South Central Tennessee Development District
NEWS
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

SCTDD sponsors Small Business Training Series with Columbia State Community College
Classes Begin July 11
June 30, 2006

Columbia State Community College's Economic and Community Development Office is offering a Small Business Series set to begin Tuesday, July 11 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the Columbia campus.

"If you have ever thought about starting your own business, this course is for you," explains Ron Beck, Columbia State's director of workforce development. "It is important to know what questions to ask." 

The series will touch on topics like what business is right for you, legal structures, accounting for small businesses, how to price your product or service, cash flow, marketing, and challenges of a small business and how to develop a business plan. It will be held on Tuesday evenings and run for eight weeks. The fee is $50.

The Small Business Series is being co-sponsored by Columbia State Community College and the South Central Tennessee Development District. For more information on the series, call Columbia State's Workforce Development Office at (931) 540-2660 or click here for a copy of the informational flyer.

auto2auto.com Brings Corporate Headquarters to Middle Tennessee
Move to create up to 500 new jobs in Maury County
May 24, 2006

South Central Tennessee Rural Planning Organization Technical Committee Meetings Scheduled for June & July
May 24, 2006

The SCTDD East RPO Technical Committee will meet on June 8, 2006 from 10:00 to 1:00 in Manchester.  Click here for more information.

The SCTDD West RTPO Technical Committee will meet on July 20, 2006 from 10:00 to 1:00 in Lawrenceburg. (This meeting was originally scheduled for June 15.)  Click here for more information.

The SCTDD East and West RTPO websites are located at http://www.sctdd.org/RPO/

Help for Seniors:  Fight Fraud in Medicare Billing
May 23, 2006

Did you know that $1 out of every $7 spent on Medicare is paid inappropriately due to error, fraud, or abuse? This costs all Americans money – in higher taxes, higher premiums, and a decrease of available Medicare services. It is also a dishonor to our elderly family and friends.

The South Central Tennessee Development District’s Area Agency on Aging & Disability is offering Senior Citizens help fighting Medicare and TennCare fraud, waste, and abuse. The program is called the Senior Medicare Patrol Project.  The Senior Medicare Patrol Project has a toll-free phone number staffed by caring, knowledgeable people. Seniors or their caregivers can call 1-877-801-0044 toll-free with questions about accuracy of Medicare and TennCare bills. Staff members will then follow up to help correct the bills. There is no cost for the confidential service.
Click here for more information.

SCTDD Presents Legislative Awards
May 8, 2006

The South Central Tennessee Development District has presented two local legislators with the prestigious Legislator of the Year Award: State Senator Doug Jackson, serving the 25th District (including Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, and Lewis Counties in the South Central District); and State Representative John Tidwell, serving the 74^th District (including Perry, part of Hickman, and part of Maury County in the South Central District). The awards were presented at the Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Development District Association in Nashville.  
Click here for more information.

Industrial Board of Coffee County Announces a New Plant and an Expansion of an Existing Industry
May 2, 2006

Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber and Bill Comer, chairman of the Industrial Board of Coffee County, Tennessee, Inc. today joined Yasufumi Matsumiya, president of VIAM (TN), LP in announcing the company's plans to expand its corporate headquarters facility in the Coffee County Interstate Industrial Park.  For more information, click here for the full press release.

Photo: L-R:  Jackie Francis, Director of Plant Engineering/Systems, VIAM; Randy Tipps, Director of Production/Purchasing, VIAM; Nathan Ward, State ECD; Kazumi Iino, JETRO; Joe Brandon; Dept of Labor and Workforce Development; Bill Shuff, MTIDA; Yasufumi Matsumiya, President, VIAM; John Gregory, State ECD; Judy Evans, Manager of Customer Service/Shipping, VIAM;  Ted Hackney, IBCC; Keith Hayes, Plant Manager/Sr. V.P., VIAM, Doug Williams, SCTDD; and Jamie Smith, Director of Quality/Product Engineering, VIAM

South Central Tennessee Development District receives the 
National Association of Development Organization's 2005 Innovation Award 
August 27, 2005

South Central Tennessee Development District based in Columbia, Tennessee received a 2005 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for their Middle Tennessee Marketing Group.  

NADO, a Washington, D.C. based public interest group, recognizes organizations for demonstrating innovative approaches to economic and community development.  NADO awarded 64 innovation awards this year for a variety of projects in areas such as aging, entrepreneurialism, emergency management, environment, healthcare, literacy, workforce, technology, tourism and transportation planning.  Awardees were showcased during NADO's Annual Training Conference, August 27 -- 30, 2005 in Seattle, Washington.  

According to NADO President Jack Scriber, Director of Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency in Louisville, Kentucky, "These award winning projects and programs truly represent the community and the economic development benefits derived from acting regionally, especially in rural communities where resources are often sparse."
Over 750 Innovation Awards have been made since the program was started in 1986.  Only NADO member organizations are eligible to apply for the award.

Senator Lamar Alexander Visits District
August 2005

Senator Bill Frist Visits District
August 18, 2005

Congressman Lincoln Davis in the District
August 2005

Senator Ketron Named to SCTDD Board
June 27, 2005

State Senator Bill Ketron has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the South Central Tennessee Development District (SCTDD).  The Senator serves the 13^th District, including Maury, Marshall, and Lincoln Counties.  He joins county and city mayors plus state and minority representatives in serving on this Board.  For more information, check out the press release by clicking here.

In-Home Care for the Disabled and Elderly
June 20, 2005

Do you have a friend or loved one who is disabled or elderly and needs help to continue living at home?  There are currently many openings in a new In-Home Care Program that can help provide for this person’s care.  For more information, check out the press release by clicking here.

Tullahoma, TN, "Rolls Out" its Five-Year Strategic Plan for Economic Development
June 3, 2005

For more information on Tullahoma's new Five-Year Strategic Plan for Economic Development, check out the press release or the project's website, www.launchtullahoma.com .

TDOT Long-Range Transportation Plan Public Meeting
June 10, 2005

The Tennessee Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting on the TDOT Long-Range Transportation Plan on June 21, 2005 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Columbia State Community College in the Waymon L. Hickman Building.  For more information, call 1.866.389.8443 or visit www.tennessee.gov/tdot .

New Link on Website for Winchester
June 2, 2005

The Winchester link on our Community Information Links page has been updated to the official Winchester, Tennessee website.  If there are any other community websites that we have missed, please let us know.  Email

Industrial Board of Coffee County Announces a New Plant and an Expansion of an Existing Industry
April 20, 2005

For more information on the announcements by the Industrial Board of Coffee County of the plans for construction of a new manufacturing facility by SEYI Presses and the expansion by VIAM of their existing Coffee County facility, click here or on the photo.

Most Recent Per Capita Income Data Added to Data Profile Click here to view...
April 29, 2005

SCTDD Holds CEDS Planning Meeting
April 7, 2005

SCTDD held a planning meeting to work with local officials and solicit their input in developing SCTDD’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).  Doug Williams, Economic Development Director, and Joe Max Williams, Executive Director, moderated a panel discussion of professionals with expertise in economic and community development.  They contributed insights important to the planning process.  Members of the panel were Susan Whitaker, Commissioner of Tennessee Department of Tourism; Joe Barker, Assistant Commissioner Community Development with Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development; Dr. Charles Perry, holder of the Russell Chair of Manufacturing Excellence at Middle Tennessee State University; Ed Harlan, Director of Agribusiness Development with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture; and Carlyle Carroll, Director of Economic Development with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.

After the panel discussion and a question and answer forum, local officials contributed their input through discussions and completion of questionnaires by county.  SCTDD staff will combine the knowledge gained from this meeting with other inputs, research, and analysis to develop a CEDS that will provide a list of work items and suggestions for economic development throughout the district.

       
left to right: Commissioner Susan Whitaker, Assistant Commissioner Joe Barker & Dr. Charles Perry

New Educational Attainment and Population Projections Posted
April 25, 2005

New Educational Attainment and Population Projections have just been released.  This data can be viewed or downloaded at www.sctdd.org/data/edattain_popproj.pdf .  This data does not reach beyond state level numbers.  County-level numbers are released less frequently and will be updated on the SCTDD Data Profile as they are updated.

