WEEKLY NEWS & EVENTS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATE
Some of the session’s worst antibusiness bills are scheduled to be heard this week - The Banking and Consumer Subcommittee is the first hearing for these bills in the House.
 
HB2313- Limits Employee Training / New Lawsuits establishes a private right of action against an employer if they require participation in any orientation or training program that touches on any subject believed to be discriminatory by an employee.

HB2068- COVID-19 Policies establishes new penalties and mandates that if an employer requires testing, it must apply to all employees regardless of vaccination status.
 
HB2396- Significantly increases TOSHA civil and criminal penalties on employers.
 
HB2398- Prohibits Salary or Wage Information requires that employers include a salary or hourly wage range on any job advertisement. This mandate eliminates employers’ ability accurately compensate applicants based on skill level, experience, etc. 

Other Bills of Interest
HB1853/SB1780- E-Verify and Business Protections – Implements three protections for businesses within Tennessee e-verify law and lowers the state’s employee threshold for the e-verify mandate from 50 or more employees to those with 25 or more employees. It was heard and passed on the House subcommittee calendar in Banking & Consumer Affairs. Bill moves to House Commerce Committee.
 
SB2448/HB2671- COVID-19 Liability Claims - Bill passed in both the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Civil Justice Subcommittee. The Senate version extends liability protections to July 1, 2023, the house version to January 1, 2023. The legislation will be heard by the full Senate and the Civil Justice Committee in the house next week.
Why is Coffee Called Joe?
Join us Feb. 24 from 7:45-9 a.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville) for Coffee Club sponsored by Common Sense Pest Control.

Coffees are open to anyone associated with a chamber member business. Gain some exposure for your company. 


The answer to the headline is at the bottom of the email.
Ribbon Cutting
Join us Feb. 23 at 9 a.m. as we welcome Marine Fasteners (1903 Big Springs Rd., Maryville) to the community with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Beverages and light snacks provided by Vienna Coffee Company.

It's Fashionable
The Blount Partnership is putting together a team of chamber members to participate in Habitat for Humanity's Construction Couture Fashion Show on April 28. If you are interested in joining us, email at the link below.
Healthy Boundaries for Success at Work
Join us Feb. 25 as you can learn how to use boundaries to work smarter and create more effective & productive working relationships.
Small Business Resources
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center hosts a myriad of online training webinars to assist in all facets of businesses.
View a full list of upcoming workshops and trainings with the SBDC or request a free advising session.
Need to Hire?
Join us March 29 for the Blount County Job Fair at Foothills Mall. Sponsorships and company participation are available. Follow the links below for more details. 

The Dialogue: New Member Spotlight
This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 173rd installment visiting with Rebecca Henry, owner/travel agent of Cruise Planners which is a full-service travel agency that can plan everything from hotel stays to cruises to specialized trips all over the world.
Host a Table at Remake Learning Day
Join Pellissippi State as it hosts Remake Learning Day on April 30 at the Blount County Campus. Businesses and organizations are invited to host a table to interact with families and show off the type of product or service they offer. Table hosts are responsible for providing an activity that is suitable for kids (suitable for K-12 aged children), ideally related to the industry the business is in. The event and registration are free.
2/22/22 at Sky City
2/23/22 at Marine Fasteners
2/24/22 at Maryville College
2/25-27/22 at Foothills Mall
Full List of Events
To The Max
On March 10, learn how to make the most of your Blount Chamber member benefits, and the many opportunities that go along with them.
Save the Date
March 17 -- QuickBooks 101
March 21 -- Women in Business
March 23 -- Cybersecurity
March 31 -- Coffee Club
Why is coffee called Joe?
The first known printed reference to a cup of coffee as a cup of joe appears in a book from 1936. The true origin of the name, though, has been lost to history. There are four common theories.
  • There was a well-known early 19th-century New York City coffee roaster named Martinson Joe. Cup of Joe may be a reference to his coffee. 
  • Josephus "Joe" Daniels was the Secretary of the Navy that banned alcohol from U.S. naval ships in 1914. His move made coffee the strongest drink on these ships and may have led to the coffee term: a cup of Joe.
  • Joe may be a shortened version of Jamocha (or the related Jamoke), as this was a popular term for coffee in the 1930s.
  • The most boring option is that a cup of Joe may be a reference to coffee being the drink of the average Joe.
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