Crossville to play host for Creative Community Summit

CBJ Admin
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Registration now open for statewide series to focus on retiree recruitment NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced today that registration is open for the Spring Creative Community Summits “Turning Visitors into Neighbors” to be held Wednesday, May 29, at the Palace Theater in Crossville, and Thursday, May 30, at Bryan College in Dayton. The overall theme for communities attending the all-day summits will be retiree recruitment and will feature an assortment of experts discussing key factors in recruiting retirees such as housing, retail, downtown development and touris... click here to read more

Putnam celebrates ‘Industry Appreciation Month’

CBJ Admin
Friday, Apr 26, 2013
The Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, along with Putnam County and its cities, is celebrating Industry Appreciation during the entire month of May. These partners urge all citizens of Putnam County to join in saluting local businesses, industries, and their employees for their many contributions to the community and region. “With over 100 diverse industries in Putnam County generating over 5,300 jobs, the significance of our industries and their impact on our quality of life is incredible,” said Chamber Board Chairman Ottis Phillips. “In honoring these pillars of our community, we hope citizens throughout Putnam County will join us in recog... click here to read more

Cookeville chamber sets date for 6th annual membership golf tournament

CBJ Admin
Saturday, Apr 20, 2013
COOKEVILLE – The Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce’s 6th annual golf tournament will tee off Friday, May 24. The event will take place at the Cookeville Golf Club, 1500 Country Club Road. “In addition to serving as a fundraiser for the chamber to help with its many programs, this tournament offers chamber members the opportunity to build existing relationships as well as make new ones while in a fun, casual atmosphere,” said James Massengille, chamber golf tournament chairman. “It is always a great event to be involved in, and I am looking forward to serving as this year’s chairm... click here to read more

J. Cumby to remodel former Regional Health facility at TTU

CBJ Admin
Thursday, Apr 18, 2013
COOKEVILLE – Cookeville-based J. Cumby Construction has been chosen to help revitalize the former Upper Cumberland Regional Health facility located on the campus of Tennessee Tech University (TTU) at 200 W. 10th St. The building, which has been renamed Southwest Hall, will now house administrative offices as well as an on-campus daycare center. The mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems are all being replaced, and the renovation also calls for new architectural finishes to the 25,000 square-foot facility.

“We're honored to provide construction services for Tennessee Tech,” said Justin Cumby, o... click here to read more

Committee ID’s two finalists Crossville chamber job

Liz Engel Clark
Wednesday, Apr 17, 2013
CROSSVILLE – Members of an executive committee tasked with hiring the next executive director of the Crossville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce met this week to rank the top two candidates for the position.

The committee, which got together Tuesday, has narrowed the paring down, first from an initial 16 applicants and more recently from seven finalists, but is not sharing the names of its top two candidates at this point to allow for the opportunity to contact those who applied. An announcement is expected, however, early next week, and the committee is targeting June 1 as the start date for the new president, committee chair Brad Fox wrote in a memo.

The searc... click here to read more

Highlands meeting highlights successes

CBJ Admin
Friday, Apr 12, 2013
HIGHLANDS – More than 100 community leaders and investors from Jackson, Overton, Putnam and White counties came together Tuesday, April 9, at the Leslie Town Centre to celebrate and highlight the progress of the second phase of the Highlands Initiative, a collaborative, public/private sector program designed to boost economic and community development in the four-county region. Highlands steering committee chairman Bob Bell kicked off the meeting by acknowledging regional growth in tourism, new industry recruitment, breakthroughs in education and success in local health care, all areas directly impacted by programs of the Highlands Initiative.

The agenda for the meeting was... click here to read more

WOW Festival this weekend at TTU

CBJ Admin
Friday, Apr 12, 2013
The fifteenth annual Window on the World (WOW) Festival will take place Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The WOW Festival is an international festival celebrating cultural diversity and global harmony. We now live in a world where instant communication is the norm. This connects us in ways we never imagined even just a few years ago. Because we now live in such a small world, tolerance between people and cultures is essential. The theme for this year is "Celebrations." The WOW Festival celebrates cultural differences such as food, dress, dance, music while celebrating similarities. We are all people with the same needs, wants and ambitions who have just grown up in d... click here to read more

Upper Cumberland Business Accelerator undergoes rebranding

CBJ Admin
Friday, Apr 12, 2013
UC Success Now and Roane State Community College were awarded funding last year through the Governor’s LaunchTN Business Accelerator Program. After initial success, Roane State has decided to turn the accelerator over to the newly formed Upper Cumberland Entrepreneurial Foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit group focused on building an entrepreneurial economy in the Upper Cumberland area of Tennessee. The board of directors and staff recently made the decision to rebrand both the foundation and the accelerator as part of a new marketing campaign to highlight the assets of the program. Formerly known as UC Success Now, the business accelerator will now be called The Biz... click here to read more

Staycation Expo returns for second year

CBJ Admin
Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013
CROSSVILLE – The term staycation may be nothing new, but a Cumberland County event scheduled for Saturday, April 20, may give attendees some fresh ideas for vacations in their own backyard.

The annual Staycation Expo, which will highlight “breathtaking destinations, unforgettable attractions and events on the Cumberland Plateau” – all within a day’s drive – will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Fairfield Glade Conference Center, 128 Stonehenge Drive, Fairfield Glade. This year’s theme is “relax, refresh, revitalize.”

... click here to read more

Despite snags, Highlands gains ground

Richard Lawson
Tuesday, Apr 2, 2013
The Highlands Business Park has had a hard year so far. Bad weather and other issues delayed the park’s completion. And in March, the Cookeville City Council had to approve a $1.2 million change order, which increased the park’s overall construction cost.

But those issues haven’t deterred marketing efforts on the park. Officials already regularly include the park in “requests for information” when those arrive.

In March, officials offered up the entire park or individual parcels in response to requests, according to Melinda Keifer, Cookeville’s director of economic and community deve... click here to read more

CRMC board names Korth to top position

CBJ Admin
Tuesday, Apr 2, 2013
COOKEVILLE - Cookeville Regional Medical Center’s board of trustees voted unanimously Feb. 28 to name Paul Korth, a 24-year veteran health care leader and administrator, the hospital’s chief executive officer. Korth came to CRMC almost 14 years ago as the chief financial officer. He has had many significant milestones in his career including successfully managing the financial aspects of operating the 247-bed Cookeville Regional while also having responsibility for a large number of hospital departments and services. For the past four months Korth has served as the medical center’s interim CEO in addition to continuing his responsibilities as CFO... click here to read more

TN beer tax rate distasteful to craft brewers

Richard Lawson
Tuesday, Apr 2, 2013
Tennessee has the highest tax on beer in the country, an inglorious distinction according to craft brewers and beer distributors across the state. Both groups say the high tax on beer harms the state’s competitiveness in the craft beer industry and hinders the ability of a burgeoning Tennessee industry to grow more.

During the state legislature’s current session, craft brewers, including Calfkiller Brewing Company in Sparta, and distributors have been trying to change that. They have been pushing legislation to reform the beer tax to help foster growth in the craft brewing business.

“Basically, we&rsq... click here to read more

Highlands Medical Center set to begin renovations

Richard Lawson
Tuesday, Apr 2, 2013
Sparta’s Highlands Medical Center is taking the next step in its parent company’s year-old partnership with Saint Thomas Health. Next month, Highlands Medical, owned in a joint venture with Franklin-based Capella Healthcare and Nashville-based Saint Thomas, will begin significant renovations at the hospital to expand and improve service.

Bill Little, the medical center’s chief executive officer, said the renovations would cost $1.3 million to $1.5 million to complete. The renovations are expected to be finished by mid summer, Little said.

“The community supports us very well,” he said. “We are setting records on volume and these renovat... click here to read more

Viewpoint: Maternity leave leaves much to be desired

Liz Engel Clark
Tuesday, Apr 2, 2013
In my mind, the perfect maternity leave included cuddly storytimes, mid-afternoon walks at Dogwood Park and easily made excursions to the Cookeville Children’s Museum. Instead, it’s pure survival mode filled with late night (or is it early morning?) feedings, endless diaper changes and exercise that’s been reduced to hallway pacings with a colicky newborn. Who knew one could exist on such little sleep? But even before I got to this point – months and months before my daughter arrived – I lost even more z’s over my planned maternity leave, shuffling a stash of cash away and agonizing over the million-dollar question of exactly how much... click here to read more

Viewpoint: The state of the health care industry: who knows?!

Jay Albrecht
Tuesday, Apr 2, 2013
By now, just about every American has heard of “ObamaCare” and the possible benefits or consequences of this massive piece of legislation first signed into law back in 2010. Formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, few people in the know can argue that it doesn’t have its good points, such as gradually eliminating pre-existing conditions exemptions that insurance companies lean on all too often, helping to set affordable standards by which more Americans can purchase quality health insurance, and the emphasis on providing preventive care to people who otherwise may not be able to afford such services on a regular basis.

