Business Stories That Connect

Welcome to Teknovation Weekend. This special section brings you stories on established businesses here in Knoxville, as well as economic news and ongoing trends. If you have news items you would like to share with us, please email news@teknovation.biz.

Tennessee rated third best state to do business and other Knoxville news

on October 08 ^th, 2021

Area Development has released its annual list of “Top States for Doing Business,” with Georgia making number one on the list for the eighth year in a row. But the Volunteer State was not far behind, though it did fall a spot this year, coming in at number three. Texas…

PART 1: Transitioning is underway at family-owned Stowers Machinery Corporation

on October 01 ^st, 2021

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first article in a two-part series that spotlights the history, culture and philosophy of a more than six-decade family-owned business in Knoxville that is undergoing a transition from the second to third generation.) By Tom Ballard, Chief Alliance Officer, PYA Wes Stowers is a well-known…

Knoxville Chamber “Untapped Talent” event addresses hiring from groups with barriers to employment

on October 01 ^st, 2021

By Kailyn Lamb, Marketing Content Writer and Editor, PYA A recent webinar from the Knoxville Chamber highlighted the benefits of hiring a more inclusive workforce and how employers can help organizations serving groups that have barriers to employment. Titled “Untapped Talent” and held virtually, the panel discussion was led by…

Knoxville businesses awarded millions in Shuttered Venue grants from SBA

on October 01 ^st, 2021

By Kailyn Lamb, Marketing Content Writer and Editor, PYA Twenty-one businesses in Knoxville have received around $12.5 million in funding from the “Shuttered Venue Operators Grant” (SVOG) program, with seven of them receiving an additional $3.2 million in newly announced supplemental funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) program…

Knoxville Chamber announces agenda for “Endeavor Summit”

on October 01 ^st, 2021

The Knoxville Chamber of Commerce has announced the agenda for the upcoming “Endeavor Summit” scheduled for October 21. The roughly four-hour virtual event begins at 8:30 a.m. with a series of panel discussions and individual speakers. The “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” panel at 8:45 a.m. features: (1) Azsha White, Co-Founder…

COVID-19 propels growth in region’s already robust marine manufacturing sector

on September 24 ^th, 2021

By Tom Ballard, Chief Alliance Officer, PYA The boat manufacturing sector is big in the greater Knoxville region and, according to Bryan Hall of the Tellico Reservoir Development Agency (TRDA), it is poised to grow even more, driven in part by the renewed attention that individuals have placed on outdoor…

BiT Dealership Software’s CEO braced for impact from COVID, but it never happened

on September 24 ^th, 2021

By Tom Ballard, Chief Alliance Officer, PYA “I’ve seen when the economy was bad and was bracing for that in the early days of COVID,” says Ed MacFawn, Chief Executive Officer of Knoxville-based BiT Dealership Software Inc. Purchased by MacFawn in 2005, the company develops and markets an integrated management…

Knoxville’s “The Maker City” platform enables businesses to grow and thrive

on September 24 ^th, 2021

By Kailyn Lamb, Marketing Content Writer and Editor, PYA It has been five years since Knoxville was established as Etsy’s first “Maker City.” In that time, Knoxville’s take on the movement has grown to include a city-led council group, an annual Summit event, several recurring sessions and workshops, and a…

August “ECO” report shows continued hiring trouble, new Census data

on September 24 ^th, 2021

The regional worker shortage continues as data shows the labor force in the Knoxville metropolitan statistical area (MSA) grew by less than one percent from June to July. In the August edition of the Knoxville Chamber’s “Economic Conditions Outlook” (ECO) report, which is financed by First Horizon Bank, surveyed businesses…

COMMENTARY: Knoxville’s Greatness Challenge

on September 17 ^th, 2021

By Marty Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer, PYA What if we achieved greatness but nobody knew it? I often contemplate that question when thinking about business growth in the Knoxville region. Sure, we have the University of Tennessee, ORNL, and TVA. We have numerous lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds…

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