Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

About 10 years ago, Downtown Maryville and Alcoa were quieter, with many older buildings underused and few key attractions outside of the National Park. Today, it’s vibrant, with breweries, entertainment centers, and mixed-use development.

Tourism as a Key Catalyst

The county has quite literally become a tourism destination, and it’s changing the surrounding area. After a 41 percent leap in 2021, tourism expenditures rose another 14 percent in 2022 and another 6 percent in 2023.

 In 2023 alone, visitor spending reached a record $576.1 million, supporting nearly 5,000 jobs and generating $23.3 million in local tax revenue. Meaning, Blount County ranks 8th in the state for tourism expenditures.

 However, the Blount Partnership said “tourism” is not the exclusive reason for the growth. The organization points to a much broader, intentional, collaborative effort between key organizations and programs in the area.

 Partnerships as a Key Catalyst

The Blount Partnership, in collaboration with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at Pellissippi State:

1. Generated $45.7 million in capital infusion
2. Supported $15.1 million in sales growth
3. Helped launch 93 new businesses over the last 20 years.
4. Created 305 jobs
5. Retained over 2,250 jobs
6. And, hosted nearly 300 training events for thousands of participants

Some examples of these targeted efforts is the $16.5 million Ruth & Steve West Workforce Development Center, the regional job board at BlountAreaJobs.com, and advocacy events such as the annual “Day on the Hill” in Nashville.

The Sky City Entrepreneur Center can also be credited with providing budding entrepreneurs with the reources necessary to build, sustain, and provide their business services in the local community – and beyond.

Learn more about the Blount Partnership.

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