Join us March 1 at 2 p.m. for Movement Mortgage's ribbon cutting (845 Turner Street, Maryville). Its open house runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. So stop by and wish them well at their new location.

 

ALL THINGS GOOGLE

The "All Things Google" Lunch and Learn Technology Series is a professional development workshop series for adults who seek to learn about the Google platform, applications available through Google and how to access and use these applications (Google Sheets, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Drive, etc.) This technology series is offered by the Blount County Public Library with funding provided by the Tennessee State Library Archives Library Technology Training Grant.

This Lunch and Learn series launches March 2, 2018 with the Essentials of Google Drive. This series will meet in the new Learning Lab at the Blount County Public Library on Fridays each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The $10 registration fee includes a box lunch and participants will have the opportunity to network. Each of the topics offered will be divided into 3-4 weekly sessions that can stand alone or be taken consecutively. A total of 50 classes will be offered with a new schedule released each month.

To register for classes in the Lunch and Learn Series please visit the Blount County Public Library website http://www.blountlibrary.org/248/Technology-Classes.

 

FINANCING YOUR BUSINESS THE SBA WAY

Join Jacqueline Merritt from the SMall Business Administration for a free workshop on how to finance your business the SBA Way on March 2 from 9-10 a.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville).

Whether you are an existing entrepreneur or have given thought to starting a business, this seminar will put you ahead of the game in government guaranteed lending. This workshop covers SBA loan options. RSVP to Jacqueline by email or phone at 615-736-7465.

 

MARYVILLE COLLEGE TO HOST NONPROFIT FAIR MARCH 8

The Maryville College Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA) hosts its third annual Nonprofit Fair on Thursday, March 8 in the Alumni Gym. The fair is open to members of the community from noon until 3 p.m. to learn about nonprofit missions, service or volunteer opportunities, and internships or employment opportunities. There is no charge to attend the fair.

Approximately 50 East Tennessee nonprofit organizations are expected to be in attendance, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee, the Blount County Public Library, Covenant Health, the Emerald Youth Foundation, Maryville Parks and Recreation, the Pregnancy Resource Center, Trinity Dental and YOKE Youth Ministry.

Nonprofit organizations can register for a table by visiting www.tinyurl.com/2018MCNonprofitFair.

 

START UP WITH GROWTH WHEEL

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center is presenting a start up assistance workshop on March 22 from 9-11 a.m. at the Blount Partnership, 201 S. Washington St., Maryville. Explore your idea viability utilizing GrowthWheel. Learn about forms of business organization, tax requirements, business licenses, business planning and financing options with additional discussion about SBA loan qualification and opportunities. Register here.

 

PARTICIPATE IN BLOUNT COUNTY JOB FAIR

Join us for the annual Blount County job fair presented by Blackberry Farm, M Force Staffing, Pellissippi State and Staffing Solutions, on Thursday, March 22, 2018 from 2-6 p.m. at the Second Harvest Food Bank facility in Maryville. If you are interested in participating, please click here for more information.

Some employers already participating include: Ruby Tuesday, Premier Solutions International, AMR Blount County, First Tennessee Bank, Harrison Construction Co., Gear Recruiting, LLC, Allcor Staffing, Asbury Place, ESS/Source4Teachers, EZ Stop FoodMarts and Denso Manufacturing.

 

SOFT SKILLS SESSION FOR MARCH

It's Your Career! That's the focus of eight 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 10 months.

Registrations are currently being accepted online at www.blountchamber.com for the second class entitled Managing People and Personalities set for March 23. This course qualifies for .2 CEU's awarded by Pellissippi State.

The other classes offered include Free Resources for Professional Development, How to Run an Effective Meeting, Improving Your Presentation Style - Speaking, Improving Your Presentation Style - Strategies for Engaging Presentations, Making Your Social Media Look Good and Creating Infographics for Promoting Your Business.

All classes are conducted in the Blount County Library's learning lab located at 508 N. Cusick in Maryville and limited to 50 participants. 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.

 

MARCH MEMBER-TO-MEMBER PROMOTIONS NEEDED

Member-to-member promotions are needed for March. Check out the new offers from Computer Catering, UT College of Business and Pellissippi State. See this and other promotions at member-to-member promotions. New offers are being posted almost daily, 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

 

REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL

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

 

Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers.

 

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

 

REMEMBER WHEN

Topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week in 1966 was "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," by Nancy Sinatra. The song was written by Lee Hazlewood who intended to record the song himself, saying that "it's not really a girl's song," but Sinatra talked him out of it, saying that "coming from a guy it was harsh and abusive, but was perfect for a little girl to sing."