Two years after its formation, the Economic Development Council has released its inaugural report, which details how the council has grown and the positive turnaround Washington County has seen in terms of economic development.

While things may have started out a bit rocky for the council, the recent announcement of businesses that could bring nearly 2,000 jobs to the county is certainly a testament to the ground work being laid by the council.

“When we were all separate entities, we created a lot of uncertainty. Uncertainty is the enemy of investment,” council CEO Robert Reynolds said in March. “We’ve taken giant steps forward with our marketing and the ability to deal with the requests from companies that are looking to expand and relocate here and create a new presence here unlike what we were able to do when we were so fragmented.”

Expansions that have taken place since 2011 include Fiber Innovation Technology, which is moving forward with a $2 million expansion resulting in nearly 30 new jobs; Clinical Management Concepts’s $3.4 million pharmaceutical facility resulting in about 25 new jobs; Mullican Flooring’s $12 million relocation resulting in more than 160 new jobs by 2015; and Naketetsu Machining Technologie’s $6.3 million expansion resulting in 35 new jobs.

Other announcements include IPE America’s plan to locate at East Tennessee State University’s Valleybrook Campus as the facility’s first pharmaceutical research and development startup, the growing commercial activity in the county, efforts to revitalize downtown Johnson City and the expansion of Northeast State Community College into Johnson City at the Downtown Centre.

The county’s unemployment numbers continue to drop, especially when compared to where they were two years ago.

On Thursday, the state released figures that show Washington County’s jobless rate fell to 6.5 percent in March, making it the fourth-lowest in Tennessee.

Nearly 4,500 more people are working than during the recession two years ago when the county’s unemployment rate was 9.2 percent.

But just because the council has seen many positives doesn’t mean there isn’t work to be done.

One of the biggest aspects of development the council is looking at is how they plan to “ramp up” their efforts to expand the Washington County Industrial Park and continue to seek out opportunities to develop new land for potential employers.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do to establish new sites and things for companies to expand and relocate. We’re extremely low on inventory, so at the same time we’re making these announcements and looking at these results, we have to look for new opportunities for new investment,” council CEO Robert Reynolds said.

Without new land, they won’t be able to attract the kind of business needed to keep the momentum of what the council has already done from slowing down.

Part of those efforts stem from current projects like Founders Park in downtown Johnson City and other developments like Innovation Park across from the Johnson City Medical Center.

Those are the types of projects that will continue to spur economic development years down the road, Reynolds said, especially in terms of breathing some new life into the downtown area.

“We’ve got some really detailed work on creating a program to revitalize downtown as well, so there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that’s not visible yet, but there’s a tremendous amount of work being done,” he said.

That being said, it’s still a plus to have one of lowest unemployment rates in the state, which can only mean good things as people head back to work and new jobs continue to be created.

“That says a lot about our work force and companies that are established here. It’s a great place to do business once you’re in business here,” Reynolds said.

Another way the council plans to spur development is through the launching of its re-tooled website, TheWCEDC.com. The redesign has allowed the council’s Internet presence to become much more streamlined to become an extension of the unified effort for economic development.

A rotating “news feed,” which includes stories and videos about local businesses, expansions and overall development, a connection to the council’s Facebook page, a listing of available sites and buildings, and an easy-to-use interface are all aspects of the site, which has been live for about a month.

“It’s not a giant change, but with my background in information and news, I felt like it would be a good asset to have a very steady presence of informative news-like and feature-like pieces on there,” council Director of Marketing and Community Relations Jeff Keeling said.

Keeling said he hopes the new website’s focus on showing what kind of development is being done in the county becomes a useful resource for those who care about growth and progress in the area.

“I think one of the calling cards of the Johnson City and Washington County metro area is going to be the tremendous quality of life that we have here and that’s the kind of thing that you can convey through a website and through articles, pictures and video,” he said.

One of the website’s key components is property listings, which is expected to go live in early May.

Being able to see what is available is extremely important for outside entities and falls within the council’s mission of developing more property for future employers.

“It’s really a key component of our website where people can see the availability of the product out there. We’ve got to have product on our website and this is something we’ve been working on for a long time. We’re excited to get this up and online,” Reynolds said.

For more information, including a look at the council’s inaugural report, visit TheWCEDC.com.

In early 2012, General Shale Brick announced it was dropping the word “brick” from its name as it continues to look ahead as the largest brick, stone and concrete manufacturer in the country.

In short, the 84-year-old company is about more than just brick now.

“Brick will always be our legacy product. That’s who we are and we’re not getting out of the brick business,” said Dawn Duncan, General Shale’s director of marketing and retail sales. “We’re coming up with new concepts every single day and we’re staying true to who we are but we’re making it so much bigger.”

General Shale is headquartered in Johnson City and employs about 2,000 people. It’s a subsidiary of the Austria-based Winerberger Group, which is the largest brick manufacturer in the world.

As the industry has evolved, so have General Shale’s product offerings, which are now being represented in the company’s focus on four new sub-brands: building products, outdoor living products, renovation products and Arriscraft building stone, brick and limestone.

One of the main reasons for the re-branding was a shift in the building industry as a whole.

Duncan said General Shale saw a change in how people were buying products, especially in the area of outdoor living. As those markets began to see significant growth, Duncan said the company knew it had to focus on being a leader in that trend.

“Homeowners aren’t buying and selling like they used to. They’re staying at home and modifying it, adding new things to it, so outdoor living space is one of the largest trends going on right now,” she said.

With its re-branding, General Shale is focusing on its retail locations in order to become more consumer friendly.

“We want the homeowner, the mason, the interior designer, the contractor, we want all of them to be able to come in here and ... buy pretty much anything you need to fix your house. You can get what you need inside the walls of General Shale,” she said.

General Shale’s retail focus began about 10 years ago. By offering its four new sub-brands at the company’s 40 retail locations across the United States – including ones in Johnson City, Kingsport and Abingdon, Va. – Duncan said General Shale is aiming to be a pioneer in that field just as it has been in the brick industry over the last 84 years.

The company itself has moved away from brick production in the Johnson City area over the last several years, but Duncan said the company still believes its roots are firmly planted within the local economy.

“Even though we’re a 84-year-old company, we still take pride in that we set trends. We’re inventing new products, we’re inventing new ways to use brick and then inventing new ways to offer that to the consumer. We’re not dead by any means,” she said.

