Civic, school and church organizations, boy and girl scout troops, families and individuals are encouraged to participate. Any group desiring to make a difference in their community and cleanup Kingsports famous trail is welcome.

Prizes will be awarded for the largest group, most unusual item of trash, and the most trash collected.

This will be the third year for our focused cleanup on the Greenbelt, says Bill Fortenberry, Chairman of the Greenbelt Committee.  It is an opportunity for individuals, families and groups of people of all ages to help preserve the natural beauty and environment along the Greenbelt. It has been rewarding over the years to see so many people who want to make a difference in their community by taking a serious interest in litter prevention and beautification.
To keep the volunteers energized, Food City will be providing breakfast items and snacks.

Last year, the cleanup volunteers removed over 4 tons of trash and debris from the creek and trail area.

The Kingsport Greenbelt is a linear park that connects residential neighborhoods, traditional parks, downtown, commercial districts, schools and activity centers.  The scenic trail, first opened over 20 years ago, spans nine miles and features a paved pathway for bikers, joggers and walkers. From one side of the city to the other, the pathway meanders along gentle streams, scenic marshlands, and open meadows with colorful wildflowers and bluebirds. Many of the citys historical sites are along its path.

For more information on volunteering for the cleanup or other Keep Kingsport Beautiful events, call 423-392-8814 or email clean@kingsportchamber.org.

Keep Kingsport Beautiful is a partnership of the City of Kingsport and the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce. An affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Keep Kingsport Beautiful has won more than 60 national, state and environmental awards.

KINGSPORT – A $9 million Sullivan Street redevelopment anchor project will soon get underway as the Press Group LLC received approval from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen this week to purchase a portion of the former Quebecor building.

"This is a landmark downtown investment that will spur other reinvestment along the Sullivan Street corridor for years to come," Mayor Dennis Phillips said. "I want to thank the Press Group and Mountain Region for making this project happen and demonstrating true faith in the future of Kingsport."

Currently, Mountain Region operates out of several offices around the area. When the project is complete in 14 months or so, Mountain Region will consolidate its practice groups in 66,000 square feet, or one entire floor of the three story structure that formerly housed a portion of the Quebecor book plant.

In all, 18 physicians and more than 100 total staff will be working at the Press Building. The medical practice is also expected to generate 70,000 office visits a year to the property.

As the site develops over the next few years, another 132,000 square feet will be available for additional medical service, retail and possibly even a few residential units. Hiram Rash of Goins Rash Cain indicated that there are a half-dozen other potential tenants interested in the project.

The decision to move ahead is a milestone as the project is the first redevelopment announcement on the 1 million square feet Quebecor site that was donated to the city in 2007.

"Most developers would want a clean slate to work with, and demolishing this structure would have run upwards of $1 million," City Manager John Campbell said. "Through some innovative design and a ton of due diligence, the developers have arrived at a way to re-skin the entire facade of the structure and convert the interior to accommodate modern commercial-medical needs.

"And, while the initial investment is $9 million, upon full build out, it will be closer to a $24 million property. This is an extremely exciting project for Kingsport that will begin to bring an empty structure back onto the property tax ledger."

In fact, at complete build out, the rejuvenated facility will generate nearly as much property tax as the entire Quebecor plant did in its last full year of operation.

To My Fellow Tennessee Chamber Members:

Today is a great day for Tennessee and its business community!!  Tennessee was one of two states selected to receive Race to the Top federal education funds, which could total more than $500 million.  This competitive grant, with more than 15 states as finalists, is designed to recognize education innovators and to provide them funding to create the education systems and models to serve the future.  The U.S. Department of Education has scheduled a press conference for later today to make the official announcement.

The Tennessee Chamber congratulates the Governor who had the vision for education in Tennessee, ranging from expanding pre-K to aligning with and adopting the Tennessee Diploma Project, complete with its more rigorous curriculum, assessments and expectations.  It culminated this year with a special legislative session and key measures to ensure greater accountability and more focused measures of our success.

We also congratulate the General Assembly for its bipartisan support of education and the Tennessee Department of Education.  Both were instrumental in ensuring our victory today by enacting the education policies that made it possible and by submitting a grant application that demonstrated vision and innovation. We congratulate each of the school districts and our members who have worked tirelessly with them to improve education.  We know that our education systems provides our workforce of the future and that the success of our education system defines the future of our state.

The Tennessee Chamber is proud to have had a small part by working with the Department on Education during the grant application process by collecting and providing STEM education input.  We also strongly supported and worked with the Governor and the legislature to pass key legislative changes offered by the Governor in this years special session.  We are also proud of our Tennessee Scholars program which, by voluntarily challenging high school students to challenge themselves with a more rigorous curriculum and more math and science courses, proves that Tennessee students can perform and meet the challenges.

The money is important and will make a major difference in Tennessee education into the future.  This is one of those federal grants we can wear with pride.  It is not about the state that needed it the most or was at the bottom in the rankings.  It is about the state that has done the most and has been the most innovative and is positioned to be a national leader in model policies and education systems for the future.  

We can all take pride in our state, what has been done and what we are committing to do in the future.  It sets Tennessee apart from the rest.  And for all of us, the work is now just beginning.

Gregg F. Morton
Chairman of the Board
Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry

IBEX looks at the mission design and its purpose. It sports excellent visuals and will be a treat for the whole family. As an added bonus, IBEX educational materials will be given out, one per family, at the end of the show, while supplies last.

For more information please contact: