EPA announces new federal drinking water standards surrounding "forever chemicals" The Environmental Protection Agency has announced new federal regulations regarding drinking water standards surrounding “forever chemicals.” Familiar Names Atop Tennessee’s List of Fastest Growing Counties in 2023 Forgive us if you have heard this one before – Rutherford County has added the most population among Tennessee counties according to the 2023 U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates released on March... The UT Municipal Technical Advisory Service: Serving Tennessee cities and towns for 75 years In what would create a unique and effective partnership that would stand the test of time, Herb Bingham, executive director of the Tennessee Municipal League (TML), introduced legislation that created... Municipal cleanups help Keep Tennessee Beautiful As weather warms across Tennessee, municipalities are conducting their own spring cleanings. Keep Tennessee Beautiful, TML Platinum Level Sponsor and the state affiliate for Keep America Beautiful... News Across Tennessee Firestone to expand Dyersburg facility Firestone Industrial Products officials announced the company will invest $8.9 million to expand manufacturing and distribution at its Firestone Airide facility in Dyersburg. Firestone Airide, a division of Firestone Industrial Products headquartered in Nashville, constructed a new facility at 1901... Chattanooga creates mental health clinics to help underserved residents In response to an urgent need for intensive mental health services in Chattanooga, the Office of Community Health (OCH) has created several mental health clinics aimed at providing vital care to underserved communities in Chattanooga. The services are fully-funded through the U.S. Department of... Nashville receives award for GIS services The city of Nashville has received the Enterprise Approach to GIS award at the 2024 Esri Public Sector CIO Summit, which recognizes organizations who led a significant digital transformation of a project, department, or organization using GIS as a foundation. Nashville won the award for the... St. Joseph cuts ribbon on new city hall Officials cut the ribbon on the new St. Joseph City Hall. The new facility was purchased with a $200,000 loan for 12 years from the Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund. The structure is the former First Tennessee/First Horizon Bank property and will house both the city’s administrative and police... Protomet to open third East Tennessee facility in Rockwood Protomet Corporation officials announced the company will expand its footprint in East Tennessee by establishing engineering and manufacturing operations in Rockwood. Protomet will create 250 new jobs and invest $25 million as the company acquires and retrofits the former Albahealth building on... Corky's to expand facilities for restaurant distribution in Memphis Corky’s Food Manufacturing, LLC, officials announced the company will expand manufacturing operations at its 3006 Fleetbrook Drive location in Memphis. Corky’s will invest $4 million and create 28 new jobs to add a second shift and additional space, which will allow the company to maintain a... People Chattanooga's Kelly, Jackson's Conger selected for Mayors Institute on Pedestrian Safety Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly and Jackson Mayor Scott Conger have been selected as part of a cohort of mayors from across the nation to participate in the Mayors Innovation Project’s second annual... Robert A. McNees III Robert A. McNees III Robert A. McNees III has retired after 37 years as municipal judge for the city of Oak Ridge. McNees earned his undergraduate degree in journalism and his law degree from the University of Tennessee. He initially established his own law firm then served as the city of Oak Ridge’s defense attorney... Jack Suggs Jack Suggs Jack Suggs has retired as deputy city manager of Oak Ridge following a 40-year career in public service. Suggs has been Oak Ridge’s deputy city manager since 2021. He was initially hired as the city’s assistant director of public works and then promoted to electric department director for 30 years... Atoka's Ganser selected as Veteran of the Month The town of Atoka proudly announces that Candice Ganser, operations clerk for Atoka, was nominated by Mayor Barry L. Akin and selected as Veteran of the Month by the Tipton County Museum, Veterans Memorial and Nature Center. A native of Apalachin, NY, Candice served in the United States Navy from... Baylee Rhea Baylee Rhea Baylee Rhea has been selected as the new city clerk for the city of Crossville. Rhea was appointed to the position after previous clerk Valerie Hale was selected as Crossville’s city manager. Rhea previously served as assistant city clerk, a position she has held since 2022. She holds a degree from... PEP cuts ribbon on risk management center named for late Jon Calvin Public Entity Partners (PE Partners) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, April 8, to dedicate the new Jon Calvin Risk Management Education Center. PE Partners provides insurance and risk... State Briefs Tennessee March unemployment down to 3.2% Unemployment in Tennessee dropped for the second consecutive month in March, according to new data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The seasonally adjusted rate for the month came in at 3.2%, 0.1 of a percentage point lower than February’s rate of 3.3%. Tennessee’s all-time... Tennessee March revenues $17.6M above estimates Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson announced that Tennessee tax revenues exceeded budgeted estimates in March. Overall March revenues totaled $1.67 billion, which is $55.1 million, or 3.42% more than the state received in March of 2023 and $17.6 million more than the... TNECD announces three new counties added to Select Tennessee Property Evaluation Program The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) announced Grainger, Polk and Warren counties have been selected to participate in the latest round of the Select Tennessee Property Evaluation Program (PEP).PEP evaluates potential industrial properties, advising counties on... State officials announce Northeast Tennessee Music Initiative in Bristol TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter joined officials with the TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter joined the Tennessee Entertainment Commission (TEC), Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) and the East Tennessee State University Research Corporation on Thursday at the Birthplace... Tennessee among top states for population growth Tennessee is one of the top 10 states for both highest population increase and fastest population growth. The state ranked sixth for population increase with 77,513 new residents and eighth for fastest population growth rate at 1.1%. The Southern U.S. saw 87% of the population growth and is the most... TDEC Small Business Environmental Assistance Program named best in nation A Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) program that helps small businesses understand and comply with environmental regulations has been named the best in the nation by the National Small Business Environmental Assistance Program.The national organization’s Excellence Award... TML Updates USDA opens rural water infrastructure grant applications DRA announces $17M in new SEDAP funding East Tennessee Clean Fuels, TDEC announce diesel replacement funds Applications open for Summer Food Service program Restore Return Relief Advocacy