Despite the company’s plans to auction off pieces of its property, including the former Johnson City manufacturing site at 102 S. Broadway St., and the fact the majority of the region’s production is now being done at a facility in Spring City, General Shale President and CEO Dick Green said the company is better positioned than ever before to answer the needs of the Tri-Cities area.

“While the brick manufacturing has been moved ... our block production facilities in Piney Flats is still running, as well as our focus on outdoor living products,” he said. “We have expanded our distribution in the Tri-Cities with retail showrooms located in Kingsport, Johnson City and Abingdon to directly supply all of our professional grade masonry products to our customers in this area.”

More and more, the average office space consisting of cubicles and the ever-present buzz of fluorescent lights is taking a backseat to a global movement designed to make the office experience more in tune with today’s technology-driven work force.

That movement is known as “co-working,” and while it began in big cities on the east and west coasts, it’s spreading to some unlikely places, including the Tri-Cities. In order to meet this rapidly growing movement, co-working spaces began popping up sporadically over the last decade. The spaces provide a communal environment for people who can do their job with a laptop, cell phone, Wi-Fi access and a hefty dose of caffeine.

While technology is certainly one of the driving forces behind the surge of co-working spaces around the globe, the growth can also be attributed to the economy.

When the recession hit and people were being let go, they began looking for other jobs. As an answer to not finding work, many of those people went into work for themselves – either freelancing or starting up their own small business.

That meant either working from home or seeking out a co-working space.

“With those two things, you have a unique opportunity to create a whole new environment. The traditional job of, ‘I’m going to get a job at a company and be there for 30 years and have desk and cubicle there,’ that’s changing rapidly,” said Jose Castillo, who opened Spark Plaza with his wife, Shannon, in downtown Johnson City in 2009.

Located in one of downtown’s historic buildings directly above Freiberg’s, Spark Plaza is the only co-working space in the Tri-Cities.

“Most people are able to do their job with a laptop and cell phone, and therefore, are much more willing to telecommute, start their own business, live in Johnson City, Tennessee, and work with clients all over the world, and we see a lot of that with our clients here at Spark Plaza,” Castillo said.

In his business travels, Castillo has visited other co-working spaces and has seen firsthand how this new business model is spreading. In his eyes, this is a prime example of how the current world of business is responding to such drastic change.

“This is a dramatic shift in how the world is going to go to work. In the next five to 10 years, we’re going to see an even more dramatic shift. We’re always going to have to have jobs where people put things together with their hands and manufacturing and agriculture, but the work force shift going to technology/information-based services, that’s a dramatic shift in how people are working and it’s changing from the bottom – the individual guy – all the way to the top of these massive global corporations that are all feeling that, ‘Oh my goodness, we don’t have to have a 60-story building in midtown Manhattan. We can have people all over the country and live in a small town and work out of a co-working space a couple of blocks away from their home,’ ” he said.

That’s why Spark Plaza and co-working seemed like the perfect fit for Bradley Batt, who owns software company Blue Zebra Sports.

Batt, who spent years working from home, moved to the area about a year ago from Houston. After reading an article about co-working, he did a search and came across Spark Plaza.

“Right now, with it just being me, I just need a place where I can get out of the house. I like working from home sometimes, but I have three step-kids and a five-week old, so there’s no way at a certain point I can get anything done,” Batt said.

Plus, being in a place where there are other professionals working under similar conditions is a good thing, according to Batt. Co-working has allowed him to have a more focused work atmosphere and a place where he communicates with other people.

“That’s cool. We can throw ideas at each other and just chat and meet people that are like-minded – entrepreneurial, they work for themselves and trying to make something happen. That part is kind of nice,” Batt said. “If you work for yourself, it’s hard to feel like you’re in a work environment. It’s just a one-man show, but if you come in (to a co-working space) you get that feel of working in a small business or a company.”

Creating a place with that focus on community is something the Castillos wanted to do when they opened Spark Plaza.

“Most of these folks and the people that are our clients can work anywhere. They can work out of their home, their car, anyplace they have where they can sit down with a laptop, have power and Wi-Fi ... but we weren’t designed as human beings to interact that way. We have to have other people around. It’s a community feel, and most of the people joining co-working spaces are doing so to be with other people,” Castillo said.

That basic need for community and the rising popularity of co-working are just some of what Castillo attributes to the growth of Spark Plaza.

When the space opened in 2009, the goal was to have six full-time spaces, with the remaining space dedicated to part-time members. Within the first year of operation, three more full-time spaces were added, bringing the total to nine.

With that kind of quick growth, Castillo said there are plans to add more spaces in addition to expanding Spark Plaza’s reach in the Tri-Cities.

“Spark Plaza has had a great impact in Johnson City and we feel really strongly that having multiple locations will not only help Spark Plaza but help the region as well,” he said.

For more on Spark Plaza, including pricing information, visit SparkPlaza.com.

Like many in the construction business, when the housing market collapsed in 2007, Scott, who worked as a licensed contractor for more than 20 years, wasn’t sure what he was going to do.

Home sales plummeted. Construction jobs weren’t coming in.

“When the homes weren’t selling, I needed to find something to do,” he said.

That’s when he stumbled across Bath Planet, a bathroom remodeling company based in Palatine, Ill. The company is backed by BCI Acrylic Bath Systems, a privately held manufacturer of tub and shower-liner systems.

The business’ extensive line of products includes walk-in tubs, therapeutic tubs, tub-to-shower conversions and a number of other bathroom products.

“We cater to the people who want to remodel their bathroom but also the aging-in-place population. We get a lot of interest from people who are getting older and having a harder time getting in and out of their shower,” Scott said.

After looking at all Bath Planet had to offer, and discovering it was a company that earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, Julie said it just seemed like a good fit with Scott’s years of experience as a contractor.

“The reason we liked the idea was because it was something we were familiar with, and we’ve flipped a lot of houses. It’s always exciting to fix it up and see what you can do, so we knew it was the kind of thing that would attract business,” she said.

The Johnson City Bath Planet is the first location of its kind in Tennessee. It’s also the first of four locations Scott plans to open with his development plan for the growing remodeling business. The other locations will be in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Asheville, N.C.

In total, they’ll hire about 40 to 50 people to staff the four Bath Planet offices. About seven of those jobs will be in Johnson City.

The Brookses are beginning to see the benefits of the turnaround in the economy with the sales they’ve had after being in business for only a month. Their sales set a record for Bath Planet franchises, Scott said.

