Be sure to join us Oct. 19 from 3:45-5 p.m. for an afternoon mixer hosted by Quality Financial Concepts (115 W. Broadway, Maryville). Also, from noon-4 p.m. on Oct. 19, QFC is hosting its annual "Shred-It" Event. QFC will have a licensed shredding service on site and available to the public across from its downtown office on the top level of the municipal garage. All attendees will be entered to win a $25 gift card from Barley's or Sullivan's.

 

GRAINS AND GRITS SET FOR NOV. 4

The second annual Grains and Grits event, a festival of Southern spirits and gourmet grub, will bring together whiskey lovers from around the state for the East Tennessee celebration of the new Tennessee Whiskey Trail, a 26-stop distillery tour across the state of Tennessee organized by the Tennessee Distiller's Guild. All 26 distilleries will gather for the celebration at the Townsend Visitors' Center on Saturday, November 4.

Grains and Grits will be open from 6- 9 p.m. with parking opening at 5 p.m. at the Townsend Visitors' Center located at 7906 East Lamar Alexander Parkway in Townsend. Tickets for Grains and Grits are $65 online at GrainsAndGritsFest.com or $75 the day of the event. Online purchase is suggested as there are a limited number of tickets. The website also includes additional event information, such as a full list of distilleries, venue details and more.

Sponsors for Grains and Grits include MGP, Brooks Grain, Silo Cigars and Robert D. Pinson.

 

FREE LONE SURVIVOR MOVIE VIEWING

Local manufacturer DENSO presents a free viewing of the movie Lone Survivor, which tells the story of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and his team's attempted capture of Taliban leader Ahmad Shah in June 2005, on Monday, Nov. 13 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Harold and Jean Lambert Recital Hall on the Maryville College campus (502 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN).

Free general admission tickets limited to two per person can be ordered through the Clayton Center for the Arts ticket office at 865.981.8590 or online. The movie is rated R and may not be suitable for children under 18.

Donations will be accepted at the viewing for the Lone Survivor Foundation which aids America's wounded service members and their families as they adjust to the effects of their experiences and help them transition into their new normal.

 

LESS THAN 60 TICKETS REMAIN FOR NIGHT WITH THE LONE SURVIVOR

Retired Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and author of the New York Times best-selling book Lone Survivor, which recounts the heroic sacrifices of fellow SEAL team members assigned to Operation Red Wings, is the guest speaker for the Blount Partnership's Best of Blount Awards, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m., at the Clayton Center for the Arts on the Maryville College campus.

Tickets are on sale for $35 (plus taxes and fees) by calling the Clayton Center at 865-981-8590 or online.

Luttrell takes us from the rigors of SEAL training and what it takes to join the America's elite fighting force, to the battle on the mountain, into his family's experience of community support and generosity, and back to his own incredible story of survival and grace. In powerful narrative, he weaves a rich account of courage and sacrifice, honor and patriotism, community and destiny that audiences will find both wrenching and life-affirming.

In his emotionally raw account, Luttrell honors the memories of all those who died, sharing with us the incredible bravery, courage and honor of these extraordinary warriors. He holds their lives up as examples of the SEAL's guiding philosophy.

In January 2014, Luttrell's amazing story made the leap to the big screen with the blockbuster film, Lone Survivor, directed by Peter Berg and starred Mark Wahlberg as Luttrell. The film celebrated a historic open, earning the second biggest January debut of all time.

Sponsors are Massey Electric, Cherokee Millwright, Blount Excavating, Stowers Machinery, Interstate Mechanical, DENSO, Nisus Corp., T.W. Frierson Contractor and First Tennessee Foundation.

 

GET PLACEMENT IN 2018 BASICALLY BLOUNT

The 2018 Basically Blount lifestyle magazine and membership directory is entering production once again. This annual, full-color lifestyle magazine and chamber membership directory is initially distributed to all Chamber members starting Feb. 2018, along with distribution four times throughout the year via area professional offices, newcomers, visitors, and new businesses all looking to relocate to Blount County.

In addition to intriguing stories and area photography that highlight the best of Blount County, Basically Blount also includes a finger-indexed, color-coded directory and buyer's guide of all Chamber members. Chamber members consistently tell us that they keep Basically Blount on hand throughout the year in order to find business products and services when they need them.

We are pleased to offer a variety of advertising opportunities at cost effective rates through our media kit. We have contracted with Marcon Marketing Consultants, a local Chamber member, to handle production and ad sales.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Basically Blount, the importance of supporting the Chamber, and how to get your business involved, contact: Rick Ford of Marcon Marketing at (865) 705-8580.

 

PSCC JOB FAIR

We are pleased to announce that our Blount County Campus Job Fair takes place Wednesday, November 1, 2017 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Pellissippi State Blount County campus (2731 W Lamar Alexander Parkway, Friendsville, TN).

This year we are focusing on part-time and/or seasonal employment opportunities. Also, if a business offers internship or co-op opportunities, we'd like to assist the employer in finding students for those work options.

We hope to have a large variety of employers on hand to answer questions and give our students information about available jobs. Our goal is to offer students increased access to many opportunities and to assist you in your employment needs.

To register for the Job Fair, please go online and complete the RSVP form. RSPV deadline is October 18. We have a limited number of tables and spaces for the Job Fair so we will leave the RSVP link up until all tables are filled or until the October 18 deadline, whichever happens first.

If you have any questions, please contact the Placement Office at 865.694.6559 or via email.

 

MOVERS FOR MUTTS TO AID ANIMALS

The Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville) is serving as a drop off location for the Two Men and a Truck Movers for Mutts collection drive until November 20, to provide necessary pet items to animal shelters and stray pets this fall.

Two Men and a Truck is partnering with shelters, schools, and businesses from areas surrounding Knox and Blount Counties. These locations will serve as drop off points for essential pet items.

 

CHECK OUT OCTOBER MEMBER-TO-MEMBER PROMOTIONS

Member-to-member promotions are here for October check out the offer from Regions Bank, Exxon Mobil, Swagtown and a great deal on radio ads from WKVL. See these and other promotions at member-to-member promotions. New offers are being posted almost daily, so check out the Blount County Chamber of Commerce Member-to-Member promotions online. This Member-to-Member Promotional Program offers you and your company the opportunity to market your products and services to the membership.

 

Here's how it works:
1. Submit a PDF of a service, product or discount you'd like to offer to the Chamber membership to jmuir@blountpartnership.com. Be sure to include an expiration date.
2. An email with all the promotions will be sent out on the final Monday of every month to our member database.
3. All promotions will be posted on www.BlountChamber.com

 

REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL

Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!

 

Local businesses often hire people with more specific product expertise and they invest in their employees for better customer service.

 

Find what you're looking for in the Chamber Directory.

 

GOT AN EVENT OR NEWS? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT

Is your organization hosting an event in the community? Submit it here on our community calendar. If it's a tourism event, please email Ashlee so she can post it on www.SmokyMountains.org.

 

Also, please send us any news releases or good news about your business. We'd love to share it with the community.

 

REMEMBER WHEN

Topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week in 1971 was "Maggie May," by Rod Stewart. The song was released as the B-side of the single "Reason to Believe." In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the song number 131 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.