Knoxville Chamber Existing Industry Program Receives “Critical Business Partner” Award
The Knoxville Chamber Existing Industry Program, serving the Knoxville/Knox County area, has been recognized at the Synchronist Users’ Forum in Chicago, IL Oct. 6th, for its positive impact on existing businesses.
The “Critical Business Partner” award, given by Blane, Canada Ltd., is in recognition of the important role economic development organizations play for businesses and the community. Eric Canada, a principal with Blane, Canada Ltd., made the presentations at the recent users’ conference in Chicago.
“Relationships don’t just happen. It takes effort and commitment,” noted Mr. Canada. “The Knoxville Chamber EIP has demonstrated that commitment and produced exceptional results for both employers as well as the Innovation Valley Inc. area. In these difficult economic times, these relationships are even more important. When the economy turns around, the employers already in the community will generate between 74 and 86 percent of the new jobs as well as capital investment by businesses in Knoxville.”
The Knoxville Chamber EIP received this top honor in an annual award competition among economic development organizations throughout the US and Canada.
“Global business pressures have never been greater. The Knoxville Chamber’s proactive work insures that companies in Knoxville have access to all possible resources thereby insuring the health of the portfolio,” according to Canada. How important is this work? Canada notes that, “without aggressive, proactive work, growth will be easily lost as competitors in the US and elsewhere attract new business.”
The Knoxville Chamber Existing Industry Program is part of the Innovation Valley Inc. initiative that began July 1, 2008.The program is managed by Charley Gray, a loaned executive from the Knoxville Utilities Board.
The Synchronist Users’ Forum is North American’s largest cooperative of development professionals. Forum participants share ideas and best practices to improve strategies, tools, and practices for existing business portfolio management.
Blane, Canada Ltd., Wheaton, IL is the industry leader for existing business portfolio management tools. The Synchronist Business Information System® software is the industry standard, used by hundreds of development organizations throughout the US and Canada. It is made available in the Innovation Valley through a partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority.