The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) creates a talent pipeline for local companies, and for years it has been sustainable. However, things started to shift once artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning hit the workplace. Now, everything is changing, and the skills of emerging young professionals need to change, too. According to the Technology Skills Gap survey…

Pellissippi State Community College kicked off a three-year challenge Wednesday to attract and recruit 1,000 students into advanced manufacturing and connect them with industry partners.  More than 30 representatives from local manufacturing companies, K-12 school systems, chambers of commerce and the college were on hand to learn more about the SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers)…

Working towards building for the future, the Blount Partnership’s Early Education Task Force is proud to announce the launch of Blount4Kids.com, a groundbreaking online platform dedicated to providing comprehensive early education and childcare resources. The website aims to promote economic growth and stability in Blount County by increasing workforce participation and work readiness through accessible,…

Anyone looking for a job or wanting career development opportunities should attend the Blount County Job Fair February 21 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Foothills Mall in Maryville. This event is open to the public and there is no charge to attend. Attendees are asked to utilize the entrance between Cancun Restaurant and TJ Maxx.…

Pellissippi State Community College is now one of only two higher education institutions nationwide that can provide in-person assessments for those seeking Haas certification as a Basic Mill Operator, according to a Haas representative. Haas Automation is the largest machine tool builder in the United States and one of the largest builders of CNC machines…

As part of the Tennessee’s ongoing commitment to bring Innovative School Models (ISMs) to every public middle and high school in Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Education has awarded over $560 million across 137 public school districts and 45 public charter schools to invest in students and their postsecondary success. Thanks to the historic investment by Governor Lee and…

The American Job Center presents its March 2023 calendar with listings for job fairs, hiring events and open interviews for job in East Tennessee. View here.

The Blount Partnership joined leaders from StandardAero on a visit to Northeast State Community College to talk with students in the Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certification program about working for aviation employers in Blount County. Aircraft mechanics are a top workforce need in Blount County, and students pursuing this license go on to have lucrative…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The U.S. Department of Treasury announced today the approval of up to $116.9 million in funding under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) to support small business growth in Tennessee. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they play a central role in building strong communities throughout Tennessee,” said…

Recently, the Blount Partnership’s Director of Workforce Development Jessica Belitz and Director of Economic Development Lauren Emert graduated from the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Valley Workforce Institute and Rural Leadership Institute, respectively. The Valley Workforce Institute is designed to assist economic developers in understanding and selling their workforce assets and addressing talent pipeline challenges in…