Local Issues

Economic Development
Support HB 3318/SB 2662 – Taxes, Hotel Motel – limits the purpose of any ordinance enacted by a home rule municipality, or enacted by a private act, with regard to an occupancy tax to those that directly increase tourism within the jurisdiction from which they are collected.  Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 4.  

Education & Workforce Development: 
Protect the higher academic rigor and realistic scores implemented by the State Board of Education and insist on thorough updates from the First to the Top Advisory Council.

Support the reforms in the Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010 supporting two and four year institutions in its implementation. 

Reject any proposal to allow for the election of directors of schools.

Oppose the mandatory merger of school systems within Tennessee counties and mandatory school start dates.

Infrastructure:
Support Completion of Pellissippi Parkway to Highway 321 - TDOT proposes to extend and construct Pellissippi Parkway from SR 33 to SR 73 (US 321). The completion of Pellissippi Parkway is approximately 4.4 miles. The project was included in TEA-21 as a high priority project. 


Support completion of Alcoa Highway - The Alcoa Highway project consists of four different projects. The Blount Chamber supports the completion of the entire project which serves as the most direct route from Knoxville to McGhee Tyson Airport in Blount County. All projects will widen the existing road to three lanes in each direction. Specifically, the Chamber supports the redesigned Alcoa Parkway section of the highway located in Blount County. The portions of SR-115 and SR-335 to the proposed interchange at McGee Tyson Airport would be widened to eight lanes. The proposed section is 5.5 miles in length.
Support the Knoxville Metropolitan Airport in their quest to secure a low-fare carrier to McGhee Tyson Airport to further encourage competition and lower air fares.