Blount Partnership News & Events

 
Would you like a chance to win an Aubrey's dinner for two (valued at $75+)? Just take United Way of Blount County's QUICK survey on communications preferences, and you'll be entered into the drawing. You do NOT have to be a United Way giver to take this survey. All responses are anonymous, and your contact information will be collected on a different page that will in no way link your information to your responses. Take the survey.
 
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.
 
REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION
Join us March 2, from 4-6 p.m. CT at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown for a Regional Legislative Reception. The cost is $25. Local business leaders, elected officials, state representatives and commissioners will gather to hear about pending state legislative issues that could impact the regional business community as well as the legislative agenda developed by policy leaders at the Blount County Chamber, Knoxville Chamber and the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.
 
RSVP to Claire Carter or 865.983.2241
 
CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE INITIATIVE
Champions for Change is a multi-faceted initiative designed to deepen understanding of issues surrounding the working poor and create sustainable, transformative change in our community for everyone.
 
The United Way of Blount County is holding an information meeting at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville) on Wednesday, Feb. 24 from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Amy if you are interested in attending.
 
EARLY VOTING HAS BEGUN FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
Early voting for the presidential primary, Blount County primary and Rockford City elections has begun 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!
 
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. 19 - Information Management
March 18 - Team Building
April 15 - Conflict Management
May 20 - Mentoring
 
SAVE LOCAL NOW: THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVANTAGE
As a small business owner, you have many advantages over large corporations in your ability to be agile, make quick decisions and pivot. You're not constrained by the bureaucracy that plagues larger corporations. You can review the data, make inferences on the trends and shift directions when you choose to do so.

You also have the distinct ability to build close relationships with your customers. Your customers are people that you care about and often know by name. They know they're not a number to you because you work diligently to provide the high level of quality and customer service that they've come to expect from you.

It's your ability to make personal connections that set you apart from your behemoth counterparts. Like 72 percent of small businesses, you use customer referrals as a way to generate new business offline. You personally follow up with customers to the best of your ability with phone calls, direct mail or emails.
 
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!
 
Every year over the past decade, 60% to 80% of all new jobs were created by small businesses.
 
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 1978 was "Stayin' Alive," a disco song by the Bee Gees from the Saturday Night Fever motion picture soundtrack.

Events
February 15-21

 

 

February 22-28

 

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