Blount Partnership News & Events
Feel the Music; Enjoy Fall
The foothills of the Smoky Mountains come to life with Bluegrass music, arts and crafts, time honored traditions and Appalachian cooking at the Fall Heritage and Bluegrass Festival, Sept. 23-24. The festival provides an atmosphere where family and friends of all ages can partake in time-honored Appalachian traditions at a community event at the Townsend Visitor Center.
Inflation Reduction Act's Affect
The new law holds many provisions that will transform American energy generation and consumption over the next decade, including fuel and energy credits. In this one-hour webinar PYA provides insight on the law, including tax revenue provisions, IRS appropriations, as well as new and renewed tax credits and deductions.
 
PYA will also explain the general structure of the Inflation Reduction Act on Sept. 23, along with risks and valuable opportunities to consider in various strategic planning initiatives.
 
Dealing With Ransomware
This is NOT another cybersecurity class. Brent Gallo with Hire a Cyber Pro, CJ Stevens with Insurance Office of America and Casey Self with present a Cyber Case Study of a Knoxville company that suffered thru a ransomware attack on a national scale.  

Learn the effects on a business from those who experienced it on Oct. 12 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the Blount Partnership.
Roadway Update
The leaders of Blount County, the City of Alcoa, and the City of Maryville have all met with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) regarding upgrades needed for Louisville Road. The Intersection of Proffitt Springs Road and Louisville Road will be improved by TDOT which includes a turn signal and improved lines of sight. Improvements are to be completed by August 1, 2023. TDOT is currently in the design phase for improving Louisville Road beginning at the Proffitt Springs Road intersection to the Top Side Road intersection. This is the preferred route for Smith and Wesson to gain access to the interstate. Design should be completed by fourth quarter of 2022 with public viewing of the designs during the first quarter of 2023.
Participate in 8th Grade Career Fair
In an effort to give students an opportunity to learn about different types of industries and change industry misperceptions, the Blount Partnership is hosting an 8th grade career exploration fair for 1,600 Alcoa, Maryville and Blount County students on Oct. 19 at the Airport Hilton.
Meet a New Member
This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 184th installment visiting with Jon Wilson, territory sales manager for Handling Systems, which provides solutions to material handling and ergonomic challenges often seen in manufacturing environments.

Negotiate Your Way to Success
Asking for what you want from your boss or coworkers isn’t always easy! Join us to learn negotiation techniques that could help you to close a deal, resolve conflict, or get that raise you deserve. Join us Sept. 30 to learn more.
 
Board Nominations
The Blount County Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the Blount County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors until September 23, 2022. Please submit the name, business, phone and brief bio of the individual that you think would make a good board member.
 
More Than Networking
Over the last 10 years, the Blount Chamber, in conjunction with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, has helped more than 1,200 small business owners and with more than 150 workshops ranging from start up assistance, marketing, business planning and management for over 300+ hours.
 
Take advantage of training opportunities with the SBDC at little or no cost. Some workshops are currently being offered virtually, but many are on-site.
 
Upcoming Events
9/23-24 at Townsend Visitor Center
9/19 at First Baptist Church Maryville
9/20 at Camelot Foster Care
9/22 at Tri-Hop Brewery
9/23 at Monte Vista Baptist Church
9/23 at GSM Heritage Center
9/24 at GSM Heritage Center
9/25-10/2 at Various Locations
Full List of Events
Trivia Time
Are you interested in connecting with other young professionals and learning more about Blount County Young Professionals Mentorship program? Come to Tri-Hop Brewery, grab a beer, a sandwich from REO Cheesewagon and join us for a night of trivia while connecting with potential mentor/mentees, and find out who will be crowned the next King/Queen of trivia!
September 20 from 5-7 p.m. (Trivia starts at 5:30 p.m. sharp)
Thank you to Home Federal Bank for sponsoring this event.
Save the Date
Sept. 29 -- Coffee Club
Oct. 11 -- Networking Training
Oct. 13 -- Afternoon Mixer
Oct. 27 -- Coffee Club
Thank You to Our Sponsors