“Before, you couldn’t give a home away, but now, I think it’s picking up. We’re seeing a lot more crowds at home shows. The economy is picking up a little bit and people will spend money,” he said.

The couple expects the business to continue to thrive once they firmly set their foot down in the area and expand into other territories, such as the Knoxville location.

“We’re looking at turning it into a multi-million dollar business in terms of sales,” Scott said.

With spring setting in, the timing couldn’t have been better, either.

“This is a time of year when people are doing a lot of remodeling and want to do a lot with their house,” Julie said.

Bath Planet is located at 3107 W. Market St.

For more information, call 328-7268 or visit BathPlanet.com.

One of the main reasons attributed to such a drastic drop is that once women get home after initiating breastfeeding in the hospital, they often begin to experience challenges like pain, infection and other difficulties. Many mothers then become discouraged and stop breastfeeding.

Dr. Rebecca Powers, a local pediatrician and former director of the pediatrics residency training program at the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, has opened Village Pediatrics and Breastfeeding Medicine in Elizabethton in order to raise awareness about breastfeeding and help women who might be experiencing discouraging issues when breastfeeding.

“It can be really difficult to breastfeed in our society and then when women start having problems with breastfeeding, they don’t have anyone to go to for help, and that’s really why I decided to open a clinical practice so I could provide hands-on help for women who are experiencing trouble when breastfeeding,” she said.

Powers spent 11 years as a faculty member with the College of Medicine before leaving to start her own practice at the Village in Elizabethton. She has been a strong supporter of breastfeeding promotion as a founding member of the Northeast Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition and a lifetime member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.

Powers is also the region’s only board-certified pediatrician who is also a board-certified lactation consultant.

With society’s insistence on bottle feeding and the stigma that has often been associated with breastfeeding, Powers said it’s something that culture has forced out of the limelight.

“Breastfeeding fell out of favor in this country, really, during World War II when the women had to leave home and go man the factories while the men were away fighting the war, so all the women of child-bearing age weren’t there to breastfeed,” she said.

Since the 1970s, breastfeeding has slowly been making its way back into the forefront.

Regionally, Powers said about 75 percent of women initiate breastfeeding in the hospital but by the time the baby reaches two weeks of age, that number falls to about 40 percent.

In opening Village Pediatrics, Powers hopes that percentage begins to rise as more women become educated about how to properly breastfeed and the risks children face when they aren’t breastfed.

“As a physician, as a woman and a mother – all of those things combined together – gives me complete assurance that breastfeeding is the right thing to do. It really sort of drove me to make these drastic changes to bring back pride in breastfeeding as the norm for the area, and that’s really my goal for infant feeding in Elizabethton, Carter County and the Tri-Cities,” she said.

Village Pediatrics is located at 117 E. F St. near downtown Elizabethton in a large house, which dates back to the 1890s, that Powers has renovated and designed to be breastfeeding-friendly.

“I wanted to create a place where women could feel like they are in a safe environment,” she said.

The house, which sits at the top of the street overlooking downtown Elizabethton and Holston Mountain, features a large open area Powers specifically designed in order to make a mother feel like she can breastfeed anywhere.

With Powers’ desk in the foyer of the home, she can easily observe the breastfeeding process, which is an important part of helping mothers who are experiencing problems.

“For a lot of women, just the physical act of breastfeeding is uncomfortable for them, so I needed it to be a place where they felt like they could actually breastfeed. It shouldn’t be uncomfortable. It should be natural, but it’s all those stereotypes and stigmas that are put on breastfeeding that cause the problem,” she said.

She has a room dedicated for lactation consultation and another dedicated solely for medical exams.

Since Powers is also a lactation consultant, she can bill insurance for her services, which helps her patients and widens the clientele her practice can receive.

Right now, Powers is the only employee in the practice, which opened its doors in January. Since then, she’s had several new patients each week.

Powers said word-of-mouth has really helped in allowing her practice to expand its reach, in addition to the fact that women just need help.

With Village Pediatrics setting up its home in Elizabethton, Powers said she hopes mothers realize that she is there in order to help them overcome any barriers they may face when it comes to breastfeeding.

“Someone made the comment to me that I’m probably the only person in the history of Elizabethton who had enough nerve to put the word ‘breast’ on a sign in the front yard, so that just has to do with what our society thinks breasts are about,” she said.

In addition to the practice, Powers is also working on creating a not-for-profit group that will help develop initiatives and educational opportunities to promote healthy children and families.

For more information, visit MyVillagePediatrics.com or Facebook.com/VillagePeds or call 547-9355.

Jonesborough General Store and Eatery will be located in the former Cranberry Thistle space on Main Street across from the Washington County Courthouse.

Dean Chestnut, who also owns Shirt Tail Designs in Jonesborough, and his business partner, Joe Bush, leased the property shortly after it became available when Cranberry Thistle closed its doors in January.

While they still have weeks of renovations ahead, Chestnut said he and Bush are aiming to open the General Store by the end of May or beginning of June.

Like many shops and restaurants in downtown Jonesborough, the General Store is expected to be a place where patrons can relax and take a stroll back through time.

“We want to make it where people can step back in time and have a lot of antiques and neat history of the town to look at,” Chestnut said.

The front portion of the shop will house the store section of the business, while a dining area at the back of the shop will be utilized for serving up lunch plates to hungry customers.

“It’s simple sit-down stuff. You’re not going to get beans and greens or chicken and steak. It’s going to be soups, salads, sandwiches and other easy types of food,” Chestnut said.

Since it’s a general store, customers can expect to find lots of knick-knacks, clothing, hardware, candy and other items on the shelves.

Chestnut said there will be plenty of “fun stuff” both kids and older generations will appreciate.

One of the goals of the new store is to sell items made by local artisans. Chestnut said the shop will incorporate foods, art and furniture made in the area.

“That’s one of the things we want to do. There’s people out there that make these things you might see at a farmers market or something,” he said.

The addition of the General Store in downtown Jonesborough couldn’t have come at a better time after both The Cranberry Thistle and Bistro 105 closed their doors.

“I think this is the best time to start any business anywhere. People are scared and complaining, saying how bad the economy is, but why not do something about it to turn it around?” Chestnut said.

When the store opens, Chestnut said he hopes it provides a boost to both the economy of downtown Jonesborough and the number of people who visit the historic town.

“It’s not just about us and the store. It’s about the town. Come down and visit us, absolutely, but we want you to go next door, go to Mauk’s, go down to the candy store or the ice cream shop,” he said. “Come down and see the whole town. If we can help with that, it’s going to be great.”

In a Tuesday morning meeting with town leaders and representatives of the Johnson City Power Board, members of the Jonesborough Area Merchants Association presented a list of suggestions they believe will help ease the impact the utility upgrade project has had on their businesses and came away with hope that relief may be indeed be in sight.

–––

Subscribers to either the print or online version of Johnson City Press have full access to our electronic edition. The complete text of this article starts on the front page of the Thursday, March 22, 2012, edition.

“It was phenomenal, actually,” Tupelo Honey’s Director of Marketing Elizabeth Sims said when asked about the response to a Facebook poll posted on the restaurant’s page asking patrons to vote for which town they thought should be the next home of a Tupelo Honey Cafe. “We got incredible response from the Tri-Cities and it was really fun to see people so enthusiastic about it.”

(This story begins on the front page of the Tuesday, March 20 edition.)

The city’s reputation as a motorcycle-friendly town might not be as well known as, say, somewhere out west, but it’s becoming quite popular with folks who prefer to see the country one mile at a time.

“It’s going great. We have people that are coming from all over,” motorcycle enthusiast and Johnson City Harley Owners Group member Chuck Mason said. “Our area, short of being in the Rockies, is just great.”

In 2004, the Johnson City Convention and Visitors Bureau partnered with the local chapter of the Harley Owners Group to bid on bringing the state motorcycle rally to the city. Together, they created a list of their 12 top rides in the region, laying the groundwork for what would become known as the “Southern Dozen,” a collection of scenic routes that take advantage of the curvy roads and breathtaking beauty Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina have to offer.

When the rally finally made its way to Johnson City in 2005, 2,000 people were in attendance, bringing an estimated $1 million into the local economy. The direct economic impact is measured by the hotel stays, gas, food and other purchases made while in the city.

“That was when we realized, ‘Wow, this is really something that we need to build on.’ When we saw what could happen with that many people in that niche, we really decided that this was something that we needed to wrap our arms around and embrace,” Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Brenda Whitson said.

And embrace it they have.

In the past eight years, a total of 11 different rallies have been hosted by the bureau, bringing in nearly $6 million to the local economy. The number of attendees isn’t too shabby, either, at nearly 13,000 people.

In shifting its focus to marketing Johnson City and its curvaceous roads to motorcycle riders, the bureau stumbled across something they would have never thought of it if weren’t for that first successful rally.

Whitson said often times the “motorcycle community” comes with notions that rowdy groups of people will be making their way through town, but that’s not really the case. Not everyone who jumps on a Harley is a Hell’s Angel.

“That’s not who the typical motorcycle rider is today,” she said.

When a community begins to embrace the fact they have something special to offer, like the routes that are available here, Whitson said that’s when a community becomes successful at branding itself as a destination spot.

“We’re between two of the greatest ride destinations in the country when you look at the Tail of the Dragon and the Blue Ridge Parkway. We’re right in the middle,” she said.

Not to be left out, the visitors bureau launched the “Southern Dozen” last year as part of Johnson City’s re-branding as the place to go for motorcycle riders. The “Southern Dozen” features nearly 1,000 miles of road across such locations as Watauga Lake, Mountain City, Roan Mountain and Clinch Mountain.

A social media contest helped launch the “Southern Dozen.” About 125 people participated as they rode to the 12 destinations, taking photos along the way.

The rides vary anywhere from 45 minutes to day-long excursions. And they’re not just motorcycle-friendly, which is something the bureau and area riders are trying promote.

“They’re not just motorcycle rides. They’re sport car-friendly and family-friendly. I’ve taken my grandkids on these rides and had a picnic. They all go somewhere that is very scenic,” Mason said.

That niche of being a place that’s both beautiful and different has helped the routes grow in acclaim and notoriety.

When word began to spread of just what Johnson City had to offer, the routes began to receive national and international attention from media outlets, including a four-page spread in “Motorcycle Cruiser” magazine.

Whitson said the entire cost of the campaign was about $12,000, while the value of coverage they got during the launch was worth about $100,000.

“It was a huge return on the investment we had made,” she said.

The routes, the fact the Johnson City community embraces motorcyclists and the way local law enforcement works to ensure the safety of attendees when they’re in the area has all worked toward making Johnson City and the “Southern Dozen” become something more than just another series of routes.

“When you get a couple of rallies under your belt, then that begins to say you know what you’re doing, your community knows what it’s doing and it becomes very favorable for future rallies,” Whitson said.

In 2009, the largest group of motorcycle riders hit the area when the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America rally was held at the Appalachian Fairgrounds. That rally brought in about 9,000 people with a direct economic impact of about $3.7 million.

The BMW rally was another huge step forward in solidifying Johnson City’s place among the best of best when it comes to motorcycle rides.

“I’m surprised the way it has taken off like it has and that it has become the niche market that it is. We’ve been fortunate that we’ve just hit it at the right time and have brought a sense of awareness to the area,” Whitson said.

The visitors bureau is gearing up for another “Southern Dozen” contest in May, as well as more rallies in the future.

For more information on the rides, visit SouthernDozen.com.

For decades, the site was the home of the former Texaco gas station. After years of seeing the building sitting empty, Dwayne and Tammy Johnson decided the location would be the perfect spot to realize their dream of opening up their own repair shop.

With more than 25 years of experience in the automotive business, the couple has opened up Johnson’s Auto Repair and Detailing, 1012 E. Unaka Ave.

Dwayne and Tammy began working together in 2005 and got married shortly thereafter. In a way, it was the automotive business that brought them together.

“This is our little love-child here,” Tammy said with a laugh.

After spending decades working in dealerships and tire shops, the Johnsons decided it was time to give it a try and open up their own shop where they could cater to the needs of the community.

“We’ve always had the dream. As soon as we started dating, it’s come up,” Tammy said. “Even though I was scared to take the step, the doors were opening. We’ve just been rolling right along. It kind of amazes us that we’ve been able do the business we have with what very little we do have.”

Johnson’s Auto Repair opened Feb. 27. Since then, the Johnsons have seen the floodgates open as vehicle after vehicle has come through the shop.

Within that two-week span, the shop has averaged about 60 to 70 vehicles a week, which is pretty good considering the Johnsons haven’t put one dime into advertising.

