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CONTENTS K N O X V I L L E
R E L O C A T I O N
Lasting Legacy: The Chamber
G U I D E
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celebrates 150
12
years of regional progress.
The 411 Travel times, weather reports and important phone numbers, all at the tip of your fingers.
Stronger, Faster, Better: Public research
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advancements and
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private sector
Exceptional Care
innovation fuel
A patient-centric approach and
Knoxville’s growing
cutting-edge treatments provide
economy.
residents with access to high-quality healthcare.
Equipping Students For The Future With outstanding public, private, and
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post-secondary options, Knoxville students are guaranteed a top-notch education.
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34 Advertisers’ Index Complete list of advertisers.
Featuring Iconic Brands
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WELCOME! In 1869, the Knoxville Chamber opened its doors under the name Industrial Association of Knoxville. In the 150 years since, the organization has operated with a singular focus – make the region better for its business community, its residents and its future. We are thrilled that its future may soon include you as our newest resident! This publication provides you with valuable information about the quality of life in Knoxville, Tenn., but so few pages can only scratch the surface of the many, incredible things happening here. I encourage you to utilize other resources like KnoxvilleChamber.com, KnoxCommerce. com and KnoxvilleOakRidge.com to get a better understanding of the area’s business climate, growth trajectory and future plans. If you’re interested in learning more about things to do in your leisure time, our partners at VisitKnoxville.com have a variety of resources to guide the exploration of your new home for an hour, an afternoon or a day. Each of these websites deliver relevant and unique content that help you experience different facets of the region, but all will help you understand why choosing Knoxville for your new home was a wise decision. So, on behalf of the Knoxville Chamber’s board of directors and our more than 2,300 member businesses, let me be the first to say – welcome home! Now it’s time to play tourist, purchase some Tennessee orange, enjoy the region’s picturesque beauty and get to know those who have already fallen in love with this place. If there is anything the Chamber staff can do to help you settle in, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Again, we’re glad to have you in Knoxville and Go Vols! Michael Edwards, President/CEO Knoxville Chamber 17 Market Square, #201 Knoxville, TN 37902 (865) 637-4550
Choose Knoxville is a publication of the Knoxville Chamber Knoxville Chamber 17 Market Square, #201 Knoxville, TN 37902 (865) 637-4550 www.knoxvillechamber.com www.knoxvilleoakridge.com Michael Edwards President/CEO Rhonda Rice Clayton Executive Vice President
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Mark Field Senior Vice President Larry Johnson Senior Vice President/CFO Michelle Kiely Vice President, Membership Development Doug Lawyer Vice President, Economic Development Amy Nolan Vice President, Public Policy Lynsey Wilson Managing Editor Laddy Fields Creative Director/Photographer Amy Nolan Contributing Writer Callie Blackburn Contributing Photographer
THE
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Approximate Distance from Downtown Knoxville to: (Source: Google Maps) Lexington, KY Nashville, TN Atlanta, GA Charlotte, NC Cincinnati, OH Louisville, KY Birmingham, AL Charleston, SC Memphis, TN Destin, FL
170 miles 180 miles 215 miles 230 miles 250 miles 250 miles 260 miles 370 miles 370 miles 500 miles
The Weather (Sources: National Weather Service & weather.com) Average High
69.3˚F
Average Low
49.7˚F
Average First Freeze
Nov. 3
Average Last Freeze
April 6
Warmest Month July (88˚F avg high) Coldest Month
January (47˚F avg high)
Average Snowfall/year
6.5 inches
Rainiest Month
March (5 inches)
Average Precipitation/ year
48 inches
Taxes
The state of Tennessee does not have a personal income tax. The state sales tax rate is 7 percent and the Knox County sales tax rate is 2.25 percent (9.25 percent total). Property taxes vary based on location.
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Local Government Offices Counties listed are part of the Innovation Valley footprint. Cities listed are the top metros within the same area.
