KINGSPORT – The time of the Kingsport BMA Work Session session for Monday, October 31st, 2011 has been moved forward from 4:30 to 4:00pm.  As always, the BMA work session will be held in the Council Room located on the Second Floor of Kingsport City Hall 225 West Center Street.

KINGSPORT – The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at ETSU and the Kingsport Office of Small Business Development & Entrepreneurship (KOSBE) will host a free Small Business Fall Night School on Tuesday, November 15 from 6 – 9 p.m., at the Kingsport Center for Higher Education, 330 W. Market Street, downtown Kingsport.

Primarily, the Small Business Fall Night School provides free training, networking opportunities, group problem-solving and collaboration and access to financing to small business owners and entrepreneurs for start-up and expansion.

The workshop is offered free of cost, but registration is required.‚ 

Four classes will be featured at the Fall Night School: Free Tools & Resources, Finding Capital for Start-up & Expansion, Small Business Certifications and information Especially for Women Business Owners.

Free Tools & Resources: Attendees will explore and learn a wide variety of free tools and resources available online. There will also be a demonstration of the new KOSBE website highlighting each stage of the business life cycle. The free tools and resources discussed will range from the business plan templates, free business listings, the TSBDC Small Business Survival Training Guide, social media channels and effectiveness, free news release distribution services and more. Facilitated by Marybeth McLain, small business services marketing manager, KOSBE.

Finding Capital for Start-up & Expansion: In this class attendees will learn how to get their businesses bank ready to secure financing. In addition, attendees will learn the difference between grants and loans such as the USDA Microloan Program for Rural Entrepreneurs and Business Owners, SBA-backed federal government loan, the Export Express loan program, the Patriot Express loan for veterans and their families along with other opportunities through non-traditional lenders. Facilitated by Aundrea Wilcox, executive director for KOSBE and senior business counselor for TSBDC at ETSU Kingsport Affiliate Office.

Small Business Certifications: Attendees will learn how to apply for certifications in the following areas: women-owned, veteran-owned, TDOT and disadvantaged enterprises. Facilitated by Wilcox.

Finally, we will conclude our night with a session Especially for Women Business Owners. In this class, attendees will learn the Five Steps to Business Freedom. Every business goes through stages as they mature. ‚ The Five Steps to Business Freedom is a concept for business owners to use as they evaluate and plan for the future of their companies to ensure greater profitability and greater freedom for the owners.‚ Facilitated by Kathy Richards, business coach and owner of AdviCoach. Richards ‚ was recently named, AdviCoach Franchisee of the Year. Men are also welcome to attend.

The Small Business Fall Night School is designed with new and existing businesses and entrepreneurs in mind (including home-based), however, retirees seeking a second career, part-time workers wanting to supplement their income, upper class high school and college student are encourage to participate.

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Advanced registration is required and must be received by Friday, November 11. Anyone interested can‚ register online at kosbe.org or call (423) 392-8825 for more information.

It is the intent of KOSBE to be the go-to organization in the Tri-Cities for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to start or grow their businesses, by creating and developing the right tools and resources and cultivating the right partnerships. In partnership with Tennessee Small Business Development Centers (TSBDC) at ETSU, KOSBE can more effectively serve the needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses. For a complete listing of services, tools and resources, visit kosbe.org.

The cooperative agreement between KOSBE and East Tennessee State University is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBAs funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Additional funding is provided by the Tennessee Board of Regents and the state of Tennessee.

To schedule your‚ free confidential counseling appointment in a private setting by TSBDC-certified counselors in person, online by phone or e-mail call Marybeth McLain at (423) 392.8825 or e-mail, mmclain@kosbe.org.‚ ‚ 

For more information about the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at ETSU Kingsport Affiliate Office and your Kingsport Office of Small Business Development & Entrepreneurship (KOSBE), visit tsbdc.org and kosbe.org or call (423) 392.8825. Were social too; follow us on Facebook, Kosbe ‚¬ The Small Business Connection, Twitter, @KOSBEConnection, LinkedIn group, KOSBE – The Small Business Connection and our YouTube Channel, KOSBEConnection.

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KINGSPORT Harvest of Hope Community Garden is inviting the public to join them for their first ever Harvest Celebration on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 10 a.m. at the garden, located at 130 Charlemont Street behind First Presbyterian Church.

Harvest of Hope is a collaborative effort between the United Way of Greater Kingsport, AARP, First Presbyterian, the City of Kingsport, UT Extension and the Tennessee Master Gardeners.

Community gardens represent a growing trend in America, and allow citizens to come together in a common goal, Kingsport City Manager John Campbell said Tuesday. These goals include helping feed the hungry, putting a bit of fresh produce on the table, and bringing people together to build a stronger sense of place and community.

This particular garden provides fresh produce for several local bard kitchens and bard pantries, as well as local residents and consists of 39 raised beds, two of which are wheelchair assessable, and anyone is welcome to plant, tend plots and volunteer.

Planting beds are assigned each season, with committed HOH veteran gardeners first, then newcomers on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The mission is multifold, with the first priority being to assist by providing healthy bard to those in need and provide opportunity for those who are hungry to grow bard for themselves and their families, with all gardeners asked to be willing to share their harvest with the hungry.

Beyond that, the HOH Community Garden is helping to raise awareness and combat the increasing incidence of obesity, diabetes and heart disease in our region, through exercise, such as gardening, as well as teaching individuals to grow, harvest and eat their homegrown vegetables.

The coalition further hopes to promote community building and friendship all though the simple task of tilling and tending the earth.

We have an array of folks helping sponsor the garden, but there is always room to grow, says the United Way of Greater Kingsports Jill Salyers. There is plenty of work to do nearly year round, and we look forward to growing our partners, in addition to our produce!

In addition, garden coordinators are hopeful of that other neighborhoods will become interested in starting community gardens elsewhere in the City.

For more information, to volunteer or contribute, or apply for a raised bed, please contact Salyers at the United Way of Greater Kingsport, at 378-3409 extension 16 or jsalyers@uwaykpt.org.

There is also a blog to keep up on the latest garden happenings at http://hohkingsport.blogspot.com

Halloween Haunt  OCTOBER 28TH & 29TH, 2011 7:00 PM 11:00 PM  $10.00 PER CAR  $30.00 PER BUS‚     SPOOKY PROGRAMS BEGIN EVERY 1/2 HOUR FLASHLIGHTS NEEDED NO PETS ALLOWED NO ADMITTANCE AFTER 10:00 PM HAUNTED FOREST NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12 853 BAYS MOUNTAIN PARK ROAD KINGSPORT TN 37660 423-229-9447 WWW.BAYSMOUNTAIN.COM

KINGSPORT – Justin Grinnell, developer of Kingsport Pavilion, announced today that a lease has been executed with Which Wich (www.whichwich.com).

With the first location in Dallas in 2004, Which Wich brings new meaning to the phrase “brown bagging.” The quick-service sandwich restaurant chain uses‚  a unique ordering system that has customers writing their own orders on brown paper bags. There are more than 80 franchised locations in about 15 states. Most locations offer at least 50 different toasted sandwiches, including specialty items such as the five-meat Wicked, the Triple Cheese Please, and the Elvis Wich (peanut butter, honey, and banana). Other menu items include a variety of drinks, chips, cookies, and shakes.

Which Wichs top competitors are Subway, Quiznos, and Panera Bread, followed by Firehouse Subs, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Jersey Mikes, Jimmy Johns, and Potbelly Sandwich.

Tennessee locations include:‚  Nashville (Vandy), Nashville (Downtown), Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, Mount Juliet, Murfreesboro and Johnson City.
North Carolina locations include:‚  Boone, Charlotte, Huntersville, and Raleigh (3)
The only Virginia location is in Charlottesville.

Menu
http://menus.whichwich.com/Which_Wich_ToGo_Menu_WW-00113.pdf

For more information on leasing opportunities at Kingsport Pavilion, contact:

Justin Grinnell
MERCHANTS HOLDING COMPANY L.L.C.
770-530-3757 (Cell)
Justin@mhc-llc.com