An up-to-$500,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Education and Telehealth Access Fund was closed Thursday with the Appalachian Council for Innovation (ACI) to be used toward the development of space-based broadband service in southwest Virginia. VCEDA was appropriated $500,000 in the Virginia state budget during FY2022, “for initiatives intended to expand education ...

By Scott Robertson The state of Tennessee just did our region an injustice. In a move that’s been in the works long enough to have hired Brad Paisley to record a video hyping it, the Tennessee Department of Tourism announced it is offering $2.5 million in $250 vouchers to travelers who will stay for two nights in a Tennessee hotel, if they fly into Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis or Nashville. That’s in the ...

“If you’re not making money in this market, you’re doing something wrong.” by Don Fenley The local real estate industry has a case of pandemic fatigue. While the rest of the economy was savaged by Coronavirus lockdowns, real estate saw unprecedented growth. The market is still robust, but there is a complication. Skyrocketing material costs, supply chain issues and labor shortages are to builders in today’s ...

by Scott Robertson Sometime in July, you’ll start seeing stories in the local media about the economic contributions of recreational fishing in northeast Tennessee. They will be very real business stories with ties to tourism, the environment and the quality of life in the region. They will also be promoted by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The TVA is making what appears to be a charm initiative this summe ...

If the current construction timetable holds, schools in Washington and Sullivan counties in northeast Tennessee will be at least partially powered by a new 9-megawatt solar farm by the end of the year. Silicon Ranch, BrightRidge and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at the newly christened Martin Solar Farm in northwest Washington County June 8. “Probably around November ...

The Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association honored the tourism industry’s top performers June 3 during the 24th Annual Pinnacle Awards at MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center hosted by Visit Kingsport. Ranked by a panel of judges within the tourism industry associated with the Southeast Tourism Society, 36 Pinnacle Awards were given to the top entry in each category.  The event al ...

Above: Tennessee State Representative David Hawk and First Tennessee Development District Executive Committee Chair W.T. Daniels. Photos by Dave Ongie By Dave Ongie For a brief moment on Wednesday morning, it appeared that a vote by the First Tennessee Development District (FTDD) executive committee supporting the formation of a privately funded regional economic hub would be delayed once again. A vote was ...

Howard Broadfoot Electro-Mechanical Corporation (EMC) announces the promotion of Howard Broadfoot to President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective June 1, 2021. Broadfoot has served the Bristol, Virginia-based company since late 2009, most recently as Chief Operating Officer (COO), and assumes the role from Russell Leonard, who is retiring from the company following nearly 35 years of service. “I ...

Above: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee speaks at the Elizabethton/Carter County Legislative Breakfast, which was held at the Elizabethton TCAT campus last Friday morning. Photo by Dave Ongie By Dave Ongie, News Editor When Tennessee Governor Bill Lee took his turn at the podium during the Elizabethton/Carter County Legislative Breakfast last Friday, his message was loud and clear. A new day has dawned in the st ...

Domtar’s Kingsport Mill made its entry into the containerboard market official on Friday with a groundbreaking ceremony held at Cloud Park in Kingsport, Tenn. The event was led by Domtar’s CEO, John Williams, and featured a number of local, regional and state officials. “This is an exciting day for the Kingsport mill and for Domtar, and we are glad to celebrate it in the company of many of those who are mak ...