Knox County
City of Morristown
Mayor Glenn Jacobs 400 Main Street Knoxville, TN 37902 (865) 215-2005 www.knoxcounty.org
Mayor Gary Chesney 100 West First North St. Morristown, TN 37814 (423) 581-0100 www.mymorristown.com
City of Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero 400 Main Street Knoxville, TN 37902 (865) 215-2000 Dial 3-1-1 for info on city services www.knoxvilletn.gov
Hamblen County Mayor Bill Brittain 511 West Second North St. Morristown, TN 37814 (423) 586-1931 www.hamblencountytn.gov
Jefferson County Mayor Alan Palmieri 758 Lakewood Drive Jefferson City, TN 37760 www.jeffersoncountytn.gov
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank 100 North Main Street Clinton, TN 37716-3617 (865) 457-6200 www.andersontn.org
Loudon County Mayor Buddy Bradshaw 100 River Road Loudon, TN 37774 (865) 458-4664 www.loudoncounty-tn.gov
City of Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch 200 South Tulane Avenue Oak Ridge, TN 37830 www.oakridgetn.gov
Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell 341 Court Street Maryville, TN 37804 (865) 273-5700 www.blounttn.org
City of Alcoa Mayor Don Mull 223 Associates Boulevard Alcoa, TN 37701-1948 (865) 380-4700 www.cityofalcoa-tn.gov
City of Maryville Mayor Tom Taylor 400 West Broadway Avenue Maryville, TN 37801 (865) 273-3900 www.maryvillegov.com
Monroe County Mayor Tim Yates 105 College Street Madisonville, TN 37354 (423) 442-3981 www.monroegovernment.org
Roane County
Voter Registration Residents can register to vote in person at the following locations: County Clerk’s Offices County Election Commission Office Public Libraries Register of Deeds Offices Or during a transaction with one of the following: Department of Health (WIC program) Department of Human Services Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Department of Mental Health Department of Safety (motor vehicles division) Department of Veterans Services There is also a form online at sos.tn.gov/ products/elections/register-vote that can be filled out and filed directly with the county election commission.
Utilities Electric & Gas First Utility District of Knox County.............................(865) 966-9741 Hallsdale Powell Utility District ........................... (865) 922-7547 Knox Chapman Utility District............................(865) 577-4497 Knoxville Utilities Board.................................(865) 524-2911 Lenoir City Utilities Board...............................(844) 687-5282 Northeast Knox Utility District............................(865) 687-5345 West Knox Utility District............................ (865) 690-2521
Telephone/Internet/Digital & Cable TV (Residential)
Ron Woody, County Executive 200 E. Race Street Kingston, TN 37763 (865) 376-5578 www.roanecountytn.gov
AT&T.................................. (800) 331-0500 Comcast........................... (800) 266-2278 Frontier............................ (844) 316-6860 WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone......................... (866) 376-7003 TDS Telecom....................(866) 571-6662 Windstream....................(866) 445-5880
Registrations
Waste Management/Recycling
State of Tennessee Vehicle Registration New residents and those relocating to the state can obtain a vehicle title from their local county clerk’s office after emissions testing (if it is required by the county). Visit www. tn.gov/revenue/title-and-registration for more information and county clerks’ locations.
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Waste Connections of Tennessee, Inc............. (865) 522-0078 Waste Management, Inc. of Tennessee.................(865) 525-0529
Transportation
Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) is the city of Knoxville’s transit system, operating buses, trolleys, and paratransit service across the city. KAT carries more than 3 million passenger trips each year. For more information about KAT visit, www.katbus.com.
Public School Districts Alcoa City Schools (865) 984-0531 www.alcoaschools.net
Anderson County Schools (865) 463-2800 www2.acs.ac
Blount County Schools (865) 984-1212 www.blountk12.org
Hamblen County Schools (423) 586-7700 www.hcboe.net
Tate’s School of Discovery
Tennessee College of Applied Technology
(865) 693-3021 www.TatesSchool.com
(865) 546-5567 www.tcatknoxville.edu
Webb School of Knoxville (865) 693-0011 www.webbschool.org
For a full list of Knoxville area private schools visit www.privateschoolreview.com
Colleges, Universities & Technical Schools
Jefferson County Schools
(List only includes members of the Knoxville Chamber)
(865) 397-3194 www.jc-schools.net
Bellevue University
Knox County Schools (865) 594-1800 www.knoxschools.org
Lenoir City Schools (865) 986-8058 www.lenoircityschools.com
