October 2020 Newsletter
NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS!

Khumalo Foot & Ankle Clinic
Dexter Digital Advertising, Inc
 
Are you interested in becoming a member of the Obion County Chamber of Commerce? Click here to join our chamber!
The Citizens Bank Celebrates 90 Years in Business

On September 18, 2020, The Citizens Bank Union City Branch held customer appreciation day to celebrate 90 years of The Citizens Bank. The event consisted of a lunch for customers and the Shred truck parking at the bank. What a great day for The Citizens Bank! Pictured to the right is Brooke Coffey presenting the bank employees with an anniversary certificate.
Mask and Thermometer Delivery
The safety and health of Obion County remains a top priority as COVID-19 continues. Here at the Chamber, we have been delivering masks and thermometers to local industry, schools, and police. Pictured on left is Obion County Schools receiving their delivery of masks and thermometers on September 17th. (Pictured left to right: George Leake, Lindsay Frilling, Chasity Homra, Superintendent Tim Watkins)


OC Sheriff Department
Williams Sausage
Kohler
Blue Bank Resort Unveils New Bar Area in Fish House Restaurant

On September 16, Blue Bank Resort unveiled the new bar area in their restaurant with a ribbon cutting. The resort has been working hard for months to make sure that everything was perfect for their upcoming events. They hosted a pop up shop event the following weekend to show off their new updates. Pictured to right is Hayes Family with Lindsay Frilling, Scott Williams, Brooke Coffey and Bre Roser.
Obion County Blog
If you want your business featured, feel free to reach out to Brooke at membership@obioncounty.org!
Trudys Kids Cafe
"What better way to start your morning than with the lovely ladies at Trudy’s Kids Cafe in downtown Union City!

Trudy’s Kids Cafe is an organization that believes no child in Obion County should ever be hungry. Trudy’s serves free meals to children up to the age of 18 Monday through Friday. One thing that stood out to me is that they are able to serve breakfast, lunch, AND dinner to children. The employees deliver meals all across the county for kids to pick up as well as have a full cafe that welcomes you to eat, work on homework, use the computers in the cafe, and feel the love poured into the community each and every day. The hard work and passion present is noticed and appreciated all across the county."
Virtual V.I.B.E. Event
On September 15th, we hosted a virtual Very Important Business Event. Speaking was Katie Mantooth with the UT Martin Office of Career Planning and Development (CPAD). She spoke to the group on employer services and student engagement strategies. The event was very successful. One of the key takeaways from the event was the use of Handshake for businesses. Handshake is a great tool for connecting business with students. Be sure to view the flyer below!
TNECD Launches New Certified Sites Directory

TNECD rolled out its new and improved Certified Sites Directory.

The interactive directory of shovel-ready sites makes it even easier to find the perfect location to do business. Updates include improved filters, mobile functionality, location detail and more. Check it out here.
View this CN Rail Site Certification Flyer
Union City Schools Received $15,000 Grant from the Bayer Fund to enhance STEM Curriculum at UC Elementary School
Science, technology, engineering and math programs for third and fourth graders at UCES will benefit from the Grow Rural Education gift that will help purchase an array of STEM-related materials for students and programs.

Union City Schools submitted a grant application describing their STEM-focused project. A Farmer’s Advisory Council consisting of 30 famers across the country and a panel of math and science teachers reviewed the applications and selected the winning school districts.
America’s Farmers programs have awarded more than $57 million to rural America in the last 10 years.

Paige McMillan, a member of the UC High School science department, has been the facilitator of the gift and is purchasing materials for elementary school students.
Grow Rural Education grants have helped schools purchase an array of STEM-related materials, such as augmented-reality sandboxes, weather-forecasting and robotics equipment. Union City Schools will use the GRE funds for a variety of projects during the 2020-21 school year.
 
“As educators, we are constantly thinking of new ways to engage our students and help them realize the importance of STEM skills now and in the future,” said Rene Flood, Director of Teachers and Learning at UC Schools. “We would like to thank the local farmers who nominated our district to apply for the Grow Rural Education Grant, as well as Bayer Fund’s Farmer Advisory Council who believed we could make a difference with the funds.”]
To qualify for a Grow Rural Education grant, farmers nominate a public school district to compete for a merit-based $15,000 grant. School districts that are nominated, then submit a grant application describing their STEM-focused project.
 
“Bayer Fund and the farmers we partner with feel incredibly passionate about Grow Rural Education because we’re investing in our children – who are our future – by enhancing STEM learning in rural public school districts,” said Al Mitchell, President, Bayer Fund. “We are always amazed by the incredible support of local farmers, as well as the countless ways Grow Rural Education brings teachers, students and people in the community together to set children up for success.”
 
To view a complete list of winners or to learn more about the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program, visit AmericasFarmers.com or follow along on Facebook at facebook.com/AmericasFarmers. Farmers are also encouraged to participate in Bayer Fund’s America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, which is accepting farmer enrollments through November 1, 2020.
 
Grow Communities protects the programs and institutions that keep farmers and their communities thriving by allowing farmers to enroll for a chance to direct a $2,500 donation to their favorite local eligible nonprofit organization.
Become a tnAchieves Mentor

tnAchieves, the non-profit partnering organization to the TN Promise, is in need of volunteer mentors to support local students in the college-going process! Mentors spend about one hour per month reminding students of important deadlines, serving as a trusted college resource, and, most importantly, encouraging students to reach their full potential. Many TN Promise students will be the first in their family to go to college and need just a little extra assistance.
 
This year, tnAchieves is introducing new opportunities for mentors to engage with students. To ensure mentors can remain connected to their students in this time, tnAchieves CONNECT is being made available to mentors statewide. This virtual mentoring platform will allow mentors and students to continue meaningful, impactful discussions throughout the college-going process. It will also ensure mentors can continue serving students from home and on their own schedule.
 
Please consider applying to serve with the class of 2021! While the time commitment of mentoring is not significant, the opportunity to have a positive impact on a student’s post-secondary prospects certainly is! Mentors will be provided with a comprehensive handbook and training, along with constant support from the tnAchieves team.
 
Those interested in serving as a mentor can learn more and apply at https://tnachieves.org/mentors/, or by contacting Tyler Ford at 309-945-3446/tyler@tnAchieves.org.
Tennessee Top 5 in Leisure Travel Visits

According to a survey conducted by Destination Analysts, Tennessee was the fifth most visited state during the summer travel season. Additionally, Great Smoky Mountains National Park had year-over-year growth for recreational visits, according to data provided by the National Park Service.

Over one-third of American travelers took a leisure trip during this summer, showing an increase in confidence for safe, health-focused travel. The majority of leisure travelers researched coronavirus-related rules and regulations prior to their trip. Readily communicating new health protocols on social media, on your website and other outlets is helpful for incoming and future travelers to your destination.

Destination Analysts reports over half of American travelers are in a “ready to travel” mindset versus needing more time to be ready to travel. Approximately 75% of survey results show travelers have at least tentative trip plans and 32% expect they will travel this fall.

New COVID-19-related travel reports on Tennessee are updated weekly and can be viewed on the Research page of industry.tnvacation.com.
Dyersburg State Receives Over $2.9 Million Renewal for TRIO Grants
 
Dyersburg, Tennessee – The U.S. Department of Education announced that Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) has received renewal for two federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grants and approval for funding for its fourth year of a 5-year grant for TRIO Upward Bound. The SSS grants will serve 268 students and are funded for five years for a total of $2,618,880, while the Upward Bound grant totaling $368,962 will serve 76 first-generation, low-income students from four local high schools including Dyer County, Halls, Lake County and Peabody High Schools. Combined, the grants will provide DSCC with $2,987,842 in assistance.

“We are grateful to receive the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grants for another five years,” states Paul Stewart, director of TRIO programs. “The funds provided through these grants, along with the continued funding for the Upward Bound program, will allow first-generation and low-income students to receive extra academic assistance to help them graduate.” “The grant awards are examples of the faculty and staff at DSCC pursuing external grant funding to support student success. Our efforts have helped improve graduation rates,” as noted by DSCC president Dr. Karen Bowyer.

 "The Obion County Chamber of Commerce provides the professional network and the community influence to support economic growth."
-Emily Sullivan
2020 TN Vacation Guide Available

The Tennessee Vacation Guide, with THREE new covers. *Inside content is the same.


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