“I don’t even have my business cards yet. People are just driving by and a lot of it is word of mouth. We have a lot of friends, family and people that we go to church with that have helped spread the word,” Tammy said.

Dwayne said the experience both he and Tammy bring to the table is one of the things that their customers appreciate when they bring their vehicle for servicing.

“We have a lot of clientele that just love dealing with us because we’re trustworthy and we do it right. That’s everything right there,” Dwayne said.

The shop specializes in auto detailing, oil changes, brake work, engine analysis and diagnostics, suspension, steering, heating and cooling systems, fuel systems, ignition repair and other scheduled maintenance and tune-up services.

Johnson’s Auto Repair is a true mom-and-pop operation. Tammy handles the business side and gives estimates while Dwayne spends his days peering into engines and other machinery, and that’s it. There are no other employees, however, the couple plans to put their teenage sons to work this summer.

With signs of an economy on the rise and the expertise they bring to the table, Tammy said they couldn’t have opened the shop at a better time.

“I just don’t see how it could fail. The only thing I’m worried about is that we don’t have enough room or that there’s enough of us, but you can’t do it all,” she said.

While they’ve only been around for two weeks, the Johnsons are already thinking of ways to expand their business and the services they offer. Tammy said they hope to include alignment work in the future and expand the detailing work they offer.

For more information, call 631-4180 or 833-9714. Johnson’s Auto Repair can also be found at Facebook.com/JohnsonsAutoRepair and Twitter.com/JohnsonsAutoRep.

The 2,450-square-foot restaurant will be located at 211 Headtown Road near Andrew Johnson Bank on U.S. Highway 11E.

Orzechowski, a business owner with more than 30 years in the dining industry, said the restaurant is his first Pizza Plus franchise.

“I’ve been wanting to come to Jonesborough for a really long time,” he said Thursday.

The restaurant has been under construction since January and will hopefully be serving its first pie by early May, weather permitting, Orzechowski said.

“We’ve been very blessed by the fact that we haven’t really had any winter,” he said.

Orzechowski said the restaurant is one of the largest Pizza Plus locations in the area.

The new Jonesborough location will bring about 25 jobs to the area.

This marks the first Jonesborough location for Pizza Plus. Another restaurant is located in Johnson City in the Boones Creek area.

Pizza Plus is a franchise based in Sullivan County. There are more than 60 locations throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

The menu features everything from classic pizzas and oven-baked hoagies to pasta and a full lunch buffet.

Steve Goodson, a commercial broker, said another national restaurant franchise is expected to open at the Headtown Road property in the future.

For more information on Pizza Plus, visit PizzaPlusInc.com or email PizzaPlusJonesborough@gmail.com.

According to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Washington County’s January unemployment rate sat at 7 percent, down from 8.6 percent a year earlier. That 7 percent rate is significantly lower than the national (also unadjusted) rate of 8.8 percent and Tennessee rate of 8.7 percent.

The figures are not seasonally adjusted.

Washington County Economic Development Council CEO Robert Reynolds said the drop meant good news for the area.

“Washington County’s great workforce, attractive tax structure and wonderful quality of life have a lot to do with this growth, but so do the unified development efforts that have come about through creation of the Washington County Economic Development Council,” Reynolds said in a news release.

Thursday’s report also reveals that the Johnson City metro area, consisting of Washington, Carter and Unicoi counties, had the biggest drop in unemployment among Tennessee’s 10 “Metropolitan Statistical Areas” – from 9.6 percent in January 2011 to 7.7 percent in January 2012. That 1.9 percent drop helped give the Johnson City MSA Tennessee’s third-lowest metro rate, up from fifth-lowest a year ago.

The labor force grew by 940 workers over the past year, to 101,520. Job growth far outpaced labor force growth in the MSA, as 2,6690 more people were employed, with the vast majority of that job growth coming in Washington County.

Other counties in the Tri-Cities also saw a decline in unemployment when compared to rates from a year ago.

Carter County’s jobless rate was 8.6 percent, down from 10.9 percent in January 2011.

Unicoi County’s unemployment rate was 10.1 percent, down from 12.2 percent in January 2011.

Kingsport-Bristol’s unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent, down from 9.0 percent in January 2011.

On Monday, the restaurant posted a poll on the social media site asking its hungry patrons to vote for the next town that will house a Tupelo Honey Cafe.

Tupelo Honey’s Director of Marketing Elizabeth Sims said Tupelo Honey’s unique twist on Southern cuisine is one of the things that separates it from other restaurants, allowing the restaurant to further expand its reach in other markets.

“We think we’ve got a wonderful product and great food and we know that we have a very strong and loyal fan base, which is a wonderful thing, so where it makes good business sense, we’ll look and see if there’s an opportunity,” Sims said.

When then poll is closed Friday, the winning city will get a guaranteed site selection visit from Tupelo Honey owners and management staff.

As of Tuesday evening, two locations in the Tri-Cities were vying for the lead in a poll that boasts about 45 possible locations, including Charleston, S.C.; Nashville; and Grand Rapids, Mich. Kingsport was leading with 670 votes, while Johnson City was second with 600 votes and Bristol, Va., was third with 251 votes.

Tupelo Honey’s Director of Marketing Elizabeth Sims wasn’t surprised by the amount of positive response coming from the Tri-Cities region.

“We get lots of great feedback and lots of folks from the Tri-Cities area who come and eat with us in Asheville, so we know that there’s a strong fan base there, but we are looking at a bunch of different markets,” she said by phone Tuesday.

The poll comes on heels of the restaurant’s first-ever expansion into Tennessee.

Expected to open this summer, Tupelo Honey Cafe will be taking its signature dishes and vibe to downtown Knoxville at The Oliver Hotel, making it the third location since the restaurant first opened in downtown Asheville, N.C. in 2000. A second Asheville, N.C. location opened in 2010.

The Knoxville location will have 150 seats, in addition to including its signature bar, The Sweet Spot, which will feature specialty cocktails, regional micro-brews and wine. The restaurant will be located on the lower floor of the hotel in Knoxville’s Market Square.

“We’re eager to get going up there,” Sims said.

The Facebook poll will remain open through Friday. When a winner is selected, Sims said, the Tupelo Honey team will coordinate with its site selection firm to begin looking at the location and what potential it might hold.

While she declined to comment on whether the Tri-Cities would make a good home for the restaurant, Sims said the area’s response proves there’s a definite desire for Tupelo Honey to make its way there.

“We have lots of fans and looking at the response, we’re getting tons of feedback from Johnson City, Kingsport and Bristol, so what’s not to love about that?” she said.

To vote, head to http://www.facebook.com/questions/10150606127183022/ or the restaurant’s page at Facebook.com/TupeloHoneyCafe.

“The annual data show that 2011 was the best year in retail sales in the past four years,” Hipple said in the report released Monday by the East Tennessee State University Bureau of Business and Economic Research. “Even in the metro area, the flat fourth quarter could not offset the strong growth in the first three quarters.”

Adjusted for price changes, retail volume in the metro area fell 0.1 percent, essentially unchanged from the fourth quarter in 2010, the report showed; and from October to December, dollar sales in the Tri-Cities rose 3.2 percent to $1.8 billion.

Retail volume adjusted for inflation was up 2.1 percent in Johnson City, 1.9 percent in Bristol, while declining 1.4 percent in Kingsport.

In each of the three cities, retail performance was still below the 2007 high point. Sales volume adjusted for inflation was lower by 4.7 percent in Kingsport, 6.2 percent in Johnson City and 16.5 in Bristol.

On a year-to-year basis, dollar sales increased 5.4 percent to $532.7 million in Johnson City, 5.2 percent to $277.2 million in Bristol and 1.8 percent to $395.7 million in Kingsport.

Dollar sales were higher in Hawkins, Washington (Tenn.), Unicoi, Sullivan and Carter counties, while declining in Scott and Washington (Va.) counties. Inflation-adjusted sales activity increased in Hawkins and Washington (Tenn.) counties, while falling in the other five.

Hipple said Knoxville fared the best among East Tennessee’s metro areas. Dollar sales in the Knoxville area jumped 10.7 percent to $3.2 billion, while Chattanooga reported an increase of 5.6 percent to $2 billion. Adjusted for inflation, sales volume was up 7.2 percent in Knoxville and 2.2 percent in Chattanooga, the report said.

“The annual retail sales for 2011 show that the Tri-Cities and Chattanooga are at the pre-recession 2007 level in dollar sales, while Knoxville has yet to fully recover,” Hipple wrote.

Adjusted for inflation, all three metro areas are below 2007 sales volume: by 11.1 percent in Knoxville, 7.9 percent in the Tri-Cities and 7.2 percent in Chattanooga.

In Tennessee, dollar sales increased 6.6 percent to $22.5 billion. Sales volume was 2.3 percent above 2010 levels, marking the seventh quarter of real growth in retail activity (following 10 consecutive quarters of declining sales volume during the recession).

Nationally, dollar sales increased 6.6 percent, up for the ninth quarter in a row, and real sales were higher by 3.2 percent, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of real growth. Hipple notes that United States retail activity declined for seven quarters during the 2008 to 2009 business recession, after 20 consecutive quarters of real growth during the 2002 to 2007 business expansion.

“Nationally, retail activity is still down 2.7 percent, while Tennessee sales volume is down 9.9 percent,” Hipple said in the report. “Since the state government lives off of sales tax revenues, this means that the state has nearly 10 percent less in real resources compared to four years ago.”

According to Hipple, the national economic picture has not fundamentally changed as retail performance remains to be the “brightest and strongest” aspect of economic recovery.

Hipple said business conditions in the Tri-Cities are in much better shape than what’s going on at the national level. He said job creation is high and has pushed employment levels back to pre-recession numbers.

“Behind the higher numbers for employment are increased production and larger payrolls. And despite the flat fourth quarter, consumers in the Tri-Cities were in a mood to spend during most of the year,” he wrote.

Hipple said the standard outlook for the national economy includes continuing slow growth and a return to full employment sometime after 2020.

“In the meantime, millions of Americans (primarily young people) will be jobless or significantly under-employed. And we will be losing $2.3 trillion in production each year,” he said.

The company plans to expand its reach in the Tri-Cities by opening a location in Johnson City, expected to be open by August, according to True Line Construction Company owner K.D. Moore.

The 6,200 square-foot grill and bar will be located in Hamilton Place off State of Franklin Road across from Which Wich and Jason’s Deli.

Moore, who also owns KBM Commercial Properties, which developed the Hamilton Place area, said ground will broken on the location Monday.

Buffalo Wild Wings was founded in 1982, and the first restaurant was opened a year later near the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The company is headquartered in Minneapolis.

Currently, there are more than 825 locations across the United States and Canada.

Buffalo Wild Wings’ arrival at Hamilton Place marks the first retail property to be built at the location since it was completed in 2009, Moore said.

Moore hopes this is the first of many retailers that make their home at Hamilton Place as the economy continues to bounce back.

“I think you’re going to see a lot of different things happening out here,” he said. About half of the spaces at Hamilton Place are occupied, and Moore said his company has commitments to increase that to about 75 percent within the near future – not counting additions like Buffalo Wild Wings.

“We have other tenants that have extreme interest in it that will boost that even further, so we feel like this year is going to be the year that Hamilton Place will finally reach its potential.”

In addition to the construction of Buffalo Wild Wings, work continues on the road leading into Hamilton Place coming from State of Franklin Road.

The road was constructed by the developers of Hamilton Place at a cost of about $1.1 million.

On Wednesday, workers finished striping the road. The Johnson City Power Board will be installing street lights. This cost is being shared by the city and the JCPB, according to Public Works Director Phil Pindzola.

When traffic volume demands it, the city will build a right out, or a partial interchange leading out to State of Franklin.

After walking into New York, New York to be greeted by a picture of the New York City skyline, it’s easy to see you’ve just entered that kind of atmosphere.

Easy-going yet hip. Modern yet refined. This pretty much sums up the ethos owner Bill Eyestone wanted to create when he recently opened the retro-metro martini bar and grill in the Roan Centre next door to Plato’s Closet.

This isn’t the first restaurant owned by Eyestone to carry the Big Apple’s moniker. Eyestone opened the first New York, New York in 1978 in downtown Bristol. That was followed by New York Lakeside in Kingsport in 1982 and New York on Fifth in 2007.

“I think the name markets the concept. I’ve always like the name and I like the image it conjures,” he said.

This is the first of Eyestone’s establishments to open in Johnson City.

