|
If you or someone you know is looking for a job, please check out
www.BlountAreaJobs.com. Additionally, if you need employees, please utilize the job board to advertise your open positions. Click
here to get started.
RIBBON CUTTINGS AND GRAND OPENINGS
 There a number of ribbon cutting and grand openings scheduled in January, so here's four the next two weeks. On Wednesday, Jan. 11, join us for the grand opening and
ribbon cutting of Dairy Queen (1742 W. Broadway, Maryville) from 10 a.m.-noon. Door prizes and activities will be available.
The first 100 customers to buy a breakfast combo meal on Wednesday, January 11, starting at 6 a.m. will get a free Blizzard (two per month) for a YEAR! (Excludes Drive Thru)
For Chamber members, the winning egg toss team at the 10 a.m. ribbon cutting gets 2 FREE Breakfast Combo meals per month for a YEAR. (Redeemable twice a month)
On Thursday, Jan. 12,
Ripley PR's open house is at its new location at 357 Ellis Ave., Maryville, from 4-7 p.m.
On Thursday, Jan. 19,
Get Fit Maryville is holding a grand opening at its new location at 911 E. Broadway Ave., Maryville, at 11:45 a.m.
On Friday, Jan. 20,
McAlister's Deli (465 Marilyn Lane, Alcoa) ribbon cutting to unveil its remodel is from 10:30 a.m.-noon.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TICKETS AVAILABLE
So join us for this trendy event that gives the business community the opportunity to entertain clients while making connections within the county. With a live band, a menu of heavy hors d'oeuvres along with games taking place in a casino-type atmosphere, it will be a night to remember.
Providing the entertainment is Jessie's Girls which combines the stylings of a five-woman live national party band backed by a four-piece ensemble with two horns and a pair of disc jockey's churning out dance hits from today and yesterday.
Additionally, attendees have the opportunity to participate in interactive casino-style games and get a take home a souvenir photo with an on-site photo booth.
PROMOTE, THEN PARTICIPATE IN OPERATION THANK YOU
 Promote your business during "Operation Thank You" by sending 1600 gift certificates, brochures or business promotional pieces to us and we will distribute them.
Your Chamber constantly looks for ways to help you promote your business through the ABC theory - Always Buy Chamber. We do ask that your enclosure piece not to exceed 8 ½" x 11". These inserts should be delivered to the Chamber no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, February 9.
If you are interested in participating, please contact
Amy Lawson or call 865.983.2241. There is a fee of $200 for insert enclosure.
Participate in the Chamber's 19th annual "Operation Thank You" set for February 21-23, 2017 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. 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.
CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MLK THROUGH THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS!
 MLK Week Annual Business Luncheon
Friday January 13, 2017 at noon
Airport Hilton
The business luncheon will be held at the Airport Hilton on Friday, January 13 at noon. The cost is $35 per person or $275 per table of 8. Reservations are required to attend this event and can be made by calling the Blount County Chamber of Commerce at 865-983-2241.
Deadline to purchase tickets, is Monday, January 9. The keynote speaker will be retired FBI special agent Don Hickman.
Community Worship Service
Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 at 4 p.m.
St. John Baptist Church of Alcoa
The Community Worship service will be held 15 at St. John Baptist Church of Alcoa (178 Bessie Harvey Ave., Alcoa, TN) at 4 p.m. Elder Bobby Fields, Pastor of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Loudon will be the speaker for the afternoon.
Blount County MLK Day March/Program
Monday, Jan. 16, 2017
12:45 assemble at MLK Center
1:00 p.m. March from Center to Maryville College
2 p.m. Program at Clayton Center Nutt Theatre
All Blount County residents who are fortunate enough to receive Monday, January 16 as a holiday are encouraged to participate in the last event of the celebration. A march to the Clayton Center for the Arts will assemble at 12:45 at the MLK Center (209 East Franklin Street) in Alcoa. The program will begin promptly at 2 p.m. at the Clayton Center for the Arts featuring keynote speaker, Renee Kesler, President & CEO of Beck Cultural Center.
For more information contact
Belinda.kenny@maryvillecollege.edu or
admccord@ftb.com.
BUSINESS PLANNING WITH GROWTH WHEEL
 Discover Business Planning with GrowthWheel! Small Business planning is much more dynamic and moment by moment rather than a dull chore with fabricated forecasting. Lots of decisions are made over a cup of coffee or while driving not predetermined months in advance. Business owners are much more reactionary to the market and have limited planning budgets. GrowthWheel is a new innovative tool that lets the business owner plan the most pressing needs for the business. It also is a visual tool to provide structure and direction allowing the business owner to set goals and take action. NO MORE writing 40 pages of useless information that always ends buried in your desk. Gone are charts and graphs replaced by 30 day plans and action steps. GrowthWheel is not just for new businesses but also works for all businesses in all stages and for all industries. Come try this totally innovative approach to business planning.
Register Here for this free program.
REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST
Join us for our Regional Legislative Agenda Breakfast on Friday, Jan. 27 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Calhoun's Restaurant Conference Center, 100 Melton Lake Peninsula in Oak Ridge. We will present the regional legislative priorities of the Oak Ridge, Knoxville and Blount Chambers of Commerce to our legislators as they begin the 2017 session. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased
online or by phone at 865.483.1321.
SIGN UP FOR NEXT SOFT SKILLS CLASS IN JANUARY
 Registrations are currently being accepted for a free soft skills session set for Jan. 27 entitled, "Tips for Public Speaking." Whether you're naturally shy or love hanging out with a crowd, learn how to effectively capture an audience and inspire action.
All classes are conducted in the Blount County Library's learning lab located at 508 N. Cusick in Maryville and limited to 50 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.
The other classes offered include Managing People & Personalities, Tips for Public Speaking, Hiring Good Employees, Motivation and Burnout, Time Management and Managing Change in the Workplace.
CHECK OUT THE JANUARY MEMBER-TO-MEMBER PROMOTIONS
 The January member-to-member promotions are in, so take a look. With nearly 50 merchants participating, there's something for you. Check out the
member-to-member promotions. New offers are being posted weekly, so check out the Blount County Chamber of Commerce Member-to-Member promotions online. This Member-to-Member Promotional Program offers you and your company the opportunity to market your products and services to the membership.
Here's how it works:
1. Submit a PDF of a service, product or discount you'd like to offer to the Chamber membership to
jmuir@blountpartnership.com. Be sure to include an expiration date.
2. An email with all the promotions will be sent out on the final Monday of every month to our member database.
3. All promotions will be posted on
www.BlountChamber.com
HOW TO CREATE A GREAT BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENT
 Just like all things in life, your business changes over the course of time. To you, these changes feel natural. But, what about to your customers? Little things such as discontinuing a certain product, or big things like moving locations may take your customers by surprise. It's best to avoid a frenzy of confusion, and keep your customers in the know. Easier said than done, right? Follow these tips about creating a great business announcement:
Read more
Learn more about marketing your small business in a digital world, ask questions about social media, and take the time to discuss future campaign ideas. What are you waiting for? It's free with your chamber membership.
Schedule your FREE session 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.
REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL
 Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!
Non-Profits often receive greater support from local business owners, sometimes as much as 350% more money, than they do from non-locally owned businesses.
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
"Hello, Goodbye" by the Beatles was completing a three-week run atop the Billboard Music Chart this week in 1968. It has traditionally received a varied response from music critics. While some reviewers praise the song for its classic pop qualities, others deem it unadventurous by the Beatles' standards and inconsequential.
|
The
