Knoxville Biz Ticker: South College opens new campus in Pittsburgh
South College opens new campus in Pittsburgh
Enrollment is now open at a new South College campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
South College, a multi-campus institution, founded in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1882, offers 80-plus programs and concentrations taught at eight physical campuses and online.
Located in Cranberry Township at 3000 Westinghouse Drive, the Pittsburgh campus offers a growing list of programs including Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Associate of Science in Health Science (Pre-Nursing); Associate of Science in Radiography; and Associate of Science in Surgical Technology.
“South College has been a proud member of the Pittsburgh community since opening our online operation center in Cranberry Township in 2018,” South College Chancellor Stephen A. South said. “We now are excited to expand our community investment and welcome students to campus to experience our excellent education, student services, resources, and facilities. Our launch will focus on health profession programs that help communities thrive, and we’re already planning for future program expansion. We look forward to serving the Pittsburgh area in a new way.”
Dr. Amy Slifko-Hilbelink will expand her current role as president of online operations to add president of the new Pittsburgh campus.
“South College strives to provide the tools, resources, and instruction that students need in an environment of encouragement that fosters critical thinking and problem solving,” Hilbelink said. “We want to help lead students on a path to achieve their goals, spark a desire for lifelong learning, and prioritize serving others. We’re so honored to welcome students and excited to get started.”
South College Pittsburgh students have access to a range of financial aid programs for those who qualify, as well as student and career services. School leaders also will pursue and develop local community partnerships and Federal Work-Study partners in the area to help students in educational endeavors.
For more information about South College Pittsburgh, please call 724-720-9500 or visit https://www.south.edu.
About South College
South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels, as well as certificates. Questions about the accreditation of South College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (https://www.sacscoc.org).
Astra Lumina at Anakeesta to open on Nov. 1
GATLINBURG, Tenn. (July 21, 2022) – Today, Anakeesta announced that Astra Lumina, the brand-new, nighttime immersive adventure with Canadian-based multimedia entertainment studio, Moment Factory will open on Nov. 1, 2022. The stellar journey of discovery will offer Gatlinburg a new nighttime offering unlike anything else in the country. Astra Lumina at Anakeesta is the 15th experience in the Lumina Enchanted Night Walk series and the very first in the United States.
Families will take off on an exploration through a smoky mountain forest to experience astral magic. Visitors will journey across mysterious observatory grounds to discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song. Guests will be immersed in illuminating encounters of lighting, projection and sound, and connect with the stars.
Stargazers will embark on distinct stellar zones including:
Astra Archway: Step inside the starlight to enter the unknown.
Falling Stars: Guests will open their hearts to the arrival of the stars.
Cosmic Choir: Experience a symphony of fallen stars.
Stardust Rays: Discover a place where stars and nature are one.
Stellar Visions: Take off on a journey to uncover the origin of the stars.
Celestial Trail: Immerse in the flowing force of astral energy.
Astral Genesis: Witness the regeneration of the stars.
Rise of the Stars: Look up to the sky as the stars return to their rightful home
Astra Lumina is an add-on experience and general admission to the park is required.
Visitors can be the first to experience Astra Lumina by purchasing a special discount combo ticket that includes general admission for only $49.99. Annual pass members receive 20% off Astra Lumina tickets. Guests are encouraged to follow Anakeesta on social media and sign up for emails as the adventure park takes followers inside the experience.
For more information visit www.anakeesta.com/astralumina
New food festival set for August 19-20 in Knoxville
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – July 12, 2022 – Events Pro LLC today announced it is organizing a two-day, vegetarian food festival called Knox Food Fest 2022 for the Greater Knoxville community. The free event will take place at the World's Fair Park on August 19 from 2:00-9:00 p.m. and August 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and allow local vendors to showcase their culinary offerings.
Knox Food Fest will feature international food, arts and crafts vendors, family activities and yoga sessions. Special live music and dance performances will take place throughout both days and two of the best breweries in town, Schulz Bräu and Crafty Bastard, will be serving beer at the festival. There will be a kitchen for a live culinary kitchen show to showcase chefs and local talent.
The Knox Food Fest offers fun, gourmet vegetarian food and kid’s activities, including bounce houses, obstacle courses and arts and crafts. Non-food vendors will offer henna art, pottery, hand-knitted items, caricatures, jewelry and more. Live bands will play jazz, bluegrass and country music and dance academies are scheduled to perform. Musicians, chefs, vendors and performers are encouraged to contact the organizers of the event if they would like to participate in the festivities.
“The food festival is about promoting healthy foods to our community and also give us an opportunity to bring smiles to everyone's faces with fun activities and promoting local vendors,” said event organizers Mohit Mankad and Niraj Doshi. “We are lucky to have on board Pooja Doshi as our vendor coordinator and Chirag Patel as sponsor coordinator. We are excited to bring Knox Food Fest to the Knoxville community and strive to be the most anticipated foodie event of the year.”
The festival provides both new and well-known vendors a chance to showcase their creative and delicious works of art, while bringing together Knoxville’s local community. Festivalgoers will find the most mouthwatering, taste-bud exploding foods and get to meet great people from local businesses.
Mankad and Doshi explained, “Vendors, budding chefs and businesses are invited to join the festival to gain brand exposure. Knox Food Fest will provide a unique networking opportunity to connect with the community through this fun and entertaining environment that will resonate with the customer long after they’ve left the event. Each vendor will have a professional video made, which will be shared on all of our social media platforms.”
Knox Food Fest’s main sponsors are the Downtown Knoxville Alliance and 24/7 Staffing & Healthcare. Lost Art Collective is the entertainment sponsor. Other sponsors include Coca-Cola, E-Hotels, Knox Realty, Global Financial Planning, and Pela Ice Cream.
For more information, visit knoxfoodfest.com and follow the festival on Facebook @knoxfoodfest and Instagram @knoxvillefoodfest. For Vendor/Sponsor Inquiries, call 865-236-0898.
SBA offers disaster assistance to businesses and residents of Tennessee affected by wind, severe weather and wildfires
WASHINGTON – Tennessee businesses and residents affected by wind, severe weather and wildfires from March 30 through April 6 may apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced today.
Administrator Guzman made the loans available in response to a letter from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee dated July 11, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. Businesses and residents in the declared area can now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. The declaration covers Sevier County and the adjacent counties of Blount, Cocke, Jefferson and Knox in Tennessee; and Haywood and Swain in North Carolina.
“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of Tennessee with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters with federal disaster loans,” said Guzman. “Getting businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”
To assist businesses and residents affected by the disaster, the SBA will open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Sevierville at noon Thursday, July 21:
Sevier County
King Family Library
408 High St.
Sevierville, TN 37862
Opening: Thursday, July 21, 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Closed: Sundays
Closes Permanently: Thursday, Aug. 4 at 5 p.m.
