2022-2023
Annual Report

As the Knoxville area becomes an increasingly desirable location for individuals to live and work, the Path to Prosperity strategic vision continues to guide the Knoxville Chamber team. Our mission is to drive regional economic prosperity by creating a vibrant, innovative ecosystem that fuels business growth and attracts elite talent.

This is a snapshot of the progress your investment made in our efforts:

Business Expansion

270+ existing business visits

20% first-time engagement rate

56 ribbon cuttings

Infrastructure

Increased participation in Advance Knox
  • Hosted three Advance Knox input sessions to increase the business community and young professional participation in the county’s integrated land use and transportation plan. Released issue brief to the public encouraging additional participation and stressing importance of the process.
Participated in KAT Reimagined
  • Encouraged participation in KAT Reimagined study, which will impact how the KAT bus network could be run differently within its existing budget, with a shift toward routes with higher frequencies with less overall coverage.
Concluded eKnox Pilot Program
  • Reported nearly fifty participants receiving fifteen hours of classroom instruction over five weeks, increasing their digital literacy, giving them access to low-cost broadband internet options, and providing them with a discounted Chromebook. The program will now be transitioned to community partners.

Business Climate

Coordinated D.C. Fly In
  • Alongside Blount Partnership, took local business leaders to Washington D.C. to meet with the offices of Senator Blackburn, Senator Hagerty, and Congressman Burchett to advocate for pro-business policies on workforce, housing, and childcare.
Supported the Transportation Modernization Act
  • Publicly supported the passage of Governor Lee’s Transportation Modernization Act, which seeks to accommodate Tennessee’s record growth, address traffic congestion, and meet transportation needs across rural and urban communities.
Connected business leaders to elected officials
  • The Governor’s Luncheon, the Regional Legislative Breakfast, Capitol Connections, a three-part series with local legislators, and Shrimp Boil: Peelin’, Eatin’ & Politickn’ served as opportunities to advocate for business.

Talent

Hosted Knox County Workforce Summit
  • Partnered with Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs to host a workforce summit, focusing on employer concerns from a legal perspective, hiring and retention successes, and the resources available through workforce service providers in the area.
Performed five talent attraction campaigns
  • Advertising campaigns were conducted geographically in Atlanta, Washington D.C., Lansing, and the Bay Area, and a fifth campaign was performed targeting workers impacted by the tech layoffs in multiple geographic areas. The campaigns garnered over 3.6 million impressions and brought over five thousand visitors to the LifeRedefined.com website.
Developed internship consulting program
  • Began offering complimentary internship consulting to create meaningful opportunities for both the businesses and the future workforce. The service assists with developing new internship programs and reevaluating existing internship programs in Knoxville.

Entrepreneurship/Small Business

Announced 865 Opportunity Fund with Pathway Lending
  • Partnered with Pathway Lending to announce the 865 Opportunity Fund, a $6 million dollar fund generated by First Horizon, Pinnacle Financial Partners, and Regions Bank, which will provide loans between $5,000 and $50,000 to eligible small businesses in the 865 area code.
Announced Fund Tennessee with State of Tennessee
  • Partnered with the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development to announce Fund Tennessee, which seeks to provide small business owners and entrepreneurs equitable access to the capital they need.
Integrated entrepreneurship into The 865 Academies
  • Advocated for entrepreneurial mindset to be included in the overall mission of The 865 Academies. Hosted two programs to inform the business community about their opportunities for involvement with Knox County high schools.

Highlights

Released Transitioning Knoxville’s Economy for the Imagination Age
  • In an effort to prepare Knoxville for the next industrial revolution, the Knoxville Chamber released a report focusing on four primary areas: increasing average annual pay, attracting high-wage talent, attracting high-growth companies, and growing the local civic furniture. In addition to the strategic plan, this document will guide the Chamber’s activities and decision-making.
Released 2023 Knox County Innovation Report
  • This report, which will be published every-other-year, is designed to measure Knoxville’s innovation progress using a myriad of data and rankings.  The goal is for the community to make decisions and take actions that result in it quickly improving the numbers that are identified in this report, thus increasing its economic prosperity.
Conducted intercity visit to Raleigh, North Carolina
  • The Raleigh Exploratory Task Force traveled to Raleigh to learn more about how their metro has expanded with relatively fewer growing pains than other areas. Specific topics highlighted included transportation, entrepreneurial support, postsecondary innovation, and a visit to Research Triangle Park.

Business Attraction

185 jobs created

$13.2+ million in capital investment

34 site visits

The Knoxville Chamber is committed to a robust economic transition of our area’s business ecosystem. We will continue to focus on expanding and attracting catalystic businesses and talent as we work with partners to align our work toward the greater good of the region.

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