SCTDD Presents Legislative Award

The South Central Tennessee Development District has presented two local legislators with the prestigious Legislator of the Year Award:  State Senator Bill Ketron, serving the 13^th District (Maury, Marshall, and Lincoln Counties); and State Representative Curt Cobb, serving the 62^nd District (Bedford and part of Lincoln County).  The awards were presented at the Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Development District Association in Nashville.  ...click here for more text & photos

SCTDD Board Confirms McNairy and Williams
March 3, 2005

The South Central Tennessee Development District has confirmed William McNairy of Giles County and Robert Williams of Marshall County as Minority Representatives on its Board of Directors.  McNairy was presented for confirmation before the Board by Giles County Mayor Janet Vanzant, and Williams was presented by Marshall County Mayor Terry Wallace.

Board Chairman/Franklin County Mayor Monty Adams says, “We are pleased to welcome these new representatives as full, voting members of the Development District Board.  As seasoned community, government, and business leaders, they will help us address the needs of people across our region in areas of economic and community development, programs for the aging and disabled, and public transportation.  I also want to comment that these two men set a standard for us all in service to their communities.”

William McNairy owns McNairy’s Flowerama & Gifts and Western Union in Pulaski.  He has 30 years of military experience, is a life member of the DAV, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, plus the VFW - and is VFW Chaplain for the State of Tennessee.  He is a past Board member of the Giles County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Giles County Chapter of the NAACP.  McNairy serves as Elder, Clerk, and Finance Committee Chairman at Rocky Mt. Presbyterian Church.  He also works with the Giles County Youth Club and was recently named Citizen of the Week by the Pulaski Citizen.  He served 12 years on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Pulaski, and has served on its Emeritus Board since that time.

Robert Williams is Public Works Director of Lewisburg and spent 25 years with the East Tennessee Natural Gas Company.  He is a member of the Marshall County Health Council, the Regional Health Council, Tennessee Technology’s Advisory Committee, American Legion Post #39, VFW, Duck River Lodge #136, Order of Eastern Star #34, the Chamber of Commerce, the NAACP, and is the Belfast Lions Club President.  Williams is a Vietnam Veteran and retired from the Tennessee National Guard as a Captain after serving 22 years.  He has been a Marshall County Commissioner, President of the Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Marshall County NAACP.

 
Mr. McNairy and Mr. Williams

Joe Max Williams is Executive Director of the SCTDD, which has offices in Columbia.  He notes, “The South Central District includes 13 counties:  Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry, and Wayne.  William McNairy and Robert Williams join County and City Mayors from across the Region, plus one State Representative and one State Senator, in serving on the Board of Directors.  Last year, the District submitted grant applications worth about $47 million, helped create or retain more than 650 jobs, saw business investments of almost $24 million, operated 108 public transportation vehicles, and provided $2 million of Aging and Disability services.  We thank our Board members for their support in making these achievements possible.”

NADO Presentation on FY2006 Federal Budget Proposal
February 23, 2005

No more CDBGs, USDA Rural Development RBEGs and RBOGs?  Elimination of EDA (Economic Development Administration)?  A reduction of Federal community and regional development funding from $17.1 billion in 2005 to $9.4 billion in 2006?

These are just a few of the components of President Bush’s FY2006 Federal Budget Proposal.  At the annual Tennessee Development District Association (TDDA) conference in Nashville on February 23^rd, National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Executive Director Matthew Chase presented the highlights of NADO’s Insights and Analysis of the President’s FY2006 Blueprint.  Since these and many other facets of the budget proposal will directly influence your community, you may want to read more about the budget proposal and contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives with your input. 

• Click here for NADO’s Special Report: Insights and Analysis of the President’s FY2006 Blueprint.

• Click here for PowerPoint slides from the NADO presentation.

• Click here to view more information from NADO.

• If you have trouble viewing any of the information, feel free to email SCTDD.

SCTDD Honors Lincoln Davis

The SCTDD recently honored Congressman Lincoln Davis for supporting rural economic development.  District leaders presented Davis with a National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Congressional Partnership Award for Outstanding Leadership in Economic Development during the last Congressional session.  Davis represents the 4th District, covering Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Maury, and Moore Counties within the South Central region.

SCTDD Chairman/Franklin County Mayor Monty Adams says, “We are very proud to present Congressman Davis with this prestigious award from NADO.  He has shown a particular interest in rural economic development, especially in helping to preserve the manufacturing job base, which is so important in our cities and counties.  We appreciate the fact that Lincoln Davis has fought hard to protect the federal investment in our rural areas.”

