Review of 2009-2010 Economic Summit Focus Group Accomplishments

Presented by: Dr. Al SpritzerPresented by: Dr. Al SpritzerETSU College of Business and TechnologyETSU College of Business and Technology

November 4, 2010November 4, 2010

Strategic Areas:Livable CommunitiesInfrastructureBusiness DevelopmentHealth and MedicalTourism and Hospitality Education and Workforce

Focus Group: Livable Communities

Facilitators: Suzanne Kuehn and Dan Reese

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Livable Communities Focus Group

Grants obtained for Historic Marker Program for Downtown Johnson City and implementation begins.

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Livable Communities Focus Group

$212,000 grant secured for Clinchfield Depot Restoration Project.

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Livable Communities Focus Group

University Edge apartment complex begins with TIF assistance.

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Livable Communities Focus Group

Preliminary planning initiated for Johnson City’s Warehouse Commons project for flood control and recreation.

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Livable Communities Focus Group

Completion of State of Franklin Trail: ETSU to Downtown Johnson City.

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Livable Communities Focus Group

Washington County honored with a Level 2 Award by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence.

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Livable Communities Focus Group

Community Charette – January 25, 2010 focused on Downtown Redevelopment Planning.

Support of the South Side Neighborhood Association – Music in the Park concert series.

Established one new community neighborhood association and reorganized two neighborhood associations.

JCDA provides computer equipment for website development for downtown small businesses.

Focus Group: Infrastructure

Facilitator: Robert Reynolds

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Infrastructure Focus Group

Opening by Johnson City of the University Parkway Extension from West Market Street to Lamont Street.

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Infrastructure Focus Group

Preliminary engineering funded ($750,000) and design work is underway for I-26 interchange improvements at the Gray exit.

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Infrastructure Focus Group

New Kermit Tipton Stadium completed on Science Hill campus.

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Infrastructure Focus Group

Expansion of Johnson City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant from 2.25 MGD to 6.0 MGD at a construction cost of $24 Million.

$8 Million awarded from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 for local infrastructure stimulus projects.

Substantial completion of the Greggtownarea water project to serve 80 WashingtonCounty residents who were withouta dependable water supply.

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Infrastructure Focus Group

Washington County achieved a “Benchmark III” award from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, being one of only 11 Tennessee counties to achieve the highest Three-Star rating.

Washington County jurisdictions have received $150,000 in bonus funding from the Benchmark III certification.

Focus Group: Business Development

Facilitators: Todd Smith andJose Castillo

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Business Development Focus Group

Completed 2nd Annual “Will This Float?” program, an event which received Kaufmann Foundation recognition.

“Will This Float” won the Thomas Muehlenback award for Innovation in Local Government by the Alliance for Innovation.

Sponsorship of Entrepreneurial Week activities in November.

Maintained a Tri-Cities-wide entrepreneurial network.

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Business Development Focus Group

Completed the 2010 Washington County Retail Survey with over 600 respondents. This information will provide a strong basis to recruit new companies.

Peerless Center renovation accommodates new retailers.

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Business Development Focus Group

Johnson City Development Authority coordinated state-certified Main Street Program and sponsored downtown business development loan program for small businesses.

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Business Development Focus Group

Submitted Johnson City for ultra high-speed fiber network consideration.

Supported website identifying hotspots within the Tri-Cities.

Worked with community leaders to form the Washington County Economic Development Council.

Maintained Economic Summit website: www.economicsummit.org.

Focus Group: Health and Medical

Facilitators: Jenny Brock, Tony Benton and Jeff Bedard

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Health and Medical Focus Group

Celebrated the completion of the new Franklin Woods Community Hospital in Med-Tech Park; this project accomplishes the full build-out of major properties in Med-Tech Park.

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Health and Medical Focus Group

Continued to sponsor Johnson City’s “Up & At ‘Em” programs and annual “Turkey Trot” activity with over 2,200 Thanksgiving morning participants.

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Health and Medical Focus Group

300 kids participated in “Itty Bitty Bites” Kids Bluegrass Half Marathon.

Focus Group: Tourism and Hospitality

Facilitators: Brenda Whitson and Teresa Treadway

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Tourism and Hospitality Focus Group

Launched campaign to alert and welcome travelers detouring due to I-40 rockslide with radio ads and new website: www.DetourI40.com.

Public relations campaign was featured by National Public Radio.

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Tourism and Hospitality Focus Group

Tennessee Department of Tourism launched the “Sunnyside Trail,” covering 12 East Tennessee counties, including 300 points of interest.

Focused funds used to promote Hands On! Regional Museum and Gray Fossil site via billboards and online Sunnyside Trail campaign.

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Tourism and Hospitality Focus Group

Received 2 Pinnacle Awards from the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association for a motorcycle “Familiarization Tour” and the Detour I-40 campaign.

Hosted Bluegrass Half Marathon with over 750 participants from 14 states.

Produced all-inclusive outdoor recreation guide featuring Johnson City and Washington County.

Focus Group: Education and Workforce

Facilitators: Dr. Janie Snyder and Dr. Bill Flanary

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Education and Workforce Focus Group

Continued Chamber Partners in Education program, with every City and County school participating.

Identified “soft skills” needed for workforce enhancement.

Continued active membership in the regional Workforce Investment Board by providing resources to meet needs of employers and the local workforce.

Continued support for the “Tennessee Diploma Project” to improve education quality in the State.

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Education and Workforce Focus Group

Continued financial and other support for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library under direction of Johnson City Public Library.

Over 175,000 books have been distributed in Washington County.

Thanks to the many whohelped achieve this year’s accomplishments!