such as forklift and safety

Seats are limited to 10 interns.

Local students win Arconic Foundation Scholarships

Posted on July 13, 2022 by - Uncategorized

Arconic Tennessee Operations announced that four local students have been named Arconic Foundation Sons and Daughters Scholarship recipients.  The winners are Maddison Atkins, Hannah Soto, Olivia Specht, and Julia Ten Eyck.

Each will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship after being selected by an independent panel of judges through a rigorous process managed by International Scholarship and Tuition Services (ISTS).

Recipients’ achievements were noted across several categories including academic achievement, leadership, volunteerism/community service, and character.

Maddison Atkins:

A recent graduate of Sequoyah High School, Maddison Atkins, daughter of Greg and Mary Atkins of Madisonville, plans to attend Clarks Summit University in Pennsylvania to study marine biology.  Atkins will also play softball at Clarks Summit, a sport she has played competitively since the age of six.  She earned TSCA All-American honors her junior year. 

Atkins was also active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Beta Club, foreign language club and student council.

Hannah Soto:

Hannah Soto, daughter of Dorne and Heather Soto of Louisville, finished her homeschooling with a GPA of 3.97 with honors, including Tennessee Scholars, National High School Scholars and the German National Honor Society.  She participated in 4-H, Science Olympiad and enjoys designing cosplay and dabbling in Dungeons & Dragons.

She plans to pursue a degree in communications at The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, California.

Olivia Specht:

Olivia Specht, daughter of Ed and Kerry Specht of Knoxville, is a 2021 graduate of Farragut High School and is currently attending the University of Tennessee, majoring in psychology with a minor in child and family studies.   An active volunteer at Young-Williams Animal Center, she loves pet sitting for friends and neighbors.

While at Farragut, Olivia played and lettered in Lacrosse.  She also earned the Best Female Student Ambassador Award for work she did in the guidance office her senior year mentoring new students.

Julia Ten Eyck:

An honors graduate of Maryville High School, Ten Eyck is the daughter of Nancy and Andrew Ten Eyck of Maryville.  At Maryville, Ten Eyck was a student athletic trainer, HOSA Leadership Team member, student council member and National Honor Society member.  Her volunteer work included service with Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School Adventure Club, a server at the Welcome Table and work with Children’s Hospital Fantasy of Trees.

Ten Eyck plans to attend the University of Alabama to study microbiology with hopes of eventually going on to medical school. 

“Arconic Foundation is proud to celebrate this year’s scholarship recipients,” said Ryan Kish, Arconic Foundation President and Treasurer. “Each and every recipient displayed impressive academic accomplishments and a continued dedication to their education.  We hope this scholarship will help them as they strive to achieve their ambitious goals for their future.”

Since 1953, the Sons and Daughters Scholarship Program has recognized outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and community service by awarding scholarships to thousands of students including former U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, who won the scholarship as a Maryville High School graduate in 1958.  The program is open to the children of active, permanent part-time and full-time employees of Arconic Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

Portion of Cold Springs Road to be Closed for Bridge Replacement

Posted on June 30, 2022 by - Uncategorized

A new bridge is currently being constructed on Cold Springs Road.  In order to finalize paving, striping, signage and installation of guard rail, Cold Springs Road will be closed from Cold Springs Missionary Baptist Church to the intersection with Old Chilhowee Rd.

The closure will start at 8:30 AM on July 11th and the Road will reopen on July 14th at 4:00 PM.  Accommodations will be made for those residents living on this stretch of road.

Once this work is completed the new bridge with improved approaches will be open to the public.  Highway Superintendent Jeff Headrick said, “I believe the folks living and traveling through the Cold Springs Community will be very pleased with this newer, safer bridge.”

Tennessee Reconnect now covers 23 year olds

Posted on June 28, 2022 by - Uncategorized

People who are 23 years old are now eligible for the Tennessee Reconnect scholarship if they have not previously earned a college degree. This is regardless of their dependency status on federal income tax forms. 

Similar to Tennessee Promise for college freshmen who are coming straight to higher education from high school, Tennessee Reconnect is a last-dollar scholarship that covers tuition for adult learners after all state and federal financial aid has been applied. 

“This is wonderful news for our students,” said Leigh Anne Touzeau, assistant vice president for Enrollment Services at Pellissippi State Community College. “Now students who are eager to get started back don’t have to wait until they are 24 – they can get started a whole year sooner.” 

The age change from 24 to 23 years old was part of the HOPE Expansion Bill signed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on June 1. The bill also increases the amount students at two-year institutions receive from the HOPE scholarship to $1,600 per semester. 