Loudon County (865) 458-5411 www.loudoncounty.org
Maryville City Schools
(865) 440-6981 www.bellevue.edu
Carson-Newman University (865) 471-2000 www.cn.edu
Crown College
Tennessee Wesleyan College (423) 745-7504 www.tnweslyan.edu
Tusculum College (865) 636-7312 www.tusculum.edu
University of Tennessee-Knoxville (865) 974-1000 www.utk.edu
WGU Tennessee (855) 948-8495 http://tennessee.wgu.edu
Regional Hospitals (List only includes members of the Knoxville Chamber)
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital (865) 541-8000
Fort Loudoun Medical Center (865) 271-6000
(865) 938-8186 www.thecrowncollege.com
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
Johnson University
Jefferson Memorial Hospital
(865) 573-4517 www.johnsonu.edu
(865) 541-1111
(865) 471-2500
LaFollette Medical Center
(865) 982-7121 www.maryvilleschools.org
Lincoln Memorial University
Oak Ridge Schools
(423) 869-3611 www.lmunet.edu
LeConte Medical Center
(865) 425-9001 www.ortn.edu
Maryville College
Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge
Roane County
(865) 597-2687 www.maryvillecollege.edu
(865) 376-5592 www.roaneschools.com
Pellissippi State
Select Private Schools
(865) 694-6400 www.pstcc.edu
Roane State Community College
(List only includes members of the Knoxville Chamber)
(865) 354-3000 www.roanstate.edu
Clayton-Bradley STEM Academy
South College
(865) 494-1222 www.claytonbradleyacademy.org
Episcopal School of Knoxville (865) 777-9032 www.esknoxville.org
(865) 251-1800 www.southcollegetn.edu
Strayer University (865) 288-6000 www.strayer.edu/campus-locations/ tennessee/knoxville
(423) 907-1200
(865) 429-6100
(865) 835-1000
Newport Medical Center (423) 625-2200
North Knoxville Medical Center (865) 859-8000
Parkwest Medical Center (865) 373-1200
Roane Medical Center (865) 882-1323
Turkey Creek Medical Center (865) 218-7092
University of Tennessee Medical Center (865) 305-9896
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SERVANTS SCHOLARS DISCIPLES
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By: Lynsey Wilson
Regally situated amid a region abounding in nature’s most treasured gifts is the thriving city of Knoxville, the metropolis of East Tennessee, and a commercial mart of golden promise and boundless opportunity. The thrift, enterprise, progress and development of Knoxville form a conspicuous page in the history of human achievement in the commonwealth, and this municipality today, with its broad streets, attractive business houses, great industrial enterprises and charming homes, evidences at once the superior attainments of its inhabitants. Brains and energy, together with enlarged opportunities for business operations, tell the story of the rise of a splendid city that is not wanting in a single element of the highest modern civilization. -The City of Knoxville, Tenn. and Vicinity, and Their Resources, 1906
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D
istributed by the Chamber of Commerce in 1906, The City of Knoxville, Tenn. and Vicinity, and Their Resources, was the organization’s second, widelydistributed marketing piece aimed at attracting new business to the region. On Feb. 19, 1869, the Hon. Oliver Perry Temple shared his economic development plan for the city with the Industrial Association of Knoxville. His plan, the city’s first attempt at attracting new businesses, was published in two versions: one for local residents and one for prospective businesses. While Temple’s promotion of ample plowing days in January and high pasture fields suitable for raising Angora goat herds may not attract new and expanding businesses in 2019, his purpose, recorded in the March 29, 1869 edition of the Memphis Daily Appeal, is crucial to the modern Chamber of Commerce. “On the 19th, I attended a meeting held by the Industrial Association of Knoxville, organized for the purpose of disseminating information concerning all industrial subjects, and enlisting business men and capitalists in the encouragement of home industry,” writes Herman Bokum, commissioner of immigration for the state of Tennessee. “On the 23rd I visited Chattanooga, and took part in a movement which aims at the organization of an industrial association similar to the one which has done so much good in the city of Knoxville.” Despite significant historical changes and a myriad of titles, the association, known today as the Knoxville Chamber, has maintained a singular focus - doing good for the city. “The chamber of commerce exists for the benefit of its members and the good of its community,” said Mike Edwards, president and CEO of the Knoxville Chamber. “How you serve them best may change over time, but when
you lose sight of that, when you stop meeting their needs, you cease to exist.”
