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October E-Newsletter
Over a Century of Service!
Recognizing Our Hospitality/Leisure Based
Business Award Winner
Encore Theatrical Company
The Chamber was pleased to present the Hospitality/Leisure Based Business Award in 2014 to Encore Theatrical Company.
Encore Theatrical Company was founded in
2006 with the following mission statement: “Encore
Theatrical Company believes in the power of the arts.
Through live performances and educational programs,
we will provide quality entertainment by creating opportunities for the artistic minds in the region to exercise, nurture and grow their talents. By cultivating and
promoting the arts, we will improve the quality of life
in the Lakeway Area.”
During their 8 years, over 60,000 people have
attended a Main Stage Show or Young Stars Series and
10,000 school children have attended one of Encore’s
School Touring Shows. The recently opened Studio
Pictured above are Amy Hemminger (Purkey, Carter, Compton, ETC is now offering student and adult classes.
Swann & Carter, CPA’s—Award Sponsor) Kate Adams & PatFor more information on Encore Events &
rick Kramer (Artistic Director & Education Director, Encore
Performances, visit www.etcplays.org.
Theatrical Company) Mary Moffat Helms (Wimberly Lawson
Event Sponsors for the Small Business Awards
Wright Daves & Jones—Event Sponsor) & Roni Snyder (Career of Excellence were Elevation Outdoor Advertising,
Professionals, Inc. & Chairman of the Board of the Chamber), Morristown Hamblen HealthCare System & Wimberly Lawson Wright Daves and Jones, PLLC.
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Businesses Shine at Successful Showcase
he Chamber held its annual Business Showcase, presented by the Citizen Tribune, on Thursday, September
18. The new location, the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church, made attending convenient for the 300+ people
who came out to visit the 53 exhibitors who displayed a wide
variety of products and services available in the Lakeway Area.
Also participating in this year’s event was Jacqueline
Merritt, representative from the Small Business Administration
in Nashville, who was set up to offer counseling services and
advice to attendees and exhibitors alike.
Major sponsors for the Business Showcase were RiverStone Resort and Spa who pr ovided the Gr and Pr ize Gift
Basket valued at $1,000 and WCRK/WMTN who hosted a live
remote broadcast from the event.
Fifteen Exhibiting Event Sponsors also participated in
the Business Showcase and provided door prizes for attendees.
These included AirMedCare Network/UT LIFESTAR, Bryant
Consultants, Colgate Palmolive, The Common Market,
Custom Printing, Daniel Paul Chairs, Hardwood Specialties, Jefferson City Health & Rehab, King University, Life
Care EMS, Lowland Credit Union, Morristown Pediatric
Dentistry, Myers Pumpkin Patch/Corn Maze, ORNL Federal Credit Union and Universal Forest Products.
Watch your e-mail for more details!
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Living In Morristown/Hamblen County is a Good Deal
W
ith all of the buzz about utilities lately, I took it upon
myself to do some research. This research highlights
our local highs and lows but overall, shows how great of a
place Morristown is to live and do business. As you attend a
city council or county commission meeting, it is always interesting to hear numbers quoted with no evidence. The latest
statewide study completed on water rates was 2010 and these
numbers will surprise you and make you thankful for where
you live! Out of 285 water providers, Morristown Utilities
ranked 33 with 5,000 gallons of water costing $14.90.
This is pretty impressive when you see surrounding counties
within 30 miles charge $60.24 and $72.90 for that same
$5,000 gallons of water. If you are a larger user of 15,000
gallons per month, Morristown ranks even better at 29th of
285 districts. 15,000 gallons here would cost $35.40 while
our neighbors command $218.70. Again, at the 25,000 gallon
rate, Morristown ranks 33rd at $55.90 while a neighboring
county charges $364.50 for the same amount of water.
“Morristown is on the brink of being like Maryville.” When I
look at the tax rate, I’m glad we are not! Morristown/
Hamblen County, $2.69 per $100, Maryville/Blount County,
$4.32 per $100. Does Maryville provide double the services,
amenities, parks and other opportunities for citizens? Again, I
covered that area and I say no. Let’s look at a neighboring
county that is near and dear to many of us, Newport/Cocke
County. I grew up there, my father and my mother-in-law are
small business owners there, but what do you get for $4.14
per $100 in Newport that $2.69 in Morristown doesn’t get
you?
You may ask, what is the big deal. Quite simply, Morristown
is a community that is dominated by big users. Morristown
has double the number of the percentage jobs in manufacturing than the state and national average. These big users located here and will grow here due to our competitive rates. Yes,
in some areas, Morristown is higher than some of our peers,
but the overall cost of utilities in doing business is a huge
advantage in Morristown’s favor.
In terms of sewer, a 5,000 gallon bill in Morristown would
cost about $21.00. This ranks us 48th of 178 providers. Not
quite as good, but when you consider communities very close
to us cost $76.23 and $98.75, I find it very hard to complain.
I won’t go further as I will provide the link and you can see
the numbers for yourself.
I have been fortunate enough to work in 25 Tennessee counties and I always get a laugh when I hear a Morristown resident complaining about their cost of utilities and taxes. Generally the complainers have never lived outside the Hamblen
County border and have no understanding of what goes on in
surrounding counties. We are blessed with inexpensive, reliaAccording to EIA (Energy Information Administration),
ble and efficient utilities and it should almost be a requireMorristown electric rates are 9th lowest of 60 municipalities ment, to make you appreciate your own community, that you
in Tennessee and lower than all cooperatives; in addition,
must live for at least a year away from your community. Yes,
Morristown rates are more than 14% below the national aver- you will find negatives that you want to improve, but overall,
age rate. Rates in the TVA valley have always been near the I think you will find Morristown/Hamblen County an amazlowest and Morristown is a good example of how residents
ing proposition.
save money and industry remains competitive.
http://www.allenhoshall.com/images/
When we discuss local taxes, again, we prove to be a bargain utilities/2010_tn_survey.pdf
for the services we receive in city and county. What other
county has door to door garbage pickup for a cost of $1.85
http://www.comptroller.tn.gov/pa/LR.asp?W=13
per $100 of assessed value? I sometimes find myself thinking
The Chamber is making an extra effort over the coming months to communicate opportunities and positive information about our community. We want to get this information out to as many citizens through as many sources as possible. If you would like to REPRINT Marshall’s column in your company newsletter, church bulletin, civic club newsletter or other outlet, please feel free to do so. If you need a
copy of this article in another format, please contact Debra Williams, [email protected] and she will provide it to you.
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Members of the 2014
Leadership Morristown
Class (l—r) Natasha
Moore, Anne Ross and
Randy Smith and General
Manager Debra Williams
visit an art class at All
Saints Episcopal School
as part of Education Day.
The class also visited the
Hamblen County Central
Office, Manley Elementary School, TCAT and
Walters State.
Exhibitors at the 2014
Business Showcase are
gearing up to enjoy the
delicious lunch and
snacks prepared by
Kathie Stewart and the
folks at First Baptist
Church. Food was available throughout the entire
run of the Business
Showcase. Sponsors and
exhibitors received complimentary meals and visitors were able to purchase lunch at the event.
The Morristown Area Chamber of
Commerce is participating in the
Parks & Recreation Department’s
annual “Scarecrows in the Park”.
The Chamber’s Exhibit “Economic
Superheroes” features “Tourism”,
“Jobs” and “Shoppers”. Each of
these “Superheroes” help keep the
local economy healthy. The money spent by tourists’ saves each
household in Hamblen County
$260 per year. Almost 29,000 people have jobs provided by business
and industry, and shoppers spend
over $800 million on products and
services
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Adventure Ranch
7464 W. Andrew Johnson Hwy.
Talbott, TN 37877
Phone: 865-282-3854
www.AdventureRanch.com
Mr. Chris Wooden, Owner
Amusement/Entertainment/Recreation
Attractions
Parties-Birthday, Weddings, etc.
Hidden Treasures Academy, Inc.
600 W. Main Street
Morristown, TN 37814
Phone: 423-254-3744
Fax: 423-586-4281
www.hiddentreasuresacademy.org
Ms. Tracy E. Lewis, Founder & Exec. Dir.
