UT CIS kicks-off month-long “Made in Tennessee” celebration
Seventeen area companies were recognized as charter participants in the “Made in Tennessee” initiative during a luncheon yesterday in Knoxville.
The event launched a month-long celebration of manufacturing across Tennessee that is being organized by the University of Tennessee’s Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS). As previously reported on teknovation.biz, eight more celebrations are planned between now and the end of October.
“There’s so much to celebrate in Tennessee that we took a whole month,” UT CIS Executive Director Paul Jennings told the 30 people in attendance yesterday. This Friday – October 4 – is the official day when manufacturing is recognized nationally.
Jennings said Tennessee has about 5,800 manufacturers employing about 290,000 Tennesseans. “Thank you for creating jobs in Tennessee,” he told the honorees yesterday.
UT CIS, which is focused on technology, innovation and other solutions for manufacturers, is coordinating the “Made in Tennessee” program that resulted from legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Bill Haslam.
So, it was only fitting that three members of the Knox County legislative delegation – Senator Becky Massey and Representatives Bill Dunn and Ralph Kane – participated in the recognition of the 17 companies.
Jennings said more than 100 companies have signed on to the “Made in Tennessee” program already.
Those recognized yesterday were:
- Allison Boats
- Arctel
- Corn Glo Industries
- Delta M Corporation
- DeRoyal Industries
- Green Mountain Coffee
- Hope Industries
- House of Thaller
- LaFollette Machine & Tool
- LED North America
- Legend Fitness
- MasterCraft
- Reily Foods
- Ten Tec
- Third Dimension Technologies
- Trail Manor Manufacturing
- Volunteer Knit Apparel
