Media Room

Five local schools received classroom grants through the Foundation for Future Building Trades—four high schools were awarded $2,000 each and one junior high received $1,000—to support hands-on construction education. In addition, seven students earned scholarships totaling $7,500 to further their education or purchase tools for careers in the construction industry. Classroom grants were awarded to…

More than 75 students from area high schools took part in the sixth annual Blount County Job Signing Day activities at the Airport Hilton as they inked with 38 local employers to begin their careers. These seniors either took career and technical education (CTE) courses on a career pathway, earned an industry certification in school,…

Nisus Corporation is proud to announce its transition to a 100% employee-owned company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), effective April 30, 2026. As an ESOP-owned company, Nisus begins a new era focused on shared success, long-term stability, and continued innovation. This milestone was made possible through the collaboration of Nisus executive leadership and…

The Blount Partnership announced that it was awarded a Workforce Invest Grant by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to support collaborative efforts in aviation training and education. “This grant from TVA’s Workforce Invest program is a game-changer for Blount County,” said Jessica Belitz, Director of Workforce Development at the Blount Partnership. “It allows us to…

Three local public schools received $2,500 each in classroom grants as part of a new initiative to support construction education and training, thanks to the newly established Foundation for Future Building Trades. In addition, six students were awarded scholarships totaling $6,000 to further their education or purchase tools and supplies for careers in the construction…

PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group and leading regional airline, and McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) have agreed to terms for PSA to open and operate a maintenance base at the airport. As part of the deal, PSA will use the hangar previously occupied by a maintenance provider. The TYS maintenance base…

The former Builders & Associates of Blount County chapter has consolidated its funds, totaling nearly $450,000, into the Foundation for Future Building Trades to support the next generation of construction professionals. These funds will establish classroom grants and scholarships designed to encourage students to pursue careers in construction, with a special emphasis on residential buildings.…

Pellissippi State Community College has been awarded nearly $2 million through the third round of the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) Grants, to support the creation of a two-year associate degree in Aviation Technology, with a focus on Aviation Maintenance Technician Training. The new degree program, located at Pellissippi State’s Blount County Campus, will…

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC)’s Board of Directors has selected seven new economic development leaders to serve on the organization’s 2025 Board of Directors for a two-year term. The board has also selected the leadership positions for the coming year. The process took place at the annual board meeting on September 15 during IEDC’s…

Maryville, Tenn. – The Blount Partnership is proud to announce that Lauren Emert, Director of Economic Development, has been named to the prestigious 40 Under 40 Class of 2024, an annual recognition presented by the Lincoln Memorial University School of Business and Knox News. The award honors 40 outstanding young professionals in East Tennessee who…