Happy New Year!!!

December 31, 2008

As I sit at my desk on the last afternoon of work in 2008, I am thinking about that even during the past 12 months of recessionary economic times, we have a lot to be thankful for from 2008 and a lot of work to do in 2009. Industry attraction was tough, but a lot of people have given us a look and I feel that we continue to communicate our great labor force, transportation accessibility, and quality of place. In 2009, we will continue to plan our strategy and work toward making Hickman County an even better place to live, work, and do business.

Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association wishes you a HAPPY NEW YEAR and a most healthy and prosperous 2009!!!

After Christmas Special

For a holiday treat, come visit Bon Aqua, Centerville, Lyles and the rest of Hickman County for a really special shopping or dining experience at a value better than a mall discount.

It's a Wonderful Life!

The winter weather in the Midwest had delayed our travel plans and opened up our evening. For something different, my wife and I attended a showing of It's a Wonderful Life at the Belcourt Theatre, a 1920s era movie theater. Seeing it on the big screen was a great holiday experience, especially on Christmas Eve (and the freshly popped popcorn was great too!)

Watching the movie, I remembered how much George Bailey and the Bailey Bros. Building & Loan Association were involved in economic and community development. From recruiting Sam Wainwright's plastic manufacturing facility, to helping Martini in his business, to developing affordable housing to retain Bedford Falls' labor force, to designing and developing neighborhoods -- George Bailey and the economic development efforts of the Building & Loan made a more wonderful life for the residents of Bedford Falls.

It is a wonderful life and I hope that y'all have a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!

Craft Businesses Defy Current Trends

In the New York Times business section yesterday, I read an article, "For Craft Sales, the Recession Is a Help", about how craft related businesses were performing above average during the current recession. Craft supply, finished craft, and handmade product businesses could outperform other businesses while we weather these economic times and provide an easy entry into entrepreneurship that may be worth a look. For more information on starting a business, check out a starting a busisness informational workshop at our office on January 20th or our business website, http://www.business.hickmantn.org/ .

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!

Happy Holidays

from

Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association!!!

www.industrialsites.hickmantn.org

www.business.hickmantn.org

IEDC Economic Development Journal article

The Fall 2008 edition of the IEDC Economic Development Journal contains an outstanding article on economic development support of entrepreneurship -- "Energizing Entrepreneurs, Development Strategy for the 21st Century" (may require IEDC membership to view). The article explains why our communities and regional groups should view entrepreneurship as a core economic development strategy and how to develop and implement an 'entrepreneurial development system'.

Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association supports entrepreneurship as part of our community's economic development strategy. A great place for entrepreneurs to begin his or her efforts to start or grow a business is http://www.business.hickmantn.org/, a quality place for self discovery or to connect with an economic development expert.

Santa Arrives by Rail on Saturday

Santa Shelves Sleigh for Shortline.... Railroad Relieves Rudolph

All Aboard!, The Santa Train rolls into town on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 10 A.M. at the Hickman County Senior Citizens Center. The South Central Tennessee Railroad and the Hickman County Chamber of Commerce partner to welcome the jolly old elf into town. This event may be as much fun for railroad fans as it is for the children. Location: Just past the intersection of Highway 100 and 50 in Centerville.

Industrial Sites, Great and Small

Not every manufacturer employs hundreds of people. At Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association, we never forget that small manufacturers are important, whether we can help them grow or sustain their current level. Hickman County provides a quality workforce with a rural work ethic, is business friendly, and is near Nashville, Tennessee (we are in the Nashville MSA, in fact.) It can be difficult to find that next place to grow your business and we can help you find your quality of place. We maintain a website for larger industrial sites, www.industrialsites.hickmantn.org, but also have some smaller sites identified at www.industrialsites.hickmantn.org/Misc/index.htm . All our services are provided at no cost to business and industry, including our other business assistance (www.business.hickmantn.org).

Starting a Business / Entrepreneur Support

There will be an informational session (it's free!) on starting a business and becoming an entrepreneur held in the training/conference room at the Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association office on January 20th at 6:00pm. It will last about an hour and will provide handout materials on starting a business in Hickman County and information on a series of business start-up training provided by Columbia State Community College that may be offered in Hickman County if there is sufficient interest.

If you are starting a business or just thinking about starting a business in Hickman County, this free workshop will be a great place to connect to those who can help you make money. Contact me for more information on starting a business or economic development expert assistance.

Hemlock Semiconductor / APSU Solar Cell Technology

Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation is coming to Clarksville, Tennessee and will create 500 to 800 highly specialized jobs in the emerging solar cell technology industry. Austin Peay State University (where I earned my undergraduate degree) will be tasked with providing much of the training to upgrade the high tech skills of Middle Tennessee's quality labor force. To read more about how one of our local universities will provide training in solar cell related technology, check out today's edition of The Tennessean .

"Folks down here want it (site locations) more--a lot more--and they know how to get it."

Canadian ReportonBusiness.com Article on Tennessee's Attractive Business Environment

"How is it that Tennessee and other southern U.S. states can be opening new plants in the midst of a global financial crisis and plummeting vehicle sales, while Michigan, the cradle of the industry, has lost five assembly plants in 20 years, and Ontario--the No. 2 auto-making jurisdiction in North America--is struggling to hang on to the 11 it has? Spend a day or two in Nashville and Spring Hill, and the economic advantages (including a few you might not have thought of) become apparent. And there's another factor: Folks down here want it more--a lot more--and they know how to get it." - ReportonBusiness.com

Hickman County definitely wants to be included in your site selection process. We are the only county in the Nashville MSA with an interstate highway that can offer the Tennessee Tier III Jobs Tax Credit incentive. Location, incentives, business friendly, and a quality labor force with a rural work ethic creates that attractive business environment. Quality of place in Hickman County, Tennessee lets one enjoy their success.

TVA Board Approves New Electric Rate to Recruit Data Centers

TVA Board Approves New Electric Rate to Recruit Data Centers

The TVA Board today approved a new rate classification for data centers and similar businesses that wish to locate in the Tennessee Valley.

For additional information about this or other TVA economic development programs, please visit http://www.tvaed.com/ or contact a person at 615.232.6225 or econdev@tva.com.

Hickman County, Tennessee is right in the middle of the TVA region and has sites that might fit your data center needs. We have an available workforce with a rural work ethic with two technology training centers, two community colleges, and two universities within a 45 minute drive time area.

Good Food, Good Value, Quality of Place

In the November 2008 edition of Garden & Gun magazine, two of the 100 foods honored in the article "Good Eats: 100 Southern Foods You Absolutely, Positively Must Try Before You Die" can only be enjoyed in Hickman County. Biscuits from Beacon Light Tea Room Restaurant in Bon Aqua and the Fried Coconut Pie from Mrs. Armstrong's Fried Pies in Centerville. This is even more evidence that if you are looking for a quality place to eat or an interesting place to visit, Hickman County has plenty of economical places for a new experience.

Economic Development Book

Yesterday I finished reading The Little Black Book of Economic Development by Don Allen Holbrook, CEcD. The Little Black Book of Economic Development is a thought provoking evaluation of the current state of economic development and an examination of how economic development professionals can adapt and sustain success. From the perspective of an economic development expert, Hickman County and Tennessee is doing a lot of things right. However, there is so much more that we can do to become an even more attractive business climate while maintaining our quality of place.

Quality of Place - Hickman County, Tennessee

Hickman County, Tennessee is a great place to live or just visit, but during the holiday season, it's quality of place shines even brighter. A short tour down Highway 100 or Interstate 40 from Nashville brings you to unique, quaint shops and great food at a good value. This isn't "happy holidays" at the mall -- East Hickman, Centerville, and the rest of Hickman County have the real experience of the Christmas season. Some of the special events:

Saturday, December 06 2008, 4:00pm - 8:00pm
The Hickman County Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to an Open House at the Grinders Switch Center from 4 P.M. until 8 P.M on the historic (some might say 'old-timey') Centerville Public Square. The Grinders Switch Center is home to the Chamber of Commerce, the Saturday morning live Grinders Switch Radio Hour and the Grinders Switch Museum. Location: 405 W. Public Square Centerville, TN

Sunday, December 7, 2008, 2:00pm
The Hickman Civitan Club presents the Centerville Christmas Parade. The parade will begin at 2 P.M with the theme “Gift of Freedom. Floats, bands, civic organizations and Santa Claus will be on hand as the parade moves from The Centerville Church of Christ parking lot down Huddleston Street to the Square and off down S Central Avenue back to the church. WNKX (Kix 96) will be broadcasting the parade on a tape delay process after the Titans Game. (in other words, you can listen to the Titans on Kix 96 while enjoying the parade.) Location: Downtown Centerville, TN

December 11th thru 13th
A presentation of Clay Harris Theatre and Farmhouse Restaurant, Christmas with Thora (at the Meat & Three) returns this season to the delight of the cast and crew. This time, though, Thora has the diner all set for a big Christmas celebration. You'll laugh until you cry as Christmas comes to the Meat & Three. December 11-13 (for more info on times and tickets: Clay Harris Theatre)

Sunday, December 14 2008, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
The Keg Kounty Kowboys and the East Hickman Community Center will present the East Hickman Christmas Parade. East Hickman is the Bon Aqua, Lyles, Wrigley area near the intersection of Highway 100 and 46... a short drive from Nashville. The parade will start at 2 P.M. and travel down Highway 100. The word is Santa Claus will make the parade to work off that Sunday lunch at the Beacon Light Tea Room Restaurant.

Saturday, December 20 2008, 10:00am - 12:00pm
All Aboard!, The Santa Train rolls into town on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 10 A.M. at the Hickman County Senior Citizens Center. The South Central Tennessee Railroad and the Hickman County Chamber of Commerce partner to welcome the jolly old elf into town. This event may be as much fun for railroad fans as it is for the children. Location: Just past the intersection of Highway 100 and 50 in Centerville.

Entrepreneur / Starting a Business Workshop

There will be an informational session (it's free!) on starting a business and becoming an entrepreneur held in the training/conference room at the Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association office on January 20th at 6:00pm. It will last about an hour and will provide handout materials on starting a business in Hickman County and information on a series of business start-up training provided by Columbia State Community College that may be offered in Hickman County if there is sufficient interest.

Book Report

Today I started two books, the audiobook version of Outliers in the car and The Little Black Book of Economic Development by Don Allen Holbrook, CEcD. Outliers strikes that perfect balance of being engagingly interesting without becoming distracting (a good thing while driving.) The Little Black Book of Economic Development is a thought provoking current evaluation of economic development and examination of how economic development professionals can adapt and sustain success.

Tennessee Economic Development Organizations Continue Focus

As Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development prepares to take a breather in its recruitment efforts of large industries (see story), local Tennessee economic development organizations such as Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association continue to work hard in our business retention and expansion programs as well as marketing Tennessee communities to attract retail and industrial site selection decision makers. Our focus is sustainable growing companies that are looking for a quality labor force with a strong rural work ethic.

For more information on Tennessee industrial sites, check out www.industrialsites.hickmantn.org and to schedule a discrete discussion of your site selection requirements, click on www.economicdevelopmentexpert.com/contact.htm .

University Contacts Can Produce Economic Development Prospects

An article in Nashville's The CityPaper, "Capitalizing on Colleges Can Produce ECD Boost", discusses how our universities can provide a boost to economic development beyond training our future workforce and improving our labor force. This is why Hickman County Economic & Community Development participates in activities that create synergistic value adds (Hickman County Economic Development Mentioned for its Community Culture Support).

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Hickman County Economic Development to Provide New Benefit to Local Employers

Hickman County Economic Development has purchased access to an employee compensation data survey that includes compensation data, benefit packages, and pay practices by job title. Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development provides basic wage information, but this compensation survey by Compdata Surveys will provide us and Hickman County employers with complete payroll and benefit information to keep them competitive while minimizing labor costs.

Improved Cellular Phone and Wireless Internet Service

The East Hickman area (Lyles, Bon Aqua, Wrigley) has just benefited from infrastructure upgrades that have greatly improved cellular phone and wireless internet coverage. Our eCommunity Leadership Team, associated with Connected Tennessee, have been working on raising awareness of the need for improved technology availability and utilization in Hickman County and we appreciate this needed technology improvement!