Knoxville Biz Ticker: $1.5 Million investment to expand Pigeon Forge Winterfest with 20 New Lights Displays

$1.5 Million investment to expand Pigeon Forge Winterfest with 20 New Lights Displays

PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee—(Sept. 27, 2022)—Pigeon Forge Winterfest will be bigger and brighter this year as city officials announced plans today to add 20 new larger-than-life nature-themed outdoor lights displays. Upon completion this year, the displays will add one million LEDs to the city’s displays.

The all-new Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trailrepresents a $1.5 million investment in the Pigeon Forge Winterfest celebration which will expand to include the city’s Riverwalk nature trail.

When the city-wide festival begins on Nov. 10, visitors can get a first glimpse of the new displays. Programmed to music, the 20 new displays, some standing more than 25 feet tall, will include walk-thru arches, a colorful 52-foot-long caterpillar, larger-than-life flowers, and Old Man Winter. Vibrant snowflakes, shooting stars, snow people, and a 20-foot-tall ice fountain will light the way as deer, bears, frogs, and squirrels—ranging in size from 13 to 19 feet tall—frolic alongside the path while lights that mimic fireflies and butterflies dance in the trees overhead.

One mountain wildlife display will feature an enchanted forest with seven-foot-tall mushrooms amid a field of dandelions and brightly colored flowers. A second will invite visitors to explore a nature scene that is home to various woodland creatures, including a 16-foot-tall turtle, a 13-foot-tall grasshopper, a 17-foot-tall dragonfly, and a 19-foot-tall firefly, and a 16-foot-tall frog, all surrounded by six-, seven- and eight-foot-tall wildflowers.

Pigeon Forge Winterfest, an award-winning three-month event featuring more than six million lights, is one of the country’s largest free outdoor lights festivals. More than two million visitors annually flock to this Great Smoky Mountains gateway city to experience Winterfest. The expansion brings the total number of lights displays to 40 located along or near the city’s Parkway, Pigeon Forge’s major thoroughfare.

The addition represents the largest single investment in Pigeon Forge Winterfest, a celebration that began in 1989. This year’s event will continue through Feb. 19.

“Pigeon Forge Winterfest is one of our city’s most popular events that has transformed a shoulder tourism season into one of our busiest and most successful,” said Pigeon Forge City Manager Earlene Teaster. “The Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail, a $1.5 million investment, represents our city’s commitment to offering our visitors something new to experience with their families and friends, and it also showcases Pigeon Forge’s scenic Riverwalk nature trail.”

Upon completion, the Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail willspan the Riverwalk from the access point in the city’s Municipal Parking Lot (located at 2936 Teaster Lane between the LeConte Center and The Island in Pigeon Forge) to the approximate intersection of Old Mill Avenue and Butler Street (near the Old Mill Historic Square). Upon completion, visitors can access the light displays via the six-mile out-and-back Riverwalk which has several access points, including one at the city’s Patriot Park, the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge, the Old Mill and the city’s Municipal Parking Lot, the latter of which also offers free parking for trail guests.

The Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trailis paved and mostly flat. It is pet- (leashes required) and wheelchair-friendly.

Visitors also can enjoy returning lights displays that include Snowflake Lane, Fairytale Fantasy, Winter Wonderland Bridges, Winter’s Waterfall, Pigeons in Flight and more.

More information about Pigeon Forge Winterfest is available at MyPigeonForge.com or by calling 1-800-251-9100.

United Way announces Social Hackathon to build solution for children's mental healthcare crisis

Knoxville, TN., September 27, 2022— New data suggests that Tennessee’s children are in the midst of a mental healthcare crisis. The state reports that children struggling with depression and anxiety have reached unprecedented levels and Tennessee has been ranked 36th nationally for child well-being. United Way of Greater Knoxville (UWGK) has determined that community alignment around early care and education, specifically mental healthcare access, is an urgent need.

To facilitate this need, UWGK announced during its Early Relational Health Symposium that it will be launching the Early Care and Education Hackathon to bring together individuals and community agencies to work collaboratively and design innovative ways to address this critical Knoxville—Knox County need.

“Research has repeatedly shown that the first eight years of a child’s life is a critical development period,” said Ellie Kittrell, Director of Early Care and Education Systems. “UWGK is committed to facilitating and driving system change in early childhood. Our objective is to ensure high-quality relational and mental health supports for all children and their caretakers in partnership with nonprofits in the region. Through the Social Hackathon we want to unite the community to improve access to these critical services.”

How the Social Hackathon works

Interested individuals and organizations can register between September 23rd and October 27th here: https://www.uwgk.org/ece-hackathon/. Each team will consist of up to ten individuals and will include at least one lead nonprofit agency.

Teams will work together to develop innovative ways to increase access to mental healthcare supports for young children and their caretakers in Knoxville—Knox County.

Teams will gather on November 3rd (location to be announced), to finalize their idea submissions. A panel of judges will review submissions and announce the winner and runner-up November 4th, 2022.

UBS Financial Advisor named to the Forbes/SHOOK Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors list

Knoxville TN, September 21, 2022 – UBS Wealth Management USA today announced that Daniel P. Green, a Financial Advisor in the firm’s Knoxville office, has been named to Forbes/SHOOK Research Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors list for 2022.

“I'm proud to see Daniel receive this recognition for his leadership and dedication to clients,” said Chris Cannon, Knoxville Branch Manager at UBS Wealth Management USA. “Cultivating the next generation of advisors is of the highest importance to us, and we look forward to supporting Daniel and his team as they continue to grow their careers at UBS."

Daniel joined The Green Odom Group as a partner in 2013. Prior to joining UBS, he worked for Lord Abbett’s Private Wealth Group in New York City. As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Daniel focuses on helping business owners achieve and maintain best-in-class results. His approach centers on aligning business owners’ personal wealth and business financial goals, while seeking to minimize risk and maximize value. Daniel earned his bachelor’s degree from The University of Tennessee.

The 2022 Forbes/SHOOK Research Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors list includes 1,000 rising advisors, all born in 1983 or later. Each advisor is chosen based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative criteria, including in-person interviews, industry experience, compliance records, revenue produced, and assets under management.

For the full list and further information visit: https://www.forbes.com/top-next-gen-advisors.

KCDC, Matter Health open wellness center for Northgate Terrace residents

Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) has partnered with Matter Health to provide high-quality, on-site primary care for residents at its Northgate Terrace property.

The new wellness center, which is the third to open at a KCDC residential community, provides convenient access to physical and mental health and lifestyle support. It also includes a patient lounge, consultation and virtual health room, and an exam room. Matter Health opened a similar center at KCDC’s Isabella Towers in August.

“Northgate Terrace is the third KCDC property to host a wellness center for its residents,” KCDC Executive Director and CEO Ben Bentley said, “We are fortunate to extend our partnership with Matter Health and provide more residents the opportunity to live healthier lives with better access to medical care.”

Matter Health’s new wellness center at Northgate Terrace will be the company’s seventh in the state and the third in East Tennessee. It is staffed with a full-time provider and a medical assistant. Amenities and services are available to all Northgate Terrace residents.

“We are happy to again partner with KCDC and offer residents of Northgate Terrace a new wellness center,” said Austin Sohr, president and co-founder of Matter Health. “Our goal for these centers is to positively impact the well-being of each person who walks through the doors. We want each person to feel comfortable as a patient and to enjoy the convenience of high-quality medical care.”

