We'd love to see you at the Clover Hill Senior Living ribbon cutting this Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 10 a.m. It is located at 2317 US 411 South, Maryville. Refreshments and tours of the new facility will be provided.

 

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.

 

EARLY VOTING BEGINS FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

Early voting for the presidential primary, Blount County primary and Rockford City elections begins on Wednesday, Feb. 10 and ends Tuesday, Feb. 23. The primary election is Tuesday, March 1. Get all your voting information here.

 

COMMUNITY 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 submission 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!

 

LET'S GET BEHIND DRIVE TO 55 AND TN RECONNECT

Governor Haslam has challenged our state with a critical new mission: the Drive to 55 - the Drive to get 55 percent of Tennesseans equipped with a college degree or certificate by the year 2025.

It's not just a mission for higher education, but a mission for Tennessee's future workforce and economic development.

Join us on the Drive to 55 to create more opportunities for more Tennesseans - and to improve our quality of life.

Gov. Haslam and TNReconnect encourage Tennessee adults with some college credit to return to school and complete their degree. Visit www.TNReconnect.gov to get all the information about finding the right college, financial assistance, using prior experience for college credit, and more!

 

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.

 

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

 

SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR LOCAL THIS VALENTINE'S DAY

Valentine's Day is yet another way to encourage local consumer spending. A great way to reach more customers would be to create and manage Valentine's Day themed promotions and events on your Save Local Now platform! Why?

 

Once you've created a promotion on Save Local Now remember to share it through email marketing and social media. Now more than ever consumers are looking to spend their money at locally-owned small businesses; give them a reason to express their love for local!
Encourage our local consumers to:
1. Find meaningful gifts at a local boutique.
2. Have their romantic dinner at a local restaurant.
3. Purchase their flowers from a local flower shop.
4. Pick up some locally made sweets.
5. Support our local wineries/breweries.

As always, thank you for being a chamber member!

 

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!

 

Where we shop, where we eat and have fun - all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place.

 

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 1975 was "Fire" by the Ohio Players. The guitar solo break was frequently used as an outro from the Top Ten segment by The CBS Orchestra on Late Show with David Letterman, with the song's ending added during presentation of the Top Ten on Letterman's final show in 2015.