The truth: a black notebook stuffed with paper.

Buyer beware.

A 24-year-old woman was scammed out of a $1,000 in the parking lot of a business on Wilma Rudolph Blvd.  The woman is from Nebraska and travels to the Clarksville area at the end of every month for business.

On July 28, a little after noon, she parked midway in row 10 of a business’ parking lot. As she got out of her vehicle, she was approached by a man who had exited from a grey Dodge Charger; there was a female sitting in the front seat of the Charger and an infant in a child seat in the back. He approached the woman and showed her a laptop.  He explained that his girlfriend is a manager at Best Buy and that he had gotten a great deal on some laptops like the one he had. But, now he needed the money more than he needed the laptops and said he would sell them to her for $350.00 each. He had four of them, each in an individual Fed Ex box in his car.  She accompanied him to his car, where he opened two boxes, and she saw what appeared to be two laptops. One was a black laptop with a Best Buy sales tag of $1999.99 and the other was a white Apple laptop with a $1999.99 price tag on it. Both were packaged nicely in plastic bubble wrap in Fed Ex boxes specifically made for shipping laptop computers.

Ordinary notebooks are diisguised to look like expensive laptops.

The woman called some of her friends and  they all wanted to buy one, so she bought all four of them for $1,000 in cash, on the spot. The scammer loaded them into the woman’s car and quickly left.  After the woman got back to her hotel, she discovered that the “computers” were actually several packages of notebook paper sandwiched between a black notebook binder and a white notebook binder.

Services such as the Better Business Bureau and consumer advocacy agencies advise consumers not to buy “off the truck” or from random, unknown people, especially in such unusual places as parking lots.

Scammers work quickly, with the intent of separating the victim from his money as quickly as possible. It is truly a case of “buyer beware.”

Citizens are encouraged to contact local police if approached with similar offers.

In the afternoon, the grand opening festivities continue with a festive fellowship hour, including refreshments beginning at 5:00pm. Candidates will be on hand with campaign information. Election material will be available. The public is invited to come out for both events. Bring a favorite side dish as a potluck gift. Volunteer opportunity information will be also be available.

For more information please contact: Gene Lewis, Chairman, Montgomery County Executive Committee, (931) 801-6209 or via email at wel750@yahoo.com. The party website is www.montgomerydemocrats.com

For those who have seen flashing blue lights in their neighborhood and want to know what was going on, the Clarksville Police Department has a new tool that accesses up-to-date crime statistics with the convenience and accuracy of an online map. With the CPD’s new partnership with CrimeReports and their National Crime Map at www.CrimeReports.com and the related iPhone app, residents can view color-coded statistics that date back as far as January 28th of this year.

“Providing reliable, timely information to our citizens is one of our top priorities,” says Chief Al Ansley. “And partnering with CrimeReports gives us the ability to keep the public informed on a regular basis as to what is going on in the community.” He added that the public can access the crime map 24 hours a day through the website or through the CrimeReports iPhone app, available for free download in the Apple iTunes store. The new service even lets local citizens sign up for free customizable email alerts, so they can stay on top of crime in their neighborhood.

“Information is power,” Chief Ansley added. “And we hope that giving the community this information will help them prevent crime in their neighborhoods.”  The following crimes are identified on Clarksville Police Department’s crime map: homicide, breaking and entering, robbery, theft, theft of vehicle, vehicle burglary (theft from a vehicle), sexual assault, assaults-simple or domestic, and assault with a deadly weapon (aggravated assault).  The data on the crime map is for the time-frame January 28, 2010 – Present.

“The Clarksville Police Department is a leader in law enforcement innovation,” says Greg Whisenant, founder and CEO of CrimeReports. “They are demonstrating their commitment to the community, to proactive policing, and fiscal responsibility.” The CrimeReports service only costs the Clarksville Police Department $99/month.

The Clarksville Police Department is joining a list of over 850 other law enforcement agencies of all sizes across North America such as; Baltimore, Boston, San Jose, San Francisco, Portland, Washington D.C., Los Angeles County, and more who are sharing their crime information with the public through the crime map.

To access the local crime map and sign up for daily, weekly, or monthly email crime alerts, visit www.CrimeReports.com or at the Clarksville Police Department’s website at www.clarksvillepd.org.

Many Montgomery County School children cannot afford lunch, much less basic school supplies, and studies indicate that the average teacher spends between $500 and $1,000 of his or her own money to buy supplies for their students.

Countywide, the school budget has been slashed dramatically and there is a great need for student and teacher support. The Teachers Warehouse provides a unique means to transfer donated, value purchased and created products from businesses and individuals free to teachers for use in school classrooms.

The Teachers Warehouse is a joint effort between the Montgomery County Education Foundation and Hands on Clarksville. The program helps bridge the gap between the great need and community resources. By contributing to Teachers Warehouse, donated supplies will help support needy Montgomery County classrooms through the free teachers store.

To support or donate to the Teachers Warehouse,  contact Rita Arancibia at Hands on Clarksville (931) 551-5450 or e-mail rita.arancibia@gmail.com.or Candy Johnson at (931) 920-7955 (e-mail Johnson at candy.johnson@cmcss.net).

NHK will spend nearly $54 million to construct the facility beginning in October 2010, and the facility is expected to employ up to 224 workers when all phases of production are implemented in 2015. “Tennessee continues to be a leading location for investment from the automotive industry,” said Governor Bredesen. “Our state’s longstanding trade and investment ties with Japan and this investment by NHK demonstrate a high level of confidence in our state’s business climate and the ability of Tennessee workers to compete globally in the areas of efficiency, productivity and quality.”

“We’re grateful to NHK for their investment in our state and their confidence in Tennessee workers,” said Commissioner Kisber. “ECD’s strong partnership with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and local elected officials was integral to making this project happen, and we look forward to working with Murfreesboro and Rutherford County in the future.”

NHK Seating of America is headquartered in Franklin, Indiana and has been in automotive parts production in the U.S. since 1987. Initial production at the Murfreesboro facility will be the manufacture of automotive seat frames, but company officials say they hope to expand the product line over time.

“I couldn’t be more pleased NHK has chosen to make this investment in Murfreesboro,” said Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg. “The company has a strong reputation for quality and reliability within the automotive industry, and they’ll be creating good quality jobs for our community.” “The success of this project is a testament to the strong working relationship between our Chamber, Destination Rutherford, Rutherford County, the city of Murfreesboro and the state of Tennessee,” said Norman Brown, chairman, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. “I believe NHK will be a strong addition to our growing roster of corporate citizens. NHK’s announcement comes as planning is underway for the annual gathering of business leaders from Japan and the southeastern U.S. in Nashville for the 34^th annual SEUS-Japan Association conference October 16-19. Japan is Tennessee’s largest investor nation and the state’s 4^th largest trading partner. More than 160 Japanese companies operate in Tennessee, representing $13 billion in capital investment and 35,000 jobs. Japanese customers purchased more than $1 billion in Tennessee goods and services in 2009. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to create higher skilled, better paying jobs for all Tennesseans. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. To find out more, go to www.tn.gov/ecd or www.investtennessee.org.

The conference will be held at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Nashville. The “In Harmony with Tradition and Innovation” theme will focus on clean energy technology as a catalyst of job creation, with an opportunity for high-level networking and showcasing the Tennessee culture. Attendees will gain a first-hand look at the historic Ryman Auditorium and the famed County Music Hall of Fame.

The Southeast U.S./Japan Association (SEUS-Japan) promotes trade, investment, understanding and friendship between Japan and eight member sates of the Southeastern United States: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Caroline, Tennessee and Virginia. Members are from both the private and public sectors. It’s Tokyo-based counterpart organization is the Japan-US Southeast Association, composed of Japan’s top business leaders and government officials.

To view the program, visit www.seusjapan2010.com.  To register as part of the Tennessee delegation, visit http://state.tn.us/ecd/BD_international_SEUS.html or call 615-663-6060.

Sherry Chris (far right, in white) congratulates the staff of Better Homes & Garden Real Estate Hometown Connection on their successful open house and new location. Photo by David W. Shelton

With the spirit of a neighborhood backyard barbecue, a dunking booth, and a fair amount of ice-cold bottled water, Better Homes & Garden Real Estate: Hometown Connection celebrated the opening of their new facility at 108 Centerpoint Drive. After outgrowing their previous location at Trenton Road and Wilma Rudolph Blvd. earlier this year, it became clear that with more than 70 agents, a larger office would be needed.

The open house also featured the company’s new mobile charcoal grill that’s geared for such large events. Several vendors were invited to participate, and all paid a nominal fee, which went directly to the Manna Café Ministry, a non-profit organization that works to feed the homeless. Manna offers food distribution to anyone who applies, plus a mean one night a week — Thursdays. An additional meal will be offered at separate location starting in August.

Joey Haley, Jr., who recently jointed the locally-owned Better Homes & Garden office, cited the innovative nature of the marketing model. “They are on the leading edge of real estate marketing,” he said. “Their network is unique in the way they reach out to customers.”Haley’s sentiment is not unique, however.

Maurice Vaughn, CEO of the local Hometown Connection franchise, echoed Chris’ remarks. “Better Homes & Garden is much more than ‘houses for sale,’” he said. “It’s a comprehensive brand strategy — a lifestyle brand.” The appeal to him for BH&G was not only the management of the company itself, but also in the wide appeal and brand recognition of the BH&G name. Vaughn also emphasized that the Real Estate market is a “relationship industry,” and built on service — which is emphasized at both the local and corporate level.

Sherry Chris, Better Homes & Garden Real Estate CEO (Submitted)

In fact, the marketing and outreach strategy of the company as a whole stems from the the leadership of CEO Sherry Chris, who was on hand for the franchise’s celebration today. “Once I got the invitation, I knew couldn’t miss it,” she said.

Such hands-on activity as an executive has helped guide the Real Estate brand of the popular Better Homes & Garden label from its infancy to a multinational corporation that spans 17 states and will soon open offices internationally. She also contributes to the “Clean Slate Blog,” a frequently-updated technology-related blog that’s straight from the company’s corporate center in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Chris’ goals for the company not only include clear growth plans, but a focus on outreach to recruiting younger Real Estate agents and tapping into the fast-growing technology sector for marketing. “The average age for Realtors is 50,” she said. “They’ll stay in the business for years. They don’t retire. They love it too much!” The company is actively looking to recruit younger “echo boomer” generation agents who fit within the demographic of 18-34 years of age. This is especially important since 1/3 of the nation’s population fits within this same demographic.

“It’s sometimes difficult for older agents to start out today,” Chris said. “The biggest issue that our many 50-plus agents find when they get into the business is that they must be tech-savvy.” In fact, the National Association of Realtors indicates that 90% of modern Real Estate customers begin their search online instead of with an agent.”

It’s a far cry from the days where the Realtor was the gatekeeper for specialized MLS listing information — which was not allowed to be given out — to the vast resources online that allow home buyers to search multiple databases, search engines, and listing systems. “Our role as Realtors has gone from being the ‘keeper of information’ to the ‘trusted advisers,’” Chris said. “In a time where we almost have too much information — I can even find the nearest Starbucks on my iPhone — we have to stay with technology.”

And stay with it, they do. In fact, BH&G recently launched a free iPhone app that allows home buyers to help organize their home search with location searches, photo filing, and ranking. “It’s already been downloaded more than 70,000 times,” Chris said. The corporate website is also very inclusive — providing a resource for various tips and services that all aide the homeowner long after they’ve settled into their new home.

Complete with a twitter account, Chris is the leading force for her company’s technological prowess. Her level of technological focus garnered her with an award on July 16th as the Inman Innovator of the Year, which cited the firm’s growth to more than 125 offices worldwide. On top of her own hands-on blogging, she also instituted social media boot camp classes for new agents. Not bad for a two-year-old company.

With the added benefit of the Better Homes & Garden brand, local agents and franchises are able to use that technology to market their services and homes using a database of 85 million magazine subscribers, including that of the popular Better Homes & Garden magazine, the flagship publication of Meredith Corporation, who also publish Parent, Family Circle, Home Journal, and Quilting magazines.

“If an agent wants to market to young families who might be looking for their first home, they can search for renters who read Parent magazine.” The agent, however, would not be privy to any private personal information — not even a name — and would just opt to send out the directed marketing to only those that fit the profile in their search query. Such a process is a much more consumer-driven and targeted marketing strategy than bulk postcard mailings.

Agents will continue to be relevant in the fast-changing Real Estate market, and Chris noted that they will offer what computer searches can not: first-hand knowledge of how the industry works, and most importantly, intimate knowledge of the community. “They’ll always be able to say why a certain neighborhood is popular, which schools are better, and why a property sold for a certain amount.”

Volkswagen AG Chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Governor Phil Bredesen, and ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber tour VW's Chattanooga facility on July 21.

Governor Phil Bredesen and ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber joined Volkswagen AG Chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn on a tour yesterday of Volkswagen’s $1 billion facility currently under construction in Chattanooga. The Tennessee tour marked Dr. Winterkorn’s first visit to the plant.  He was pleased with the construction progress and predicted the new midsize sedan would be a “great success” in the North American market.

Along with state and local officials, other members of Volkswagen’s Board of Management in attendance included Jochem Heizmann, Francisco Xavier García Sanz and Christian Klingler.  Rupert Stadler, chairman of the management board of Audi AG, also toured the Chattanooga facility.

A week ago Volkswagen marked the two-year anniversary of their announcement to produce a car designed specifically for the North American consumer in Chattanooga, investing $1 billion in the local economy.  In just a short time, the facility is more than 90 percent complete, more than 400 robots have been installed, and Volkswagen has spent over $686 million in local and Tennessee contracts.

Nearly 900 employees have been hired at the plant that will eventually staff more than 2,000. The as-yet-unnamed sedan will roll off the Chattanooga assembly lines in early 2011.

According to Bruce VerBurg, facility director of Wrigley Chattanooga, the company expects to begin producing LifeSavers in Chattanooga by the end of 2011 within its existing facility space, which will be optimized as the new production line is added.

The grants will fund a variety of energy efficiency and conservation programs in the local communities, including the installation and replacement of valuable energy-saving parts for a water treatment plant and retrofits of the lighting, HVAC system, windows and insulation of multiple city buildings. The EECBG program is projected to produce more than 92 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy savings annually, resulting in an estimated cost-savings of $8 million per year for Tennessee communities. In addition, approximately 149 jobs will be created by the 146 grants awarded.

A brief description of the four additional communities’ projects  and more information on the EECBG program in Tennessee is available at the ECD website at http://tnecd.gov/recovery/eecbg.html. Applications were scored on the local government’s overall conservation strategy, project feasibility, readiness to proceed, community impact, partnerships and the ability to extend funding impact beyond a one-time use.

Henry County’s Allegro Fine Foods has been recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) for its food safety practices. The company was certified in two GFSI standards-Safe Quality Food (SQF) 2000 and the International Food Standard (IFS) Version 5.

These certifications ensure that the company’s food safety and quality management system complies with international and domestic food safety regulations. This enables suppliers to help assure their customers that food has been produced, processed, prepared, and handled according to the highest possible standards, at all levels of the supply chain.

In addition to these certifications, Allegro is also expanding its production and warehouse operations by 30,000 square feet and will add a third shift, creating additional jobs in Henry County.

Work continues to progress on the state’s second largest Recovery Act funded project on I-40 at White Bridge Road in west Nashville.  This weekend, crews will close lanes on Interstate 40 in both directions near White Bridge Road to begin work on concrete foundations for new overhead sign structures.  Also this weekend, the I-40 eastbound ramp to White Bridge Road will be closed as crews install a storm sewer across the off-ramp.

The closures are as follows:

• Friday July 23, 8:00 p.m. through Monday July 26, 5:00 a.m. - the left lanes of I-40 eastbound and westbound will be closed to remove the median barrier rail and install a new overhead sign footing.

• Friday July 23, Saturday July 24 and Sunday July 25, 10:00 p.m. through 5:00 a.m. (EACH NIGHT) – I-40 will be reduced to one lane in each direction as crews continue removing the median barrier rail and installing a new overhead sign footing.

• Friday July 23, 9:00 p.m. through Sunday July 25, 6:00 p.m. – The I-40 eastbound ramp to White Bridge Road (Exit #204) will be closed for the installation of a storm sewer. Motorists will be detoured to 51^st Avenue (Exit #205).

The lane closures are part of the Interstate 40/White Bridge Road Interchange Modification Project, which will help improve traffic flow for motorists traveling eastbound I-40 to Briley Parkway and from Briley Parkway to westbound I-40.  The $32 million project is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and is scheduled to be complete in August 2011.

For more information on TDOT construction project activity visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/.  Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information or can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel information or www.twitter.com/Nashville511 for traffic information in the Nashville area.  Motorists are reminded to use all motorist information tools responsibly.  Drivers should refrain from texting, tweeting or using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle.  TDOT advises drivers to “Know before you go!” by checking traffic conditions before leaving for your destination.

Front row, CPD Chief Al Ansley presents Cumberland Bank and Trust President and CEO Ron Sleigh, and Vice President of Marketing Charlie Koon with their Crime Free Business certification. On the second step are District 2 Commander Rick Stalder and District 3 Commander Captain Craig Gipson.

Ron Sleigh, President/CEO said “Cumberland Bank & Trust is excited  to be a part of the Crime Free Business program and proud to be the first bank in Clarksville/Montgomery County to complete this program.  The Clarksville Police Department should be commended for their work with the Clarksville Community to promote safety in the work place.”

To receive the certification, the business had to meet the standards set by The International Crime Free Organization. Acquiring the certification entailed attending a two hour training program which gave the business the tools and techniques to set up a crime free business; development of written policies and procedures for the business to follow; developed ongoing training for employees, and successfully passing a crime free business inspection. CPD’s crime prevention officers worked and assisted the business owner every step of the way and helped him set up what could be considered a model program.

The Police Department has a series of Crime Free programs available which covers everything from businesses to personal residences. Crime cannot always be prevented, but, with citizens’ help techniques/tools/solutions can be put in place that can make it harder for the criminal element to conduct “their business.” Anyone interested in participating in one of the Crime Free Programs, contact one of Clarksville Police Department’s Crime Prevention Officers at 931-648-0656

The Family Campout will include an afternoon and evening of games as well as a hot dog dinner and breakfast.  Families will need to provide their own tent and sleeping materials. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Don’t miss out on your chance to sleep under the stars, pre-register by October 8 at the Parks & Recreation Main office located at 102 Public Square or any of our three community centers.

For complete details about the Family Campout, please visit us online at www.cityofclarksville.com/parks&rec/ or call 931-645-7476.

The  public is welcome to visit, tour the new office, and participate in games and giveaways. Inflatables will be available to keep children occupied. Refreshments will be served.

Clarksville Police Chief Al Ansley, addressing the Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, said “T-bone” crashes are down at site equipped with red light cameras.

Police Chief Al Ansley wants to put red-light cameras at two more intersections, he told the Public Safety Committee Wednesday, noting that T-bone crashes are down where cameras have been in use. Currently the city has  cameras installed at seven intersections. Redflex Traffic Systems installed the cameras in 2009 and has  monitored those cameras.

Ansley indicated that T-bone accidents dropped dramatically at camera-monitored intersections, with the most striking statistic coming from the Madison Street/Hwy 41/A & 76, where such crashes dropped from 16 to eight. That assumption does not hold true at Fort Campbell Boulevard and Tiny Town Road, however, where crashes escalated from four to 11, a rate attributed to pre-deployment numbers at Fort Campbell.

In addition, the impact of cameras on rear-end collisions show mixed results, with such crashes staying the same, increasing or decreasing depending on location.

To date the city has has garnered $304,214 in revenue from more than 13,000 citations issued, or just under half the total revenue collected by Redflex.

August rates will show an increase an average of $1-2 on a typical residential bill. A 1.5% fuel cost increase brings the total increases since March of more than 20%.

Adding the 1.5 percent fuel cost in August boosts the total increases since March 1 to more than 20 percent.

TVA’s  power is drawn from  coal, oil and natural gas and when prices of these fuels increase. The utility supplies power to nearly 9 million consumers in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.

The Kleeman Community Center will also hold a Senior Dance Saturday, August 21 from 3-5  p.m.   The event will feature a DJ and refreshments.  Admission is $2 at the door.

For more information on Senior events and programs, please visit us online at www.cityofclarksville.com or call 931-645-7476.

All proceeds will go towards funding the Mission Clarksville Program.  Please come out and purchase local, fresh, delicious, organic vegetables that are supporting a great cause!

Also, if you haven’t checked out our website lately, then you should read some of the blogs written by our youth.  We have posted about 30 blogs written by June and July D.I.R.T. Crews about their experiences this summer.  Just go to www.missionclarksville.org and click BLOGS in the top right hand corner.

In addition, if you want to learn more about our program, follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/missioncville or “Friend” us on Facebook : www.facebook.com/mission.clarksville .

Over 60 teams will be descending upon Clarksville in the coming week. Jay Patel, Chairman of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, is thrilled for the opportunity. “The economic impact from this tournament will be huge,” says Patel. “We estimate over $1 million in revenue.”

The next week, July 26-30, will bring another round of teams for the 16U and 18U tournaments. All games are open to the public. Admission will be charged.

The teams are playing at Heritage Park off Peacher’s Mill Road. The week long events will include fun activities for the players at night, an opening ceremony and, of course, lots of softball. The Convention & Visitors Bureau is looking for volunteers to assist with the opening ceremony on July 19, beginning at 3:00 p.m. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Channel Lemon at (931) 245-4346 or email clemon@clarksville.tn.us. The opening ceremony is free and open to the public.

For more information on the tournaments contact Channel Lemon at (931) 245-4341.  For a list of game times, locations and schedules visit clarksvillecvb.com.

ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber (left center) and Retire Tennessee program manager Ramay Winchester (center), along with representatives from the Retire Tennessee communities, accept a $15,000 grant from USDA Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode (right center).

NASHVILLE, TN: Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber today accepted a $15,000 business grant on behalf of the Retire Tennessee program from Bobby Goode, state director for the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. The grant will be used to advertise and promote Tennessee nationally as an attractive location for retirees and to support continuing education opportunities for Retire Tennessee communities.

“Retiree recruitment is a key component of many communities’ economic development strategies,” said Commissioner Kisber.  “I am grateful that USDA Rural Development recognizes our efforts to attract this population, and I look forward to the enhancement and national exposure that Retire Tennessee will gain as a result of this grant.”

In addition to providing advertising and promotional materials for the program, the grant will allow those Retire Tennessee communities located in rural areas of the state to have representation at the American Association of Retirement Communities’ (AARC) annual conference. The conference provides education on utilizing retiree recruitment efforts as an overall part of a state’s economic development strategy.

“Retirees bring a lot to the communities where they settle. They buy homes, pay taxes and increase the demand for many goods and services, which in turn creates good jobs,” said Goode.  “Just as valuable, they also bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience, resources that money can’t buy.”

USDA Rural Development and Retire Tennessee both recognize the impact retiree immigration can have on a market. There is great potential for the growth of industries such as housing, entertainment, banking, health services and food services as this population continues to grow.

Tennessee is one of just four states that have a formal program of work to recruit this niche population. Nine of the 11 existing Retire Tennessee communities will receive funding from the grant. These communities are: Cumberland, Greene, Hardin, Henry, Jefferson, Lincoln, Loudon, Putnam and Robertson counties.

For more information on the Retire Tennessee program, please visit RetireTennessee.org, or contact Ramay Winchester at (731) 423-5771 or ramay.w.winchester@tn.gov.

Governor Phil Bredesen and Margaret Spellings, executive vice president of the National Chamber Foundation, at a business roundtable hosted by Nissan North America at the company's Franklin headquarters on Monday, July 19.

NASHVILLE, TN: A report commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Chamber Foundation today lauded Governor Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber’s efforts to develop a business climate conducive to the creation of new jobs in Tennessee. The report, entitled “Enterprising States: Creating Jobs, Economic Development and Prosperity in Challenging Times” was highlighted during a roundtable involving Tennessee business leaders, Governor Bredesen, Commissioner Kisber and Margaret Spellings, executive vice president of the National Chamber Foundation.

The report specifically calls out strategies initiated by Governor Bredesen, like the Jobs Cabinet, as a unique approach to reducing bureaucracy and red tape for companies investing in Tennessee and spotlighted the Volunteer State as a success story in job creation, pointing to a one year period in which the state announced four $1 billion dollar projects creating 3,000 new jobs.

“I believe a key part of Tennessee’s success is the state’s willingness to take partisanship out of the equation when it comes to job creation,” said Governor Bredesen. “We’ve worked closely with members of the General Assembly from both sides of the aisle to create a business-friendly economic climate in Tennessee and that approach has yielded results.”

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber at a business roundtable hosted by Nissan North America at the company's Franklin headquarters on Monday, July 19.

“Aligning the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of Revenue behind a single strategy to attract jobs and investment to Tennessee has been a big differentiator for our state,” said Commissioner Kisber. “Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr has been a strong ally of our efforts and companies understand the importance of certainty when it comes to tax treatment of their capital investments.”

The comments came during a business roundtable hosted by Nissan North America at the company’s headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee.

In addition, the National Chamber Foundation report praised Tennessee’s use of targeted tax credits and identified the TNInvestco program as an “innovative approach” to developing venture capital to help grow Tennessee businesses. “The beauty of the TNInvestco program is that it provides tools for local funds to raise capital,” said Mark Schill of the Praxis Strategy Group, the company which compiled the report. “It also allows those local funds to use their expertise to make investments in Tennessee companies and allows government to stay out of the way and lets the free enterprise system generate economic growth.”

The report suggests manufacturing will continue to play an important role in Tennessee’s economy. Because so many of Tennessee’s manufacturers are exporters, the study’s authors estimate manufacturing exports support a total of 550,000 jobs in Tennessee and account for $27.5 billion in earnings. The economic sectors showing the fastest growth rate between 2002 and 2009 include medical equipment and supplies, concrete products and motor vehicle electrical and electronic equipment.

A full copy of the report is available at the National Chamber Foundation’s web site at http://ncf.uschamber.com/enterprising-states/