Lee also signed House Bill 2436/Senate Bill 2631 into law June 1, allowing students who graduate from high school early to be eligible for Tennessee Promise. 

The deadline to apply to Pellissippi State for fall 2022 is Aug. 9. Students who already have applied and been accepted should register now to get the classes they need to move forward on their educational path. Aug. 15 is the deadline for students to confirm their schedules in myPellissippi and pay their fees. Fall classes start Aug. 22. 

Cirrus Aircraft Delivers First United Aviate Academy Training Aircraft

Posted on June 16, 2022 by - Uncategorized

Cirrus Aircraft delivered the first of twenty-five SR Series TRAC20 aircraft to United Aviate Academy. The TRAC20 is an advanced, high-performance aircraft that will be used for initial pilot training at the only ab-initio flight academy operated by one of the largest U.S.-based airlines. In February, the company announced a purchase agreement with United Aviate Academy to purchase twenty-five TRAC20 aircraft with the option to acquire fifty more as the program grows.

United Aviate Academy’s TRAC20 fleet is equipped with an integrated avionics suite essential for situational awareness and hazard avoidance, such as Synthetic Vision, ChartView, Active Traffic and more. These advanced avionics will prepare United Aviate Academy cadets for their careers at regional and mainline airlines after graduation. Additionally, the hot weather package keeps students and instructors comfortable in the Goodyear, Arizona training environment. The hazard and traffic avoidance features provide extra safety in this dense flight training area. 

Cirrus Aircraft offers an aircraft personalization program where customers work with the Cirrus Aircraft Xi Design team to create a custom aesthetic for their aircraft using their own inspiration and vision. United Aviate Academy, inspired by the union of United Airlines and United Aviate Academy, collaborated with the Xi Design team to create a unique livery featuring aspects of both brands. All twenty-five aircraft will feature this thoughtful design featuring the blue and white United Aviate Academy logo on the tail, fuselage, and crew seats as well as a wear-resistant interior.

“Cirrus Aircraft is proud to work with United Aviate Academy to provide the next generation of United Airlines pilots with a fleet of advanced training aircraft for safer and smarter instruction,” said Zean Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer of Cirrus Aircraft. “Together, we are introducing more people to aviation and providing new opportunities for underrepresented populations by removing barriers and supporting new programs like United Aviate Academy.”

United Aviate Academy’s (Westwind School of Aeronautics Phoenix, LLC) year-long training program at Phoenix Goodyear Airport sets up students for a career that reflects United’s high standard of professionalism and commitment to delivering a safe, caring, dependable and efficient travel experience. The Academy is part of United’s industry-leading pilot career development program, which offers aspiring and established pilots the most direct path to a United flight deck. Within the next decade, United aims to hire more than 10,000 pilots and introduce about 5,000 aspiring pilots to aviation through the Academy.

To learn more about the SR Series TRAC20, please visit cirrusaircraft.com/fleet.

Tennessee Among States With Fastest Growing Economies

Posted on June 9, 2022 by - Uncategorized

In an article published in The Southern Illinoisan, Tennessee ranked No. 8 among the U.S. states with the fastest-growing economies.

The states with the fastest-growing economies have more people, more workers, and more business creation, contributing to greater incomes and GDP. To determine the states with the fastest-growing economies between 2020 and 2021, researchers calculated a composite score based on several key economic factors, all weighted equally, and ranked states accordingly.

Click here to view the entire article which lists the top 15 states.

Daniels Named Among Top 50 Economic Developers of 2022 in North America

Posted on April 18, 2022 by - Uncategorized

Consultant Connect, a consulting agency designed to bridge the gap between economic developers and site consultants, announced that Bryan Daniels, president/CEO of the Blount Partnership, was named among North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers of 2022.

The economic development professionals selected for the Consultant Connect North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers of 2022 list were nominated by their colleagues in the economic development industry and the site consultant community for excellent practices, innovation and success in building the communities they serve.

“Releasing the Top 50 list is one of Consultant Connect’s favorite times of the year because we are so passionate about recognizing economic development leaders’ transformative work,” said Carla Sones, managing director of Consultant Connect. “This year’s group faced hurdles unlike any other Top 50 group has seen over the past year, and we are honored to provide a platform for them to be recognized for the passionate commitment they’ve made to their communities.”

“My job, my role, why I was hired, was to be … It was to be a catalyst,” Daniels said. “That was the exact word that was used. To be a catalyst in the community to create more opportunities for folks here.”