Customer Service Representatives will be available at the DLOC to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help individuals complete their applications. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health and safety of the public. All visitors to the DLOC are encouraged to wear a face mask.
“Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets,” said SBA’s Tennessee District Director LaTanya Channel.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
“Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.
Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain, or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
Interest rates are as low as 2.94 percent for businesses, 1.875 percent for nonprofit organizations, and 1.438 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s and should apply under SBA declaration # 17532.
Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) or sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Sept. 19, 2022. The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 20, 2023.
Covenant Health purchases Provision CARES Proton Therapy Center in Knoxville
(Knoxville, TN – July 19, 2022) -- Covenant Health, the area’s largest integrated healthcare delivery system, is pleased to announce the purchase of Provision CARES Proton Therapy Center in Knoxville, adding a new treatment option to the Thompson Cancer Survival Center, the health system’s robust oncology service line. The acquisition, which affects only the Knoxville location of the Provision CARES Cancer Network, is effective July 19.
Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that uses beams of high-energy protons to treat various forms of cancer, while protecting nearby healthy tissue and vital organs from unnecessary radiation.
The facility’s new name is Thompson Proton Center. One of just 40 proton therapy facilities in the U.S., Thompson Proton Center is centrally located off Dowell Springs Blvd. in West Knoxville. Patients can now receive proton therapy as part of Covenant Health’s umbrella of cancer services offered through Thompson Cancer Survival Center locations across the region and the Covenant Cancer Network. Covenant Health is retaining the employees of the proton center to ensure experience, quality and continuity of care for all current and future patients.
“This purchase aligns with the health system’s mission to improve the quality of life in our region through better health,” said Jim VanderSteeg, Covenant Health president and CEO. “Proton therapy is a valuable treatment option, and our investment will ensure that the service remains available to cancer patients in our region. Covenant Health has an ongoing commitment to investing in our communities, and to providing advanced treatment and support resources for the patients who trust us with their care.”
“Thompson Proton Center is conveniently located in the geographic and population center of Knox County. In addition, the center has a high-quality staff that possess a significant amount of expertise,” said Scott Warwick, president and CAO of Thompson Cancer Survival Center. “I believe providing this state-of-the-art treatment option to our patients elevates us to being one of premier cancer care organizations in the country and supports our vision of being the first and best choice for cancer care throughout East Tennessee.”
Luke Johnson, Covenant Health executive vice president of physician enterprise and ambulatory services, said the addition of proton therapy to Covenant Health’s cancer services continues the legacy of B. Ray Thompson, the business leader whose vision for cancer care in East Tennessee led to the establishment of Thompson Cancer Survival Center in 1989.
“B. Ray Thompson wanted people in our region to have convenient access to the most advanced cancer care possible, close to home,” Johnson said. “Our healthcare delivery system is the area’s largest provider of comprehensive cancer care. We offer a full range of oncology services along with innovative technology, clinical research, multidisciplinary clinics and conferences, and patient support resources at treatment centers throughout East Tennessee. With this acquisition, patients will be able to receive proton therapy in Knoxville while coordinating care through their local Thompson Cancer services.”
Learn more at ThompsonProton.com.
St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund adds Big Rig Coffee Company as new sponsor
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – July 19, 2022 – The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) is excited to welcome Big Rig Coffee Company as a new sponsor to the St. Christopher family. The veteran-owned and operated coffee-on-order company will donate $1 for every sale to the St. Christopher Fund to help support truck drivers in need of assistance because injury or illness has taken them off the road within the last year.
“Big Rig Coffee Company’s desire is to give back from day one and we are honored to be their chosen charity,” said Shannon Currier, director of philanthropy at St. Christopher. “We look forward to building our relationship with Hunter and Gabriel and their team as we work together to help truck drivers and support the industry we all depend on.”
Big Rig Coffee Company was founded in 2021 by U.S. Air Force veterans Hunter Wilson and Gabriel Massey, with the intention of providing 100 percent customer satisfaction, and top-quality coffee to the hardworking men and women who keep this country’s economy flowing from coast to coast and top to bottom.
“First and foremost, we know how important a good cup of coffee is to all the truck drivers out there. It’s an essential part to waking up in the morning, and fueling the mind and body, keeping them focused and alert on the road. In our minds, it’s what keeps the wheels turning and the country running,” said Hunter and Gabriel, CEOs of Big Rig Coffee Company. “That’s why we could not be more proud to support each and every one of you through the hard-working team at the St. Christopher Fund.”
The SCF is a nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work. The SCF also provides several preventative health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road.
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.
About Big Rig Coffee Company: www.bigrigcoffeecompany.com
Big Rig Coffee Company is a coffee on order brand created by Air Force veterans Hunter Wilson and Gabriel Massey. Big Rig Coffee is focused on supplying the nation’s truck drivers and the trucking industry with the fuel they need to keep this country running.
Regions Bank teams to Share the Good
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – July 18, 2022 – School bells soon will ring, students will be back in the classrooms, and between now and then, teams from Regions Bank will be providing supplies, financial contributions and volunteerism as part of the bank’s annual Share the Good campaign.
Share the Good is now in its 13th year. Regions organizes the campaign as a way to build on the company’s year-round commitment to volunteer service and community engagement. This year’s theme is Back to School. It comes at a time when parents, students and relatives face higher costs for a wide range of good and services, including academic supplies.
“Advancing education is one of Regions’ top priorities for community engagement, so the back-to-school focus for this year’s Share the Good campaign is a natural fit,” explained Regions Community Affairs Manager Wendi Boyen. “Regions Bank teams in several states are developing local Share the Good initiatives that are custom tailored to meet specific needs. While every local outreach is unique, the message is always the same: Regions Bank is committed to supporting education.”
Share the Good initiatives are underway now and will continue through July 29. Among local examples of Share the Good this year:
Nashville, Tenn.: Regions associates are collecting school supplies and stuffing backpacks for United Way of Greater Nashville’s Stuff the Bus Campaign. Branch teams are also assembling goodie baskets for teachers.
Tampa Bay, Fla.: Regions is supporting both the Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses of Academy Prep Center with a donation for each school. Bank associates are also announcing a renewed community partnership with Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay with funding for class materials.
Indianapolis: Regions is sponsoring a backpack drive for students at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. In addition, volunteers from the bank’s Indianapolis Diversity, Equity and Inclusion network are working at Teachers’ Treasures, known as a “free store for teachers” who serve students from low- to moderate-income areas.
Birmingham, Ala.: The bank’s Women in Finance group is collecting school supplies and backpacks to support United Way of Central Alabama, and the Birmingham Diversity, Equity and Inclusion network is hosting a book drive at Regions’ headquarters that will benefit Better Basics. Additionally, Regions will present a donation to the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation.
