THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER PRESENTED BY:
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM
OUR BUBBLE TO YOURS!
Wishing we could be together to celebrate you, our members, this Christmas.

Wherever you are this season, know the Blount Partnerships staff is wishing you moments of peace, healing and lightheartedness to sustain you. Hoping you find ways to connect with family and friends even if it can't be in person and know that we will continue to be here for you as you move into the new year.

Remember to #ShopLocal.
MLK CELEBRATION SET
Since 1982, Martin Luther King Jr. Day/Weekend in Blount County has brought prominent speakers and performers to our celebrations, introduced new issues and perspectives to attendees, and brought people together in important and inspiring ways.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 weekend celebration cannot include the events our community looks forward to attending every year, but we do plan to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy on Monday, January 18, with a schedule that prioritizes the health and safety of participants.

We ask that you put these events on your calendar and make plans to participate:
  • The MLK Day march will start at 12:45 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center on Franklin Street in Alcoa. Marchers will process southeast on Hall Road toward Washington Street, taking a right onto East Lamar Alexander Parkway and ending at the Greenbelt Pavilion near the Blount County Courthouse. Assembly for the march will begin at 12:30 p.m.
  • Following the march, a brief program will be held at the West Theatre in the Park next to the pavilion. At this program, which will begin at 2 p.m., the MLK Day Celebration Committee will recognize the march’s grand marshal and the recipients of the Anthony Dunnings Community Service Award and the MLK Celebration Scholarship presented by DENSO Manufacturing.

Participants will be required to follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines for virus mitigation, including physical distancing and wearing face coverings. A limited number of masks will be provided.
 
We appreciate your support in recent years and look forward to communicating with you again as we plan future MLK Weekend Celebrations.
LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED
If you've been wanting to host a coffee and the waiting list was too long, why not get on the list to sponsor one of our virtual coffee clubs in 2021?

Benefits of attending virtual networking:
  • Meet others that you may not have met at an in-person coffee.
  • Extend your reach outside of driving area.
  • Meet members located outside the county.
  • Multiple opportunities to meet others in smaller group breakout rooms.

Contact Jessica Hahn at jhahn@blountpartnership.com  
I'M THE MAP
Believe it or not, people still use paper maps.

That's why the Blount County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to be partnering with the award-winning marketing and cartographic team of Town Square Publications to produce our Community Street Map and Resource Guide. This publication will help you market your business directly to area business owners, new residents and visitors for the next 18-24 months. Over 10,000 copies will be distributed via the Chamber of Commerce and through 150+ high traffic distribution points.

Advertising your business and our community via this print and online publication is very economical, but space is limited. A Town Square Publications representative will be contacting you soon but please don’t hesitate to reach your representative by calling the sales and marketing team directly at (865) 221-8877 or email marketing@tspubs.com to review the details and options.
MAKE A BREAKFAST DATE
STEP UP YOUR NETWORKING GAME
The January 29 edition of soft skills classes offered by the Blount County Public Library is quickly approaching.

This Zoom Webinar session is entitled "Networking Strategically." Build a network that is beneficial and strategic. Learn how to avoid networking traps and break out of the mold in order to advance project and professional goals.

All participants will earn .5 CEUs per session for participating. They will also receive an email survey two months after workshop participation to assess application of new ideas.
WEBINAR CALENDAR
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center is hosting a myriad of online training webinars to assist you in all facets of your businesses. Take advantage of training opportunities with the SBDC at no cost.

Get the Facts on PPP and EIDL
Hear from SBA every Monday and Friday at noon ET until December 21. Find out what is a myth and what is a truth on SBA loans for small businesses. REGISTER HERE 

December 18 from noon-1 p.m.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
January 4-10

January 11-17
January 13 -- Maximize Your Membership

Save the Date
BE SURE YOU'RE FOLLOWING US
If you aren't following us on social media, you must. We are constantly updating information as each day progresses. So, give us a like and stay up-to-date as we move through this crisis.
 
 
And follow tourism updates here:
Here's a great way to offer Member-to-Member deals using your chamber member account. Check the deals.

Members can post Coupons and Discounts to this page at no charge. Click Here
REMEMBER WHEN . . .
Topping the Billboard Hot 100 this week in 1988 was "Look Away" by Chicago. It is Chicago's largest selling single of all time. It is also the band's only No. 1 single following the 1985 departure of Peter Cetera.
NEWLETTER SPONSORS