Tennessee Entertainment Commission Launches New Incentive Program

Posted on April 12, 2022 by - Uncategorized

The Tennessee Entertainment Commission (TEC), in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Revenue and Department of Economic and Community Development, announced today a new franchise and excise (F&E) tax credit program aimed to advance Tennessee’s entertainment industry by promoting job creation and economic development.

Companies approved as a qualified production can apply for a tax credit generated through resident and non-resident Tennessee payroll expenses and apply for a point of purchase sales tax exemption certificate on non-payroll expenses. Qualified productions include scripted and unscripted television, feature films, video game development, animation, commercials and audio/visual postproduction.

“Tennessee is home to one of the most robust entertainment industries in the world, and we strive to provide the resources needed for our state to build upon this momentum,” TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe said. “We are proud to partner with the Department of Revenue and Tennessee Entertainment Commission and look forward to seeing how this new program will further strengthen our state’s entertainment footprint while creating additional jobs for Tennesseans.”

The F&E tax credit is generated by Tennessee payroll expenditures for all above-the-line and below-the-line talent services being performed in the state on a qualified production. The standard credit generates up to 40 percent on resident and non-resident payroll expenses, with a 10 percent uplift on payroll expenses for Tennesseans living in economically distressed areas.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, and the entertainment industry to make this incentive a success,” Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano said. “Through this collaboration, we are happy to support the continued growth of Tennessee’s entertainment industry.”

In addition to the tax credit, the program offers a point of purchase sales and use tax exemption on qualified goods and services providing an immediate and usable benefit to the taxpayer. This point of purchase sales tax exemption generates a savings of 9.25 percent to 9.75 percent on all taxable goods or services and tangible personal property necessary to the qualified production.

The program creates a sustainable model for the industry, encouraging musicians, professional filmmakers, television producers and video game developers to create and share their craft. The F&E tax credit program will also help market the state while supporting the talented professionals in the entertainment industry.

“Incentives play a pivotal role in the development of talent, workforce and infrastructure in the entertainment industry,” TEC Executive Director Bob Raines said. “The Tennessee Entertainment Commission continues to work toward dedicated and intentional strategies that reinforce and retain our creative class.”

TEC promotes and facilitates economic development of the entertainment industry through the recruitment of business to Tennessee. Since 2017, TEC has assisted more than 1,100 production projects, and nearly 10,000 Tennessee workers have been hired as a result of these projects.

To learn more about the new F&E tax credit program, visit tnentertainment.com/film/incentives/fe-incentive.

Transportation Improvement Plan Released

Posted on April 8, 2022 by - Uncategorized

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Transportation Interim Commissioner Joe Galbato today released TDOT’s annual three-year transportation program, featuring just over $3.6 billion in infrastructure investments for 58 individual project phases in 34 counties across the state. The program supports Governor Lee’s first Executive Order by funding work on 22 highway and bridge projects in economically distressed and at-risk counties.

“Investing in infrastructure is an important part of driving economic opportunity throughout our state,” Governor Lee said. “In addition to core transportation program funding, we’ve added $519 million in General Fund dollars for new transportation investments supporting job creation in Tennessee.”

The program emphasizes the repair and replacement of bridges, with activities beginning on 34 structures in 17 counties. Nine of those bridges are on the state highway system, with the other 25 on local roads.

The comprehensive program also continues to build on the IMPROVE Act’s progress, which provides for infrastructure investments in all 95 counties. This year’s program budgets dollars for 92 of the 962 projects identified in the 2017 legislation. And through the General Fund allocation to the department, three programs supporting 22 additional projects are funded in the state budget.

Construction will begin in FY 2023 on several critical transportation projects across the state:

·       Knox – Blount Counties, Relocated Alcoa Highway (SR 115/US 129)

·       Hamilton County, I-75 Interchange Modification at Hamilton Place Mall

·       Davidson County, Nolensville Pike from Old Hickory Boulevard to Mill Creek (SR 11/US 31A)

·       Trousdale County, North of SR 10 to near Cedar Bluff Road Intersection (SR 141)

·       Benton County, Camden Bypass to Tennessee River (SR 1/US 70)

·       Haywood County, SR 194 (Blue Oval City)

Besides the 2023 budgeted program, partial plans for 2024 and 2025 are included for planning. The comprehensive multimodal program contains components for rail, waterway, and aviation projects, funds statewide initiatives to improve safety, and addresses congestion through our HELP & Incident Management Programs. It also provides funding for transit agencies in all 95 counties supporting both rural and urban transit services throughout Tennessee.

You can view a complete list of projects and programs funded through the 2023-2025 three-year multimodal program on the TDOT website.