Knoxville, Tenn.: Regions teams are gathering school supplies for the local United Way’s Changemobile, a customized Airstream that delivers services and support into local communities. Teams are also making a financial contribution to Junior Achievement of East Tennessee.
Memphis, Tenn.: Regions is sponsoring an investment summer camp called Young Wall Street Traders, which seeks to introduce more young people to financial services careers and bridge the wealth gap among African American and Latino American students. The Memphis Regions team is also supporting the Peer Power Big River Crossing Half Marathon & 10K. The Peer Power Foundation’s mission is to empower and inspire scholars through student-to-student tutoring. Additionally, Regions teams are participating in the Stuff the Bus School supply drive for United Way of the Mid-South.
Houston, Texas: Twelve teams of Regions associates are supporting Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas with a bowling tournament fundraiser. In addition, Regions will make a financial donation to the organization.
Community engagement is a significant part of the culture at Regions and is fostered through a variety of ongoing programs. For example, every year, Regions offers associates a paid day off to volunteer in their community. Further, the bank connects associates with a wide range of ongoing volunteerism opportunities that align with their skills and experience. Examples of the bank’s involvement are available in the annual Community Engagement Report and the Community Engagement section of Regions’ news website, Doing More Today.
About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $164 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.
Coalition urges Tennessee officials to leverage federal funds to encourage
private investment in electric vehicle charging stations
NASHVILLE, TN – Charge Ahead Partnership (CAP) urged the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation to incentivize private investment in electric vehicle (EV) charging stations as the state lays the groundwork for the future of EV charging in Tennessee.
In a letter regarding the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan, CAP encouraged state officials to develop an EV charging market that maximizes the use of more than $88 million in federal funding over the next five years while also creating an attractive environment for long-term private investment.
“State officials should utilize federal funds in a way that ignites private investment in EV charging stations for decades to come rather than simply distributing money to stranded assets,” said CAP Executive Director Jay Smith. “To make consumers comfortable with purchasing EVs, a statewide network of EV fast chargers must be available to provide drivers with the refueling experience that they expect. Without it, consumers will hesitate
to make the transition to electric vehicles.”
CAP’s letter encouraged state officials to take advantage of the core competencies of the existing private sector retailers, including gas stations, restaurants and others that dot the interstate and have the locations and amenities that customers have come to expect.
The letter comes in response to the state agencies’ request for comments on its plan to add EV charging stations along key transportation routes in the state. State officials must submit their deployment plans to the U.S. DOT to qualify for up to $13.07 million in 2022 funding from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.
The NEVI Program is part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that President Biden signed into law in 2021. Tennessee is due to receive $88.3 million in NEVI funding over the next five years. States must turn in their proposals for FY 2022 funding to the federal Joint Office of Energy and Transportation by Aug. 1.
The Biden Administration is hopeful that NEVI funds will help the country develop a network of 500,000 electric vehicle chargers by the year 2030. The lack of reliable, accessible and affordable high-speed EV charging has been cited in numerous surveys as a top reason that consumers avoid buying an EV.
“An idle charger in a desolate parking lot will do nothing to alleviate range anxiety. In fact, it will have the opposite effect,” Smith wrote. “Consumers should expect to be both comfortable and safe during their charging experience. That means grants should go to private sector partners who are putting their own capital at stake to install chargers. The sooner a marketplace with private sector competitors selling EV charging exists, the sooner more consumers will be comfortable buying EVs.”
CAP represents a coalition of businesses, associations and individuals that share the common goal of efficiently and effectively developing a charging network for EVs across the United States. CAP is hopeful that Tennessee state officials will develop a plan that adheres to federal guidance by incentivizing long-term private investment in this new marketplace, long after NEVI funding has dried up.
Genera has acquired MxG Fiber LLC
VONORE, Tenn. — July 14, 2022 — Genera Energy Inc. (“Genera”), the largest integrated manufacturer of non-wood agricultural pulp and molded fiber products in North America, is pleased to announce that it has acquired MxG Fiber LLC (MxG) as part of its overall growth strategy. This acquisition allows Genera to incorporate the knowledge and assets of MxG into its efforts to supply sustainable fiber packaging to the rapidly growing U.S. market.
The MxG management team founded Aloterra in 2010 and developed the first and largest commercial scale miscanthus crop operation in North America. The team leveraged a USDA program to plant over 20,000 acres of miscanthus in four Midwest states. Over the last decade, the team developed critical expertise in commercializing sustainable biomass crops, including the establishment, management, harvesting, storage, and processing of several perennial crops.
MxG’s research and development efforts led to several commercial product lines based on miscanthus. The team built three manufacturing facilities in the Midwest over the last decade and brought several agricultural fiber products to market, including the first molded fiber products produced from miscanthus.
In connection with the acquisition, Matt Griswold, CEO of MxG, has joined the Genera team as Vice President, focusing on molded fiber product and market development. “I am excited to continue the MxG mission of expanding the use of perennial crops and replacing single use plastics under the Genera name,” says Griswold.
“Our acquisition of MxG Fiber accelerates Genera’s pursuit of innovative ways to decarbonize our economy using regenerative, sustainable agriculture,” said Kelly Tiller, Genera’s CEO. “Matt’s passion for sustainability, combined with his deep expertise in perennial biomass crop production, product development, and manufacturing, really enhances the Genera team.”
Genera operates the largest vertically integrated non-wood agricultural pulp and molded fiber manufacturing facility in North America. The company supplies customers with domestically sourced and manufactured non-wood pulp and molded fiber products made from locally grown fiber crops and agricultural residues.
About Genera Inc.
Genera is a vertically integrated U.S.-based non-wood agricultural pulp and sustainable packaging company. The company is headquartered in Vonore, Tennessee where it operates a vertically integrated non-wood pulp plant and molded fiber manufacturing facility capable of producing 36,000 tons of agricultural pulp annually.
Realty Trust Group celebrates opening of UT Medical Center's Advanced Orthopaedic Institute
(Knoxville, TN - July 2022) Leaders from The University of Tennessee Medical Center, University Orthopaedic Surgeons (“UOS”), OrthoTennessee, and Realty Trust Group (“RTG”) gathered at UT Medical Center’s New Advanced Orthopaedic Institute on Wednesday, July 13th for a ribbon cutting and open house. The new freestanding orthopaedic institute is located across Alcoa Highway from UT Medical Center’s main campus at the University of Tennessee Research Park at Cherokee Farms. RTG served as the real estate development partner for the project. The facility was designed by BarberMcMurry Architects, and the Christman Company served as the general contractor.
“This new facility is designed to provide comprehensive orthopaedic excellence to meet the changing needs of this community for years to come” said Jon-David Deeson, CEO of OrthoTennessee. “Every part of this project was intentionally planned to improve the patient experience and reduce cost of care without compromising our commitment to provide the best care possible. The team at RTG did an outstanding job working with our design and construction partners to help bring our vision to reality. This is the only facility of its kind in the region, and we are thrilled to make this resource available to our patients.”