Northgate Terrace is located at 4301 Whittle Springs Road in North Knoxville. The property includes 276 studio and one-bedroom apartments exclusively for disabled people and seniors ages 62 and over.

About Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation

Since 1936, KCDC has been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Knoxville. KCDC’s mission is to improve and transform neighborhoods and communities by providing high-quality affordable housing, advancing development initiatives and fostering self-sufficiency. For more information, call 865-403-1100 or visit kcdc.org.

About Matter Health

Nashville-based Matter Health brings primary care services directly to affordable living communities by building on-site clinics that offer a personalized, holistic, and high touch approach to the patient/provider relationship. The Matter preventative care model focuses on improving the physical, mental, and social needs of dual-eligible patients with the goal of increasing long-term health while reducing costs. For more information, call 615-570-2330 or visit matterhealthcare.com.

Dollywood's Harvest Festival brings fall family fun to America's #1 theme park

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Monday, September 19, 2022) — Dollywood guests are sure to have a “hoot” during this year’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 23- Oct. 29) thanks to a brand-new area created within the family-favorite Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health.

Appropriately named Hoot Owl Hollow, the area features hundreds of pumpkins in Dollywood’s Craftsman’s Valley that celebrate the nocturnal creature, including a massive 14’ tall version created with more than 150 carved white pumpkins. It’s just the latest addition to the event that has overwhelmingly become one of America’s favorite fall family destinations, and it surely will have guests pulling an “owl-nighter” in order to experience “owl” the fun!

A longstanding tradition for so many, the Harvest Festival greets guests with the surrounding mountainsides draped in vibrant colors. Dollywood’s landscaping and fresh décor accent the autumn atmosphere and bring the beauty right into the park, making it ripe for families to create their picture-perfect pumpkin photo ops to share with friends!

At night, Great Pumpkin LumiNights, one of the nation’s premier family-friendly harvesttime events, provides bushels of memories for guests, thanks to thousands of glowing and carved pumpkins throughout Dollywood. For those with small children—or anyone looking for a fun, not scary experience—this event is certainly the cream of the crop. Families can bask in the glow as they wander through displays in Dollywood’s Timber Canyon, Wilderness Pass, Wildwood Grove and Craftsman’s Valley areas. Beyond the impressive displays, guests can find a number of exciting activities to create long-lasting memories together.

“I think everybody knows I believe every day in the Smoky Mountains is beautiful and truly a gift from God,” Dolly Parton said, “but I do feel like fall is when He really puts on a show for all of us to admire and enjoy. As the leaves change, the mountains transform into a patchwork of bright, vibrant colors that make them look as if they’ve come alive. The hot summer days start to fade and crisp, cool winds bring that fresh mountain air down into the valleys and right into my Dollywood. To me, this has to be the most beautiful theme park in the whole world, because no park in the world is built right in the middle of the Smokies!”

“I just know folks are going to get a kick out of the new Hoot Owl Hollow. And in ‘owl’ seriousness, I hope our guests make their own precious Smoky Mountain memories while they are here. As I look back on my favorite family memories, so many of them took place during this time of year, and I hope our guests leave with the those special moments they’ll share forever.”

No festival at Dollywood is complete without award-winning entertainment, and the Harvest Festival certainly delivers. Several genres are well-represented with a wide-range of Southern gospel and bluegrass artists, as well as Americana acts and classic country performers scheduled to appear. In all, more than 1900 performances take place during the Harvest Festival.

Fresh off a finalist appearance on America’s Got Talent, Chapel Hart graces the stage of DP’s Celebrity Theater on Oct. 2. Country music legend John Anderson—known for hits like Swingin’, Seminole Wind, and Straight Tequila Night—visits the park on Oct. 10. Contemporary Christian group Sidewalk Prophets visits Sept. 28, while Southern gospel favorites including The Collingsworth Family (Sept. 26), Karen Peck and New River (Oct. 5), Triumphant Quartet (Oct. 19) and The Isaacs (Oct. 21) also entertain guests throughout the festival. Bluegrass is well represented with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage (Oct. 24), Dailey & Vincent (Oct. 24) and more set to perform. Knoxville’s Emily Ann Roberts—who placed second on season nine of NBC’s The Voice—performs Oct. 20.

A complete schedule can be found on Dollywood.com. Performances take place on indoor and outdoor stages throughout the park, allowing the beautiful sounds to echo through the surrounding hillsides and create a highly-engaging entertainment offering.

Dollywood’s culinary team has created a smorgasbord of creations to take advantage of the bountiful supply of crops provided by the Smoky Mountain harvest. The smells of smoked bratwursts, turkey legs, or smoked andouille sausage mac and cheese pair nicely with the fresh tastes of sweet potato poutine, spiced pumpkin bisque and BUSH’S three bean pumpkin chili. For sweet treats, the ever-popular pumpkin spice is in full supply with items ranging from pumpkin spice churros with pumpkin fluff to pumpkin spice iced coffee. Items like the maple pecan bacon funnel cake, hot apple cider, wassail or an apple pie milkshake are perfect to carry and enjoy while admiring the beauty of Dollywood in the fall.

Several other guest favorites return to the Harvest Festival, including the colossal pumpkins—last year’s pumpkins ranged in weight from 800 to 1500 lbs. each—which come from growers across the East Coast. Visiting artisans and makers display their handmade wares at locations throughout Dollywood, with many demonstrating the talented skills and techniques they use as they create their one-of-a-kind treasures.

The Harvest Festival fun also is celebrated at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa with themed activities and harvest décor planned throughout the resort’s property.

Guests can enjoy live entertainment by featured Harvest Festival performers in the resort’s atrium every Tuesday including performances by The Young Fables, The Woods, Billy and Cruz Contreras, the High Beams, and Kate and Corey. Daily roaming performers also can be found throughout the resort.

The resort’s culinary team is cooking up special dining experiences, including an unforgettable wine pairing event on Saturday, Oct. 23. In The Lounge, Guests can feast upon delicious Harvest-themed food and beverage options. At The Spa at DreamMore Resort, Guests can relax with special treatments infused with fall scents and ingredients. For Dollywood’s Harvest Festival, Guests can choose from treatments that are reminiscent of harvest in the Smoky Mountains such as the Honey Chai Massage or Luminous Pumpkin Facial.

With so many opportunities for creating vibrant new family traditions, Dollywood’s Harvest Festival is a must-see experience this season.

Dollywood is open 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. each day of operation (Sept. 23- Oct. 29) during the Harvest Festival. The park is closed on Tuesdays throughout the festival. For more information and a park operating calendar, visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.

Tennessee Craft launches research project that explores statewide history of Black craft

NASHVILLE, TN (September 15, 2022) — Tennessee Craft announces the start this month of a new historical research project focused on the contributions of Black craft artists in Tennessee. The initial project will build a database of Black craft artists working in the state over the past century, placing their artwork in the broader context of living and making art in Tennessee since 1920.

Tennessee Craft has named Karlota Contreras-Koterbay as the primary researcher for this initiative. Potential candidates were invited to submit proposals to Tennessee Craft through an open RFP process. An independent selection panel including Dr. Earnestine Jenkins (University of Memphis) and Dr. Tiffany Momon (University of the South in Sewanee) selected Contreras-Koterbay’s proposal for funding. Dr. Jenkins said, “Karlota Contreras-Koterbay’s proposal is comprehensive and well-planned. It also highlights the importance of fundamental research in this area. I think [she] will produce something of significant historical value.”