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT In 2008, the Knoxville Chamber led the creation of Innovation Valley, a seven-county economic development partnership aimed at marketing all of the region’s advantages regardless of political boundaries. Since its inception, the initiative has created nearly 27,000 new jobs and generated $5.8 billion in capital investment, but driving economic prosperity isn’t a new focus for the organization. In a February 1869 speech to the Industrial Association of Knoxville, the precursor to the present-day Chamber of Commerce, Temple shared his economic development plan for the city. His plan, now preserved in the Library of Congress as a cultural artifact, hinged on creating new jobs, attracting investors and building a sustainable economy for East Tennessee. Those same tenets guide economic development efforts today. From recruiting Lifetime Products and Cirrus Aircraft to retaining the operations headquarters for Discovery Communications, Inc., the Knoxville Chamber diligently promotes the region to key
audiences and actively recruits new business from target industries. “New business recruitment and existing industry expansion or retention stimulate revenue growth across the region and improves quality of life for all residents,” said Doug Lawyer, vice president of economic development at the Knoxville Chamber. “Early efforts centered around industries that would support a more agrarian society. Today, we leverage resources like the University of Tennessee, Tennessee Valley Authority and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to target businesses in advanced technology and manufacturing; corporate services; creative media services; energy and transportation.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT “One of the duties of the Chamber of Commerce is to foster programs for the benefit of the City until such time as they have progressed far enough to stand alone.” - H.G. Bonner & C.F. Holland, Knoxville Sentinel, 1931 Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The revitalization of Downtown Knoxville. Dogwood Arts Festival. JuRELOCATION GUIDE knoxvillechamber.com | 13
nior Achievement of East Tennessee. 1982 World’s Fair. Leadership Knoxville. Knoxville Entrepreneur Center. Each of these organizations, initiatives or events are a source of community pride, and each has at least one thing in common – the Knoxville Chamber played a key role in their beginnings.
KEY COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS Great Smoky Mountains National Park – The Knoxville Chamber created a working committee to support the Great Smoky Mountain National Park movement. In 1925, the organization raised $5,000 to fund a chartered train trip and picnic on proposed park grounds for the Tennessee Legislature. This trip was crucial in swaying the legislature to pass a bill establishing the park. The Chamber also played a key role in promoting visitation to the Smokies, organizing a nine-day, promotion train tour of Florida by 200 park advocates in 1926. Downtown Knoxville – The Chamber was a leader in the revitalization of Downtown Knoxville in the late 1950s and early 1960s, spearheading improvements to Gay Street and Market Square, construction of the Civic Coliseum and establishing the annual Christmas Parade. These efforts contributed to Knoxville’s 1963 designation as an All-America City. Today, the Central Business Improvement District (CBID), whose mission is to ensure Downtown Knoxville remains an asset for the city, is housed in the Chamber’s Market Square offices. Dogwood Arts Festival – The first festival in April 1961, created in response to a 1947 travel article that labeled Knoxville as the ugliest city in
N A T I O N A L
America, was partially funded by a $20,000 contribution from the Chamber. As co-sponsors with the Junior League of Knoxville, a Chamber staff member served as co-chair of the anticipated event for its first 25 years. 1982 World’s Fair – Involved in discussions about hosting the fair as early as 1974, the Knoxville Chamber organized charter flights to Seattle and Spokane for more than 140 civic leaders to research event logistics and economic impact. During the event, the organization’s assistant director of public affairs ran a program that paired travelers with private residents willing to rent their homes during the Fair. Junior Achievement of East Tennessee, Leadership Knoxville & Knoxville Entrepreneur Center – As a founding member of these organizations, the Chamber helped establish lasting access to programs and resources that engage the current and future leaders of Knoxville’s regional business community. Leadership Knoxville and the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center are both located in the Chamber offices.
EDUCATION & WORKFORCE Availability of a skilled workforce is critical to maintaining a competitive edge in new business recruitment and retention, and one of the Chamber’s primary responsibilities is helping to meet the short- and long-term labor needs of the region’s future and existing industry. Early in the organization’s history, the Chamber partnered with the University of Tennessee to retain regional talent by establishing a Junior Chamber that helped graduating seniors
B R A N D S
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find area jobs. Later, it raised funds for the Business Encourages Students and Teachers (BEST) program that rewarded teachers and administrators who demonstrated excellence in education. Today, the Chamber facilitates programs connecting educators and students with workforce opportunities and exposing them to skills required by modern-day employers. While significant improvements have been made in Tennessee’s education system, Chamber President and CEO Mike Edwards points to workforce development as an area where the Chamber can have future impact. “Workforce is a key component of economic development,” he said. “Employers want to know that a community, or a region, can meet their needs. We’ve made strides in this area, but our trajectory is still too flat. No economy is going to work unless it’s producing graduates that have the knowledge and skill necessary to do the job, and we can help our region accomplish that goal.” Throughout the Chamber’s history of name changes, evolving community responsibilities and multiple Downtown office locations, one thing has remained the same – its purpose. In 1869, it was characterized as “doing good for the city;” in 1906, “help everything that helps Knoxville;” in 1928, “benefitting the upbuilding of Knoxville” and in the 1960s, “we must be better.” But ultimately, no matter the era, the organization and its staff hope what was said in the Knoxville Sentinel in 1925 is still true at its sesquicentennial and can still be said in 2169 when it reaches the tricentennial, “The Chamber of Commerce has been connected in some way with every good, civic step taken in the city…”
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Courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, US Dept. of Energy.