The 91,000 square foot facility was first announced in 2018 and construction began in October of 2020. Effective June 6, 2022, OrthoTennessee relocated the University Orthopedic Surgeons’ clinic from the main campus at UT Medical Center to the new facility. The first floor of the three-story building serves as the ambulatory surgery center, which includes five operating rooms and an advanced imaging center. The second and third floors house clinical areas as well as research and administrative offices. The new location offers ample, convenient parking and an after-hours injury clinic for those unexpected orthopaedic emergencies.
“The entire RTG team is proud to partner with UT Medical Center and OrthoTennessee to deliver this exciting project. The new Advanced Orthopaedic Institute is not only positioned to provide the highest quality of orthopaedic care possible for patients in East Tennessee, but will also advance specialized medical and technology research,” said Chad Simpson, Executive Vice President of RTG.
Fourteen (14) UOS / OrthoTennessee orthopaedic surgeons will practice at the new location and offer a broad array of clinical, imaging, diagnostic, surgical, rehabilitative care, and therapy services. The facility represents an ongoing partnership by UOS, OrthoTennessee and UT Medical Center to collaboratively meet the changing medical needs of the greater community in East Tennessee.
To learn more about RTG's capabilities and who we serve, including real estate development for healthcare and life science facilities, visit our website.
About Realty Trust Group
Realty Trust Group, LLC (“RTG”) is a healthcare and life science real estate advisory and services firm offering a full spectrum of real estate services including advisory, development, transactions, operations, and compliance.
Since 1998, RTG has helped hospitals, physician groups, and property owners navigate the rapidly changing industry with growth strategies that gain market leadership as well as enhance patient and physician experiences for better delivery of care. Our philosophy is to provide innovative solutions to the complex and challenging issues found in today’s healthcare real estate market. These solutions include strategic campus and facility planning, portfolio optimization, portfolio monetization, project development, leasing, acquisition and disposition services, portfolio management, regulatory compliance, and many other ideas and services. For more information about RTG and our innovative healthcare real estate services, visit www.realtytrustgroup.com, Facebook, LinkedIn, or call 865-521-0630.
United Way of Greater Knoxville offers $20,000 award for Food Security “Big Idea”
KNOXVILLE, TN., JULY 12,2022 - Individuals and agencies in Knoxville have a new opportunity to increase food security and end hunger in the community.
The Unite for Change Hackathon for Food Security is a fun way to get together and work collaboratively for social good. Teams will design innovative ways to improve accessibility to the food security system, so providers are better positioned to reach and serve those in need.
"Hunger is limiting, affecting development and overall health, and impairing the ability to learn, work and enjoy a comfortable life. Those experiencing continued hunger often face other issues around housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation, and mental health," stated Matt Ryerson, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Knoxville. "Because food insecurity does not exist in a vacuum, ending hunger means looking at much more than getting enough food to feed those in need. It requires having a holistic system in place that includes a variety of services across the community and ensures access and equity, regardless of circumstances."
How it Works
Interested individuals and teams can register between July 12th and July 25th here (https://www.uwgk.org/fs-hackathon/). Each team will consist of up to 10 individuals and will include at least one Lead Nonprofit Agency.
Teams will be invited to attend an orientation on July 27th at 9 a.m. at the UWGK offices, 1301 Hannah Avenue, Knoxville, TN. Each team will work with their Lead Nonprofit Agency and have access to members of the UWGK and other organizations within the food security system to feed their ideation and develop solutions.
Teams will get together to develop innovative ways to increase food access and equity among marginalized communities in Knoxville. They will brainstorm ideas, design their solution, and submit a plan via an online form.
Meetings and communications will occur at each team's discretion. Teams will submit their concepts by September 5th for a review by a panel of judges. Three teams will be selected to pitch their idea at an event on September 27th and the winning team will be awarded a $20,000 UWGK grant to take the next steps towards implementing their concept with the help of their Lead Nonprofit Agency.
Co-creating Change
"United Way of Greater Knoxville launched a Food Security initiative last August for food system stakeholders, community residents, policymakers, nonprofit leaders, and community-based organizations to create a more just and equitable local food system. Through opportunities like the Unite for Change Food Security Social Hackathon, we can conceive and build a future together where no one goes hungry, enabling healthier, more productive, and economically viable lives and a stronger community here in Knoxville," added Ryerson.
About United Way of Greater Knoxville
United Way of Greater Knoxville is part of United Way Worldwide, the largest charitable organization in the world. Through more than 112 programs in nearly 48 different agencies, United Way of Greater Knoxville is an innovative problem-solver and facilitator of social change dedicated to creating a more equitable Knoxville with stable housing, financial security, quality early care and education, access to food, and more. For more information, visit www.uwgk.org.
Pinnacle to eliminate NSF fees for consumers, reduce overdraft fees
NASHVILLE, TN, July 12, 2022 – Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq/NGS: PNFP) today announced that Pinnacle Bank will make significant changes this summer to its overdraft services program by completely eliminating one fee, lowering another and introducing features to further reduce the total cost incurred by its clients in a single day.
Effective Aug. 1, 2022, Pinnacle will:
Eliminate the Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) fee for returned items for consumer accounts. This fee occurs when Pinnacle returns a check or ACH transaction due to insufficient funds in the account.
Reduce the NSF returned item fee from $38 to $30 for business accounts.
Reduce the Overdraft fee for paid items from $38 to $30 for consumer and business accounts. This is the fee Pinnacle charges for the service to pay an item even though the client does not have enough funds in the account.
Introduce an overdraft cushion of $15 for consumers. Consumer accounts can be overdrawn by up to $15 before an overdraft fee would be charged. As a result, clients won’t be charged an overdraft fee until payment of the first item that causes the account to be overdrawn by more than $15.
Reduce the maximum number of Overdraft Paid Item charges per day from five to three for consumers. By reducing the fee and the number of charges consumer clients can receive in a day, the maximum possible charge per day will be reduced by more than 50 percent, from $190 to $90.
Pinnacle will continue its longstanding practice of offering Overdraft Protection for no charge. This service gives clients who opt in the ability to link accounts so funds can be transferred automatically to avoid an overdraft.
“We believe clients appreciate the service we provide by paying the item even when their balance is low, and fee reductions and the introduction of a cushion should make a significant difference to those who use it most often,” Pinnacle President and CEO Terry Turner said.
The firm anticipates that the changes listed above will result in revenue loss of approximately $3.0 million, on an annual basis, beginning Aug. 1, 2022.
“While Pinnacle doesn’t rely on fee income from overdraft and NSF as much as many other banks because we focus on commercial clients, we believe these changes will lead to even greater client loyalty as we continue to demonstrate our interest in their financial success,” Turner said. “We also think making these modifications to our fee practices will help prepare us for new regulations that may come in the future.”
Learn more about Pinnacle’s overdraft services program and available tools to help avoid fees altogether at PNFP.com/Overdraft.
Pinnacle provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services designed for businesses and their owners and individuals interested in a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The firm is the No. 1 bank in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA, according to 2021 deposit data from the FDIC, is listed by Forbes among the top 25 banks in the nation and earned a spot on the 2022 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For® in the U.S., its sixth consecutive appearance. American Banker recognized Pinnacle as one of America’s Best Banks to Work For nine years in a row and No. 1 among banks with more than $11 billion in assets in 2021.
Pinnacle owns a 49 percent interest in Bankers Healthcare Group (BHG), which provides innovative, hassle-free financial solutions to healthcare practitioners and other licensed professionals. Great Place to Work and FORTUNE ranked BHG No. 4 on its 2021 list of Best Workplaces in New York State in the small/medium business category.
The firm began operations in a single location in downtown Nashville, TN, in October 2000 and has since grown to approximately $39.4 billion in assets as of March 31, 2022. As the second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Tennessee, Pinnacle operates in 15 primarily urban markets across the Southeast.
Additional information concerning Pinnacle, which is included in the Nasdaq Financial-100 Index, can be accessed at www.pnfp.com.
Management Consulting Company Thrivence launches as part of Barge Design Solutions
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (July 13, 2022) – Nashville businessman John Lowry announced today the launch of Thrivence, a new management consulting company. The new venture, which has been created as part of Nashville-based engineering and architecture firm Barge Design Solutions, which has an office in Knoxville, has already signed on several respected leaders as consulting partners, including Wanda Lyle, Derek Young, David Scobey and Ann Hatcher.
Lowry, president of Thrivence, is a recognized authority on negotiation through his experiences as a lawyer, business consultant, negotiation coach and university administrator. He previously served as senior vice president for Advancement at Lipscomb University.
“Our goal is to bring innovation to our clients through a new model of management consulting services,” Lowry said. “Thrivence will help clients create processes and products, help with problem-solving, and ultimately improve our clients’ performance.”
Thrivence is already serving clients across the Southeast and in a variety of industries, including architecture/engineering/construction, the public sector, real estate development, health care, and private equity. Specifically, Thrivence will counsel clients in leadership development, strategy and performance, and technology solutions.
“We’ve seen firsthand how business leaders have been dealing with disruptions, whether they’re due to the workforce, supply chain, digital transformations or inflation,” Lowry said. “We want to help our clients get ahead of these disruptions, and we do so by helping them create value, by identifying customized innovative solutions for people – both employees and customers. We look forward to providing these solutions across the Southeast and beyond.”
In addition to Lowry, Thrivence has 15 consultants on board and plans to grow by 50 percent in the next year. Understanding the importance of providing tech solutions in an ever-changing market, Thrivence has integrated Barge Design Solutions’ information management group under its umbrella of offerings. This integration, which provides clients with access to top technology professionals, gives the consulting company tech firepower seldom seen outside of global consulting firms.
“John has been a trusted counselor of ours for years and is a huge asset to the community,” said Bob Higgins, CEO of Barge Design Solutions. “Many of our clients and friends asked us for advice on finding robust consulting services. That need inspired the creation of Thrivence, and John was a natural fit to lead this new endeavor. Thrivence will help companies meet the challenges of today’s business environment.”
UT Medical Center forges innovative partnerships with nursing schools to combat nursing shortage
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Jul. 11, 2022) – COVID-19 significantly worsened the shortage of registered nurses (RNs) across many parts of the U.S. Comprising approximately one-third of a typical hospital workforce, RNs are essential to patient care and high-quality outcomes. Thus, new, innovative solutions are required to address unprecedented nursing workforce challenges in East Tennessee.
The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) has teamed up with the University of Tennessee (UT) College of Nursing and Lincoln Memorial University Caylor School of Nursing (LMU-CSON) to develop academic - practice partnerships. The intent is to attract and retain baccalaureate prepared RNs committed to serving the health care needs of patients in East Tennessee, not only today but in the future.
“We are building upon our long-standing relationships with the UT and LMU colleges of nursing to create mutually beneficial partnerships to address our region’s complex and unprecedented nursing shortage,” said Dr. Sandy Leake, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at UTMC.
These partnerships will provide early career development and growth opportunities for Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) students through mentorship with UTMC RNs. Employment is guaranteed during the program and results in a service commitment upon completion of a BSN.
“The University of Tennessee Medical Center is thrilled to partner with UT College of Nursing and LMU Caylor School of Nursing to find innovative approaches that will build and sustain a robust pipeline of high-quality BSN graduates. These nurses will likely live, work, and remain in our community, ensuring a long-term continuum of patient care,” said Leake. “The programs are designed to provide hands-on learning and clinical experience by working with RNs in the region’s only Magnet®-Designated hospital and to guarantee post-graduation employment.”
UTMC has partnered with UT College of Nursing to create a Nurse Scholars Program providing substantial financial support to BSN students. UTMC will use endowment funding to provide tuition assistance for 8-12 student scholars annually, combined with a tuition discount offered by the UT College of Nursing.
“UT College of Nursing is excited to create a win-win partnership with UT Medical Center,” said Victoria Niederhauser, Dean of the college. “We are able to reduce the financial burden for nursing students while supporting the workforce needs for our clinical partners.”
The partnership with LMU-CSON will provide substantial financial support to BSN students through a Nursing Excellence Program. UTMC will offer annual tuition assistance for up to 10 Excellence in Nursing students, who will also receive discounted tuition from LMU. LMU-CSON will expose middle school students to health care careers and recruit high school students through health science clubs, health-related affinity groups and health care career camps. This multi-faceted partnership will utilize co-branded messaging, digital marketing, co-hosted job fairs and shadowing opportunities for potential participants.
“East Tennessee has long been classified as medically underserved. The pandemic has only exacerbated nursing shortages,” said Dr. Jody Goins, LMU Executive Vice President for Administration. “The LMU Health Science Institute will provide nursing touch points for students as early as middle school and hopefully inspire more students choose nursing for a career. LMU is excited to enter into this partnership with UT Medical Center to train East Tennessee students to serve our communities for generations to come.”
