Quarterly Newsletter
Community Stakeholders Report - Quarter One - 2021
Clay Walker, CEcD - CEO
Email: cwalker@networkstn.com
Website: linkedin.com/in/clay-walker-cecd-67bbb18
Location: P.O. Box 747 Blountville, TN 37617
Phone: 423-279-7681
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NETWORKStn/
Twitter: @ClaytonRWalker
From the Desk of the CEO
From moving dirt on a new industrial site to NASCAR’s return to clay at BMS, there’s been plenty of opportunity to get dirty lately
As I was growing up, my dad always joked about me that if there was a mud puddle to be found, I would find it. He wasn’t wrong. I seldom came into the house for supper with clean clothes. I was reminded of that recently when a friend’s warning kept me from stepping into a puddle as we walked through a parking lot. Then again as BTES hosting a groundbreaking for its site development in the Bristol Business Park in March. That event came on the heels of my dodging puddles (I managed to sidestep most of them) to get into Bristol Motor Speedway so that I could witness NASCAR’s return to dirt track racing.
We also saw Eastman in the news once again, breaking new ground when it announced it would invest $250 million to build one of the world’s largest plastic-to-plastic recycling facilities at its Kingsport plant. The project will convert polyester waste into a durable product as part of its circular economy approach, supporting the company’s commitment to addressing the world waste crisis and mitigating challenges created by climate change. The initiative will create about 80 new jobs.
Speaking of turning good environmental stewardship into good business, work began on Domtar’s retrofit as the Kingsport facility converts from paper to recycled containerboard production. The company announced the ambitious project in December which represents a $350 million investment and will keep 150 jobs in Northeast Tennessee.
Just up the road from Eastman and Domtar, Kingsport’s Bays Mountain began celebrating its 50th year as a city park, launching a website with loads of information about the park and all the ways the city will be marking the milestone throughout the year.
Other groundbreaking news in this quarter’s newsletter include: East Tennessee State University launching its research corporation, which will be led by former NETWORKS Board Member and retired Eastman VP David Golden, Tennessee High School, and JA Street Construction partnering on an apprenticeship program, and First Tennessee Development District unveiling two initiatives – an aggressive campaign to expedite COVID-19 vaccinations through a $500,000 grant from Blue Cross/Blue Shield and a regional Wages and Benefits Survey, supported by NETWORKS and other economic development organizations throughout Northeast Tennessee.
Our team has continued partnerships with the FTDD and NeTREP in existing industry outreach, we convened our Workforce Development Committee – which had been sidelined by pandemic restrictions – and continued our participation with Tennessee Economic Partnership (TEP) with virtual consultant visits. And we are all looking forward to all of these activities can be discussed face-to-face and not on our computer screens.
Whenever that day comes, we will be ready to get out there, roll up our sleeves, and do whatever it takes to get the job done. We’ve never been afraid to get a little dirty.
In The News...
Clearing Land: Officials host groundbreaking celebration at Bristol Business Park
Bristol, Tennessee leaders, and Bristol Tennessee Essential Services executives broke ground Wednesday morning on two pad-ready sites in the Bristol Business Park.
“When you and I look around, we see the beauty of our region, with this park nestled in the hills of Northeast Tennessee,” said Erin Downs, chairwoman of BTES board of directors. “But when a future industry owner looks at this site, they see time and money.”
BTES purchased the 50-acre property along state Route 394 in 1997 with the intention of creating a site designed to minimize costs and risk for developers by implementing infrastructure with water, sewer, gas, electricity, and fiber optics.
“It’s easy to look at a day like this when we turn some dirt over with some shovels as the beginning of a new endeavor,” said Mayor Mahlon Luttrell. “In reality, it takes a tremendous amount of investment, trust, and hard work just to get to this point.”
Domtar's Kingsport mill is positioned to live another 100 years
Domtar’s Kingsport mill has been downtown since 1916, and its conversion from fine paper to containerboard production will keep it here for another 100 years.
That’s what mill manager Troy Wilson is saying as the conversion is going as planned to be complete by the first quarter of 2023.
How is the conversion going?
“We’re on schedule and maybe slightly ahead,” Wilson said. “Part of the conversion that is taking place right now is the demo, preparing the site to bring in some new buildings and warehouses and making room for those.
“All the equipment for the conversion has been purchased and is on its way. In fact, some of it is already starting to arrive.”
Why is Domtar bullish on containerboard?
Wilson noted the COVID-19 pandemic has put Domtar in a position to grow its containerboard business.
“Containerboard is a growing business,” he stressed. “It grows at about 2% per year. The pandemic has just sped that up. People are working from home and ordering online. Everything comes in a box. We’re going to be 100% recycled. I see it growing further as we move along.”
Tennessee High forms pre-apprenticeship program with J.A. Street and Associates
Tennessee High School and J.A. Street & Associates signed a partnership agreement Tuesday for a state-certified pre-apprenticeship program.
The agreement ensures that students who meet the requirements of the course standards, complete the NCCER and OSHA10 Construction Industry Certification, and have successful attendance and discipline records will be guaranteed an interview with J.A. Street. The company is the first construction company to take advantage of a “pre-apprenticeship pipeline” to meet their growing workforce needs, according to a news release.
A signing ceremony for the first student to enter the program, senior Luke Worley, was also held. He was hired by J.A. Street and is earning hours toward the four-year Registered Apprenticeship Program from his NCCER and OSHA10 certifications as well as actual work hours during his Work-Based Learning course.
Eastman, Gov. Lee announce plans to build new plastic-to-plastic molecular recycling facility
Eastman Chemical Company Board Chair and CEO Mark Costa and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee today announced the company’s plans to build one of the world’s largest plastic-to-plastic molecular recycling facilities at its site in Kingsport, Tenn. Through methanolysis, this world-scale facility will convert polyester waste that often ends up in landfills and waterways into durable products, creating an optimized circular economy. Over the next two years, the company will invest approximately $250 million in the facility, which will support Eastman’s commitment to addressing the global waste crisis and to mitigating challenges created by climate change, while also creating value for its stakeholders.
Utilizing the company’s polyester renewal technology, the new facility will use over 100,000 metric tons of plastic waste that cannot be recycled by current mechanical methods to produce premium, high-quality specialty plastics made with recycled content. This process of using plastic waste as the main feedstock is a true material-to-material solution and will not only reduce the company’s use of fossil feedstocks but also reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20-30 percent relative to fossil feedstocks. Click here to read more
Noland announces launch of the ETSU Research Corporation
East Tennessee State University President Dr. Brian Noland announced on Jan. 25 the launch of the ETSU Research Corporation. “With all of the many opportunities in our region to establish partnerships, innovate, and help drive prosperity, I feel strongly that ETSU should play an even greater role in this effort,” Noland said. “As such, today I am happy to announce that we are repurposing the ETSU Research Foundation and launching the ETSU Research Corporation with David Golden as our CEO. The Research Corporation will have a greatly expanded role to connect, convene, and create across our campus and our region. It will be a dynamic and forward-thinking partner as we work to enrich the region and impact the world.”
Noland added that an overarching goal of the corporation is to enrich a culture of research on campus and support the faculty by creating partnership opportunities and assisting in innovation and economic development in northeast Tennessee.
Throwing gas on fires
“We have world-class faculty at ETSU,” Golden said. “We may not always tell that story very well outside of our region, but we do. Part of the purpose of the research corporation is to find out what they’re working on and throw gasoline on it. If there’s anything we can do to help them interconnect and be the face that brings opportunities to them, especially from the business community, that is part of what we want to do.” Click here to read more
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Gives Vaccinations a Shot in The Arm with Grant
A grant totaling $541,700 has been awarded to the First Tennessee Development District Foundation (FTDD) from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Foundation (BCBSTF) which will accelerate vaccinations in Northeast Tennessee soon. The grant will pay for three mobile vans to speed vaccinations to rural areas.
“We are extremely pleased in the support of shown by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee to save lives by making vaccinations in our region more accessible,” says Lottie Ryans, Director of Workforce Development for the FTDD. “The effort to apply for the grant has been underway since vaccinations first became available to the public and will help us serve remote and potentially underserved communities.”
BCBSTF awarded the grant based on the FTDD Foundation’s emphasis on both a public service campaign to encourage everyone eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination and an imaginative plan to mobilize three teams of health professionals to visit locations where travel or access to mass vaccination locations may not be as accessible. These include mobile vaccination sites in Carter, Hancock, Hawkins, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan, and Washington Counties. Click here to read more
Celebrating 50 Years of Adventure at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium
BMS Spring Race #ItsDirtBaby
Regional Wage & Benefit Survey Now Live
Socially speaking
AEP - Economic & Business Development Manager
WELCOME!
AEP has named Whitney Czelusniak manager – Economic & Business Development for its Virginia and Tennessee area, effective March 22, 2021. In this role, based in Roanoke, VA, Whitney will promote the AEP-Appalachian Power region to new customers, assist our growing existing customers, and assist our external economic development partners to achieve their goals.
Website: https://aeped.com/czelusniak-named-economic-business-development-manager/
Upcoming Meeting - Networks Sullivan Partnership Executive Committee Board Meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
Wednesday, May 12, 2021, 08:00 AM
undefined
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Michael Parker - Director of Economic Development
Email: mparker@networkstn.com
Website: linkedin.com/in/michael-parker-5179115a
Location: P.O. Box 747 Blountville, TN 37617
Phone: 423-279-7193
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NETWORKStn/
Twitter: @FIRST_to_WORK
Abby Mease - Administrative Assistant
Email: amease@networkstn.com
Website: www.linkedin.com/in/abby-mease-1b69a98
Location: P.O. Box 747 Blountville, TN 37617
Phone: 423-279-7680
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NETWORKStn/
Twitter: @AbbyatNETWORKS
Ronnie Price - Economic Development Specialist
Email: rprice@networkstn.com
Phone: 423-279-7681