2008 Best Green Cities in the Southeast
May 4th, 20082008 Best Green Cities
in the Southeast
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U.S. Chamber and Siemens Honor Three Sustainable Communities
April 30th, 2008by Kitty Taylor
What does sustainability really mean and what does it look like? This was the question that led BCLC and Siemens to come together to establish the Sustainable Community Awards. And now, we have three excellent examples for companies and communities to study.
Last night, U.S. Chamber President & CEO Thomas J. Donohue and Siemens Foundation President James Whaley honored three communities: Albuquerque, NM; Chapel Hill-Carrboro, NC; and Kingsport, TN; as the winners of the inaugural Siemens Sustainable Community Awards.
The Awards recognize outstanding local public-private efforts to build and grow sustainably. The winning communities were announced during a reception at BCLC’s National Conference on Corporate Community Investment in Anaheim, CA.
The City of Albuquerque won in the Large Community category for AlbuquerqueGreen, a comprehensive sustainability plan backed by Mayor Martin J. Chávez that provides the vision and tools for energy conservation, clean energy production and use, and conservation technologies.
In the Mid-Size Community category, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber accepted the award for creating the Foundation for a Sustainable Community, which invests in business and community resources to promote and advance environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic prosperity.
As the Small Community category winner, the City of Kingsport won for its efforts in the last decade to revitalize the manufacturing town through a combination of training/workforce development, entrepreneurism, and diversification of the economic base.
Anaheim, CA, USA - April 28, 2008: The Business Civic Leadership Center presents the 2008 Siemens Sustainable Community Award, Small company award to Jeff FLeming (C), Assistant City Managery for Development, City of Kingsport, TN, with U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue (L) and Siemens Foundation President Jim Whaley (R). Photo by Ian Wagreich / © U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
27 of 50 fastest-growing metro area in South
April 12th, 2008Fact of the Day
July 1, 2007 Population Estimates for Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas
The 50 fastest-growing metro areas were concentrated in two regions - 27 in the South and 20 in the West. New York was the most populous metro area on July 1, 2007, with 18.8 million people, followed by Los Angeles (12.9 million) and Chicago (9.5 million). Nine metro areas had 2007 populations of 5 million or more. For more of these facts, see the July 1, 2007 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area population estimates (scroll to “Metropolitan, micropolitan, and combined statistical area datasets”).
Forbes lists Kingsport in Best Places for Businesses & Careers
April 7th, 2008Forbes lists Kingsport in Best Places for Businesses & Careers
March 19, 2008
104. 121. 125. 130. 132. 152. 154. 166. 174. 177. 181. http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/03/19/best-business-cities-biz-bestplaces08-cx_kb_0319places_land.html |
www.bestplaces.net continues to rank region among lowest costs of living in the U.S.
March 30th, 2008
| Kingsport, Tennessee continues to be ranked among the lowest costs of living in the United States by www.bestplaces.net Coupled with a high quality of life, the low cost of living makes Kingsport a very attractive place to live!Below is a random selection of cities (let me know if you want a specific comparison).
For example, if your annual income in Kingsport is $50,000 per year, you would need $119,100 in San Diego to achieve a comparable lifestyle….or $64,450 in Orlando…..or $63,150 in Asheville….or $53,950 in Roanoke. Even within the region, you’d need nearly $2,000 more per year to live in Johnson City than Kingsport. |
Top 30 Occupations: 2006-2016
March 9th, 2008Only 18 require a degree:
9 require bachelor’s degree
5 require master’s degree
4 require associate’s degee
Source: Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ooh.t01.htm
Table 1. The 30 fastest growing occupations covered in the 2008-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook
Occupation 2006-16
Percent Employment Change
Most significant source of postsecondary education
1. Network systems and data communications (53.4%) Bachelor’s degree
2. Personal and home care aides (50.6%) Short-term on-the-job training
3. Home health aides (48.7%) Short-term on-the-job training
4. Computer software engineers, applications (44.6%) Bachelor’s degree
5. Veterinary technologists and technicians (41.0%) Associate degree
6. Personal financial advisors (41.0%) Bachelor’s degree
7. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance (39.8%) Postsecondary vocational award
8. Medical assistants (35.4%) Moderate-term on-the-job training
9. Veterinarians (35.0%) First professional degree
10. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors (34.3%) Bachelor’s degree
11. Skin care specialists (34.3%) Postsecondary vocational award
12. Financial analysts (33.8%) Bachelor’s degree
13. Social and human service assistants (33.6%) Moderate-term on-the-job training
14. Gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators (33.6%) Moderate-term on-the-job-training
15. Physical therapist assistants (32.4%) Associate degree
16. Pharmacy technicians (32.0%) Moderate-term on-the-job training
17. Forensic science technicians (30.7%) Bachelor’s degree
18. Dental hygienists (30.1%) Associate degree
19. Mental health counselors (30.0%) Master’s degree
20. Mental health and substance abuse social workers (29.9%) Master’s degree
21. Marriage and family therapists (29.8%) Master’s degree
22. Dental assistants (29.2%) Moderate-term on-the-job training
23. Computer systems analysts (29.0%) Bachelor’s degree
24. Database administrators (28.6%) Bachelor’s degree
25. Computer software engineers, systems software (28.2%) Bachelor’s degree
26. Gaming and sports book writers and runners (28.0%) Short-term on-the-job training
27. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health (28.0%) Associate degree
28. Manicurists and pedicurists (27.6%) Postsecondary vocational award
29. Physical therapists (27.1%) Master’s degree
30. Physician assistants (27.0%) Master’s degree
Last Modified Date: December 18, 2007
Kingsport, Virginia?
March 3rd, 2008Recently I was asked, “Why does Tennessee have an offset in the state line?”
I didn’t know the answer off the top of my head, so I did a little research.
The Royal Charters for Virginia and North Carolina establish the divisional line as the 36-30 parallel.
Surveying wasn’t as accurate in those days and no one really anticipated anyone living beyond the Blue Ridge in what is now Tennessee and Kentucky.
I’ll give you some links to read more detail, but suffice it to say that errors were made in surveys and those errors got exaggerated as they were extended westward. Depending upon your perspective, the line was either too far north or too far south. It created friction between Kentucky and Tennessee for many years. It caused residents of what is now Sullivan County, Tennessee not to know if they belonged in North Carolina or Virginia. Some called it “The Squabble State”.
Using today’s technology, Google Earth can tell with great accuracy where the original Royal Charter boundary would be today (the 36-30 parallel).
If the state line were 36-30 today, the City of Kingsport north of Fort Patrick Henry Dam would be in Virginia. Bays Mountain Planetarium would be in Virginia. MeadowView Convention Center would be in Virginia. Eastman Chemical Company would be in Virginia. Church Hill and Mount Carmel would be in Virginia, but Rogersville would be in Tennessee. Most of Bristol would be in Virginia, including Bristol Motor Speedway. Shady Valley would be in Virginia, but Mountain City would be in Tennessee.
In Middle Tennessee, Clarksville would be in Kentucky. Springfield would be split between Tennesee and Kentucky.
In West Tennessee (beyond the Tennessee River), the 36-30 state line is in tact.
Read more about it at:
TIP#55 - THE FAMOUS
http://www.rootsquest.com/~jmurphy/lessons/tip_55.htm
http://www.tngenweb.org/campbell/hist-bogan/surveyor.html
Kingsport’s Fun Fest named a Top 20 Southern Event
February 23rd, 2008Contact:
FUN FEST SELECTED
AS A ‘TOP 20 EVENT IN THE SOUTHEAST’ FOR JULY
Travel industry organization has saluted region’s best events since 1985
”We are thrilled to win the July designation for a third consecutive year,” said Olan O. Jones, Jr., 2008 Fun Fest chairman. “To be one of the top 20 festivals in 12 states during July is a significant indicator of what a major festival we have in our community.”
What is the potential of our region to attract newcomers?
February 10th, 2008Perhaps the best way to assess the potential of our region to attract newcomers is to look at our neighbors.
First, let’s look at the Greater Tri-Cities, TN/VA. The 18 counties in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia attracted 19,258 newcomers between 2000 and 2007 (VA: Buchanan, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Smyth, Scott, Washington, Wise and Wythe. TN: Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington).
The entire state of West Virginia attracted only 17,191.
Knox County, TN (Knoxville), attracted 17,579 — in only one county!
Buncombe County, NC (Asheville) attracted 14,227.
Blount County, TN (Maryville-Alcoa) attracted 11,734.
Henderson County, NC (Hendersonville) attracted 10,508.
Sevier County, TN (Sevierville-Pigeon Forge-Gatlinburg) attracted 8,768.
Roanoke County, VA (Roanoke-Salem) attracted 3,393.
So, the potential exists to greatly increase the number of newcomers who might be attracted to our region. Our attributes are very similar to Knoxville, Asheville, and Roanoke — only on a smaller scale with less traffic and stress!
How important are newcomers to our region?
February 3rd, 2008| The Census Bureau recently released the annual “Components of Population Change” for counties across the nation.
I took the opportunity to look at 32 counties in the 5-state area of Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky & West Virginia. The region had a net natural population decline of 4,486 between 2000 and 2007 (this means there were more deaths than births). However, 14,027 new residents moved into the region (1,210 were international). So, how important are newcomers? VERY! Many parts of the U.S. are experiencing population decline, but no one is moving in to replace those that left — leaving the local economy in a declining mode. In fact, Youngstown, OH has embarked on a new city plan called, “The Incredible Shrinking City”. Fewer residents means fewer workers, a smaller economy, declining retail sales, a soft housing market, etc. When newcomers move to a region, they bring their talent, resources, and disposable income! If they’re retired, their income source is sheltered from ebbs and flows of the local economy. Let’s roll out the welcome mat for newcomers! They’re VERY important to our economic future! Why do they come here? A high quality life coupled with low cost of living in a temperate, four season climate. Also, this region is perhaps the most sheltered in the U.S. when it comes to natural hazards (earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, landslides, volcanoes, wildfires, blizzards, etc.) |