New TACIR Data Site on Tracking the Impact of the Economy

TACIR has presented new information on the impact of the economy on Tennessee. This data is being presented in partnership with the Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU.

http://frank.mtsu.edu/~berc/tacir/tacir.html

Internet Usage Rates

The US Census Bureau provides statistics on overall internet usage nationwide. The chart (found here) breaks down broadband, dial-up and overall internet access for households by state. Unfortunately, Tennessee ranks low in the access of its citizens to internet generally and broadband. Based on 2007 figures, we have the 7th worst rate for internet access. The other low ranking states tend to be in the south (AL, AR, MS, LA), plus a couple of others like West Virginia and Oklahoma.

Tennessee Rail Projects Awarded $55.3 Million in Grants

Tennessee will receive $55.3 million in federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grants for two rail projects in the state. The US DOT announced $1.5 billion in federal TIGER grant funds for more than 50 projects across the U.S. on Wednesday, the one year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which funds the competitive TIGER grants.

For more information, click
here.

TNInvestco Website

In 2009, the Tennessee General Assembly began working with ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber and Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr to craft legislation designed to increase the flow of capital to innovative new companies in Tennessee in the early stages of development. Initially proposed as a template of CAPCO legislation adopted by other states, policy makers in Tennessee decided to take a different approach in seeding small businesses with the capital needed to bring a new idea to the broader marketplace and create jobs in the process.

The result was the TNInvestco program, which allocated $120 million dollars in tax credits to a cross section of venture capital funds with broad experience in developing new companies in Tennessee. Those funds would market the tax credits to insurance companies which would purchase the credits with capital reserves and the venture funds would use the capital to help Tennessee companies grow. Reporting requirements and audits by the Tennessee Office of the Comptroller were put in place to provide oversight.

The goals of the program are to develop the entrepreneurial infrastructure across the state, to attract new capital to Tennessee and to diversify the state’s economy and create jobs through the development of “innovation clusters” which result in new companies being spun off.

A new website has been launched by ECD to help provide more information about the program and how it may benefit economic development opportunities in your community. The website may be found at http://www.state.tn.us/ecd/tninvestco/.

Governor's Conference on Economic and Community Development

The 2010 Governor's Conference on Economic & Community Development will be held September 27-28 at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. Hundreds of community leaders, economic development professionals, elected officials and business owners will convene to participate in informative sessions on high potential industries and positioning your community to attract development. Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to network with site selection consultants and learn best practices from other communities. Information on keynote speakers, session topics and registration will be available soon.

In the meantime, you may want to mark this date on your calendar.

National County Health Rankings

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute have released comprehensive national county health rankings. This is a first of its kind collection of 50 reports – one for each state - that evaluates the overall health of each county. When you drill down into the data, you get figures on everything from car accident rates, hospice use, high school graduation rates and liquor store density. The health ranking for your county and the data used to establish the ranking can be found here: here.

How Joblessness Transforms our Communities

The article linked below from the Atlantic is not for the faint of heart or the short of attention span. It is a long piece, examining many aspects of how extended and extensive joblessness impacts communities, generations, families and society.

Regardless of whether you agree with the author's perspective or conclusions, there are sobering indicators in the article that should be of concern to all of us, regardless of our personal economic condition.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/201003/jobless-america-future