News from the Chamber:

Ribbon Cutting for U Verse: AT&T U-VERSE ARRIVES IN UNION county

Union County Customers Get New TV Service That Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction in J.D. Power and Associates Study
MAYNARDVILLE, TENN., Feb. 3, 2011 — Union County residents now have a new choice for their television and communications services powered by advanced technology. Sen Faulk and Rep Powers joined Mayor Williams at the ribbon cutting.

Building the Bridges for the Future-Annual Chamber Banquet:

Thank you to all of attendees and sponsors who attended the Annual Meeting and Banquet on February 4 at the Milan Baptist Church. The event was a sell out and we were honored to host our Congressman, Chuck Fleischmann and our State Representative, Dennis Powers.

Special Recognition to our sponsored tables:

Gold Sponsors: A & B Book Keeping, Arctel, Inc, Beach Island Resort and Marina, City of Maynardville, City of Plainview and Friends, Attorney David Myers, McCollough State Farm Insurance, First Team Realty, Food City, KUB, Mary Kay/ Bill’s Home Improvement/Dale’s Drafting, Norris Shores Friends, Okie’s Pharmacy, ORNL Shopper News, Sunset Bay Homeowners, William Von Schipmann
Silver Sponsors: Abundant Health and Wellness, Inc, Beverage Solutions Group, Home Federal Bank, Realty Group, Union County Board of Education, Union County Humane Society. Willow Ridge Care and Rehabilitation Center

We also thank Milan Baptist Church, Lisa Clapp, Leon Graves, Sara Morgan, Debbie Perry, and the Union County Community Foundation for their assistance with this event.

Art in the Park: Renaissance Faire — April 16 at Wilson Park

The Union County Art in the Park committee is sending out a call for artisans of all types of fine art, especially those with unusual items and talent, to join in their 2011 Renaissance Faire. Artists are encouraged but not required to wear period dress of their choice. Awards will be given for Items of Distinction, Best Demonstration and Best Booth Design. Winners will be granted a booth at next year’s festival at no charge. This festival is new to Union County this year and is subsidized by an ABC grant.

The event is planned for April 16 at Wilson Park and will run from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with rain contingency in the high school gym. Admission is free to the public. Registration deadline is March 4 and is $15. After March 4 registration cost increases to $25 with a final deadline of March 25. Contact the Union County Chamber of Commerce for more information or to request a vendor form at unioncochamber@bellsouth.net.

Farmer’s Market:

Planning is underway for a Union County Farmer’s market that will be open every Saturday beginning April 23 from 8A-12N in front of the Union County High School. If you are interested in assisting with planning or as a vendor, please contact the Chamber or the Union County Extension Office at 992-8038.

Tennessee Business Education Coalition:

The Board approved Julie’s participation for this coalition that will support education in Tennessee. Julie’s participation will include interaction of any existing and future educational opportunities in Tennessee. This is important based on the Governor’s elect positions on education in Tennessee.

Senator Corker Town Hall Meeting on Nov 11

With our national debt at a record $13.5 trillion and rising every day, Senator Corker will be participating in a public town hall meeting to discuss this debt crisis on Thursday, November 11. The meeting will be held in the Clayton Performing Arts Center at Pellissippi State Community College on Hardin Valley Rd. in West Knox County (directions). Doors will open at 8:00 am and attendees are asked to be seated by 8:15 am for the program beginning shortly thereafter.

