What a blast we had Friday night at the Chamber's 96th Anniversary Celebration. Thank you to the Airport Hilton and our sponsors Advanced Munitions International, LawlerWood, TVA, Blount Excavating, United AV, S&ME, C2RL, Spectrum Business Enterprise Solutions, Hickory Construction, CSX and Pinnacle Financial Partners. Click here to view pictures made by Kathy Smith Photography at the entrance. The password is: hilton2016

Have you ever wanted to go to Cuba? Now's your chance with a Blount Chamber sponsored trip in November. Click here to find out more.

 

Also, we'd love to see you at the Atlantic Bay Mortgage ribbon cutting this Thursday, Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. It is located at 1778 W. Lamar Alexander Blvd., Maryville.

 

Just a reminder that a letter was faxed out about the Blount County map project the Blount Chamber and Target Marketing are doing for distribution this summer. If you have didn't receive one, you can review it here. If you have questions, please contact the Chamber at 865.983.2241.

 

COMMUINITY WELLNESS RECOGNITION PROGRAM

This recognition award, sponsored by Blount BEneFITs, was established in 2009 to recognize the efforts of Blount County schools and businesses that are taking steps within their organizations to promote and embrace healthy living through creative programs that encourage good nutrition and increased physical activity. Previous winners include weight loss challenges, running clubs and other exercise programs, some of which were long-standing programs and others that were start-ups.

 

Ready, Set, Move Award Application for Businesses/Organizations & Schools that made efforts in 2015 to promote healthy living within their organizations is available now.

 

Please pass this around to others or feel free to actually nominate an organization and gather the necessary info for the award submittal that is due by no later than April 22. It's an honor to award those that are trying to promote healthy living in this community, and we hope to see many applications this year!

 

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS...PARTICIPATE IN "OPERATION THANK YOU"

Participate in the Chamber's 18th annual "Operation Thank You" set for February 16-18 and meet other business people on a one-on-one basis. During this three-day event, Chamber members, the Chamber staff and Board of Directors will personally deliver Chamber member information packets for 2016. We invite you to join us in this three-day effort. You can agree to call on as many or as few members as your schedule permits. If you, someone (or several people) from your business, organization or group is interested in participating, please contact Amy Lawson or call 865.983.2241.

 

Promote your business during "Operation Thank You" by sending 1250 gift certificates, brochures or business promotional pieces to us and we will distribute them during "Operation Thank You." Your Chamber constantly looks for ways to help you promote your business and the ABC theory - Always Buy Chamber. We do ask that your enclosure piece be a 4x9" brochure or a size not to exceed 8 ½x11" and be no more than 1 page or sheet. These inserts should be delivered to the Chamber no later than 5:00 p.m. Thursday, February 4. Please contact Amy Lawson or call 865.983.2241. There is a small charge of $175 for insert enclosure.

 

SOFT SKILLS CLASSES OFFERED THIS SPRING

It's Your Career! That's the focus of four free soft skills sessions offered in partnership by the Blount County Public Library, the Adult Education Foundation of Blount County and the Blount County Chamber of Commerce that are scheduled over the next five months.

 

With more and more millennials entering the workforce, employers have noticed many workers in a variety of professions are lacking in several areas, including problem solving, conflict resolution and critical observation. But, even though they possess the hard skills to get an interview, it's the important soft skills that will land the job and help them keep it.

 

All classes are conducted at the library located at 508 N. Cusick in Maryville and limited to 30 participants. Those interested must register online at www.blountchamber.com/community/soft-skills. A complete class description is located on the registration site. All classes run from 8-10 a.m. with networking beginning at 7:30 a.m.

 

Registrations are currently being accepted for:
Feb. 9 - Information Management
March 18 - Team Building
April 15 - Conflict Management
May 20 - Mentoring

 

JOIN OUR SAVE LOCAL NOW PROGRAM

Save Local Now, a FREE chamber member benefit, is here to help small business drive consumer traffic. Now more than ever we see the value in supporting local business. At the most basic level, buying local ensures that more money stays in the community. In fact, for every $100 spent at a locally owned store, $45 remains in the local economy. By shopping at the local "mom and pop" style store, consumers can rest assured knowing that they're doing their part of keeping their communities unique and thriving.

 

Save Local Now gives endless amounts of support to small businesses; more specifically the marketing tools they need to better promote their business. We know how busy the small business owner is; we know how little time there is for email marketing, social media, etc. The tools we give small business owners, such as free SEO services, deal and event publishing, email marketing, real-time analytics, etc. is so crucial to helping their bottom line. Essentially, Save Local Now created an easy way for small business to be everywhere consumers are today.

 

If you have any questions regarding your free digital marketing member benefit (Save Local Now), your digital platform, or online marketing in general please reach out the Blount Chamber's Rachel Coffman. She is here to help you in the year ahead and will keep you on track as you fulfill your resolutions in 2016.

 

REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL

Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!

 

When you purchase sales tax-generating goods from businesses located within Blount County, you are helping to finance important community projects and programs that significantly impact the quality of life here.

 

Find what you're looking for in the Chamber Directory.

 

GOT AN EVENT OR NEWS? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT

Is your organization hosting an event in the community? Submit it here on our community calendar. If it's a tourism event, please email Ashlee so she can post it on www.SmokyMountains.org.

 

Also, please send us any news releases or good news about your business. We'd love to share it with the community.

 

REMEMBER WHEN

Topping the Billboard Music Charts this week in 1965 was "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," a song written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil, and first recorded by The Righteous Brothers in 1964. The recording was produced by Spector, and it is considered by some music critics to be the ultimate expression and illustration of Spector's "Wall of Sound" recording technique.