About The University of Tennessee Medical Center:
The mission of The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC), a Magnet® recognized hospital also certified by The Joint Commission as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, is to serve through healing, education and discovery. UTMC is a 710-bed, not-for-profit academic medical center, with a regional network of primary care and specialty care physicians and practices as well as outpatient regional health centers and urgent care locations throughout its 21-county primary service area. The medical center, the region’s ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center and state designated regional perinatal referral center with a Level III private room NICU, is one of the largest employers in Knoxville. UTMC features nine Centers of Excellence, including the Brain & Spine Institute, Cancer Institute, Emergency & Trauma Center, Heart Lung Vascular Institute, Center for Complex Medicine, Center for Perioperative Medicine, Orthopaedic Institute, Primary Care Collaborative and Center for Women & Infants. Visit UTMedicalCenter.org for more information.
DENSO announces solar energy commitment in partnership with City of Maryville Electric, TVA, and Silicon Ranch
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DENSO, a leading mobility supplier, will participate in a portfolio of solar projects that will help power operations at its Maryville, Tennessee, facility. Through an innovative collaboration with local utility City of Maryville Electric Department, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and Silicon Ranch Corporation, DENSO will receive a portion of the renewable energy generated by four solar power plants, starting with one located on DENSO's Maryville campus.
This work helps advance DENSO's Two Great Causes: Green—achieving carbon neutrality by 2035—and Peace of Mind—creating a safe and seamless world for all. It also supports the company's involvement in the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Plants program. Both reinforce and accelerate DENSO's commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its manufacturing operations and energy use.
"DENSO is developing mobility technologies to support a better planet, while also making sustainability gains across our global footprint," said Denise Carlson, vice president of DENSO's North America Production Innovation Center and sustainability lead in the region. "This partnership marks an important milestone along this journey and furthers us on our path to a safer, greener future."
The City of Maryville has steadfastly supported DENSO's sustainability objectives. During its monthly meeting on July 5, the Maryville City Council approved three contracts between the City of Maryville Electric Department and independent power producer Silicon Ranch for a total of 10.5 megawatts (MWAC) of solar energy under TVA's Generation Flexibility program, a portion of which will serve DENSO's local operations. The program enables participating local power companies to generate up to 5% of their total energy load to meet the renewable energy goals of their customers, attract sustainability-focused businesses to their communities, and solve individual challenges for their distribution systems.
"TVA's Generation Flexibility program offered us the right vehicle to serve the needs of Maryville's largest employer while attracting significant capital investment to our community," said City of Maryville Public Utilities Director Baron Swafford. "This cooperative effort is reflective of the goals of City leadership to support and assist our customers in successfully achieving their objectives."
In addition to its role in the three solar projects under TVA's Generation Flexibility program, DENSO will also participate in TVA's Green Invest program through a fourth Silicon Ranch facility. The nationally recognized program offers business and industry a timely and cost-effective solution to aggressively meet their sustainability goals. Further details on the project will be provided once agreements have been completed with all Green Invest participants.
"TVA is building the energy system of the future, and we applaud City of Maryville Electric and DENSO for leveraging two versatile, customer-focused TVA Green programs to meet their needs," said Doug Perry, TVA Senior Vice President of Commercial Energy Solutions. "Partnering with developers like Silicon Ranch helps us meet customer sustainability goals, improve the Valley carbon position and drive positive economic impacts in the communities we serve."
On behalf of City of Maryville Electric, TVA, and DENSO, Silicon Ranch will fund, construct, own, operate, and maintain each of the four solar power plants for the long-term, a disciplined and differentiated approach the company takes with every project it develops.
"Silicon Ranch takes great pride in our role as a trusted local partner to help TVA and local power companies like City of Maryville Electric deliver value to the customers and communities they serve," said Luke Wilkinson, Senior Vice President of Project Development at Silicon Ranch, a Maryville native whose family has been in the local community for seven generations. "The customer-centric approach of City of Maryville and TVA reflects the best of public power, and DENSO's sincere commitment to sustainability has helped expand our own meaningful investments here in Tennessee. Silicon Ranch is proud to contribute to this special partnership."
If you're interested in working at a company committed to sustainability while transforming mobility and growing careers, see opportunities at https://densocareers.com/.
About DENSO
DENSO is a $45.1 billion global mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in its 198 facilities to produce electrification system, powertrain system, thermal system, mobility electronics, & advanced devices, to create jobs that directly change how the world moves. The company's 167,000+ employees are paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents, and preserves the environment. Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO spent 9.0 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022. For more information about global DENSO, visit https://www.denso.com/global/en/.
In North America, DENSO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs 27,000+ engineers, researchers, and skilled workers across 51 sites in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs 17,700+ employees across 14 states (and the District of Columbia) and 41 sites. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, DENSO in North America generated $9.5 billion in consolidated sales. DENSO is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion inside the company and beyond – a principle that brings unique perspectives together, bolsters innovation, and pushes DENSO forward. Join us, and craft not only how the world moves, but also your career: densocareers.com. For more information, go to https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/
About the City of Maryville
The City of Maryville is a municipality in Blount County, Tennessee serving over 30,000 residents and 3,000 commercial and industrial customers. Citizens elect a five-member City Council which directs a professional City Manager to attend to the City's daily business – performed by more than 300 people who have dedicated their careers to public service. Drawing from the wisdom of 225 years of history, city leaders guide the city's policies and form innovative partnerships to offer the best options for our community. For more information visit www.maryvillegov.com
About Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
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 of 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.
About Silicon Ranch Corporation
Founded in 2011, Silicon Ranch is a fully integrated provider of customized renewable energy, carbon, and battery storage solutions for a diverse set of partners across North America. The company is one of the largest independent power producers in the country, with a portfolio that includes more than five gigawatts of solar and battery storage systems that are contracted, under construction, or operating across the U.S. and Canada. Silicon Ranch owns and operates every project in its portfolio and has maintained an unblemished track record of project execution, having successfully commissioned every project it has contracted in its history. In recognition of its holistic approach to land management, which the company has trademarked Regenerative Energy®, Silicon Ranch was named 2020's "Most Forward-Thinking" company by Solar Power World. In 2021, Silicon Ranch acquired Clearloop, which helps businesses of all sizes reclaim their carbon footprint with a direct investment in building new solar projects while expanding access to clean energy. Nashville-based Silicon Ranch pioneered utility-scale solar in the state of Tennessee and remains a market leader, with more than 50 solar projects across the Tennessee Valley. To learn more, visit siliconranch.com, regenerativeenergy.org, and clearloop.us. Follow Silicon Ranch on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Knoxville Sunflower Celebration set
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Thousands of blooming sunflowers will be showcased at Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area (FRWMA) during the fifth-annual Knoxville Sunflower Celebration Saturday, July 9th from 9 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, who owns and manages FRWMA, plants multiple fields with sunflowers once every two years and invites visitors to learn more about land management and habitat restoration as they wander through a sea of yellow flowers.
Touring the celebration is easy! Visitors can take a free shuttle from Tennessee School for the Deaf, 2723 Island Home Boulevard. Shuttles will run continuously from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. Limited parking is available at Ijams Nature Center and the Ijams Quarries. Parking for people with disabilities is designated within the FRWMA off McClure Lane. No other parking will be permitted within the FRWMA during the celebration.