"I am honored to receive such a distinguished award,” says Davis.  “With the great work being done by the South Central Tennessee Development District, I am always looking for ways to expand and grow local businesses while improving the lives of those I represent.  Following the theme of the award; the unquestionable objective of partnerships should be to pull all available resources together to reach the desired goal, which ultimately should create and foster a stronger community.  I look forward to a continued partnership with the South Central Tennessee Development District."

L-R:   SCTDD Aging Program Dir. Ed Brooks, Executive Dir. Joe Max Williams, Vice Chmn./Hickman Co. Mayor Steve Gregory, Congressman Lincoln Davis, SCTDD Chmn./Franklin Co. Mayor Monty Adams, Maury Co. Mayor Jim Bailey, and SCTDD Community Dev. Program Dir. Lorie Fisher-Braley

Regional Greenway Workshop

The SCTDD, in cooperation with the Shelbyville Greenway Committee, The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Duck River Agency, recently held a regional greenway workshop for communities in the Duck River Watershed.  Approximately 50 people attended the all-day workshop at Henry Horton State Park. Community leaders from Manchester, Tullahoma, Shelbyville, Lewisburg, Columbia, and Hickman County gave presentations showcasing their local greenway programs.  Dr. Mark Ivy, Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Middle Tennessee State University, gave the keynote address on the Benefits of Greenways to our Communities.  Leslie Colley, The Nature Conservancy, spoke of the importance of the Duck River as a natural resource.  The afternoon session included panel discussions concerning organization, financing, easements, plant selections, design standards, and materials. 

SCTDD Hosts Legislative Luncheon 
February 1, 2005

In February, the District hosted a Legislative Luncheon for the South Central Delegation of the new General Assembly – the 104th Session.  This was an opportunity for the District to familiarize legislators with the programs and services of the District and to brief the delegation on the most critical issues for this region.

“We rely on our legislators’ support,” stresses Joe Max Williams, “and we appreciate the work they do to pass legislation favorable to our communities.  This meeting presented a good opportunity for local officials and our senior staff to meet new faces, to reinforce existing relationships, and to discuss issues of state and local importance.”

SCTDD Co-hosts Mid-State Regional Retail Development Meeting

The South Central Tennessee Development District co-hosted a Mid-state Regional Retail Meeting with the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development, the Greater Nashville Regional Council, and the Upper Cumberland District.  The meeting was held in McMinnville in January and featured topics such as downtown development, Main Street programs, and marketing communities to recruit retailers – shopping centers, restaurants, discount stores, specialty stores, and others.

Sue Akins Siens, City Liaison for the City of Lebanon – which has experienced a substantial growth spurt – presented the “ABCs of Retail Development.”  Carnell Scrubbs, with the International Council of Shopping Centers, was the keynote speaker and addressed the topic of organizing your community and preparing for retail business development.  The SCTDD was well-represented at the meeting, and attendees came away with some new ideas for economic development.  

December Labor Force Estimates Released
February 1, 2005

Labor Force Estimates and Unemployment Rates for December 2004 in SCTDD

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Ribbon Cutting for Coffee County Joint Industrial Park
January 13, 2005

For more information on the Coffee County Joint Industrial Park, visit either the Tullahoma Industrial Development Board site or the Manchester Industrial Board site.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Bedford County receives Three-Star Award
1st contender to meet criteria
December 15, 2004

By JOHN I. CARNEY
Shelbyville Times-Gazette City Editor
Bedford County was honored Tuesday as the first Tennessee county to receive a Three-Star Award under the state's new, more stringent guidelines.  

Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Matthew Kisber made the presentation during a meeting of the Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  

The Three-Star Award recognizes local communities for being prepared for economic development. Bedford County has been a recipient of the Three-Star award for the past 11 years. Earlier this year, Bedford was one of eight counties selected by the state to participate in a pilot program which imposed more stringent requirements - and promised better incentives - for Three-Star status. Four of the pilot counties were current Three-Star award holders; the other four were not. Bedford County was the first of the eight pilot counties to qualify for this new award. 

"Bedford County is to be commended for its commitment to community economic and community development," said Kisber. 

"The state's Three-Star program is about much more than having your picture taken once a year with the governor."  

The criteria for the program relate to the county's community development. For example, the community must have a joint economic and community development program, a strategic economic development plan, and a variety of community resources. Some resources, like an adult leadership program, are required; others, like a youth leadership program, are simply encouraged. (Bedford County has both.) 

