The Knoxville Chamber recently announced the development of the Green Business Recognition Program to celebrate members that have implemented efforts to conserve energy and reduce waste. By recognizing businesses efforts to go green, the Chamber hopes to encourage and inspire other businesses to implement these simple, cost effective, green steps.

To apply for the Green Business Recognition Program visit: http://www.knoxvillechamber.com/greenapp.html.

Today’s announcement that Volkswagen Group of America will build its first United States assembly plant in Chattanooga, TN is welcome news to the Innovation Valley. The region, which includes the counties and communities in the Knoxville metropolitan area, is well positioned to support the VW facility and to support automotive parts manufactures.

The Tennessee Career Center is holding a webcast on Monday, July 14 at 10:00 a.m. to describe how to get the most benefit from the Career Readiness Certificate program.

Pileum Corporation has made a successful move to East Tennessee from Jackson, MS. The technology service provider was up and running inside the Chamber’s Market House Monday morning, barely three days into its partnership with the Knoxville business community.

Nominations are now being accepted for the Greater Knoxville Business Journal’s 40 under 40 presented by the University of Tennessee Professional MBA Program.

The Knoxville Chamber and WNOX-NewsTalk 100 recently announced the development of a monthly "Business Spotlight on the Balcony" radio program. A special business-focused Hallerin Hilton Hill Morning Show, the program will be broadcast once a month live from the Chamber's balcony overlooking Market Square.

The East Tennessee Purchasing Association (ETPA) announces the third annual, “Doing Business with Your Local Governments” Conference for Small Businesses. The Knoxville Chamber is pleased to be participating in this event.

Re-introducing East Tennessee favorites, like Kern’s Bread, Kay’s Ice Cream, and Terry’s Snacks, invites nostalgia, and increased profit-share for K-VA-T Food City. A classic favorite of many East Tennesseans for nearly 150 years, Kern’s Bread is now being exclusively produced by Food City. The market’s former number-one brand is produced at the bakery on Chapman Highway where Kern’s products were made for decades.

Claiborne Hauling Contractors, L.L.C. cut off potential headaches at the pass, before the pass was cut off.

“We opened our full-service west Knoxville terminal in March because of the massive SmartFIX40 construction project,” says Claiborne Hauling Executive Chris Etters. “We didn’t know if we’d run into non-stop traffic jams on the east side of town so we set up a separate office on the other side.”

The Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership is the umbrella affiliation of seven independent, business-service organizations. The participating organizations all are focused on helping businesses in the Knoxville area grow, succeed, and provide more jobs and an ever-increasing standard of living. The Partnership can also be thought of as the building on Market Square where all these organizations are housed, and therefore as the “one-stop shop” for business. The Knoxville Chamber is one of the partner organizations.