Category Archives: Uncategorized

The latest edition of Expansion Solutions magazine has an article titled ‘Aviation’s growth is on the Horizon‘ that confirms the importance of having a skilled workforce and developing local assets.

Today, I am in Louisville participating in the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) conference.  Great opportunity to network with developers and retailers!

I remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday: “State ‘Dashboard’ Still in Works” post on  www.tnreport.com gives an update on an effort to allow a quick, easy view of how Tennessee is progressing.  

I talked about using QR Codes in economic development marketing (as well as other technology) at the Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association (MTIDA) Annual Economic Development Seminar yesterday. QR’s are worth a look as a tool in any marketing, whether it is … Continue reading →

Site Selection magazine has an article “Governors Flock to BIO Convention” that talks about some states’ focus on attracting biotechnology companies.  Tennessee has some great assets for biotechnology firms such as world-class research institutions and a hospitable business climate and it … Continue reading →

I will be doing a session at the Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association (MTIDA) Annual Economic Development Seminar this Friday called “Geek-onomic Development: Technology Tools to Make You Look Cool.”  I have been doing a little work today freshening up … Continue reading →

SCORE Conference Accents Connection Between Education, Economic Growth

Bon Aqua, Tennessee’s Diamond Gusset Jeans makes the case for buying just a little more American-made products on Facebook.

The Startup America Partnership is an independent, private-sector coalition of major corporations, advisors, funders, service providers and mentors working to dramatically increase the prevalence and success of American entrepreneurs. The Startup America Partnership is focused on bringing the private sector … Continue reading →

Nashville, Tennessee named #3 on list of next big boom towns in United States in Forbes magazine article: “The Next Big Boom Towns in the U.S.” by Joel Kotkin.  Hickman County is in the Nashville/Davidson County Metropolitan Statistical Area.

YouTube of StartUp Tennessee announcement: .

CNBC reports on June job numbers.

U.S. Commercial Service offers assistance to businesses looking to expand their market into another country.  An excellent start can  be found in their market research website, www.buyusainfo.net, where you can find specific information on countries with potential markets for U.S. companies.

Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty announced the launch of Startup Tennessee, an initiative to encourage entreprenuership and to support start up businesses in Tennessee.

Some of those who incredibly inflate job creation numbers should take a warning from this, but most economic developers did not deserve the negative story NPR is now apologizing for: “Planet Money Misfires on Local Economic Developers.”  Thanks to Jeff Finkle, IEDC … Continue reading →

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development released the labor force estimates and unemployment rates for Tennessee counties today.  The total labor force estimates and the portion looking for work for Hickman County and its surrounding counties can be found at … Continue reading →

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is trying to spread the word to businesses who suffered losses in the recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding about TEMA’s Disaster Recovery Centers and the services that are offered in the centers. When … Continue reading →

The National Banana Pudding Festival will be held in Hickman County on October 1, 2011. The events leading up to the NBPF have begun such as the Hickman County Banana Pudding Cook-off.

Consensus from last Sunday’s family reunion:  Lots of stuff has changed over the years, but kids (and adults) still love to wade a creek on a hot summer day. Lots of creeks in Hickman County.

ECD Team Members to Lead Regional “Base Camps” and Recruit Companies to TN NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner (ECD) Bill Hagerty today announced the selection of eight new regional directors as part … Continue reading →

“Industry Puts Heat on Schools to Teach Skills Employers Need” on WSJ.com presents a problem that I hear from existing industry – entraints into the workforce do not have the skills employers need and the mass of baby boomers are … Continue reading →

When you work alone, it’s great to  call on Henry V for a little motivation:

“Moving back to America: The dwindling allure of building factories offshore” in The Economist magazine is a good article about the leveling of the playing field in location decision analysis for manufacturing industrial site selection. Especially for goods manufactured for … Continue reading →

The Tennessee General Assembly has passed tort reform, Governor Bill Haslam’s Tennessee Civil Justice Act of 2011. The bill will put reasonable limits on damages courts can levy on businesses for plantiffs. One of the components to help make Tennessee … Continue reading →

The past few weeks remind me of a novel I read a couple of years ago by Joshua Ferris called Then We Came to the End. There are a lot of uncertainties orbiting the certainty of change. Out of that change is coming … Continue reading →

Tennessee General Assembly House Finance Committee delayed a bill that seeks to require Amazon.com to collect sales taxes on its in-Tennessee sales. Committee Chairman Charles Sargent vowed to revisit the issue in 2012.

Okay, this isn’t a new notion here, but using technology, the Internet and social media is a great tool for retailers to become more competitive and profitable. “Even smallest retailers must make digital plunge” in The Tennessean, discusses how customers … Continue reading →

Amazon decreases the likelihood of establishing nexus in Tennessee with its announcement of three more distribution centers: “Amazon raises stakes with 3 more centers” – Chattanooga Times Free Press