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The Knoxville Chamber recognized the best of the best in business at the third annual Pinnacle Awards on April 27, 2006 at the Knoxville Convention Center. The awards honored recipients in six business categories and two individual categories. The categories recognize the range of businesses that make up the thriving Knoxville economy, and honor contributions to business enterprise and the greater community.

Mike Edwards, President & CEO of the Knoxville Chamber, recently wrote a column that appeared in the Knoxville News Sentinel on Sunday, March 11. The column speaks to the economic risks associated with Tennessee’s low educational standards. It also discusses the constitutional requirement that the state provide an adequate education, and concludes that if Tennessee provides that “adequate” education we can confidently face the economic future.

Knoxville Chamber is pleased to announce a new partnership with the US Chamber of Commerce that allows our small business members to get some fantastic benefits. Through this new relationship – known as the Federation Partnership – the Knoxville Chamber’s small business members will receive tons of information, small business toolkits, discounts and other resources through a restricted-access website for no additional cost.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation recently opened the new extension of Hall of Fame Drive in downtown Knoxville. This new section of roadway will provide westbound traffic with easy access to downtown while work continues on the realignment of James White Parkway.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently announced a new education initiative. This is an important step in identifying strategies to improve education.

The U.S. Chamber is leading business on education issues. But, chambers and other business organizations across the county – including the Knoxville Chamber – are now focusing on improving education too.

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.”

This was the good news delivered by Pam Fansler, Chair of the ChamberÂ’s Board of Directors at the 2006 Annual Meeting.

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.

Independent consultant Dr. Sharon Younger, president of Younger Associates, told Jobs Now!investors that during the last three years, the region created 20,511 net new jobs. That is 112% of the anticipated achievement rate at this point in the program. The five-year goal is 35,000 net new jobs.

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.

Sumikin Bussan Corporation also operates a steel processing facility in Berea Kentucky known as the Kentucky Steel Center, Inc.

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.

The new company is expected to be operational by the first quarter of SYSCOÂ’s fiscal year 2008 and will serve restaurants, hospitals, schools, colleges, retirement homes, hotels and other foodservice operations in eastern Tennessee and portions of Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, the company stated in a national media release today. Due diligence is currently underway, including geotechnical and environmental studies.

National Partitions and Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale broke ground on the companyÂ’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.

“I’m thrilled that they are coming here and excited about their potential for growth in Knox County,” said Mayor Mike Ragsdale. “This is a great company coming to a great community.”

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.

The greater Knoxville area - branded nationally as the Innovation Valley - just joined the elite list of America's ten hottest places to do business.

The ranking appears in the "Hottest Cities" poll in the January-February issue Expansion Management magazine, a trade journal read by some 50,000 business decision makers worldwide. Knoxville ranked ninth among the nation's 362 metropolitan regions. Rankings reflect the opinions of prominent business location consultants who advise companies about where to expand or locate their companies.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is now ranked 38th among the nation's 50 top-tier universities by U.S. News and World Report's 2006 college and university rankings.

The magazine's 2006 annual report, released today, marked the third consecutive year that UT has climbed in national standings and the first time in history it had been ranked among the top 40 public universities. This year's higher education study showed UT as tied for 38th place, up from 44th place last year.

Biotechnology, a promising new industry now hotly pursued by economic developers across the country, is making inroads in Tennessee.

Business Facilities magazine has ranked Tennessee the 18th best state to locate a biotechnology business. The national publication is read by some 50,000 business decision makers here and abroad.

A leading national business publication now recognizes the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley as one of AmericaÂ’s best places for business opportunities.

The “Five-Star” ranking, which appears in Expansion Management magazine’s 2005 Mayor’s Challenge, indicates that the region’s business climate is in the top 20 percent of the nation’s 362 metro areas.

Enhanced program will strengthen Innovation Valley and grow economy

Through a new public-private partnership, the University of Tennessee's College of Engineering will build a $37.5 million electrical and computer engineering building and make program enhancements that will boost its international prominence and attract top-notch professors, students and researchers. The improved program will also strengthen the areaÂ’s engineering workforce and contribute to the growth of technology based companies.