Economic Progress/Innovations and Lifestyle also Attractive toStudents

ERI Economic Research Institute has announced that Knoxville, TN is the best place in the U.S. for recent college graduates. The ranking is based on salary and cost of living data that shows that those entering the workforce have a higher standard of living in Knoxville than any other location.

“I am proud of the many accomplishments of the Chamber during the last year. We increased our membership and provided even better member services. We have had some tremendous economic development successes. We have improved our communications, and our financial position is solid.”

Jobs Now!, a private and public initiative to support economic growth in the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley, reported solid progress toward its aggressive five-year goals in its annual report June 20.

The Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley just improved its national ranking from 17th to fifth in the nation in Forbes magazine's annual business rankings. Based upon performance in eight key categories, the Knoxville metro area outperformed all other Tennessee cities in overall rankings.

Mayor Mike Ragsdale, executives from Tennessee Steel Center, Inc. – a subsidiary of Sumikin Bussan Corporation a leading Japanese steel processing corporation – and the Knoxville Chamber announced the location of the company to Eastbridge Business Park in Mascot, TN. The company will create thirty new jobs and build a $5 million, 40,000 square foot facility at the East Knox County location.

The Knoxville Chamber recognized and celebrated the business community Friday evening during the Pinnacle Awards at the Knoxville Convention Center. “Emeralds and Ice” was the theme of the black-tie, marquee event sponsored by Regions Bank where six awards were presented to four businesses and two individuals who have made significant contributions to the Knoxville area business climate and community. Visit pinnacle.knoxvillechamber.com to learn more.

SYSCO Corporation (NYSE: SYY) plans to invest $34.2 million at the I-275 Business Park in a distribution facility that will employ more than 300 people, Mayor Bill Haslam announced today.

National Partitions and Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale broke ground on the company’s new manufacturing site today. The new manufacturing facility is located in located in WestBridge Business Park. The building will be 120,000 square feet and the company anticipates hiring 300 employees.

The Knoxville Chamber is committed to focusing on education and helping to ensure that businesses have the workforce necessary to compete in the global economy. Our regional and national economic leadership is at risk. If we do not dramatically improve education – focusing on the skills that make us innovation leaders – other nations will continue to out perform us academically and will eventually out perform us economically.

Protein Discovery, Inc., a privately held life sciences company, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to celebrate the opening of its new downtown Knoxville laboratory and office. Located on the second floor of Knoxville's historic Phoenix Building at 418 South Gay Street, the new facility provides needed space for the company's imaging mass spectrometry operations, research and development labs, and administrative offices.