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Advancements in Manufacturing, Materials Drive Regional Innovation By: Lynsey Wilson
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nox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs folded his 6-foot7-inch frame into a 3-D printed Shelby Cobra during a November 2018 visit to Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. “They can customize this Cobra for me just by printing it bigger,” the former professional wrestler joked on social media. The replica, which couples new plug-and-play components with classic design, is just one example of the advanced manufacturing breakthroughs happening across Innovation Valley in both the public and private sector. “Bringing economic development together with private industry and powerhouse research partners is a perfect
combination to help us grow upon the strong momentum in the advanced manufacturing sector in our region,” said Doug Lawyer, vice president for economic development at the Knoxville Chamber. “Initiatives like the Composites Coalition help connect the public and private sectors to drive regional economic prosperity in these future growth industries.”
FOCUS ON THE FUTURE Home to world-class research institutions like ORNL, Y-12 National Security Complex, and the University of Tennessee, the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley is one of the nation’s premier science and technology centers. These assets fuel innovation in advanced materials like
carbon fiber and other composites, which are used in additive manufacturing. In 2017, the State of Tennessee further capitalized on these assets and created the Composites Coalition. The Coalition, led by the Knoxville Chamber in partnership with ORNL, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD), the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing (IACMI) and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, aims to recruit more composites-related companies to locate research, manufacturing and distribution operations in Tennessee. The advanced composites industry is growing at nearly 15 percent per year in the United States, accounting for 300,000 new, high-paying jobs over the past five years.
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quarters’ home state and its partners by expanding this strong regional innovation ecosystem through the Composites Coalition. Just like the materials we are developing, we are stronger together.” The Coalition’s efforts have already paid dividends for Innovation Valley, securing over $60 million of capital investment and creating nearly 1,000 new jobs across the region.
PRIVATE SECTOR PROGRESS
RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Morristown, TN INVESTMENT: $50 million EMPLOYMENT: 600 jobs
Tazewell, TN INVESTMENT: $4 million EMPLOYMENT: 25 jobs
Jefferson City, TN EMPLOYMENT: 300 jobs
Surgoinsville, TN INVESTMENT: $7 million EMPLOYMENT: 54 jobs
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The next decade promises even more robust growth as advanced composites materials are utilized in the automotive, aerospace and energy sectors. “Tennessee’s advanced composites resources are catalyzing economic impact through workforce development, capital investment and technology innovation,” said John A. Hopkins, interim CEO of IACMI. “IACMI – The Composites Institute is pleased to support future positive impact for our head-
This recent influx of carbon fiber and composite companies is only the latest in a string of private sector relocations and expansions in Innovation Valley. Composite equipment manufacturer, Magnum Venus Products (MVP), has been operating in Knoxville since 2015. “MVP loves the many connections in the composites industry this area provides, as well as the tremendous benefit provided by the convenient logistical supply chain located in and around the area,” said Peter Hedger Jr., director of marketing and communications at MVP. “We are now situated within less than 48-hours of 80 percent of our customer base. This is a huge cost and time savings for MVP and our customers. We love the University of Tennessee and the research it provides the company. In addition, we have seen a massive uptick in our industry of composites in this area. ORNL and the cities of Knoxville and Oak Ridge have set up a robust ecosystem of startups and research that has led to the area being coined the
“Silicon Valley of the composites industry.” Local Motors, an Arizona-based ground mobility company, operates the company’s first “built from scratch” microfactory in Knoxville. Work done at the facility is revolutionizing the automotive manufacturing industry with road-ready, 3D-printed vehicles like the Shelby Cobra on display at MDF. “Being here, in this location in East Tennessee, for me, has been one of the most rewarding things we ever could’ve had in our product development road map,” said Jay Rogers, CEO of Local Motors. “One of the things that I, as a CEO, had to think about before I brought part of my team out here to work with Oak Ridge is what the quality of life would be not only socially but intellectually. “You have 4,000 people that work at the Oak Ridge National Lab complex, and that’s the same at Y-12. About 40 minutes away, you have 40,000 students and an incredible faculty at UT. The bonds they have created between them is leaving a technology corridor in between that is ripe for manufacturing disruption, and that’s one of the major reasons why we are here.” The aerospace industry has also experienced continued growth with companies like Cirrus Aircraft, a composite-based aircraft manufacturing company, locating their Vision Center in Blount County and Knoxville-based Volunteer Aerospace, Inc. utilizing state-of-the-art machines for 3D printing helicopter engine and rocket parts from powdered aluminum. “Our sights are aimed high as we develop a world class and gamechanging customer facility in Tennessee and as we make good on our promise to enhance the customer experience to a level never seen before in general aviation. We couldn’t be more excited as we take this next step on that journey here in Knoxville,” said Todd Simmons, president of customer experience at Cirrus Aircraft. In support of these companies and expanded flight offerings from McGhee Tyson Airport, Innovation Valley and the Knoxville Chamber formed the
