Tennesssee Chamber of Commerce Executives Institute Completed

Lindsay Frilling with the Obion County Joint Economic Development Council, consisting of the Obion County Chamber of Commerce and the Obion County Industrial Development Council, recently received her graduation diploma from Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives Institute.  Institute is a 2 year program sponsored by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives, which aids in the advancement of leadership development of those in the field of Chambers of Commerce. Graduates learn about all aspects of Chamber Management.

Local leaders bring home fresh ideas for economic growth from Rural Development Conference

COOKEVILLE, Tenn., Apr., 20, 2011-Lindsay Frilling, Community Development Coordinator of Obion County Joint Economic Development Council, in Union City, joined leaders from across the state April 13-14, 2011 as a participant in the Sixteenth Annual Rural Development Conference: Promoting Economic Success, hosted at Tennessee Technological University.

The USDA conference was once again an excellent opportunity to come together with peers from across Tennessee and learn what is happening in their communities. Other rural areas can be a great source of knowledge when you listen to the success stories. I try to emulate them in Obion County in order to grow the economy and improve the quality of life.

Dr. Chris Kuehl, managing director of Armada Corporate Intelligence in Kansas City, opened the conference with an economic overview of rural America. Kuehl's company provides business strategy for clients using competitive intelligence, economic forecasting and strategic planning. Major clients include Mid-America Capital, Hallmark International and the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association among others.

Workshops by nationally recognized authorities focused on a variety of topics including, Best Municipal Practices in Renewable Energy, Entrepreneurs and Growing Your Economy, Workforce Development and Mechatronics, Technology and Broadband, and Live Green and Prosper. The conference was sponsored by USDA Rural Development, Tennessee Technological University College of Business Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

The Obion County Joint Economic Development Council consists of the Obion County Industrial Development Council and the Obion County Chamber of Commerce. We work daily with local businesses to help them find ways to grow, expand, and prosper in our community. Along with those retention efforts, we reach out to prospective businesses utilizing our partners such as the state of Tennessee Economic and Community Development, USDA, West Tennessee Industrial Association, and TVA, who assist us in recruiting new business to Obion County.

USDA Rural Development invests in jobs, infrastructure, homeownership and affordable rental housing in rural communities. During the last two years the agency assisted more than 1.5 million Tennessee families and businesses, investing more than $1.3 billion through affordable loans, loan guarantees and grants. More than 86 percent of these investments will be paid back with interest. The rest is at work creating jobs, broadening the local tax base and increasing opportunities in education, training, healthcare and public safety.

Tennessee Technological University College of Business hosts the annual conference. TTU is committed to meeting the need for economic development in Tennessee's rural areas, and the university is engaged in both basic and applied research. The College of Business, especially through the Business Media Center and the Small Business Development Center help transfer that research into real life applications for products and services locally and worldwide. The University recently launched the new TECH-REDI (Regional Economic Development Institute) initiative, leveraging TTU resources to enhance the economic environment in the Upper Cumberland and surrounding region.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development. TVA Economic Development, working with distributors of TVA power, regional, state and community organizations, helped companies invest $4.3 billion in projects and add or retain 41,000 jobs across the region in fiscal year 2010.

Reelfoot Lake Bicentennial Celebration Seeks Funding
 

A Tennessee jewel is ready to celebrate its two hundredth birthday, and we want the world to be aware of its history and its attraction to fishermen, hunters, eagle watchers, bird watchers, photographers, historians, geologists, biologists, artists, and more. Formed by the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812, Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee's only natural lake was born with the final quake on February 7, 1812. The citizens of the area want a notable celebration to mark this event that will bring more visitors to our area.

The Bicentennial Committee needs your financial help. We will be featuring a number of special events during the months preceding our event in February.  Starting very soon is an online auction of a Frank Baggett's 5' by 4' framed canvas acrylic painting "Memories of Reelfoot Lake", a commemorative quilt, a Tennessee State Flag, homemade wheel thrown ceramic pottery, other art work and crafts, all donated by local individuals. These items will be featured on www.reelfoottourism.com.  On the calendar this fall is a bicycle run, a walkathon, a pow wow, a drama production, plus our annual eagle festival.  We will have on sale reprints of old manuscripts from the 1920's and special post cards from the archived library of Sabin prints. An important feature that we hope to have is a steamboat exhibit celebrating the New Orleans that weathered the Mississippi during the earthquake.  We will also have a booth at Arts and Crafts to sell t-shirts and other commemorative items.  In order to fund advertising and initial costs of t-shirts, caps, duck bands, signs, banners, and informational brochures, we need seed money so that we can grow.

We, a committee of volunteers, need for you to be a sponsor. Funds are needed now in order to begin these projects into reality.  Every dollar you send will go toward raising awareness of this park that brings tourism dollars into our state.  When you make your check payable to Reelfoot Lake Bicentennial, your donation will be tax deductable. Please be prompt with your donations, so that we can move forward.  We are on Facebook; look for Reelfoot Bicentennial.