New this year are guided group bike rides to the celebration. Printshop Beer Company will lead a ride at 10:30 a.m. from their brewery at 1532 Island Home Avenue. Riders should arrive at 10:15 a.m. and be advised that, while the ride to the sunflowers is relatively easy, there will be some hills going both ways. Cycology Bicycles will lead a ride from Sutree Park at 1001 Waterfront Drive Southeast, rolling out at 9 a.m.
Additionally, Kickstand Community Bike Shop and Two Bikes will offer loan bikes to celebration goers who want to tour the sunflowers along the Will Skelton Greenway which borders the sunflower fields. Kickstand and Two Bikes will be set up in the first parking area inside the FRWMA.
Guided tours of the sunflower fields are set for 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. leaving from the shuttle drop-off spot in the center of the fields.
Food trucks will be located at the Ijams Quarries and sunflower gifts will be available in the Ijams Nature Center Gift Shop.
Celebration goers are reminded to bring water and to wear comfortable walking shoes. They are also reminded that the weather determined how much and when the sunflowers will bloom.
The Knoxville Sunflower Celebration is presented by Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, Legacy Parks Foundation, Visit Knoxville, City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation and Ijams Nature Center.
More information is available at legacyparks.org or by calling Legacy Parks Foundation at (865) 525-2585.
Where’s Waldo? scavenger hunt returns to Downtown Knoxville
Knoxvillians might have wondered, “Where’s Waldo?” over the past couple of summers. For the first time since 2019, the sneaky literary character will be hiding inside downtown merchants in his signature stripes, the Downtown Knoxville Alliance has announced.
The fifth annual scavenger hunt is happening July 1-31 with a record-number of merchants participating. More than three dozen downtown shops, restaurants, museums and other organizations will display a cutout of Waldo. All players need to do is pick up a passport at a participating business, which can be identified by a window cling at the entrance, and ask for a passport stamp once they find the fellow in black-rimmed spectacles. The free Knoxville Trolley will help participants explore the city and collect stamps.
“We are excited to welcome Waldo and thousands of players back to Downtown Knoxville this summer,” said Michele Hummel, executive director of the Downtown Knoxville Alliance. “In 2019, more than 5,000 people participated, and we are anticipating even larger crowds this summer as families explore the area and enjoy all the fun along the hunt.”
Steadfast seekers who collect 20 or more stamps can enter to win Waldo books from Union Ave Books. Players are encouraged to pose in front of the Where’s Waldo? photo op in Market Square, and those who share their scavenger hunt memories using the hashtag #foundwaldoknox on social media will have weekly chances to win gift cards from the winner’s choice of participating businesses.
Candlewick Press, the publisher of Where’s Waldo?, partnered with the American Booksellers Association to establish scavenger hunts across the country. The event encourages residents and visitors to view cities with fresh eyes, which are needed to spot Waldo! Union Ave Books is the host location of Knoxville’s search and started collaborating with neighboring businesses in 2016. The event took a pause due to pandemic protocols.
For more information about Where’s Waldo? and other happenings in Downtown Knoxville, visit downtownknoxville.org/waldo.
“Waldo isn’t the only thing you’ll find on the hunt,” Hummel said. “Visit vendors at the Market Square Farmers’ Market, check out a book at Lawson McGhee Library, cool off with a sweet treat and experience Downtown Knoxville during July. We appreciate the business owners and employees who make this scavenger hunt not only successful, but also a magical memory for families.”
About the Downtown Knoxville Alliance
Ensuring a vibrant, flourishing downtown is the primary mission of the Downtown Knoxville Alliance (DKA). Formed in 1993 as a Central Business Improvement District (CBID), the district encompasses a 0.67-square-mile area and is supported by a special assessment to property owners that is used to make improvements, enhance services and promote downtown. The DKA continually focuses on attracting and retaining a thriving community of residents, businesses and visitors in Downtown Knoxville. For more information, visit downtownknoxville.org.
University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services brings supply chain support to manufacturers
Nashville, TN, June 30, 2022 – The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS) is introducing CONNEX™ Tennessee, a new program recently launched that is designed to strengthen the local and domestic manufacturing supply chain.
CONNEX™ Tennessee is a powerful online manufacturer database and connectivity platform provided as a no-cost resource for Tennessee manufacturers. It’s designed to help manufacturers connect with each other, find local and domestic suppliers, explore production capabilities, and manage their supply chain such as identifying single supplier risks and finding opportunities for diversification.
“The UT Center for Industrial Services is always looking for ways to help Tennessee manufacturers achieve their goals,” explains UT CIS Executive Director Paul Jennings. “We see CONNEX™ Tennessee as a great resource to help our state’s manufacturers mitigate supply chain risks, become stronger and grow.”
CONNEX™ Tennessee is also supported by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry whose President and CEO Bradley Jackson said, “For manufacturers, the pandemic demonstrated just how vulnerable supply chains are. Many manufacturers are now searching for ways to domestically or locally develop supply chains to protect their operations from additional supply chain disruptions. We hope that Tennessee manufacturers will be a part of the CONNEX™ Tennessee program which can help solve some of these problems.”
To help manufacturers develop more reliable supply chains and find alternate suppliers, the CONNEX Tennessee platform will help manufacturers identify potential suppliers within the state based on their capabilities, not just current production. Results can then be filtered using hundreds of unique criteria such as equipment, processes, materials, certifications and more to meet a manufacturer’s specific needs.
In addition, disruptions to existing supply chains have resulted in shortages of materials and inputs to manufacturing processes, which is hampering productivity and profitability of Tennessee manufacturers. CONNEX Tennessee will offer manufacturers the ability to post requests for information (RFIs) and requests for quotes (RFQs) for such items in the platform's B2B Exchange Center to which qualified suppliers may directly respond to the post with their capabilities and availability. These platform features will help Tennessee manufacturers quickly find the materials and inputs they need to meet their productivity and profitability objectives, while improving supply chain robustness for downstream manufacturers as well.
The CONNEX Marketplace technology was developed several years ago by i5 Services to connect the U.S. manufacturing supply chain. It’s now being used by manufacturers and suppliers across the country to connect with each other and find new business opportunities. Tennessee is the seventh state to roll out the CONNEX Marketplace™ platform, joining Missouri, Kansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan and Utah. In each state, the platform is managed by a MEP center to provide a coordinated approach to outreach and direction for users.
“We are thrilled to have UT CIS and the Tennessee Chamber sponsor and support CONNEX Tennessee,” said President and CEO of i5 Services Alan Davis.. “It’s a sign of their strong leadership and commitment to the Tennessee manufacturing industry which is one of the pillars of the Tennessee economy.”
