News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Upper Cumberland business owners came away from Wednesday’s workforce meeting in White County with new ideas and opportunities.
Airflow Heating and Cooling Owner Robert McCormick said the meeting helped provide additional resources to expand area businesses.
“It was really a good benefit, and there’s a lot they have to offer to businesses,” McCormick said. “It’s just getting it out to all the businesses. Most people don’t know there’s so much to offer for this type of workforce development.”
The event, hosted by White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson, took place at First National Bank in Sparta to inform area businesses on ways to grow and improve.
Representatives from Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) along with other state and local agencies offered tips on how their services can be utilized in cases of workforce development and grant opportunities.
BASF Site Manager Andy Schmidt said his company could look for more grant opportunities following Wednesday’s session.
“I thought it was a great presentation. It really gave a good overview of what resources are available to the community and to businesses in the community,” Schmidt said. “For me, it was a great thing. I took a couple of notes and we can look into some of the resources… especially the grants and the grant programs. Those are some of the things we’ll look into, as well as the economic development incentives that are available.”
Gary Hall serves as Rebo Lighting and Electronics’ director of human resource operations. He said the information provided would help businesses like Rebo looking to expand locally.
“We’re an expanding business, and as we’re looking to grow and expand, we’ll look to take advantage of some of the opportunities and tax credits that are provided by the State of Tennessee as well as our local government,” Hall said, ” also to look at opportunities the TVA does provide us for new equipment and new business that we’re bringing into their area.”
Robinson said after the meeting that he would like to host the event again and possibly improve upon it with feedback from business owners who attended.