Inspired by the kind of club you would see in an old Hollywood movie starring James Cagney or Humphrey Bogart, Eyestone set out to take that kind of elegant vibe and apply some modern flair to it, mostly in the addition of a dance floor that will be used for the restaurant’s ’80s- and ’90s-themed parties.

The 3,000-square-foot space formerly housed a comic book shop but Eyestone has erased every bit of the location’s former identity, opting for dark colors, a copper-lined bar, and installing restrooms and a full-fledged kitchen.

“The beautiful thing about it was that it was a clean slate. I could come in and design my energy points and flow and try to make this into a space that worked for a 30s to 40s, 50s market,” he said.

But it’s not just the vibe that Eyestone hopes sets New York, New York from other restaurants or bars; their menu is a little different from what you might expect from the typical martini bar.

“We’re serving portions that are delicious and tasteful, not wasteful. We’re not throwing a bunch of food on a plate to impress you with the size of the portion,” he said.

The menu features a variety of dishes including hand-tossed pizza, gourmet sandwiches, salads and special appetizers like their signature “Mexi-hummus.”

Some of the specialties include a ham and cheese melt with smoked Gouda, a mac and cheese made with salsa and asparagus tips.

The food also comes at a price that’s hard to beat – there isn’t anything on the menu that’s more than $10. A hand-tossed 12-inch pizza will cost you $10, an 8-inch flat bread pizza will cost you $6, a half-pound burger sits at $8 and appetizers begin at $5.

Of course, it wouldn’t be much of a bar without the drinks, and New York, New York has those in spades.

The bar features an assortment of liquors and wines and a small selection of pale ales.

New York, New York also has a few specialty drinks up its sleeve, mainly the “Sinatratini,” a martini that “packs a punch,” according to Eyestone.

That drink uses vodka, triple sec, orange juice, blue Curacao and a half-ounce of tequila, floated on the top. The addition of tequila is what separates that martini from the rest offered at the restaurant.

“That’s the punch that Frank (Sinatra) would appreciate,” Eyestone said.

Plans for other specialties include drinks made in honor of James Bond, John Wayne and Audrey Hepburn.

When the restaurant’s doors opened two weeks ago, about 90 people enjoyed the establishment’s drinks, dining and dancing. During the following weekend, the place was packed, and Eyestone said it’s been steady since.

That’s the hope as New York, New York continues to cater to those who are “young and older at heart and the old but young at heart,” Eyestone said.

The inclusion of a dance floor and DJ booth is another thing Eyestone believes sets his bar apart from others. On Saturdays, New York, New York will host parties ranging from ’80s and ’90s nights to “little black dress” and live music nights.

“We sneak a little bit of energy in. It’s kind of like that little bit of tequila we put in Frank’s martini. It’s a martini bar with a punch,” Eyestone said.

New York, New York is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 p.m. until close and Saturday from 7 p.m. until close.

For more information, call 262-8332.

Expected to be completed by the summer of 2013, the 156,000-square-foot addition to the JCMC campus will feature 16 operating suites – each 30 percent larger to house new technology and more space for patient care – along with 48 patient beds for pre- and post-operative care and a satellite pharmacy.

Officials with Mountain States Health Alliance held the groundbreaking ceremony Monday on the south side of the JCMC campus.

The need for additional operating space and a greater focus on utilizing the latest technology and medical procedures were some of the driving forces behind the project, which has been in the works for several years.

“We’re doing much more advanced surgical techniques today than we did back in 1980. It requires more people in the rooms than what we had in 1980,” MSHA President and CEO Dennis Vonderfecht said.

With MSHA’s commitment to bring the latest medical and surgical technology into the region, such as the use of the da Vinci robotic surgical system, the new center is just another way for the system to better meet patient and physician needs, Vonderfecht said.

“This space in the new building will be much needed and much desired because of that technology and the more advanced procedures that we’re doing today,” he said.

About $35 million of the project’s $69 million price tag will be used for state-of-the-art equipment, including LED surgical lighting for better visibility and low heat output; the Artis zeego single-plane robotic imaging system, which provides real-time internal imaging during surgery; large high-definition monitors; anesthesia equipment mounted on ceiling booms; and video monitors mounted on ceiling booms.

Dr. Trey Robertson, chairman of the department of surgery, said JCMC has always been at the forefront of the changes in surgery. The major expansion project is just another example of that, he said.

“This expansion will allow greater access to that care. It will allow better patient flow through the system as well as better comfort for both the patient and their families, and care for the patient is the reason that we’re all here,” he said.

As with all new construction within the MSHA system, the surgery center will be the latest facility designed to be LEED-certified as a green building by the United States Green Building Council.

Some of the green aspects include 50 percent of construction waste will be recycled, low-VOC materials will be used for paint, adhesives and sealants, the central sterilization unit will be equipped with steam cleaners that make the sterilization process more energy efficient, bicycle storage, water-efficient landscaping and stormwater management and an automated control system for HVAC and lighting systems.

The general contractor for the project is Skanska USA. The project is expected to bring about 1,000 jobs to the area during the construction phase.

Ed Herbert, MSHA vice president for communications and marketing, said Friday the surgery center is the latest update to the JCMC campus as it continues to grow as a major tertiary referral center.

“Many people are referred here and this is now part of the continuing commitment to bring the best technology and most advanced procedures to JCMC,” he said.

Expected to open in the summer of 2013, the 160,000-square-foot addition will feature 16 operating suites, expanded and updated to house the latest surgical technology and equipment, along with 48 patient beds for pre- and post-surgical care.

The facility will be located on the south side of the JCMC campus, closest to East Tennessee State University.

The project is slated to include $34 million in construction and $35 million to equip the facility.

Herbert said the operating rooms in the new building will be 30 percent larger than those currently used by physicians.

Additional space in operating rooms has become a necessity, Herbert said, as MSHA continues to utilize new technology, such as da Vinci robotic surgical systems.

“The technology at JCMC rivals some of the best hospitals in the country. We’re keeping people closer to home and to bring this kind of technology and greater space to the OR to JCMC will just assist as it sees more and more people coming from Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia,” he said.

Beneath the surgery center, hospital officials are planning an expanded Regional Cancer Center with updated radiation therapy equipment and expanded patient rooms. Other updates planned for JCMC include remodeling patient rooms and a nurses’ station in the Women’s Center for improved comfort and better workflow, a new central sterile supply center, and updated heating and cooling equipment for the entire facility.