State officials say that meeting the program's requirements means that a local community is ready to grow, and ready to receive industrial prospects. Kisber called it "a tool for your success."  

"Bedford County is not the first community to be certified by accident," said Kisber. Rather, the community earned the honor through hard work and cooperation. 

Three-Star status carries other benefits as well. In October, according to a state ECD news release, the county completed its Three-Star certification process and then applied for a FastTrack Infrastructure Development Grant to provide water service to JabiruUSA Flight Center LLC, a provider of high performance aircraft kits and engines. Normally, to receive this type of grant, the City of Shelbyville would have had to put up $12,600, or 21 percent of the total $60,000 project cost. But because Bedford County is now a certified Three-Star community, the local share will only be 17 percent. This is a direct incentive for the community based on its ability to accumulate points in the Three-Star program. The 4 percent reduction results in $2,400 savings to the city.  

Three-Star plaques were presented to Bedford County Mayor Jimmy Woodson, Shelbyville Mayor Geneva Smith, Bell Buckle Mayor Linda Key and Wartrace Mayor Don Gallagher. Normandy Mayor Larry Nee was not present.  Smith expressed her pleasure with the recognition, praising the work of Chamber executive Walt Wood and the chamber staff.  "We received this Three-Star Award because of the hard work that was done," said Smith. "It's wonderful for the city; it's wonderful for the county."  

Chamber President Eugene Ray also praised Wood.  "Walt ... has been a great person," said Ray, "a great leader in our community." 

The end result of the Three-Star effort is intended to be economic growth. Wood said that over the past two years, 1,500 new jobs have been created and companies have invested $85,923,000 in Bedford County, building or announcing 1.29 million square feet of new industrial space.  Along with Bedford County, Rhea, Unicoi and Weakley counties, all previous Three-Star communities, were paired with Fayette, Sequatchie, Wayne and Morgan counties to participate in the pilot.  Now that the pilot program has ended, Kisber said there are 65 communities which have submitted letters of intent to participate in the new Three-Star program.  

Tennessee's Three-Star program is being hailed as a national best practices model. Recently, ECD staff conducted a Three-Star presentation during the Community Development Institute's meeting and the program has also been nominated to the Southern Growth Policy Board for the 2005 Regional Innovator Awards, which honors innovative Southern initiatives that are improving the quality of life in the region. The award recipients will be announced during the board's "Summit on the Rural South," slated June 12-14.  (from the Shelbyville Times-Gazette vol. 127 no. 263)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

New Business in Giles County
December 1, 2004

Congratulations to Pulaski-Giles County on the location of a new business there, with the addition of 230 new jobs. Bert-Co will be investing more than $12 million in its new Giles County location, which will serve as a packaging and web printing facility. The company has agreed to purchase an existing 112,000 sq. ft. facility in the Pulaski-Giles County Industrial Park. Bert-Co is a leading printer servicing the entertainment, DVD packaging, consumer packaging, and computer gaming industries with high-impact graphics and materials. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. Also in Giles County, Frito-Lay is adding 50 new employees to handle increased production for its specialty, Grandma's Cookies. Frito-Lay Pulaski was built in 1963 and currently employs about 500 people.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Lincoln County Mayor Jerry Mansfield
Recognized for his Work on Economic Development and Emergency Planning
Tennessee County News  November - December issue
click here to read the entire article

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Focus Group - Rural Prosperity
November 29, 2004

The question: If you had $10 million to help foster economic growth, where would you spend it? The top answers: education and business innovation. On November 29, the SCTDD and ECD sponsored a brainstorming session on rural prosperity at Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill. Carol Conway, Deputy Director for the Southern Growth Policies Board, led the session. Mayors, ECD representatives, SCTDD department heads, and many others from across the region participated. Our goal is to provide opportunities for sharing ideas and to have input into the direction government takes in supporting economic and community development. Subscribe to the Southern Growth Policies Board's free e-mail newsletter, Southern Compass, at www.southern.org/compass/index.asp.

Monty Adams, SCTDD Board Chairman and Franklin County Mayor, leading a discussion on rural prosperity.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 Click to Return to Home Page

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Check out a recent link on our site: Grant-writing Tools for Non-profits