Karlota I. Contreras-Koterbay is an Appalachian-based Filipinx curator, artist and arts administrator. She is the Director of the Tipton and Slocumb Galleries under the Department of Art & Design at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), where she develops diverse, innovative and collaborative exhibitions and educational programs that serve the Appalachian Highland region. She curates and organizes multidisciplinary exhibitions by regional, emerging and nationally-renowned women, BIPOC, LGBTQ and Appalachian artists. She received her Master of Art (MA) in Art History and Bachelor of Art (BA) in Anthropology with honors from the University of the Philippines—Diliman.

The general public is invited to participate in the vital work to elevate the creative accomplishments and lives of Tennessee’s Black craft artists, who may have previously been overlooked or excluded from participation in prominent craft venues. The initiative covers artists working in traditional craft mediums throughout the state from 1920-2020. Recommendations of Black craft artists to include in the database can be submitted online at tennesseecraft.org/blackcraftartists.

Contreras-Koterbay anticipates a public presentation of her research in Fall 2023. Updates on the progress of the Black craft history project and important findings will be shared on Tennessee Craft’s Facebook and Instagram accounts and via the organization’s website, tennesseecraft.org. For questions or to share information, contact bmatthews@tennesseecraft.org.

PYA continues to grow with seventh office location

PYA, a Top 100 accounting firm and one of the nation’s largest privately held healthcare consulting firms, is pleased to announce it is opening a seventh office location in Charlotte, North Carolina. The opening will strengthen the firm’s presence in both North and South Carolina, bringing our teams closer to clients throughout the southeastern United States.

Annapoorani Bhat has been named the Office Managing Principal of the new office. She specializes in valuation and related consulting services for companies in the healthcare sector. Bhat has expertise in the valuation of businesses and assets for transactions, financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and internal strategic planning purposes.

“PYA’s recent opening of our Montana office, along with the launch of this new Charlotte office, helps us to continue to meet the highly nuanced needs of clients in both rural and metropolitan areas,” said PYA Principal and CEO Marty Brown. “We are eager to have Anna leading our expansion in Charlotte, an area she knows well, and in which she has longstanding relationships.”

The Charlotte office will also give PYA access to a growing pool of professional talent in the Carolinas. The new location allows the firm to recruit from those markets, while giving new hires a local home base.

“Charlotte is one of the fastest growing markets in the nation and rich in professional talent,” said Bhat. “This addition will allow our firm to grow, while also positioning us to better serve our present clients in the region.”

PYA is currently hiring for several positions in the Charlotte office. For more information, visit our careers page.

About PYA

For nearly 40 years, PYA, a national professional services firm providing management consulting and accounting, has helped its clients navigate and derive value amid complex challenges related to regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, governance, business valuations and fair market value assessments, multi-unit business and clinical integrations, best practices, tax and assurance, business analysis, and operations optimization.

PYA’s steadfast commitment to an unwavering client-centric culture has served the firm’s clients well. PYA was named one of America’s Best Tax and Accounting Firms of 2022 in the Forbes annual list. PYA consistently is ranked among the Top 20 healthcare consulting firms in the U.S. by Modern Healthcare. PYA is also ranked by INSIDE Public Accounting as one of the Top 100 largest accounting firms in the U.S. Additionally, PYA has been consistently voted a “Top Workplace.” PYA’s affiliated companies offer clients world-class data analytics; professional real estate development and advisory resources for healthcare providers; and wealth management and retirement plan administration.

PYA is an independently owned consulting and accounting firm and is a member of HLB, the global advisory and accounting network.

PYA assists clients in all 50 states from offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Helena, Kansas City, Knoxville, Nashville, and Tampa. For more information, please visit pyapc.com.

Covenant Health to provide hospital-level care to patients in their homes

(KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, Sept. 15, 2022) – Covenant Health is pleased to announce a new collaboration with Medically Home Group, Inc., to provide hospital-level care to patients in their homes as a part of Covenant Health’s newly established Advanced Care at Home program. The innovative program will be the first in the region to offer hospital-level services by combining in-home hospital services, virtual care and remote monitoring for around-the-clock hospital care.

The program initially will be offered through Covenant Health’s Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville and ultimately will be available to patients receiving care from Covenant Health’s other acute-care hospitals throughout East Tennessee. With Advanced Care at Home, Covenant physicians and nurses will monitor patients in their homes from a clinically integrated, virtual care command center that operates 24 hours a day. In addition to remote care that leverages the technology and infrastructure at Covenant Health’s operations center, in-person services will be delivered via home visits from qualified medical professionals.

The program is designed for patients who require high-acuity care. Patients will receive hospital-level medical support services including medication management, laboratory services, IV treatments, rehabilitation therapies (physical, speech and occupational), oxygen treatments, X-ray and ultrasound, all in their home setting.

“Covenant Health is a leader in combining medical expertise and telehealth technology to offer more care options for our patients. We already offer telehealth appointments and 24/7 virtual urgent care to provide medical services regardless of a patient’s location. And we were the first health system in our region to introduce tele-ICU, bringing an extra layer of remote support for our critically ill patients,” said Jim VanderSteeg, president and CEO. “Advanced Care at Home is another ‘first’ in bringing virtual technology and dedicated medical professionals together to better serve our patients and communities.”

“With Advanced Care at Home, healing can continue in a comfortable environment with more convenience for patients, their families and loved ones,” said Mike Belbeck, executive vice president of operations. “This service will be particularly valuable as the program expands to patients who live in rural areas served by our hospitals.”

Mandy Grubb Halford, MD, senior vice president and chief medical informatics officer, noted that providing hospital-level care at home has been shown to increase patient satisfaction and improve outcomes. “This is an innovative step in transforming the future of healthcare delivery,” she said. “Our Covenant Health teams are currently in the process of aligning all the components that are necessary for safe, high-quality care in the home setting. We are so excited to be making this program a reality in our region – Advanced Care at Home will be a tremendous addition to our patient care services.” Covenant Health plans to launch the program in early 2023.

Tenth Annual Keeping the David Landes Miracle Alive Blood Drive November 9th

Every two seconds of every day, someone in this country relies on a blood donation to save their life. Per the American Red Cross, it takes approximately 41,000 units of blood to fulfill this need. Locally, it takes over 300 units of blood to supply our 28 local Medical Centers and hospitals every day.

Additionally, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic the need for blood and blood products has not declined. In actuality, that need has increased, and is compounded by the need for convalescent plasma (CCP) and antibodies.David Landes was hospitalized in 2013 with grim hopes of survival. During his 5 ½ month hospital stay, his personal blood supply was replenished four times over. Donated blood saved his life.

The inaugural blood drive was born out of an effort to supplement the blood products that were provide to David Landes. The overwhelming show of support leaves David and his family in awe, every year.This year, David Landes is looking forward to a most successful blood drive yet, on Wednesday November 9th, in the West Hills Center Plaza parking lot (by Petros, 7005 Kingston Pike).