... click here to read more

TN Legislature considers wide range of business issues

Richard Lawson
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2013
The Tennessee Legislature has been busy this session dealing with a wide variety of business-related topics, despite a limit for the first time on the number of bills each legislator could submit.

With the Republican supermajority in place after November’s election, several hot-button partisan issues re-emerged, including guns in trunks and a constitutional ban on a state income tax. But there have been bipartisan issues to deal with as well, featuring wine in grocery stores which was killed in a House committee but has been seemingly revived in a Senate committee. Another is talk of reforming the state’s beer tax, which could help Tennessee’s growing craft beer ... click here to read more

Legislative wrap-up: House Republicans push to lower sales tax on groceries

CBJ Admin
Friday, Mar 22, 2013
A brief synopsis of all the ongoings in the Tennessee General Assembly, as submitted by Rep. Kelly Keisling (R-Byrdstown). NASHVILLE - A bill that seeks to lower the sales tax on groceries from 5.25 percent to a flat 5 percent passed the House finance, ways and means subcommittee this week with unanimous support from Republican lawmakers. House Bill 193, which is part of Gov. Bill Haslam’s legislative agenda for the year, would take effect July 1.

This year’s legislation builds on the law adopted by Republicans in 2012 that lowered the sales tax on food from 5.5 percent to 5.25 percent. In total, the sales tax reduction this ... click here to read more

Museums, volunteers add community value

Liz Engel Clark
Friday, Mar 15, 2013
LIVINGSTON – It’s one of the oldest counties in the region and much of its history is laid out in a line of exhibits that draw both an equal share of locals and tourists alike.

The Overton Heritage Museum has expanded much over its brief 10-year existence. And the woman behind the scenes seems to have as deep of roots as much of the county itself.

“This is the town to be in if you like history,” said Paula Swallows Stover, museum director, while leafing through a notebook display listing the county’s veterans. “My dad was World War II. And my family’s been here since before the county was a county.... click here to read more

TDEC looking for feedback

CBJ Admin
Friday, Mar 15, 2013
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is currently soliciting feedback from small businesses to identify obstacles that they face in their attempts to comply with environmental regulations and leverage resources to provide tools that would help small businesses understand how to achieve and maintain compliance.

A small business, for this purpose, is any business that does not have a full-time staff member solely dedicated to environmental compliance.

The survey has 10 questions and takes about 15 minutes to complete. Unless the businesses self-identi... click here to read more

Sink or swim? Port feasibility study could start this spring

Liz Engel Clark
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013
GAINESBORO – A key study that will help determine the viability – and ultimately the future – of a renewed deepwater port initiative in Gainesboro could get started this spring.The port project, an ongoing effort in this small Jackson County town, seems to be on the move once again after nearly a year of stagnation. The latest news came almost 12 months ago, when a feasibility study – to determine the port’s viability and possible economic impact – was first commissioned. While securing funding for that study took time, earlier this year, Susan Elkins, Tennessee Tech’s vice president for extended programs and regional development, who ini... click here to read more

CoLinx planning Crossville expansion

Liz Engel Clark
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013
CROSSVILLE – A Crossville company eyeing a $9 million expansion is getting a little help from the city and county in its endeavor.CoLinx, a shared services provider for industrial manufacturers, has proposed a 210,000-square-foot expansion to its main Crossville distribution facility, located off Interstate 40 at 1536 Genesis Road. That expansion will include a $6.5 million investment in new building construction and $2.5 million in warehouse equipment. But the company first needed commitments from both city and county to help move the project forward. It got both those promises in February.The city of Crossvi... click here to read more

Viewpoint: Going postal: Time to privatize?

Liz Engel Clark
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013
It must be the end of the world as we know it. With the February announcement that Saturday mail service could cease, did the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) actually make a move that most people like?When it was first reported – a proposal that’s been discussed for what seems like forever but will likely go into effect this August – USPS, which has been heavily chastised in recent months for bleeding money like a stabbing to the jugular vein, seemed to get an approval rating burst. About six in 10 favored the change, and getting 60 percent of people to agree on anything seems pretty impressive in my mind – he... click here to read more

Cookeville Regional names new CEO

Jay Albrecht
Friday, Mar 1, 2013
Cookeville, Tenn. – Cookeville Regional Medical Center’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously tonight to name Paul Korth, a 24-year veteran health care leader and administrator, the hospital’s chief executive officer.

Korth came to Cookeville Regional almost 14 years ago as the chief financial officer. He has had many significant milestones in his career including successfully managing the financial aspects of operating the 247-bed Cookeville Regional while also having responsibility for a large number of hospital departments and services. For the past four months Korth has served as the medical center’s interim CEO in addition to continuing his res... click here to read more

Flexial celebrates new project, expansion

Liz Engel Clark
Thursday, Feb 28, 2013
COOKEVILLE – NASA's next goal is to put man on Mars, and a Cookeville company - one that's looking to more than double its workforce over the next few years - could have a hand in ultimately making that mission a success. Flexial, a maker of welded bellows for aerospace, defense, industrial and commercial applications, played host to a number of key representatives from both the Marshall Space Flight Center, where that Space Launch System (SLS) is being developed and tested, and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, which built that rocket's J-2X engine, last week. Those officials were on hand to tour Flexial's Gould Drive facility, where local engineers are creating a specialty part tha... click here to read more

2013 construction outlook strong, builder says

Liz Engel Clark
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013
UPPER CUMBERLAND – For those in the construction industry, 2013 is expected to be a year dominated by news of new hires and an increase in project demand. At least that seems to be the trend thus far for one Cookeville firm, J. Cumby Construction, one of the youngest established companies in the Upper Cumberland region. Owner Justin Cumby expects growth if by no other industry indicators than his own. Besides announcing a pair of new employees over the past few weeks, J. Cumby recently relocated its Cookeville office to the city’s historic West Side, 165 W. Broad St., next to Herron Glass and Mirror. The new dig... click here to read more

Committee whittles Crossville chamber search to seven

CBJ Admin
Tuesday, Feb 26, 2013
CROSSVILLE - More than a dozen applications have been received for the presidential vacancy at the Crossville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce.According to Brad Fox, chair of an executive committee tasked with hiring the replacement for long-time leader Beth Alexander, 16 applications were received, a mixture of candidates from outside of Tennessee, across the state and locally. After reviewing those forms, the list was narrowed to seven.Individual letters will be sent to those who will not be moving forward in the selection process, he said in an ... click here to read more

Gainesboro industrial building hopes for second lease on life

Liz Engel Clark
Friday, Feb 22, 2013
GAINEBORO – From the outside, it looks like any other empty industrial building. But the structure, located at 615 N. Murray St. in Gainesboro, with its blue and white striped exterior and interior wide-open floor plan, has undergone some extensive repairs inside. The ultimate goal is to find a suitable match for the space and help bring new jobs to this Jackson County town.

Owner Mark Schumacher, who started the fix up last April, is hoping to either lease or sell it. The building, at one time, housed his business, Old World Woodcrafters, which he brought to Gainesboro from Florida back in 1991. During its heyday, Old World designed more than 2,000 country club projects &n... click here to read more

Cookeville-Upper Cumberland Career Fair set for Feb. 26

CBJ Admin
Thursday, Feb 21, 2013
COOKEVILLE – Companies are hiring again. That’s good news for all of us – and perhaps the first glimmer of an economic recovery in the new year in the Upper Cumberland region. But the first major step in such a recovery is connecting potential employees with employers.

In light of these recent developments, the JOBS Ministry of the Cookeville First United Methodist Church (CFUMC) is hosting The Cookeville-Upper Cumberland Career Fair from noon-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26. This event will bring together employers looking to hire, resources from the community to help in the quest... click here to read more

Expert speakers highlight 2013 Home & Garden Show agenda

CBJ Admin
Friday, Feb 15, 2013
COOKEVILLE – The Upper Cumberland Home & Garden Show will be held Friday-Sunday, March 1-3, at the Hyder-Burks Agriculture Pavilion in Cookeville. Presented by the Home Builders Association of the Upper Cumberland (HBAUC), the three-day event is filled with exhibits and speakers related to the latest trends in home building, remodeling, decorating and landscaping.

Since the kitchen is truly the “Heart of the Home,” one area will be completely devoted to cabinetry, cookwa... click here to read more

WCTE to welcome Corporation for Public Broadcasting CEO for annual dinner

Liz Engel Clark
Thursday, Feb 14, 2013
COOKEVILLE – WCTE-TV will welcome Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) president and CEO Pat Harrison as the guest speaker for its third annual dinner event, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the Leslie Town Centre, 1 W. First St., Cookeville. Harrison, who has served as CPB’s CEO since 2005, is a former Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, appointed to that position by then-Secretary of State Colin Powell. She’s also an author (“A Seat at the Table,” “A Guide for Women Leaders”), founded the National W... click here to read more