Tennessee Economic Development

Governor Bill Haslam recently unveiled his TNForward legislative package.  Most interesting to economic development professionals is more flexibility in the FastTrack program without sacrificing accountablity.  The FastTrack program is an important tool in helping communities help businesses create jobs and increase capital investment.

Start a new small construction or general contracting business now?  With a contraction of construction firms during the recession, there may be room for some start-ups as construction and remodeling begin to pick up.  If you are considering it now or want to be ready in the spring, this is a good article from the SBA website.

Watching the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life is a holiday tradition for a lot of us. I just saw a clip of it on Facebook today and was reminded how much George Bailey and the Bailey Bros. Building & Loan Association were involved in economic and community development. From recruiting Sam Wainwright’s plastic manufacturing facility, to helping Martini in his business, to developing affordable housing to retain Bedford Falls’ labor force, to designing and developing neighborhoods — George Bailey and the economic development efforts of the old Building & Loan made a more wonderful life for the residents of Bedford Falls.

Hot Dog and Hee Haw, it is a wonderful life and I hope that y’all have a Happy New Year!

The 2011 Hickman County Above the Rim Christmas Invitational Basketball Tournament begins tomorrow (the 28th) and continues on December 29th and 30th at Hickman County High School in Centerville, Tennessee. The Girl’s Tournament Brackets are posted on the HCHS Women’s Basketball web page and the Boy’s Tournament Brackets are posted on the HCHS Men’s Basketball web page. They always put on a great tournament and one can expect a lot of great basketball action during this holiday season.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season.

Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagarty released the nine regional strategic plans that outline how regional field staff will lead new state economic development efforts as part of the JOBS4TN initiative.  The Southern Middle Tennessee plan, which Hickman County participated in its development, is ready for download.  For more general information or to view the other eight (8) plans, visit the TN ECD website.

A story about a community that solved a problem rather than throwing up its hands and blaming someone for it.

Keeping a good quality workforce will continue to be a focus for economic development professionals.  One way for high school students to get out of high school prepared for college or the workforce is to be able to score well on the ACT or SAT.  The Hickman County Career Center offers Test Prep workshops occasionally and this article in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, “Work and Family Mailbox,” reinforces the importance of preparing for success on the ACT or SAT.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty led an announcement today on new Tennessee initiative to increase state exports. The program is called TNTrade and it is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses grow their export activity.  For more information, check out the press release or the website.

The East Hickman Christmas Parade will be held on Highway 100 in Bon Aqua, TN on Sunday, December 11, 2011 beginning at 2:00p.m.  The parade travels from East Elementary School to the intersection of SR 46, SR 100 and SR 7.  It will be a lot of holiday fun!

The Centerville, Tennessee Christmas Parade will be held Saturday December 3, 2011 beginning at 6:30p.m.  If that won’t help you find your holiday spirit, bah humbug!

Here is a video of the 2009 Christmas Parade (back when the parade was held on Sunday afternoon.)

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving Day with lots to be thankful for.

The Skyview Building in Centerville, Tennessee near Nashville has nearly 114,000 square feet of floor space that can be used for light manufacturing, warehousing, distribution or we invite you to come up with your own use (call center, recreation, auto storage, indoor paintball, urban assault training, higher education, most anything that requires a lot of indoor space at a low cost.)  Less than 15 miles from Interstate 40 and less than 45 miles from Interstate 65, this building is in the middle of an available labor force that still has a rural work ethic.  You can find more information on the Hickman County Industrial Sites website or contact me.

Time time today to honor the sacrifices and contributions of our veterans.  There will be the annual Veterans Day observance on the Centerville, Tennessee public square at 11:00am.

Every morning when I tie my tie, I do it like my dad taught me, which is the way the U.S. Army taught him in 1944. Their contributions go way beyond fighting wars and keeping peace.

Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte, moved into the 1960′s and directed by Gayle Shay, will be performed Friday, November 11th at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday,
November 13th at 2:00 p.m. at Vanderbilt University’s Ingram Hall.  For a preview, check out ArtNowNashville.com, “Mozart meets ‘Mad Men’ in new production of ‘Così Fan Tutte’.”

I looked at Jerry Garcia Christmas neckties at Macy’s today, so it’s not too early to start planning a trip to the 2011 Hickman County Above the Rim Christmas Invitational Basketball Tournament held on December 28th, 29th and 30th at Hickman County High School in Centerville, Tennessee. The Girl’s Tournament Brackets are posted on the HCHS Women’s Basketball web page and the Boy’s Tournament Brackets are posted on the HCHS Men’s Basketball web page. They always put on a great tournament and one can expect a lot of great basketball action during this holiday season.

More civic engagement creates a more economically resilient and prosperous community?  Sure it does.  We see that, but this report, Can Volunteering Help Us Weather Tough Economic Times?,  puts some numbers to how much volunteering, voting, attending meetings and becoming involved sustains and increases community economic development.

Connected Tennessee releases new research on Tennessee broadband: Broadband Adoption Surges Among Connected Tennessee Target Groups.