We hope you had a great holiday weekend and got to enjoy it with friends and family. The Blount County Chamber is now accepting nominations for three positions on its Board of Directors for 2016. If you or know of someone that would be a good board member and support the business of the Chamber and the community, please submit their name on this form.

 

For the first time ever, the Blount County Chamber will hold a networking event in Knoxville. The Afternoon Mixer is Thursday, July 9 from 3:45-5 p.m. at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, 1100 Liberty Street in Knoxville. So come be part of Chamber history and join us for the momentous occasion.
If you're coming from Maryville,
Take Alcoa Highway to Kingston Pike exit in Knoxville.
Turn left onto Kingston Pike (0.3 mi)
Turn right onto S. Concord St. (0.5 mi)
Turn left onto Sutherland Ave. (0.3 mi)
Keep right to continue on Division St. (0.5 mi)
Turn right onto Liberty St. (Destination will be on the right)

 

SMOKY MOUNTAIN CLASSIC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

Considered the premier softball tournament in the country, this year's Smoky Mountain Classic Softball Tournament features the top-ranked teams in the United States, July 10-12. Admission is $6 for Friday and Saturday, and $5 for Sunday. Children age 6 and under are FREE.

 

Be sure to come out early and watch the Home Run Derby on Thursday, July 9 to kick off the tournament. Local participants will compete at 5:30 p.m. with the top two winners competing in the main event at 7 p.m. at Sandy Springs Park. The event is free.

 

BE SURE YOUR BUSINESS IS PARTICIPATING IN SAVE LOCAL NOW

The Blount Partnership is thrilled to announce Save Local Now, our newest FREE member benefit! We at the Blount Chamber chose to partner with Save Local Now for many reasons. Here are the top three:
1. Save Local Now brings our community a proven "Buy Local initiative.
2. Save Local Now provides our members with free digital marketing tools.
3. Save Local Now offers our members effective time management solutions.

 

Chamber members can use Save Local Now to create, manage and analyze their very own digital marketing campaigns. Bundled together on one single platform, Save Local Now includes live business listings, deal and event publishing, email marketing, iPhone and Android apps, social media sharing, SEO, and real-time analytics. After receiving an activation email, members of the Blount Chamber are eligible to create unlimited digital marketing campaigns using the Save Local Now platform.

 

For consumers, Save Local Now ( www.savelocalnow.com) is a website and iPhone and Android app that gives people access to exclusive offers from their favorite businesses. Locals and tourists alike can use Save Local Now to access deals, events and savings where they shop, eat and play from any browser on any device. Access local deals, events, and promotions by visiting savelocalnow.com, or by downloading the free SLN app on your iPhone or Android. Saving money and buying local in Blount County has never been easier.

 

FREE BUSINESS OPERATION WORKSHOPS

The Blount County Chamber of Commerce and the Blount County Library have partnered with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center to present free business operation workshops on Google, social media, business marketing and planning, starting a business and government contracting for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

 

Workshops are held at the Blount County Chamber, 201 S. Washington St., Maryville, TN, and at the Blount County Library, 508 North Cusick Street, Maryville, TN. Participants are free to bring their own lunch.

 

For more information or to attend any of the following workshops, participants are asked to register by clicking on the Training tab at www.tsbdc.org.

 

Location	Date	Seminar Topic	Time
Library	Aug. 6	Growth Wheel - Business Processes	11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Register Here
Chamber	Aug. 20	Google-ize Your Business	11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Register Here
Library	Sept. 10	Growth Wheel - Choosing Employees	11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Chamber	Sept. 24	Starting a Business	9 a.m.-Noon
Chamber	Oct. 8	Social Media	11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Library	Oct. 22	Growth Wheel - Ownership & Management	11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Chamber	Nov. 12	Business Planning	9 a.m.-Noon

 

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

The biggest hit during the summer of 1978 was Andy Gibbs' "Shadow Dancing" which topped the Billboard Music Charts for seven weeks.While Andy would have three more top 10 hits, this would be his final No. 1 in America.

Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing