News & Notes | Grand opening, grant funding and events dominate weekly review
The Enterprise Center secures funding to continue its work addressing the digital divide.
From Oak Ridge:
Officials cut the ribbon last week on the new$15-million, 40,000-square foot Emergency Response Training Facility (ETRF) where first responders can learn from Y-12 National Security Complex trainers who are experts in radioactive sources. Funded by the State of Tennessee and developed by Roane County, led by the Roane Alliance, ERTF has teaching-staff offices, augmented and virtual reality rooms, and traditional classrooms to provide immersive first-responder training. Law enforcement personnel from across the state, nation, and globe now have access to a state-of-the-art location in which to train for various situations that could involve radiological material. Click here to learn more.
From Knoxville:
EDP Biotech Corporation has announced the hiring of Sam Libby as the company’s Head of Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Development. In the new role, Libby will manage investments, drive merger and acquisition opportunities, and develop corporate relationships for the company. He will also support the execution and expansion of EDP Biotech’s strategy as the company is meeting milestones faster than expected and is experiencing rapid growth. Libby joins the EDP Biotech team with almost a decade of experience in healthcare investment banking, experience in advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, public and private equity financings, and other strategic alternatives.
From Chattanooga:
The Appalachian Regional Commission has announced that The Enterprise Center is one 12 organizations to receive inaugural funding under its Connect Humanity initiative that is part of the new Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) program. The unique federal-state agency awarded $6.3 million to the 12 organizations that will help 50 underserved communities in every sub-region of Appalachia plan for broadband access and growth.
According to the ARC news release, a central focus of the project will be to help 50 under-connected communities across Appalachia compete for some of the $45 billion from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity Act (DEA) funding that will become available later in 2023. However, ARC noted that communities will also benefit from the technical assistance provided as part of the project to put them on a path to digital equity.
From Franklin:
The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council has announced that its annual meeting will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. CST March 7 at Schneider Electric’s Nashville Hub. Registration opens January 24 when more details will be announced. The meeting location is 6700 Tower Circle, Suite 700, Franklin.
From Nashville:
- Vanderbilt University has announced its “Vanderbilt Innovation Summit” set for February 9 at the Lowes Vanderbilt Hotel. The event includes a Start-up Job fair from 3 to 6 p.m. CST, where students can find an internship or full-time position at an impactful start-up, followed by a Venture Showcase from 6 to 9 p.m. CST to display ideas, efforts and accomplishments within the greater Nashville area and beyond. In addition, there will be a ceremony commemorating the new Vanderbilt-led National Science Foundation I-Corps Mid-South HUB (see teknovation.biz article here). The summit is hosted by the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt Innovation Council (VIC), and several student organizations including Vanderbilt Innovation and Entrepreneurship Society (VINES), Change++, Vandy Blockchain, and Theta Tau. To register, click here.
- Monogram Health, a provider of in-home evidence-based care and benefit management services for patients living with polychronic conditions, has raised $375 million in growth funding. The round was led by CVS Health, Cigna Ventures, Humana, Memorial Hermann Health System, SCAN, TPG Capital, Frist Cressey Ventures, Heritage Group, Pura Vida Investments, and Norwest Venture Partners. Monogram Health intends to use the funds to continue to support the widespread deployment of its in-home kidney and polychronic care delivery model as well as its tech-driven array of evidence-based clinical services.
- Zillow ranks Nashville as its #5 hottest housing market for 2023. Music City follows Charlotte, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Dallas. Click here to learn more.
- Over parts of three days in early February, the city will host the “Scale up Business Conference.” The goal is to connect diverse business leaders and entrepreneurs and elevate their knowledge, understanding, and best practices needed to scale up their companies. Topics include: (1) build to sell; (2) “Getting your Business Finances in Order”; (3) marketing/branding; (4) developing a strategic plan; (5) raising venture capital; (6) “Money Mindset: Shifting the Way You Think”; (7) building systems and automation to scale; (8) estate planning; (9) trademarks and contracts; and (10) tax strategies. The conference is February 2-4 at the Element Nashville Vanderbilt West End Hotel. Registration information can be found here.