Competitive Airfare Partnership (CAP). This regional initiative promotes competitive airfare rates for flights originating in Knoxville and works with major airlines to bring needed routes to the region. “It is through strong community partnerships and the attractiveness of our region’s tourism market that our airport is able to recruit opportunities like the one announced today,” said Eddie Mannis, chairman of the Metropolitan Airport Authority Board of Commissioners, at the 2018 announcement of a new Allegiant Aircraft base in Innovation Valley. “We appreciate
tioned for success as advanced manufacturing opportunities grow. Central to sustaining and accelerating Innovation Valley’s current rate of growth and the continued creation of initiatives that fuel future success is the region’s willingness to collaborate. “Regional economic development is proven to be the most effective strategy in recruitment and retention,” said Rhonda Rice Clayton, executive vice president of the Knoxville Chamber and executive administrator of Innovation Valley. “We are fortunate to not only have an abundance of resources in our region but are surround-
the support of our region’s economic development and tourism organizations.”
ed by partners who are willing to bring their community resources to the table for the benefit of everyone. “Many regions tout their assets for advanced manufacturing, but there is only one that has a national lab and nationally-recognized research university. Marketing ourselves regionally, as Innovation Valley, allows us to showcase all the advantages of doing business in East Tennessee.”
COLLABORATION KEEPS KNOXVILLE GROWING In a 2018 study, the Global Manufacturing Competitive Index found that economies who invest in robust innovation ecosystems are best posi-
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Wherever You Are, Covenant Health is Always Nearby. Just Like We Promised.
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Downtown Knoxville
Parkwest Medical Center West Knoxville
Methodist Medical Center Oak Ridge
Fort Loudoun Medical Center Lenoir City
Roane Medical Center Harriman
LeConte Medical Center Sevierville
Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System Morristown
Cumberland Medical Center Crossville
Claiborne Medical Center Tazewell
We are the top performing healthcare network in our region, with more than 10,000 employees and 1,500 affiliated physicians across East Tennessee and the Cumberland Plateau. And we are honored to care for more than one million patients every year as we fulfill our mission to improve the quality of life through better health in the communities we serve.
Need a Physician? Call (865) 541-4500 or visit www.covenanthealth.com/findaphysician and let us find the right physician for you.
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PROUD MEMBERS OF COVENANT HEALTH Claiborne Medical Center | Cumberland Medical Center | Fort Loudoun Medical Center | Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center LeConte Medical Center | Methodist Medical Center | Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System | Parkwest Medical Center Peninsula, a Division of Parkwest | Roane Medical Center | Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center | Thompson Cancer Network Covenant Breast Centers | Covenant Joint Centers | Covenant HomeCare and Hospice | Covenant Medical Group Covenant Sleep Centers | Covenant Therapy Centers | Fort Sanders West | Fort Sanders Health and Fitness Center | Nanny’s
By: Amy Nolan
Knoxville residents enjoy state-of-the-art medical care as the region boasts more than 23,000 medical professionals in specialties ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics.
T
he city is home to Tennessee’s flagship academic medical center; a nonprofit healthcare system named by Forbes magazine as one of America’s Best Employers; acute care hospitals operated by a Forbes
500 company; and a comprehensive regional pediatric hospital. As an academic medical center, UT Medical Center develops physicians and healthcare providers for the future; carries out research activities to advance diagnostic and treatment
methods; and provides state-of-the-art care through board-certified physicians, nurses and medical staff. Its Centers of Excellence include the Brain and Spine Institute, Cancer Institute, Center for Women & Children’s Health, Emergency and Trauma Ser-
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vices, Heart Lung Vascular Institute and the Advanced Orthopaedic Center. An example of this combination of clinical research and compassionate care is the Pat Summitt Clinic, a strategic partnership between the legendary basketball coach’s foundation and the medical center that officially opened in January 2017. The medical center currently serves 3,000 patients and their families at the clinic and projects the need will double to 6,000 in the next five years. The region’s largest employer is Covenant Health, the parent organization to nine acute-care hospitals, outpatient and specialty services, and Covenant Medical Group, its fastgrowing physician practice division. Named by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers in 2016 and 2017, Covenant Health employs more than 10,000 residents and is affiliated with 1,500 physicians. Covenant Health and its member hospitals have been recognized both nationally and regionally for quality patient care. For example, the health system previously has been named in the top 20 percent among health systems in a national study by Truven Health Analytics. Quality awards have also come from The Joint Commission, VHA, and others. Covenant HomeCare has been recognized as the only home health agency in Tennessee and only one of 10 in the nation to reach Milestone 4 of a five-step Home Health Quality Improvement initiative aimed at preventing heart attack and strokes.
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The third major hospital system in the Knoxville area is Tennova Healthcare, which encompasses 16 hospitals and numerous health care service facilities across Tennessee. Tennova provides medical services and procedures at three hospitals in North and West Knoxville, and another three in more rural East Tennessee counties. Tennova is owned by Community Health Systems, based in Franklin, Tenn., one of the nation’s largest for-profit health system operators. “Because children are special,” Knoxville’s East Tennessee Children’s Hospital is certified by the state of Tennessee as one of four Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Centers in Tennessee and is accredited by the Joint Commission. The hospital provides a unique environment and offers the services of many different pediatric subspecialties to care for children. Children’s Hospital also works jointly with the University of Tennessee Medical Center to ensure that injured children across the region receive trauma care at the institution most appropriate for the child’s needs. Over the past two years, the hospital has begun treating patients in its Scripps Networks Tower, named for a generous donation from the Knoxvillebased lifestyle media company. The tower includes a new neonatal intensive care unit with 44 private rooms so families can remain close to their newborns. Other features include an inpatient/outpatient surgery center, family lounge and resource center overlooking a rooftop garden and a computerized pediatric simulation center.
In part because of the significant investments that continue to be made in technology and facilities by health systems, Knoxville boasts a healthy supply of physicians and has been on the forefront of helping them to adapt to an ever-changing health care environment. Summit Medical Group is East Tennessee’s largest primary care organization, comprised of more than 220 physicians who engage in almost 1 million patient encounters annually. Physicians groups affiliated with University Physicians Association and Covenant Health also benefit from the efficiencies those organizations bring to administration, allowing physicians and other medical professionals to focus on patient care. The region’s quality of care has also benefited from the brainpower that the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory bring to Innovation Valley. Longtime Knoxville entrepreneur Dr. Terry Douglass, a UT-educated engineer and collaborator with lab researchers, is the founder of Provision Health Alliance, a world-class comprehensive clinical outpatient center for cancer care with a wellness focus. The core is the Proton Therapy Center, using an innovative form of radiation therapy that focuses beams on tumors and results in less damage to adjacent tissue. Douglass’s firm ProNova is developing smaller, less expensive equipment that could make proton therapy more accessible worldwide. Whatever your medical needs are, Knoxville cares for you.
FIGHT CANCER WITH
Proton Therapy. Patient Recommended. Physician Approved.
THE MOST INNOVATIVE CANCER TREATMENT IN THE WORLD, AVAILABLE IN KNOXVILLE, TN! Proton Therapy precisely targets tumors and can significantly reduce the amount of radiation exposure a patient’s body receives. PROTON
CONVENTIONAL RADIATION THERAPY
CANCERS/TUMORS TREATED
RADIATION THERAPY
(NOT COMPREHENSIVE LIST)
Prostate cancer Breast cancer Head and neck tumors Lung tumors
Tumors near the spine Gastrointestinal tumors Sarcomas Connective/soft tissue tumors
Pediatric tumors Brain tumors Base-of-skull tumors
Orbital and eye tumors Recurrent cancers
TUMOR HEALTHY ORGAN
PROTON THERAPY KNOXVILLE
RELOCATION GUIDE knoxvillechamber.com | 23 6450 Provision Cares Way, Knoxville, TN 37909 • ProtonBenefits.com • (855) 566-1600
Image courtesy of Knox County Schools
By: Lynsey Wilson
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Knoxville not only boasts an excellent quality of life and vibrant economy, but also has some of the best K-12 education opportunities. With an outstanding public-school system and a variety of private school options, parents relocating to the area can rest assured their children receive a top-notch education. Knox County Schools’ dedicated education professionals serve more than 59,000 students at the elementary, middle and high school level. With a mission of providing “excellence for every child,” the district is committed to continuous improvement – maintaining academic rigor and engaging students with skills relevant to their future workforce. “The foundation to succeeding in this area is rigorous program standards that provide hands-on context to academic material and prepare students for the world of work,” said Bob Thomas, Knox County Superintendent of Schools. “The more educational opportunities and industry certifications we can provide to our students, the more students will be able to do what their diploma says they can do.” In Nov. 2017, Knox County School students broke the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people learning to code at the same time. The initiative, spearheaded by a local entrepreneur in partnership with the school system, was designed to highlight the region’s attention to technology and education. “Computing positions account for roughly two-thirds of all STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) jobs available in the country,” said Mike Edwards, president and CEO of the Knoxville Chamber and member of the governor-appointed Tennessee Board of Education. “In the future, the computer science skills currently required by software and advanced manufacturing companies will be necessary for employment in all industries. Initiatives like the worldrecord attempt are important for engaging and equipping our students to compete for these jobs.” Knox County Schools continue to focus on excellence in K-12 education with the Knox Schools 2020 strategic plan, which emphasizes higher academic expectations with rigorous curriculum, per-
sonalized learning and strong learning foundations. These goals align with the State’s 2020 plan which include: Tennessee ranking in the top half of states on the NAEP; the average ACT composite score in Tennessee is a 21; and the majority of high school graduates that year earn a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree. “These goals are bold, but achievable,” said Edwards. PRIVATE-SCHOOL OPTIONS In addition to an excellent publicschool system, the Knoxville area offers great private-school options. There are 49 private schools in the Knoxville area serving almost 10,000 students. The Episcopal School of Knoxville is an independent, co-educational school that offers academic excellence and character training for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. With small class sizes, the school seeks to instill a lifelong love of learning in its students and enrich their lives through intellectual, cultural, and spiritual growth. For more than 50 years, Webb School of Knoxville has offered comprehensive curriculum for students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade. The school boasts an impressive 100 percent college placement rate for its graduates. Webb prides itself on preparing its students to become tomorrow’s leaders through teaching them how to think critically and be socially conscious. Tate’s School of Discovery offers a robust learning experience for elementary and middle school children. The school builds its curriculum around “brain-compatible learning,” which aims to shape students through multiple instructional techniques and strong character development. Tate’s School has several specialty area classes, including art, music, physical education, and Spanish. RELOCATION RELOCATIONGUIDE GUIDEknoxvillechamber.com knoxvillechamber.com ||25 25
Located in Maryville, the ClaytonBradley STEM Academy is creating a unique learning experience for its students by partnering with the business community. The school offers STEM-based curriculum for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Co-founded by Clayton Homes, the school has teamed up with area companies and organizations to provide real-world experiences in the classroom. With the combination of STEM curriculum and practical business applications, the academy aims to prepare its students for tomorrow’s workforce. HIGHER-EDUCATION ACCESSIBILITY Graduating high school seniors have the opportunity to receive two years of community college or technical school tuition-free through the Tennessee Promise program. The program was created to address Gov. Bill Haslam’s “Drive to 55” mission, which aims to increase the percentage of Tennesseans with post-secondary certifications or degrees from 32 percent to 55 percent by 2025. In order to reach this goal, the state needs an additional 494,000 degrees or certifications, particularly in programs provided at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology and community colleges. The program got off to a strong start in 2015, as community colleges and TCATs across the state welcomed more than 15,000 Tennessee Promise students. Tennessee Promise students are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA and complete community service hours to remain eligible for the scholarship. Post-secondary access and success program tnAchieves is helping Tennessee Promise students meet that benchmark. The program provides participating students with mentors that will coach them through the college application process and their first year or more of school.
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ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Brewing and Distilling Center, Inc...............30
Gibson Hotel Management.........................33
MINI of Knoxville...........................................3
Christian Academy of Knoxville..................11
Gouffon Moving & Storage.........................30
Pellissippi State Community
Clayton-Bradley Academy ..........................29
Hallsdale-Powell Utility District...................34
College......................................................26
Covenant Health.........................................20
Innovation Valley...........................................2
Provision Cares Proton Therapy..................23
Crye-Leike Relocation.................................15
Introduction Knoxville.................................31
Sitel..............................................................15
Downtown Realty
Jewelry Television........................................28
Tailgate..........................................................3
Kimberly Dixon Hamilton..........................18
Johnson University......................................26
Tennessee State Bank.................................15
Est8te .........................................................5
Knoxville Area Transit..................................11
UT Federal Credit Union...............................5
First Priority Title Company, Inc..................31
Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center.....27
Webb School of Knoxville...........................29
For more information on advertising opportunities with the Knoxville Chamber, call 865-637-4550.
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