Free registration for Tennessee manufacturers and suppliers will begin on June 22, 2022 when the platform officially launches. In the meantime, more information can be found at: https://www.cis.tennessee.edu/connex-tennessee/connex-tennessee-faqs
About the University of Tennessee's Center for Industrial Services
UT CIS, an agency of the UT Institute for Public Services, is a member of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network™. The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing. It’s focused on helping small and medium sized manufacturers generate business results and thrive in today’s technology driven economy.
About Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry
As the Tennessee affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Chemistry Council, the Tennessee Chamber works today with its national and state business allies to maintain a strong, healthy business climate in Tennessee for companies to grow, to profit, to expand and to hire.
About CONNEX Marketplace by i5 Services
Founded in 2009, i5 Services develops solutions to significantly improve complex technical processes among various industries. They are working to connect the U.S. and global manufacturing supply chain into a single platform, which will solve many of the world’s supply chain issues. Called CONNEX Marketplace, this online platform connects manufacturers and suppliers into an accurate, searchable supply-chain database allowing Primes, OEMs and governments to post their needs and quickly find suppliers based on deep data such as equipment, certifications, capabilities and more. For more information, visit: www.ConnexMarketplace.com
Savings from solar energy at Nokian Tyres’ Dayton Factory equivalent to one million miles driven, two million pounds of coal
DAYTON, Tenn. – In the first half of 2022, Nokian Tyres saved the energy equivalent of one million miles driven or two million pounds of coal by using solar power at its North American production factory. It’s the latest example of the impact the tiremaker has achieved through commitment to one of its core values, sustainability.
Nokian Tyres’ three-megawatt solar panels fully power the administration building at its Dayton, Tennessee campus and power a portion of production, which is ramping up to full capacity. In the first half of 2022, that solar energy helped the Dayton Factory conserve the equivalent of:
1,074,469 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle
2,024,350 pounds of coal, or
55,313 gallons of gasoline
The solar panels have produced more than five million kilowatt-hours of energy since monitoring began in 2021, an average of 10,300 kilowatt-hours per day. That amounts to savings equivalent to more than 11,000 pounds of coal each day.
“Sustainability is a core value of our company, and our production facility is a strong example,” said Nokian Tyres Dayton Factory EHS Manager Darren Bakkestuen. “We remain committed to minimizing our environmental footprint while making safe, sustainable tires at a world-class facility.”
The Dayton Factory is the only tire production facility in the world to earn LEED v4 Silver certification. The administration building on the production campus earned LEED v4 Gold certification last year. The latter is fully powered by energy generated by onsite solar panels and features employee amenities such as a sauna, gym and canteen.
Last October, Nokian Tyres received the Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award, the highest sustainability honor in the state, for its extensive environmental efforts in Dayton. And the Chattanooga Regional Manufacturers Association awarded Company of the Year honors to Nokian Tyres in 2021 as a tribute to its workforce impact, safety policies and sustainable practices. The tiremaker is a member of the Natural Treasures Alliance of Thrive Regional Partnership, an organization that supports responsible growth in the Greater Chattanooga region.
The company makes sustainability a priority in its products, too. Nokian Tyres was the first tire company to remove high-aromatic oils from its tire compounds, and around 90 percent of its tires are in the lowest categories of rolling resistance, helping reduce emissions and maximize fuel efficiency.
Nokian Tyres began producing tires at the Dayton Factory in 2020 to better serve its customers and craft tires tailored to the needs of North American drivers. At full capacity, the Dayton Factory will produce nearly 4 million tires per year. The company employs approximately 350 workers at the facility.
To learn more about Nokian Tyres’ presence in Southeast Tennessee, visit NokianTires.com/DaytonFactory. For more information about the company’s commitment to eco-friendly practices and products, visit NokianTires.com/Sustainability.
Cherokee Health Systems joins national initiative to support climate resilient communities and decarbonize health care sector
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- Cherokee Health Systems (CHS) joined the Biden Administration for a White House event on June 30, 2022, with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where CEO Parinda Khatri, PhD and industry colleagues pledged meaningful action to decarbonize the health care sector and make health care facilities more resilient to the effects of climate change.
Cherokee Health Systems has committed to meet the Biden administration’s climate goal of reducing emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and is already taking steps to reduce its climate impacts. The White House event will offer a sector-wide display of cooperation between Cherokee Health Systems, its private sector peers, and federal health systems.
Cherokee Health Systems recognizes that climate change and the reduction of carbon-intensive practices must be addressed as part of comprehensive efforts to protect human health, well-being and equity. CHS has reduced carbon emissions with its support of a hybrid work-from-home model, especially for clinicians who live at some distance from their primary clinical location. CHS stopped the practice of mailing registration packets to all new patients, which has reduced paper use and waste. Most CHS clinics also have a system in place to recycle plastic, aluminum, tin, and cardboard, and CHS considers carbon-reduction and energy efficiency during all new construction and remodeling projects as well as purchases of day-to-day operating supplies.
Dr. Khatri stated, “As a community health center, we see first-hand the disproportionate impact of climate change on populations who are under-resourced and historically marginalized. Addressing climate change is important in our mission to improve the health and well-being of people we serve. For Cherokee Health Systems, joining this pledge acknowledges our commitment to health equity and good stewardship of our precious resources.”
In September 2021, 200 medical journals named climate change the number one threat to global public health. Millions of people living in the United States already experience associated harm —with disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged and underserved communities—through more frequent and intense periods of extreme heat, wildfires, flooding, vector-borne diseases and other factors that worsen chronic health conditions.
The Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE), part of HHS under the Assistant Secretary for Health, developed the health sector climate pledge in conjunction with the White House to help focus industry response to climate change. In addition to reducing their carbon footprint, signatories also commit to producing detailed plans to build climate resilience for their facilities and the communities they serve.
The June 30, 2022 White House event included leaders from companies and organizations representing hundreds of hospitals and numerous health centers, as well as pharmaceutical companies, medical device-makers, suppliers and group purchasing organizations. The health care sector accounts for approximately 8.5 percent of U.S. domestic climate-warming emissions.
“Public health decisions have to be based on the realities of climate change, and we all need to do more to make that happen at the national level,” said ADM Rachel Levine, the Assistant Secretary for Health. “We’re seeing right now what extreme temperatures and more severe storms can do to human health, environmental quality and our physical infrastructure. It’s great to see so many different companies and organizations come together to decarbonize and become partners in protecting human health from climate change. Today’s announcement is just the beginning of a longer ongoing effort with partners from across the medical sector, which is exactly the kind of big response we need as a country.”
For more information about how Cherokee Health Systems is responding to our nation’s climate challenges, visit Climate Network Organizations - National Academy of Medicine (nam.edu).
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: South College opens new campus in Pittsburgh