4th Annual Little River Run 5K set for November 12th at the Townsend Abbey

Blount County, TN September 15th, 2022- Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) and Little River Watershed Association (LRWA) are partnering for the 4th Annual Little River Run 5K, set for 11 am on Saturday, November 12th at the Townsend Abbey in Townsend, TN. The Little River Run 5K represents a joint effort through which both organizations encourage participants to enjoy the beauty of Blount County, engage with their community, and help spread the message of environmental stewardship. All proceeds from the run will support the free events, programs, and educational initiatives offered by KBB and LRWA.

Registration for the Little River Run 5K is currently open for both in-person and virtual runners. For more information and to sign up, search “Little River Run 5K” at RunSignUp.com. Registration fees will increase on October 1st and November 1st.

The Little River Run 5K is a chip-timed event. Participants of all ages and skill levels are welcome. After the run, everyone is encouraged to hang out at the Townsend Abbey for food, drinks, and raffle prizes.

KBB and LRWA are currently seeking business sponsors and volunteers for the Little River Run 5K. If you are interested in sponsoring or volunteering, email keepblount@gmail.com or fill out the online form under the Events tab at KeepBlountBeautiful.org.

New Croley Nursing Building breaks ground

Students, faculty and staff, alumni, and friends gathered on Monday afternoon as ground was broken for the new Croley Nursing Building at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

“The Croley Nursing Building will make a great impact on the University of Tennessee,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean and Sara Rosenbalm Croley Endowed Dean’s Chair of the college. “This new space will open the door for more nurses; strengthen our reputation and rankings; and provide a space for hands-on learning, faculty collaboration, and research innovation.”

The $85 million, 117,000-square-foot building will have four stories and feature several unique elements including:

  • Four enhanced simulation spaces: a physical assessment lab, a lab that focuses on improving psychological and motor skills, a high-fidelity acute care area that mimics hospital care, and a high-fidelity primary care area that mimics a primary care office;

  • A pre-function space that will open onto Peyton Manning Pass;

  • A state-of-the-art wet laboratory that will accommodate the college’s microbiome scientists as well as collaborators from other disciplines;

  • A student commons space with a fresh food dining option, providing a space to refuel and build social ties; and

  • Flexible instructional spaces that allow adjustment with pedagogy and increasing enrollment.

Demand for nurses has skyrocketed over the last several years. According to the US Department of Labor, jobs for registered nurses are growing at 10 times the national average. As the baby boomer population ages and the need for health care grows, there are projected openings for more than 200,000 registered nurses per year through 2026.

The college plans to meet the growing demand for nurses by admitting and graduating more students. It currently enrolls more than 1,000 students, up from approximately 800 in 2016, with a growth trajectory planned for close to 1,400 students over the next five years. This new facility will nearly triple the space for future students.

“This new and modern facility will allow us to grow to meet the increasing demands of the nursing workforce in Tennessee and beyond,” said Niederhauser.

Leadership began to plan for a larger building more than a decade ago. Since then, the state legislature partially funded the cost of a new building. The UT Board of Trustees approved the naming of the building after Sara Croley (’00) and her husband, Ross, who made a landmark $7.5 million donation to support the new building in 2019.

“Ross and I are very excited to be part of this transformational project,” said Croley. “I am thrilled to see the College of Nursing will soon have a building that reflects the high caliber of its program.”

The new building will remain nestled between Volunteer Boulevard and Peyton Manning Pass. Its estimated date of completion is fall 2025.

TAEBC releases first episode of “Energizing Tennessee”

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) released the first episode of Energizing Tennessee, powered by FirstBank today—the new podcast for news about Tennessee’s advanced energy sector.

In the first episode, titled “What's the deal with advanced energy in Tennessee?,” host Cortney Piper, Executive Director of TAEBC, explains what advanced energy means and why it’s so important to the State of Tennessee. Piper discusses the origins of TAEBC and interviews special guest Steve Seifried, Tennessee Account Executive for Ameresco and President of the TAEBC Board of Directors, about Ameresco’s role as a leading cleantech integrator and renewable energy asset developer.

The next five episodes will make up a mini-series on transportation electrification featuring senior leaders from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Techstars Industries of the Future Accelerator who will discuss strategies for electrifying the Valley by 2028, and local entrepreneurs who are already contributing to that goal.

Future episodes will include industry executives from Tennessee’s major automotive and advanced energy manufacturers, suppliers, and the State’s leading employers such as Ford, Bridgestone, Volkswagen, Silicon Ranch Corporation, and more.

To listen to the first episode of Energizing Tennessee, click here and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

About Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council

TAEBC champions advanced energy as an economic development and job creation strategy. Advanced energy is technology neutral and includes electricity and transportation. Anything that makes energy cleaner, safer, more secure or more efficient is in the tent. No other entity in the state concentrates specifically on this robust sector. We educate public officials and business leaders about Tennessee’s advanced energy economy, establish strategic partnerships to connect assets with opportunities, and inform policy that expands and strengthens the industry. For more information, visit: https://tnadvancedenergy.com/.

Regions Bank launches Early Pay and the Regions Protection Line of Credit

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Sept. 13, 2022 – Regions Bank on Tuesday announced its latest enhancements designed to help customers improve their financial health and wellbeing.

New offerings include:

  • Early Pay: Through this no-cost feature, Regions customers who have direct deposit to a Regions checking, savings, or money market account – or a Regions Now Card® – can receive qualifying payroll and government direct deposits up to two days early.

  • Regions Protection Line of Credit: This digital lending solution provides $50 to $500 to cover short-term financial needs. The result is qualified customers will have access to a competitive, low-cost borrowing solution as an alternative to incurring overdrafts and related fees.

“These new services are an extension of several enhancements we’ve made to give our customers even more options for managing expenses and reaching their financial goals,” said Kate Danella, head of Regions’ Consumer Banking Group.

“Combined with fewer fees and more simplified banking, Regions customers now have more options to optimize their cash flow, safeguard against surprises, and improve their financial health,” Danella added. “And, as always, our teams remain available to help people develop financial plans that are custom tailored around the needs of individual consumers.”

Customers do not have to enroll in Early Pay but must set up direct deposit to receive qualifying direct deposits up to two days early in their Regions checking, savings, or money market account or Regions Now Card. Direct deposits that may be received early include payroll and government disbursements, such as Social Security, retirement, and state unemployment benefits. Deposits from employers should be notated as payroll or something similar to become eligible for Early Pay. Customers can subscribe to alerts to get notified when Early Pay direct deposits are available.

The Regions Protection Line of Credit is a digital-invitation only offer that provides $50 to $500 in instant overdraft protection to qualified customers through a simple, fixed-rate line of credit. This new, low-cost line of credit has no annual or cash advance fee and automatically becomes the customer’s linked account for overdraft protection upon activation.

  • Regions also expects to introduce a grace period feature in 2023 to give checking account customers more time to make deposits and help avoid overdraft fees.