Results of the Best of Union County

Best of Union County Results are in

• Cheeseburger: 1. Pete's 2. Hardees
• Tanning: 1. Imogene's 2. Janet’s
• Hair: 1. Cutting Crew 2. Janet’s
• Tellers: 1. Commercial Bank 2.First Century
• Last Minute Gift: 1. Dollar General 2.Rite Aid
• Bologna: 1. Booker's 2. Virginia’s Grocery
• Floral Arrangement: 1. Bob's 2. Food City
• Gasoline: 1. Food City 2. Booker’s
• Hunting/Fishing Supplies: 1. Sharps General Store 2. Tie between Gun Shack and J+S
• Landscaping: 1. Tater Valley Nursery 2. Beeler
• Ship a Package: 1. FedEX Store 2. Post Office
• Live Music Venue: 1. Heritage Festival @ Wilson Park 2. Bubba’s Brews
• Marina: 1. Beach Island Resort 2. Lakeview
• Frame Shop: 1. Arctel 2. Mary’s
• Church: 1. Big Sinks 2. Highland Missionary Babtist
• Auctioneer: 1. Gary Rutherford 2. Darrell Dyer
• Professional Office: 1. BSG 2.A&B Bookkeeping
• Hardware: 1. ACE 2. True Value/Fred Davis
• Coffee: 1. Sharps General Store 2. McDonald’s
• Daycare: 1. Tree House 2.Classy Kids
• Tobacco: 1. Discount Tobacco 2. Jaxx’s
• Biscuits: 1. Sharps General Store 2. Hardees
• Car Repair: 1. Doug and Bob Sexton 2. Heiskell’s
• Pizza Parlor: 1. Miss Sherry Place 2.Pizza Palor
• Restaurant: 1. Pete 's 2. El Mariachi
• Pharmacy: 1. Okie's 2.Union Discount Pharmacy
• Medical Office: 1. Abundant Health and Wellness 2. Caring Medical
• Video Rental: 1. Food City 2.Video Fun Center
• Wifi: 1. Maynardville Coin Laundry 2. McDonald’s
• Artist: 1. Hazel Erickson 2.Betty Bullen
• Realtor: 1. Debbie Cox 2. Missy Phillips
• Educator: 1. Wilma Tolliver 2.Renee Bill

HUD Sustainable Community Grant

October 15, 2010 - The City of Knoxville - working with Knox County, the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) and other local governments and agencies - has been awarded a $4.3 million grant to develop a comprehensive plan for a more sustainable East Tennessee.

The regional plan will address a wide range of issues including air and water quality, economic and workforce development, healthy living, housing issues, land use and transportation. It will focus on getting local governments and key organizations in Knox, Blount, Anderson, Union and Loudon Counties to develop the region's capacity to work together for a more sustainable future.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the 45 recipients of the competitive Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grants on Thursday.

“To get out ahead on important sustainability issues."

MPC prepared the application that the City of Knoxville Community Development Department filed on behalf of a "diverse consortium of organizations from across the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area" formed to address common livability and issues across the five-county region.

That group includes the city and county governments within Knox, Blount, Loudon, Anderson and Union Counties as well as organizations the like the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and MPC.

The grant will be administered by the City of Knoxville’s Community Development Department and MPC will be the lead planning agency and will oversee the planning process.

A Board of Mayors, including all the city and county mayors in the Knoxville MSA, and a Community Leadership Team will work together to accomplish the grant goals.

Those include:

• Establishing the initial identity and direction
• Developing a shared sustainable vision for the area
• Adopting a regional plan for sustainable development and a regional implementation plan with a focus on five demonstration communities one in each county of the Knoxville MSA

Knoxville's grant was the fifth largest of the 45 awarded by HUD with only the larger metropolitan areas of Seattle, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake County and St. Louis receiving greater funding. No region received more than $5 million. The 45 recipients were chosen from 225 eligible applicants.

ARC/ NEA Appalachian Gateway Community Initiative

The Union County Community Foundation’s proposal for a planning workshop under the ARC/NEA Appalachian Gateway Community Initiative was selected for funding. The workshop will be held in the spring of 2011.

The Heritage Festival was awarded an Arts Builds Communities grant in the amount of $1000 for a spring “Art in the Park” project.

Endless Pawsabilities Cookbooks are on sale for $12.00. Proceeds benefit the Union County Humane Society.

2010 Volunteers Star Awards

Julie reported that Doyle Whitmill and Linsey Carey are the 2010 respective adult and youth volunteers. The chamber thanks everyone who submitted a nomination, was nominated, and the selection committee for all that they do to serve Union Count. They will be honored at a reception sponsored by the Governor’s Office in Nashville on November 15.

Results of the TVA Community

Results of the TVA Community Assessment Survey are now available in the Chamber offices.

Results of the InSite Consulting

Results of the InSite Consulting visit are now available in the Chamber offices.