The project – which Herbert said is one of the largest since Niswonger Children’s Hospital opened – is expected to bring about 1,000 jobs to the area during the construction phase.

As with all new construction within the MSHA system, the surgery center will be the latest facility designed to be LEED-certified as a green building by the United States Green Building Council.

MSHA recently opened a $9.8 million parking garage on the JCMC campus, a step that was intended in part to make room for the new surgery center.

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the south parking lot of the JCMC campus.

Since its purchase nearly four years ago, Chamber President and CEO Gary Mabrey said both board leaders with the Chamber and Chamber Foundation are continuing to pursue development at the mill property.

Just what kind of development remains unclear.

“We’re continuing to work with some developers who are looking at either renovating the mill and/or just develop a building there and keep the mill there. We’re not sure how it’s going to flesh out,” Mabrey said.

Determining the best use of the existing building and the site is key to whatever development happens at the property. TCI Group-Jerry Petzoldt Agency has been working with the Chamber as the local developer and partner in the project, with Jerry Petzoldt leading recent discussions.

Entrepreneur George L. Carter originally constructed the “Model Mill” in 1909. In addition to several silos, the mill includes the main four-story warehouse, which includes about 50,000 finished square feet, and two smaller two-story buildings of 5,200 square feet and 5,800 square feet.

It became the property of General Mills in 1931 after it was purchased for $1 million by Washburn-Crosley. The mill has been abandoned since being re-sold to Ohio-based Mennel Milling Co. in 2003 for $3.5 million.

The Chamber Foundation purchased the 5-acre property that sits at the intersections of West State of Franklin Road, West Walnut Street, Sevier Street and West Watauga Avenue for $400,000 in June 2008, using a line of credit provided by a partnership of 10 area banks with hopes of a new headquarters and a way to spur development near the downtown area.

With the property’s prime location between some of the major economic forces in the region – East Tennessee State University, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Mountain Home and the Johnson City Medical Center – that is still very much the goal of the stalled project, Mabrey said.

“We feel that with everything else going along State of Franklin that our location is just a great fulcrum between a major part of our regional economy ... and, of course, being a fulcrum means there’s the other end at downtown and Interstate 26, so we’re quite pleased with the opportunity and feel like we’re being another one of those catalysts along State of Franklin and in the community for the future,” he said.

The Chamber’s capital campaign has remained strong as the organization has pursued a new building.

Mabrey said the campaign has raised about $200,000 since it began, putting it about $75,000 short of the campaign’s immediate goal, giving the Chamber clear ownership of the property.

“We think once we get a developer and we get an even stronger concept and some renderings that we have the campaign will launch to a whole other level,” he said. “We are working with our members and with the community as they try to deal with the economy. We as a Chamber deal with the same economy, because we’re a business just like they are.”

Mabrey said the Chamber is hopeful they will have begun development on a new home in time for their 100th anniversary in 2015.

“Sometime between now and our 100th year, we intend to have a new Chamber location on State of Franklin at the General Mills site,” he said.

JCAHBA executive director Lisa Luster said all signs are pointing up for an industry that has seen some decline during the recession.

“A lot of the industry has been hit hard, but they have come to us this year realizing that things are turning around. The public is calling, builders are starting to build again, remodelers are working, landscapers are working full-tilt and this is a good time to start doing this work,” she said.

This year, the Home and Garden Show will feature 89 vendors dealing with everything from building, remodeling and landscaping to answering questions about refinancing and home restoration.

Even if one isn’t in the market to build or remodel a home, Luster said the show is the perfect place to come to get ideas for future projects.

“If they’ve got a wish list or a plan, we have an architect that can work with you,” she said. “Come to get the idea. Come to make a plan and find the professionals that can put your plan into action, and that’s what we’re all about for this.”

As with previous years at the show, there is a concentration on energy-efficient building, including several vendors who offer solar power services.

“We feel like building smart is the only way to do it,” Luster said.

Certified green professionals will be on hand at the show, as well as green flags at booths where green products will be available.

Workshops will be hosted throughout the weekend, including workshops presented by the Northeast Tennessee Master Gardeners, the Orchid Society of East Tennessee, Englewood Lawn & Landscapes and Paul Walton, certified aging in place specialist and certified green professional.

For the first time in the show’s history, a “Kid’s Zone” will be available for children where they can learn about building and decorating in a kid-friendly environment.

The showrooms will be open Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Tickets are $3 per person per day and a weekend pass is available for $5. Children 12 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

For more information, call the JCAHBA at 282-2561.

In late 2008-09, Steve Smith, president and CEO of Food City, said the company began to explore its enegy conservation options and formed a committee known through the company as “Eco.”

“The purpose of this committee is to really focus on the proper usage ... with the overall goal of lowering our carbon footprint and lowering the amount of electricity that we use,” Smith said.

With other “green” initiatives happening within the stores such as energy efficient glass doors on beverage cases, upgraded refrigeration fan motors and converting in-store lighting into a more efficient model, Smith said the solar panels were a first for the company.

“This is our first foray into solar energy here in Piney Flats and we’re proud of the partnership we have with the Johnson City Power Board and the TVA,” Smith said. “Some of the incentives makes this a very feasible project for this location.”

Reducing harmful emissions such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide were some of the incentives that Food City deemed important to its environmental cause, Smith said.

“It’s the equivalent of taking 255 cars off the road or planting almost 400 acres of trees,” Smith said. “Our goal is to leave our community a better place in which we found it and we’re extremely proud to have our first solar panel project up and running.”

The use of solar panels is also a money saver for the company and will allow them to get payback on the system, Smith said.

With its rooftop installation, the Piney Flats Solar Platform as a unit is a 51.9 kilowatt solar system and is expected to produce around 63,000 kilowatts per year. In the Johnson City Power Board’s area, this system will be the biggest.

The company that installed the panels was the 6-year-old Nashville-based group LightWave Solar Electric LLC. Branching out with an office and team in Johnson City, LightWave Solar turned out to be the best fit for Food City’s solar plans when they were in the first stages of planning, Smith said.

“They researched a lot of companies and ... we thought LightWave really made a good proposal,” Smith said. Being a local company and being price-competitive were definitely selling points Smith said on choosing LightWave to install the panels.

John Lewis, LightWave Solar’s operations manager, said he was happy to be involved in Food City’s solar initiative.

“It’s nice to get the attention and it’s nice that we can participate with businesses like Food City,” