Obion County, TN News
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The Improve Act, according to the Haslam administration, a key piece of his NextTennessee legislative agenda which delivers a safe, reliable and debt-free transportation network while providing the largest tax cut in state history. The three areas where Haslam is holding ceremonies are:
- The Hamilton County Welcome Center on Interstate 75 North at 10:15 a.m. EDT
- Acklen Park Drive, on the I-440 overpass in Nashville at 1 p.m. CDT
- S. 51 S. (at the future I-69 construction site, 0.5 miles southwest of Quality Inn) in Union City at 3 p.m. CDT
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Any Chamber member interested in receiving the hospital's cafeteria menu weekly may contact Emily Medley, food and nutrition services director, at
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Let us help you spread the word about your available commercial property by listing it at www.obioncounty.org. If you have commercial property you would like to list, please contact Lindsay Frilling at
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Though we had a few scheduling issues with the golf tournament because of weather, we were able to have it Friday, May 12th! We had awesome teams, great door prizes, and a delicious meal! Thank you to all of our sponsors and congratulations to each of our winners! We are already looking forward to our tournament next year!
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DPA opened a half-million dollar Children's Discovery Garden this past month!
The Robert and Jenny Kirkland Foundation funded the project that features a treehouse tower, zipline, butterfly garden and Rhapsody outdoor instruments
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The Sterling Awards 2017: 20 Most Influential Women in West Tennessee ceremony was held on April 4, Equal Pay Day, at the J. Walter Barnes Conference Center at Jackson General Hospital in Jackson, Tenn.
Receiving an award was Mrs. Jenny Kirkland of Union City, chosen as one of the 20 Most Influential Women in West Tennessee.
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SOUTH FULTON, Tenn. - Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe along with ColorCoat, Inc. officials announced today the company will locate new operations in South Fulton. The windows and doors coating application company will invest $600,000 and create 80 new jobs in Obion County.
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On April 11, representatives from the Obion County Joint Economic Development Council and Chamber of Commerce, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Williams Sausage, CenterPoint Business Solutions, Commercial Bank, NW Tennessee Workforce Board, TCAT Newbern, and Obion County Schools met to discuss the implementation of the Work Ethics Certificate program in Obion County Schools, and the impact it could have on employment in our area.
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By Eli Dile
It has long been a common practice among economic development organizations to invest in speculative shell buildings as a business attraction tool. Spec buildings make a community more competitive in the site selection process by reducing the time and upfront costs for a company to get up and running in a new community.
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THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017
From ll:00 am. to 1:00 p.m.
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Please Join Us at the Ribbon Cutting of the new Children's Discovery Garden on Tuesday May 16th at 9:30 a.m.
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UNION CITY, Tenn. - Twenty-six years after Brent Lee left Union City to go railroading, he is coming home to run his own short line.
The Union City Terminal Railroad is expected to debut in May. The line is an eight-mile stub of the former Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad main line between Union City and Rives, Tenn., where it connects to the Canadian National (former Illinois Central) main line.
"I was born and raised in Union City," Lee says. "I always had the idea if I ever wanted to short line something, it would be that line."
Lee says he spent 24 of his 26 years with the Burlington Northern and BNSF Railway in track maintenance and train service.
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Name: Lauren Tanner
Position/Organization/How long: Membership Director for the Obion County Chamber of Commerce since April 2016. We are located in Union City, Tennessee.
How did you get into economic development? Our Chamber of Commerce and Obion County Industrial Development Corporation (OCIDC) are umbrellaed underneath our Joint Economic Development Council (JEDC). Because of this, even though I am technically a chamber employee, I had the opportunity to dip my foot into economic development and have loved it since. There are only 2 paid employees within all 3 of those organizations (our CEO Lindsay Frilling and me), so I am fortunate enough to be involved in every side of Obion County.
What is the best economic development advice you've been given? You have to start earlier in the school systems if you want a strong, long lasting workforce. The main thing that I hear from professionals in our area is that outside of having the product (site ready properties, land, etc.) the biggest issue facing economic development in NW Tennessee is our workforce and lack thereof. Once people graduate high school, they move away to large cities and don't come back. It is vital that we start educating students earlier about economic development, workforce development, and ending the stigma that industrial jobs are "dirty". Students can get a technical degree or learn a trade, and have a full time, well-paying job sooner than most kids that go to a 4 year school. If we can teach our students sooner that there are more career options local and close to home, then maybe they will take advantage of our local technical colleges and implement their talents in our local industry, thus growing our overall population and workforce. There is nothing wrong with getting a 4 year degree, but there is nothing wrong with getting a technical degree either.
What has caught your attention recently in economic development? Economic development isn't just landing the big industrial projects, it's landing small businesses that bring life and uniqueness to your community. It's about making your community a personal experience for everyone that is there. Specifically where we are in Northwest TN, our young talent or "millennial" generation moves away from our area to larger areas after high school (i.e. Murfreesboro, Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville) and don't come back until they are ready to settle down, then they will move back to these smaller areas in their late 20's/early 30's. Because of this, we are having to think of creative ways to bring fresh, new ideas to our communities to make Obion County a desirable place for this generation to move to, move back to, or not even move away at all.
When you have free time, what do you do? I love to be outside. I got married about 2 months ago, so now that it's summer and we aren't planning a wedding anymore, we love to go out on the boat, hang with our pup, and spend time with friends and family.
What are three fun facts about you? 1) I have a degree in Agriculture Communications and did marketing/communications for the largest continuous John Deere dealership in the world prior to working at the Chamber. 2) I collect set lists. 3) I love sports. I'm a huge Cardinals baseball fan & UT fan. And also, I'm originally from Nashville, so can I get a Go Preds?!
What's on your bucket list these days? Go watch Tennessee play in the National Championship this year, but if that doesn't work out I'm good with watching them in December at the SEC Championship (a girl can dream, right? fingers crossed #GBO) Also, I'm hoping to cross a few more states off my bucket list within the next few years.
What motivates you? Passion. I adore my job, but let's be honest, you don't go into the chamber world for the money. You do it because you love it, you love your community, and you know what it can become if you put your passion to good use. I am originally from an interstate town, and with I-69 (which is on its way to completion) coming straight through Obion County, I know the growth that could potentially happen. I love Obion County the way it is, but knowing the potential it has to be even better keeps me going every day. I am ecstatic to see Obion County grow within the next 10 years and am lucky that I get to be a part of it.
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Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City has announced that it is one of the first hospitals in Tennessee to offer a new minimally-invasive procedure to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the upper leg, a serious and common condition associated with an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. Drug-coated balloons are used to treat PAD in the upper legs once medical management has failed. The first procedure at Baptist Union City was performed by Wright Jernigan, M.D.
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Everett-Stewart Regional Airport would like to thank Mr. Jeff Boyd and Gibson EMC who recently updated out outdoor lighting to LED. This upgrade will greatly enhance the airport's security and lighting system. Gibson EMC is a wonderful partner who realizes the importance of the airport and supports our efforts to promote our community. This is demonstrated by their ongoing commitment to economic development efforts, not only at the airport, but throughout the region.
Jo Ann Speer, Manager
