Updates, ideas and action flowed fluently inside the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce Wednesday afternoon.
Carter County Tomorrow was able to meet for its regularly scheduled meeting and go through a variety of topics.
Chamber of Commerce Director Tonya Stevens and Workforce Development Director Kim Eggers were able to give updates on various activities that recently took place in the area.
CCT member Dale Fair commended the efforts of all that were involved with the Covered Bridge Celebration and said it was the best he was able to attend. Different programs during the event were praised, including the musical entertainment and the free kids’ activity area, which was spearheaded by Carter County Drug Prevention Director Jilian Reece and assisted by Ashlee Williams of the public library and other entities, Stevens said.
Tourism Coordinator Kayla Carter added that new brochures are available and added the department’s interest in partnering with the Elizabethton Arts & Cultural Alliance. Carter added that the nonprofit organization was able to receive a grant to assist with the walking tour and other items but were hoping to receive matching funding. With the funding available in the fund balance, the board unanimously approved to allow funding to assist with the grant.
CCT member Danny Ward talked about the IDEAs Group and added that he was able to secure a $500 grant from Modern Woodmen to help finalize a parking area at the Hampton River Access point, adjacent from Hampton High School. As the parking looks to get finalized, the overall goal would be to utilize the area as overflow parking for the football games and other activities at J.C. Campbell Stadium.
City of Elizabethton Planning and Development Director Jon Hartman provided an update on the Matheson Property, indicating the city’s funding for a Phase II Environmental Study was official with the passage of the 2017-18 fiscal year budget.
Two bids for the study came in from McGill Associates at $20,000 and Craig & Mattern at $12,475 with CCT looking at using the lowest bid to perform the study.
Hartman reiterated that the funding is necessary for due diligence as part of the state’s property evaluation program (PEP) to utilize areas that provide the best opportunity for a short-term need for industry to come in.
While four locations were identified during the study, Hartman said that the Matheson Property was shown as the best short-term option for the area.
Hartman added that working alongside the Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership (NETREP) has continued to net success with NETREP providing what was regarded as one of the best presentations out of 54 communities in Nashville.
The presentation included areas in Carter County, and Hartman commended the efforts of Washington and Unicoi counties for their work with the presentation.
One idea that is in a preliminary discussion phase is looking at establishing a possible entrepreneurial center in Carter County.
The facility, Hartman explained, could be a benefit by allowing a central location for small businesses to utilize space offered to grow operations. The director indicated that Co.Starters in Jackson, Tenn., has been able to reap the rewards of the program like an entrepreneurial center.
Joe LaPorte said that he has seen where centers can be successful but asked if it could succeed in a smaller community like Elizabethton and Carter County. Hartman added that the Town of Unicoi’s Mountain Harvest Kitchen isn’t exactly an entrepreneurial center but allows citizens to operate and produce their own goods to sell and has been recognized by the Governor’s Office.
Having a center in place could be beneficial for keeping businesses in Carter County, Hartman added, as a way to bring in additional revenue for the city and county. When asked about funding, the possibility of membership fees could be an idea, Hartman said.
Further discussion on the center is expected to happen in the coming months.