The Agribusiness Committee is making final preparations for Kids' Day on the Farm, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 8.  This is always a great opportunity for the city and county school third graders to learn the different aspects on a farm.

Please join the Green Coat Ambassadors at a ribbon cutting for Elwood Staffing on Wednesday, May 9, at 11:30 a.m.  The business is located at 2055 E. Andrew Johnson Hwy., Tusculum View Centre, Ste. 2A, next to Little Caesars. 

Teams are already reserving rooms for the 2012 NAIA Women's Golf National Championships that are taking place at Link Hills Country Club May 14-18. The women athletes will be welcomed to our area at the Champions of Character banquet on Monday, May 14, at First Baptist Church, and tournament play will begin on May 15. Please make our guests welcome by adding "Welcome NAIA" on your business marquees or place banners/signs at your location. For more information or to volunteer to work the Hospitality Tent during the event, contact Tammy Kinser at tkinser@greenecop.com.  

Sponsorships are available now for the First Annual Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament that the Sports Council will host June 23-24 in the parking lot of the old Wal-Mart building on the 11E Bypass. Team applications will be available online within a week and the cost to participate is $116 per team of four. If you are interested in entering a team, sponsoring the event or volunteering, contact Tammy Kinser at tkinser@greenecop.com.  

The Economic Development Department has been working on two new retail projects since early December. The new companies will create approximately 100 jobs and a capital investment of nearly $8 million on building refurbishments alone. On April 24, a joint meeting of the County Commission and the Board of Mayor and Alderman unanimously approved Tax Increment Financing for the project, which enabled the developer to move forward. Retail store names will be announced when leases are signed.

More than 130 arts/crafts, food and merchant booths have already been reserved for the 18th Annual Iris Festival that will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20, in downtown historic Greeneville. Joining this year's activities during the festival will be special seminars on "Cultivating and Propagating the Bearded Iris" at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the gazebo on the corner of Summer and College streets. Leading the seminars will be members of the Greeneville Iris Society. A full schedule of entertainment will be provided from the singing stage and dancing stage, and the Kid's Korner will be filled with fun attractions for the younger generation. There will be all kinds of foods and snacks to enjoy during festival hours which are10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. 

Space is available for the June Member E-Mailing.  The emailing is an opportunity for members to showcase their businesses or products at a cost of only $100.  The deadline to submit a one-page PDF file to the Partnership is Friday, June 1.  For more information, call Lori Collins at 638-4111 or email gcp@greenecop.com.

Fourty-three members will be participating in the Youth Leadership Graduation Thursday, May 10, at 5:30 p.m. at Chuckey-Doak High School.  Also, this year's Youth Council will be honored with a reception Monday, May 14, at 5:30 p.m. at the Greeneville Parks and Recreation Department.  Everyone is invited to attend both events. 

Businesses and individuals from Greene County are invited to participate in the CenturyLink Third Annual Faith in the Future Awards which recognize those who demonstrate a commitment to the future of their business, their employees, their community and the region. An evaluation team will review all nominations based on the criteria, choosing two winners per business category and two individuals. Free Will Baptist Family Ministries and Greeneville Water Commission were 2010 winners of the award. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, October 5, with the awards luncheon scheduled for November 8. To request an application, email Heather Hill at hill@johnsoncitytnchamber.com.  

Bachman-Bernard Motors won the Iron Eyes Cody

Winning Team - Bachman Bernard Ken Oldenburg, Todd Ricker, John Bernard and Luke Fullen

Traveling Championship Trophy at the Keep Greene Beautiful Golf Tournament on April 26 at Nolichucky View Golf Club.  Members of the team were John Bernard, Luke Fullen, Ken Oldenberg and Todd Ricker.  Runners-up were members  of the Blalock Companies team, Joe Malone, Matt Malone, Josh Misener and Charlie G'Fellers.  Special thanks to the lunch sponsor, Rodefer Moss & Co, the contest sponsors, Marsh Petroleum, Wal-Mart Logistics, Gateway Ford and Air Pro Heating & Cooling, hole sponsors and door prize sponsors, as well as Coca-Cola. 

The Tourism Department and its Sports Council welcomes Aly Carrino as a summer intern from Tusculum College.  Aly, a 2009 Greeneville High School graduate, is majoring in sports management with a minor in business management.  She is also certified in CPR/First Aid.  Aly will be working directly with Tammy Kinser and the Sports Council to organize and promote all upcoming sporting events for May, June and July. Please welcome Aly as she will be contacting many of you for sponsorships and volunteer opportunities for this summer. 

May 5-12 is National Tourism Week.  In celebration of this observance, the Tourism Department will be visiting the Bristol Welcome Center to welcome visitors, as well as hosting the Presidential Pioneer in Hospitality Awards.  These awards, a total of five, are awarded to those who go above and beyond the call of duty to be hospitable to our guests.  Nominees can be from local lodging, restaurants, shops, businesses, etc.  Please download the nomination sheet, fill it out and return it to the Tourism Department by May 12.  For more information, contact Tammy Kinser at tkinser@greenecop.com.