Post-Secondary Education Program for
Adults with Intellectual Disability
YOUR CLIENT/CUSTOMER/
SUPPLIER’S NAME HERE
If you know someone whose
name should appear in this listing
next month, please let us know.
Call Pat Seaver
Director of Sales and Marketing
(423) 586-6382
[email protected]
All Celebrity Travel
111 E. Main Street
Morristown, TN 37814
Phone: 423-258-2415
Fax: 423-318-1187
www.allcelebritytravel.com
Mr. Richard Fix, President
Travel Agents/Consultants
Hamblen Primary Care
James Schindler, MD
1633 W. Morris Blvd., Suite A
Morristown, TN 37813
Phone: 423-492-6700
Physicians
Healthcare Services
Krystal of Morristown
3500 W. Andrew Johnson Hwy.
Morristown, TN 37814
Phone: 423-587-2775
Fax: 423-587-6842
And
2304 E. Morris Blvd.
Morristown, TN 37813
Phone: 423-581-0888
Fax: 423-587-6842
Mr. Terry Lunsford, Owner
Restaurants
Gold Star
Member
TCBY The Country’s Best Yogurt
2330 Sandstone Drive
Morristown, TN 37814
Phone: 423-587-6212
Fax: 423-586-9153
Mr. Scott Long, Owner
Frozen Yogurt
“Like” us on
Facebook
Looking for a product or service??
Support the businesses who support our community through
their Chamber investment. Don’t forget to use your Membership Directory or visit us online at
www.morristownchamber.com
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Congratulations
Congratulations
October
Ambassador of the Month!
3rd Qtr.
Ambassador of the Quarter
Cindy Lawson
Express Employment Professionals
Brittany Hoover
Avalon Hospice
Featured Gold Star Members
The Chamber boasts over 45 member businesses designated as Gold Star Members. Each month we are
proud to feature, on a rotating basis, three of these special investors in our Chamber!
www.mcfarlandmedical.com
www.concretematerialsinc.com
www.danielpaulchairs.com
Congratulations to our newest upgraded Gold Star Member
The Gold Star designation is for members who support the Mission and Program of Work of
the Chamber through increased financial investment. Gold Star Members receive special
recognitions and benefits throughout the year in return for their increased investment.
If your company would like more information on becoming a Gold Star Member, please contact Pat Seaver, 423.586.6382 or [email protected]
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Thursday, October 9
Membership Breakfast — MUS/FiberNET
919 Jarnigan Ave.
7:30 a.m.
Tuesday, October 14
Ribbon Cutting — Hamblen Primary Care—James Schindler, M.D.
1633 W. Morris Blvd., Suite A
11:30 a.m.
Friday, October 17
Annual Chamber Golf Tournament
The Country Club
11:30 a.m. Lunch/1:00 p.m. tee time
Monday, October 20
12:00 Noon
Lunch & Learn — “Find Out What Clinch Powell R C & D Can Do For You”
Chamber Board Room
Tuesday, October 21
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Business After Hours and Ribbon Cutting—Food City—2 New Stores
Sandstone Dr. in Masengill Springs S/C and E. Morris Blvd. in Popkin Town Center S/C
Wednesday, October 22
Food City—Grand Opening Celebration — Flag Raising Ceremony
2310 Sandstone Drive and 1105 E. Morris Blvd.
Wednesday, October 22
Ribbon Cutting—TCBY The Country’s Best Yogurt
2330 Sandstone Drive in Masengill Springs S/C
9:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, October 22
Ribbon Cutting — Avalon Hospice
525 West Morris Blvd.
2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 28
Ribbon Cutting — Stepping Out, Inc.
3441 W. Andrew Johnson Hwy.
11:30 a.m.
Friday, October 31
New Member Orientation
Chamber Board Room
8:30 a.m.
www.morristownchamber.com
Hamblen County is interested in what you think about events at Cherokee Park. The
Chamber Tourism Department, along with Mayor Brittain and Events Coordinator Jeffrey Dillard would like Chamber members to take a few moments to complete the following survey. Click here for the link or type it into your browser. If you have problems connecting to the survey link, contact Jeffrey at [email protected].
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8N28QL5
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