Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

WEEKLY NEWS & EVENTS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATE

The 112th General Assembly has adjourned sine die. Overall, the business community saw a number of significant wins that will continue to ensure the success of businesses in Tennessee. Here are the priority items that passed in the final week.

COVID-19 Business Liability Protections – SB2448/HB2671, which extends the sunset date of Tennessee’s COVID-19 business liability protection laws for one year.

Critical Infrastructure Bill Headed to Governor’s Desk – SB2077/HB2246 responds to efforts where local governments have exceeded their authority by prohibiting the siting of critical infrastructure or passing ordinances that make siting for a project infeasible.

Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) –SB2396/HB2143 establishes a new education funding formula for Tennessee and replaces the Basic Education Program (BEP).

Voluntary Unemployment Workshare Program – HB1274/SB0958, establishes a voluntary shared work unemployment benefits program that allows employers to submit to the department of labor and workforce development for approval a plan to reduce employee work hours.

National Small Business Week, May 1-7, 2022, is a time to honor and celebrate America’s entrepreneurs and innovative startups who's ideas spur the small businesses we patronize.

Small business owners not only make a living for themselves, but they also make our neighborhoods vibrant places to live and work. Support Blount County small businesses during National #SmallBusinessWeek and every day!

When you visit a small business, take a photo, post on your social media and tag the business. You'll be surprised how much visibility your post will get.

Who can Show the Most Small Business Support?

For National Small Business Week, we want to see who can support our small businesses the most!

We’re giving away 4 tickets to Hops in the Hills Craft Beer Festival for the FIRST four people to visit a small business in each of the five cities in Blount County.

• Townsend

• Friendsville

• Alcoa

• Louisville

• Maryville

Two ways to enter:

1. Shopping Spree: submit a selfie at each location with your purchase and storefront visible.

2. Social Shout-out: post a selfie on a social platform at each location, tag the business, and submit screenshots of each social post.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on May 7, 2022, or after 4 entrants. All purchases and social posts must be made between May 1-7, 2022. Send all submissions to marketing@blountpartnership.com

Go Vote May 3

Go vote on May 3 election day for the Blount County Primary and Rockford City elections.

View Precinct Voting Locations

View Sample Ballot

View Candidate Information

Tennessee is an open partisan primary state with nonpartisan registration. Voters are not required to formally affiliate with a party. Every voter can choose a ballot line-Republican or Democrat-to vote in the primary.

The bottom line is, you do not have to have a party affiliation to vote in the May 3 primary.

Equity in the Workplace

Join us May 4 as Colber Proper and Vandy Kemp of Prosper and Partners present Equity in the Workplace.

Participants in this virtual-only workshop will learn how to develop and maintain a satisfied and diverse workforce and how it contributes to “the bottom line.”

Avoid Tech Threats

Join Jeremy Waldroop from PCS on May 3 at noon as he shows some of the common tech threats businesses face every day and learn some simple steps you can take to guard against these dangers. Nothing is foolproof, but you can become a harder target for the bad guys to attack. Lunch provided.

Rock & Metal Academy Ribbon Cutting

Join us May 6 for the Rock and Metal Academy (1726 W. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Maryville) ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. followed by an unbelievable Roaring 1920's themed grand opening party.

Learn More.

Supervisors Training

On May 13, Supervisors Training, conducted by Ed Trent and Mary Moffatt of Wimberly Lawson, will review religion in the workplace and give an employment law update.

Continuing education credits provided. $30 for members/$50 for non-members.

Get More From Us

On May 12, Learn more about the Blount Chamber and the many opportunities that go along with being a member. Your membership is a corporate membership. Please encourage co-workers to get involved, educated, network and promote your company via Blount Chamber events and opportunities.

Break Away From Grind

Join us May 12 at 3:45 p.m. for Afternoon Mixer sponsored by Broadway Social (102 E. Harper Ave). Mixers are designed to offer members the opportunity to build business relationships and to gain exposure for their business or organization in an "open house" setting. It is open to anyone associated with a Chamber member business.

Skills for Shaping Tomorrow

On May 20, explore needed skills, characteristics, and habits that help bring about positive, lasting change. Leave with frameworks, tools, and exercises you can do to “put courage over comfort” and be the change you want to see.