  • Early Pay and the Regions Protection Line of Credit are among changes Regions previously announced for 2022 to reduce overdraft-related charges as part of the bank’s long-term commitment to helping customers build and maintain financial success. Already in 2022, Regions has:

  • Eliminated overdraft protection transfer fees and lowered transfer amounts from $100 to $10 increments

  • Removed non-sufficient funds fees, or returned item fees, from all checking, savings, and money market accounts

  • Lowered the daily cap on overdraft fees to three for all banking accounts except analyzed and commercial accounts

Regions’ consistent focus on helping customers build and manage their daily finances previously brought improved account alerts, time order posting, and the Bank On-certified Regions Now CheckingSM account with no overdraft fees. Further, the bank launched the LifeGreen Savings Bonus and Now Savings Bonus Programs that enable customers to earn an annual savings bonus by meeting program requirements. Regions also enhanced projected available balance displays, along with other Mobile and Online banking enhancements, and the bank unveiled upgrades to its personal financial management tool – My GreenInsights – along with other additions to make banking easier for customers.

Regions also offers no-cost financial education through Regions Next Step®, which is available to everyone online, regardless of whether they bank with Regions. In addition, Regions Greenprint® financial plans give customers a financial health score and recommended next steps to reach financial goals.

The launch of Early Pay and the Regions Protection Line of Credit comes as Regions debuts a new “Embrace the IF in Life” promotional campaign that uses the concept of “Life Banking” to show these and other benefits that come from banking with Regions and its LifeGreen® Checking and LifeGreen® Savings account suite.

About Regions Financial Corporation

Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $161 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,300 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may include forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which reflect Regions’ current views with respect to future events and financial performance. The words “future,” “anticipates,” “assumes,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “objective,” “estimates,” “expects,” “targets,” “projects,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “would,” “will,” “may,” “might,” “could,” “should,” “can,” and similar expressions often signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information, but rather are related to future operations, strategies, financial results, or other developments. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations as well as certain assumptions and estimates made by, and information available to, management at the time the statements are made, and are subject to various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the views, beliefs, and projections expressed in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements include those risks identified in Regions’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements that are made from time to time.

Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge unveils family entertainment center and lazy river at grand opening

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Sept. 8, 2022) – Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge Pigeon Forge, known for bringing the laid-back vibes of the islands to your mountain escape, hosted its official grand opening with a ribbon-cutting and giant margarita ceremonial toast on Sept. 7 to unveil the recently completed family entertainment center, Fin City.

Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge’s Fin City allows visitors to escape into a fun state of mind with duckpin bowling, a full arcade, billiards, foosball tables, dart lanes, video game stations, an activities room and Feeding Frenzy Snack Shack and Bar. Outside the doors of Fin City, guests can enjoy a lazy river and activities lawn.

“Safe Harbor Development is proud to bring another Margaritaville property to the Smoky Mountains,” said Darby Campbell, chairman and founder of Safe Harbor Development. “Our goal with Fin City is to provide guests with numerous opportunities for fun without ever having to leave the Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge property. It’s a one-stop destination for family fun in Pigeon Forge.”

Serving as a destination itself, the RV Resort & Lodge also offers luxury RV sites or full-service hotel accommodations, a pool recreation area with a double loop water slide, hot tub, fire pit, Fins Bar & Chill Restaurant, Fins Breakfast Buffet, a kid's playground, Barkaritaville Pet Park and pickleball courts.

“Celebrating the official opening of Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge with the community was a huge milestone for the property,” said Andy Hime, general manager of Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge. “It was an honor to have our guests, colleagues and the Margaritaville team here to celebrate with us. We look forward to providing a truly unique resort-style guest experience.”

Striving to be a strong community advocate, Camp Margaritaville made a $1,500 donation to the Appalachian Bear Rescue to celebrate the grand opening.

The grand opening was attended by guests staying at the RV resort and Lodge, prominent Pigeon Forge government officials and hospitality partners, the Safe Harbor Development team and partners, members of the Margaritaville brand and social media influencers.

For reservations or more information, please visit www.campmargaritavillepigeonforge.com or call (865) 868-9300.

About Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge Pigeon Forge:

Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge Pigeon Forge is the ultimate family destination with all the essentials for a relaxing and fun camping experience with a laid-back vibe of the islands in the mountains. Since its opening earlier this year, the property has earned numerous accolades, including Best of Pigeon Forge 2022’s #1 Campground, #1 Bar for Fins Bar and Chill and #2 Best New Business. Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge offers a pool recreation area with a double loop water slide, hot tub and fire pit, Fins Bar & Chill Restaurant, Fins Breakfast Buffet, a kid's playground, Barkaritaville Pet Park and a brand-new lazy river and Fin City. Fin City offers guests nonstop fun with duckpin bowling, video game stations, a full arcade, billiards tables, a snack shack and bar and more.

For more information, visit www.campmargaritavillepigeonforge.com To stay updated on social media, please follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/campmargaritavillepigeonforge

2022 Endeavor Summit aims to retain, grow local young professionals

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Knoxville Chamber and presenting sponsor Bank of America will play host to hundreds of young professionals and emerging leaders from across the region at the 2022 Endeavor Summit, to be held on October 6th at Bridgewater Place. This marks the first return to an in-person format since the pandemic.

Since 2016, the Endeavor Summit has served as the Knoxville Chamber’s annual young professional engagement program. Talent attraction and retention are primary focus areas for the organization, and this year’s Summit features three breakout sessions aimed at both retaining talent through greater community connection and educating young professionals on growth topics.

The leadership breakout session will feature content from The University of Tennessee’s leadership certificate courses, facilitated by Nancy Scott from the Haslam College of Business. The mental health breakout session will feature speakers from the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee and other local organizations to discuss wellness in the workplace. Lastly, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from diversity, equity, and inclusion experts, including representatives from Centro Hispano, Knox Pride, Bridge Refugee, Knoxville’s Office of Community Empowerment, and more.

The Summit’s keynote, Adam Ragusea, is an American YouTuber with over two million subscribers who creates videos about food recipes, food science, and culinary culture. Adam is a new Knoxvillian and will share insights on finding passion, the importance of creativity, and what his experience was like transitioning to the city.

Session details along with a full list of panelists and their biographies are available at EndeavorSummit.com.

Between sessions, Lifetime Products will be giving away door prizes, including water sports gear and coolers, to encourage young professionals to enjoy Knoxville’s outdoor assets. Attendees will also get to participate in Dear Knoxville interactive art.

The day’s events culminate in a philanthropic partnership, where two local nonprofits will receive ten percent of Summit ticket sales and additional support from United Way of Greater Knoxville, totaling $5,000.

2022 Endeavor Summit sponsors include Bank of America, the University of Tennessee, Lifetime Products, Discovery, and Pilot Company.

“The Endeavor Summit is the place for young professionals who want to get involved and make a difference in their companies and our community,” said Terry Cline, Market President for Bank of America Knoxville. “We are proud to support this initiative of the Knoxville Chamber, and join many organizations and professionals working to engage, connect and empower young professionals to actively shape the future of the Knoxville region.”

“Talent retention is a pivotal component to our business ecosystem development. The Chamber isn’t just interested in bringing new talent to Knoxville, we are interested in keeping the skilled talent that already resides here. The Endeavor Summit brings area young professionals together to highlight everything our community has to offer and builds a cohort of peers that can grow professionally together. We encourage every local company to not only share Summit program information with their employees, but also support their attendance.”- Mike Odom, CEO, Knoxville Chamber

“Bank of America is honored to sponsor this year’s Endeavor Summit and partner with the Knoxville Chamber, plus so many other meaningful and diverse organizations, to highlight why Knoxville is a fantastic place to live and work. Thank you, Knoxville Chamber, for creating educational and engaging experiences for young professionals in our community that will foster their love of Knoxville for a lifetime,” said Lina Kornmeyer Evans, Knoxville Market Executive for Bank of America.

For more information about the Knoxville Chamber and the Endeavor Summit, visit EndeavorSummit.com or email Amanda O’Dell at aodell@knoxvillechamber.com.

Servpro of West Knoxville breaks ground

Servpro of West Knoxville broke ground on a 31,250 square foot facility September 8, 2022, which will house offices, a training room for on-site educational courses and trainings, a client showroom, employee bunkroom, employee gym, and a warehouse that will include areas for full service contents cleaning and restoration and an ozone chamber.

Servpro of West Knoxville has been a trusted leader in the restoration industry in Knoxville providing 24-hour emergency services to residential and commercial customers related to water damage, storm damage, fire damage, biohazard, crime scene clean up, mold remediation, covid sanitization, and more. This new facility will host the most modern and state-of-the-art machinery and equipment.

The initial clearing of the site has begun and construction will progress over the next several months. The new building is expected to go vertical as early as the end of June or the beginning of July 2024. “We are humbled by the faith and trust that our clients and customers place in us to help them in their time of need, and we are excited for the new ways this facility will aid us in expanding and fortifying our robust capabilities”, says Jeff Cuthbertson, President and CEO of Cuthbertson Restoration, Inc. Cuthbertson, who opened his first Servpro franchise in Chattanooga, TN, in 2008, is now the owner of 15 franchise territories across Tennessee and Central Florida. The Cuthbertson team is among the top 5 largest Servpro franchises in the United States.

New premium vodka brand launches in select stores in Knoxville

Knoxville, TN, September 9, 2022 — T3 Vodka LLC announced today that it is launching T3 Vodka, its signature premium American-made vodka brand in Tennessee. The company also announced that it has partnered with Athens Distributing Company of Tennessee to promote and distribute the brand.

Initial limited distribution in the Knoxville area will be at:

  • Gettysvue Polo, Golf & Country Club, 9317 Linksvue Drive

  • Northshore Wine & Spirits, 9427 S. Northshore Drive

  • Middlebrook Liquor Store, 7431 Middlebrook Pike

  • Toddy’s Liquor and Wine, 4821 Kingston Pike, #5110

The company will announce more locations online at t3vodka.com as production and distribution increases.

ABOUT T3 VODKA LLC

T3 Vodka LLC is a new distilled spirits company headquartered in Knoxville, TN. Its signature brand is T3 Vodka, an 80 proof premium American-made spirit that is handcrafted and filtered 10 times, for a smooth, easy-drinking vodka that is exceptional, whether it’s served neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. Mark Lester, T3 Vodka’s inventor and owner, is a serial entrepreneur. He also owns and operates T3 Protective Gear, an outerwear company headquartered in Knoxville, TN.

Rains Insurance acquires Sunbelt Insurance

KNOXVILLE and CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., September 6, 2022 – Rains Insurance, Inc. (“Rains”), a wholly owned subsidiary of SmartBank, announced today that it has acquired the operating assets of Chattanooga, TN-based Sunbelt Group, LLC (“Sunbelt”). The transaction is effective September 1, 2022 and marks the first acquisition of an independent insurance agency by Rains.

Sunbelt, formed in 1984, is an independent, full-service insurance agency providing personal and commercial property and casualty insurance as well as life and health. In addition, Sunbelt has a dedicated transportation insurance department that focuses their attention solely on the insurance needs of the transportation industry. Mark Slater, President of Sunbelt Insurance, said, “Rains and SmartBank have a great culture and a proven track record of success. We are fortunate to join this outstanding team and look forward to our role in achieving the vision for growth and providing an exceptional customer experience.”

“Sunbelt Insurance represents many of the finest national and regional insurance companies in the industry,” said Billy Carroll, Chairman of Rains Insurance and President of SmartBank. “We are excited to add this team of hard-working and experienced insurance advisors to our company and look forward to further expanding our service areas in Tennessee and all across our footprint.”

For more information on Rains Insurance, visit www.therainsagency.com.

About Rains Insurance:

Rains Insurance is a subsidiary of SmartBank and an independent insurance agency providing clients with a variety of insurance products and services such as personal, commercial, life and health insurance with multiple locations throughout the Southeast. For more information on Rains Insurance, visit www.therainsagency.com.

About SmartBank:

SmartFinancial, Inc. (the “Company”), based in Knoxville, Tennessee, is the bank holding company for SmartBank. SmartBank is a full-service commercial bank founded in 2007, with branches across Tennessee, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. Recruiting the best people, delivering exceptional client service, strategic branching, and a disciplined approach to lending have contributed to SmartBank’s success. More information about SmartFinancial, Inc. can be found on its website: www.smartfinancialinc.com.

Forward Looking Statements:

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of and subject to the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding anticipated future events and can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” and “intend” or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.” Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, statements regarding the expected impact of the acquisition of Sunbelt by Rains. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication because actual results could differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results include difficulties and delays in integrating the customers or business of Sunbelt, or onboarding its sales producers; Rains’ inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth or to fully realize revenue or expense synergies or the other expected benefits of the asset acquisition; the inability to implement integration plans and other consequences associated with the asset acquisition; the choice by customers of Sunbelt or its sales producers not to keep their respective business relationships with Rains; effects of competition in the financial services industry, including competitors’ success in recruiting away Sunbelt’s sales producers; developments in Rains’ market relating to the COVID-19 pandemic; and general economic conditions and legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the businesses in which the Company, SmartBank and Rains are engaged. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof, and none of the Company, SmartBank, or Rains undertake any obligation, and each specifically declines any obligation, to revise or update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

JTV announces formal expansion to Canadian Home Shopping Market

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JTV®, the national jewelry retailer and broadcast network, today announced its formal expansion into the Canadian market. JTV’s value-oriented jewelry, home shopping broadcast network and best-in-class jewelry and gemstone educational content will now be available to consumers in Canada.

Founded 28 years ago, JTV is one of the top jewelry companies in the United States with one of the largest assortments of jewelry, gemstones, and jewelry-making products available from a single-source retailer. After decades of relationship building both in the U.S. and abroad, JTV has established a competitive advantage at every stage of the buying and manufacturing process so customers can expect exceptional jewelry and gemstones at unparalleled value. From exotic to classic, JTV currently offers 68 different colored gemstones in a stunning array of precious metal settings and design aesthetics for every style and budget. JTV’s formal expansion into the Canadian market further positions it as a leading retailer and broadcast network within the jewelry and gemstone industries.

“JTV always strives to offer extraordinary products at exceptional prices, so we’re excited to bring JTV to new homes and hearts across Canada,” said Tim Matthews, Chief Executive Officer at JTV. “Our expansion adds over six million Canadian homes and we have plans for many more. Our goal at JTV is to open the world of jewelry and gemstones to everyone, so this milestone is especially meaningful for our brand and the consumers we serve.”

Already established as an industry leader in the jewelry ecommerce and home shopping spaces, JTV is committed to offering next-level expertise, experience and engaging educational content that enhances the consumer shopping experience. Unlike others in the space, JTV’s broadcast segments offer both education and entertainment on jewelry and gemstones. The company additionally offers best-in-class jewelry and gemstone educational resources – the Learning Library, Gemstones.com and Jewel School – informed by its staff of knowledgeable and certified TV hosts, guest experts, certified gemologists, geologists, applied jewelry professionals (AJP) and employees who are committed to providing value and education to consumers at every step of the way.

“At JTV, jewelry is more than gemstones and metal. It’s personal, celebratory, meaningful, and magical, which is what makes us so enjoyable, easy and efficient to shop with,” said Matthews. “Our customers are special and deserve both variety and value, which is why we prioritize all-around transparency, offer 24/7 customer service and ensure an exceedingly pleasant shopping experience. We believe in building lifelong relationships, customers, and friends and can’t wait to welcome a whole new market into our community.”

Committed to providing efficient and effortless ways to buy and learn about top jewelry styles, JTV offers a variety of shopping methods including TV, online, social media, apps and order by phone. Every order is quickly and carefully shipped through its state-of-the-art order-packing system and on its way to customers within a few hours.

To watch JTV’s broadcast shopping network from Canada, check your local listings. For more information on JTV, visit JTV.com and follow @JTV on Instagram, @jewelrytelevision on Facebook, @jewelrytv on Pinterest and @jewelry on Twitter.

About JTV:

JTV (Jewelry Television®) is a leading retailer of jewelry and gemstones in the United States. With a proven 28-year history, JTV leverages an omni-digital strategy designed to elevate the customer experience through holistic, digitally-driven touch points, including live TV programming, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to 70 million U.S. and Canadian households, an industry leading mobile optimized e-commerce platform, and a robust and engaging social media presence. As part of its commitment to customer satisfaction and the development and distribution of educational content, the company employs numerous Graduate Gemologists and Accredited Jewelry Professionals. JTV.com is one of the largest jewelry e-commerce websites in the country according to Internet Retailer's Top 500 list for 2021. For more information, visit JTV.com and JTV's social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn.

TVA awards Tennessee Urban League Affiliates $3 million to support business development

Tennessee Urban League Affiliates (TULA), including Knoxville, will share a $3 million grant to support and grow statewide business development programs for people of color over the next three years.

The grant, which was announced Sept. 7, will fund the affiliates’ workforce readiness training centers, information technology programs and executive leadership programs across the state.

“TULA and TVA share a common mission of economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for the communities we have the privilege to serve,” said Jeannette Mills, TVA executive vice president of External Relations. “This partnership will help create new opportunities for underserved communities to ensure no one is left behind during these challenging times of change and innovation.”

Locally, about $250,000 will support the Knoxville Area Urban League’s Economic and Business Development initiatives in 2022 to provide entrepreneurship training and technical assistance, business development growth training and small business capacity building.

“We deeply appreciate TVA’s dedication to our community through their continuous support of TULA’s successful mission,” said Phyllis Y. Nichols, president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League. “This award will not only provide the resources to help our clients, but will also equip them with the skills to thrive in today’s dynamic economy.”

To learn more about these programs, contact Terrence Carter, the Knoxville Area Urban League’s vice president of workforce and economic development, at tcarter@thekaul.org or 865-524-5511.

About the Knoxville Area Urban League

Since 1968, the Knoxville Area Urban League has assisted disadvantaged people attain social and economic stability and self-sufficiency through direct services and advocacy. The League works to provide a skilled and diverse workforce; to increase homeownership; to support economic and small business development, and to enhance education efforts for our youth. The Knoxville Area Urban League is a United Way partner agency and affiliate of the National Urban League. The League’s work and results are evident in the lives of the over 8,000 people it impacts each year. For more information, call 865-524-5511 or visit thekaul.org.

About Tennessee Valley Authority

The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving nearly 10 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.

Applications open for the 100Knoxville late fall cohort

For this cohort, we are seeking applications from businesses in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Businesses that are tech-enabled (use technology to run the business) will also be accepted.

Types of businesses we are seeking include (but not limited to):

E-commerce, Energy, Sustainability, Cyber Security, Digital Marketing, Software Development, Hardware Installation, Business Systems, Information Technology, Research Services, Virtual/Digital Solutions, Virtual Assistant, Virtual Interpretation Services, Consulting Services, Healthcare & Wellness, and many others.

Visit our website for more information about the mission an goals of the 100Knoxville program.

Festivals help drive Blount County tourism to huge increases making $1.3 million each day on average in 2021

TOWNSEND, Tenn., August 31, 2022 – Blount Partnership revealed significant gains in tourism in the 2021 fiscal year ended on June 30 according to recently released economic impact data from U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics. Blount County saw tourism increases of 9%. The county made $1.3 million dollars, on average, per day thanks to tourism increases in the area. The county was also one of only nine in the state to grow tourism spending by 40% or more.

Several factors contributed to the flourishing tourism industry including the festivals in Blount County, the growing culinary and whiskey/spirits/beer scene and visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Festivals and events in the Townsend area in Blount County have been a big draw and reason to travel to the area.

Recent Festivals Attendance & Information:

  • 2022 Scottish Festival and Games: 10,000+

  • 2022 Smoky Mountain Hot Air Balloon Festival: 10,000+

  • 2022 Bigfoot Festival: 10,000+

Additionally, the eclectic Grains & Grits Festival, which boasts unique cuisine from the region and Tennessee spirits, is set to return this November after having sold-out attendance in 2021. Along with this, Grains & Grits Festival was named by Southeast Tourism Society (STS) one of the STS Top 20 Events in the Southeast for November 2020.

Reflecting on the growth in tourism to Blount County, Blount Partnership’s Tourism Director, Kim Mitchell, shared her perspective.

"The growth in Blount County tourism is an achievement for this area and demonstrates that this is a desirable and sought-after destination," said Mitchell. "People travel here to enjoy the growing and thriving restaurant and hospitality scene in addition to the beautiful mountain scenery and wealth of outdoor activities. For those who live here, these tourism dollars provide a tax savings and create a better place to live, work and play."

Coming up, Blount County has several festivals that will take advantage of the lovely Fall foliage in the Smokies like the Grains & Grits Festival (Nov. 5) which already sold out our to popularity. There’s also the Great Smoky Mountains Half & 5K (Sep. 9-10), Dancing Bear Fall Bike Bash (Sep. 17) and the Townsend Fall Heritage Festival (Sep. 23-24).

As for the Smokies, they are consistently the most visited national park in the country. In 2021 alone, the park saw more than 14 million visitors and since 2011 has seen a 57% increase in annual visitors. The park’s well-known Cade’s Cove valley features numerous options for sightseers as well.

Tennessee tourism generated $24.2 billion in domestic and international travel spending in 2021. Tennessee’s tourism industry is the third largest employer in the state. Tourism dollars drive economic growth, job creation and the tax dollars spent by travelers save Tennesseans hundreds of dollars each year.

For more information on visiting Blount County, Tennessee visit https://www.smokymountains.org

St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund launches Highway Heroes Campaign for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – September 6, 2022 – The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) is excited to announce the launch of the Highway Heroes Campaign in celebration of this year’s National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW), which runs from September 11 – 17. The month-long campaign, which kicks off September 1, is sponsored by Brenny Transportation, Progressive Commercial Insurance, Pilot Company, Cobra Electronics, Intact Insurance – Accident & Health, Total Quality Logistics, and Echo Global Logistics.

This year’s campaign will recognize drivers as essential trucking heroes by highlighting and sharing their stories on a special NTDAW landing page on the St. Christopher website and on social media. Participating companies can submit stories and pictures of drivers they know, love and respect to share their stories with the rest of the country.

“We are excited to collaborate with new and existing sponsors to spend not just a week but an entire month showing truck drivers out there how much we appreciate them,” said Shannon Currier, director of philanthropy at St. Christopher. “This campaign will bring positive exposure to the industry and highlight the goodness and generosity of the entire trucking community.”

On participating in SCF’s NTDAW campaign, Brenny Transportation owner and SCF board president, Joyce Brenny states, “Brenny supports St. Christopher Fund’s mission because drivers pay attention to how you show your value towards professional truck drivers! I think Brenny’s 90% driver retention and being named a Best Fleet to Drive for says it all! Thank you to the participating companies. I only hope more trucking companies choose to donate and support St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund! Together, we can make a difference!”

Nearly every aspect of daily life is made possible because a truck driver delivered the goods and resources people need. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is an important time for America to pay respect and thank all the professional truck drivers for their hard work and commitment in undertaking one of our economy’s most demanding and important jobs. These 3.5 million professional men and women not only deliver our goods safely, securely, and on time, they also keep our highways safe.

The SCF is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last year. The SCF also provides several free preventative health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including tobacco cessation, diabetes prevention, and flu, pneumonia and shingles vaccines.

To make a donation, share a story of a highway hero or become a sponsor of the Highway Heroes Campaign, please contact Shannon Currier, Director of Philanthropy at St. Christopher Fund via email at shannon@truckersfund.org.

About SCF: www.truckersfund.org The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) helps over-the-road semi-truck drivers and their families who are out of work due to a recent illness or injury. Assistance may be in the form of direct payment to providers for household living expenses such as rent/mortgage, utilities, vehicle payments, and insurance. The SCF also provides health and wellness programs such as diabetes prevention and smoking cessation. For more information, visit TruckersFund.org.

Spark Cleantech Accelerator graduates first cohort of companies

Knoxville, Tenn. — Cohort One of the Spark Cleantech Accelerator (Spark CTA), a partner of the Heartland Climate Tech Partnership, marked its graduation after presenting final pitches during the Spark Demo Day event at the University of Tennessee’s Howard Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy.

“The Spark Demo Day marked more than just a graduation of five cleantech startups,” said Cortney Piper, Executive Director of the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC). “It was a testament to how far the Knoxville-Oak Ridge innovation and entrepreneurial community has come in the past decade, underscoring the region’s progress as a technology and innovation center. Knoxville is building a cleantech hub and TAEBC is proud to support the growth of that hub with programs like our Energy Mentor Network and partnership with Launch Tennessee that make initiatives like Spark CTA possible.”

The 12-week Spark Cleantech Accelerator program, directed by John Bruck at the Spark Innovation Center within the University of Tennessee Research Park and supported by TAEBC’s Energy Mentor Network, led companies through a comprehensive curriculum including customer discovery, product-market fit, financial modeling, organizational development, and investor outreach.

Read more about the graduation and Demo Day event in Teknovation, here.

About Spark Innovation Center

The Spark Innovation Center is an initiative of the University of Tennessee Research Park and builds on the facilities and expertise at the University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Spark focuses on helping promising energy technology companies grow, offering access to top quality lab space, expert mentoring, and coordinating support services from nine partner organizations in the region.

About Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council

TAEBC champions advanced energy as an economic development and job creation strategy. Advanced energy is technology neutral and includes electricity and transportation. Anything that makes energy cleaner, safer, more secure or more efficient is in the tent. No other entity in the state concentrates specifically on this robust sector. We educate public officials and business leaders about Tennessee’s advanced energy economy, establish strategic partnerships to connect assets with opportunities, and inform policy that expands and strengthens the industry. For more information, visit: https://tnadvancedenergy.com/.

Hi-Wire Brewing and Wickles Pickles announce a pickle beer collaboration

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — August 31, 2022 — Pickles and beer, an unusual yet oddly beloved pair, unite in this collaboration between two acclaimed innovators within each field – Dadeville, Alabama-based Wickles Pickles and Asheville, North Carolina’s Hi-Wire Brewing.

“Here in the South, we love our pickles and a nice, cold craft beer, and now we love Hi-Wire Brewing’s Wickles Pickles Beer,” said Will Sims, co-founder of Wickles Pickles alongside his brother, Trey, and their buddy Andy Anderson. “We can’t think of a better combination than our 90-year-old custom blend of spices at work with an award-winning brewery known for fun and approachability.”

Hi-Wire Brewing’s Wickles Pickle Beer (5% ABV) is an easy-drinking sour ale brewed with all the pickle-making ingredients you would expect including cucumbers, dill, coriander, Himalayan salt, and black pepper. Cracking open a can conjures the same tangy aromas that come with twisting the lid off of a pickle jar, while the beer is refreshingly tart with notes of fresh dill and subtle spice reminiscent of Wickles Pickles’ famously sweet, sour, and spicy brine.

“It was a fun challenge bringing Wickles’ unique flavors into a beer,” said Hi-Wire head brewer, Luke Holgate. “While many flavors in pickles clash with beer, we were able to take advantage of Wickles’ bright dill flavor and peppercorn spice to build on a tart ale that's refreshing and crushable.”

This limited release is rolling out now in four-packs of 16-ounce cans across Hi-Wire’s nine state distribution footprint as well as the brewery’s eight taproom locations. A limited number of cases were also available for shipping directly to consumers in 34 states at shop.hiwirebrewing.com but sold out the day of their release.

Sims said, “We’re truly excited (and thirsty) for this partnership and particularly happy that this ‘Wickedly Delicious’ brew is going to be available just in time for SEC football across Hi-Wire’s growing taproom footprint – CHEERS to that!”

About Hi-Wire Brewing

Hi-Wire Brewing is known for producing approachable and balanced lagers and ales, most notably Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA, Lo-Pitch Hazy IPA, and Pink Lemonade Session Sour Ale, and it boasts an award-winning sour and wild ale program. Founded in Asheville, N.C. in 2013, Hi-Wire has three locations in Asheville – the Biltmore Village Production Facility, Taproom & Event Space, the South Slope Specialty Brewery & Taproom located downtown, and the RAD Beer Garden & Distribution Center in the River Arts District – along with taprooms in Durham, N.C., Knoxville, Tenn., Wilmington, N.C., Louisville, Ky., and Charlotte, N.C. Additional locations in Birmingham, Ala., and Cincinnati are set to open in the next 12 months. Hi-Wire Brewing’s Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup award-winning beers can be found on draft and in cans across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama, Virginia, and Indiana. To learn more about the company, visit hiwirebrewing.com.

About Wickles Pickles

In 1998, a 90-year-old secret family pickle recipe once reserved for family and friends was unleashed to the public as Wickles. Today, Wickles Pickles is known as the South’s best pickles. Its custom blend of spices and fresh ingredients produce sweet, tangy and spicy pickles, relishes, and spreads – a wickedly delicious experience unlike anything else. An iconic fixture at any gathering, tailgate, or meal; no other pickle has this much personality, earning Wickles a fanbase across the U.S. Learn more about our delicious products and grab some for yourself at https://wicklespickles.com/

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Biz Ticker: $1.5 Million investment to expand Pigeon Forge Winterfest with 20 New Lights Displays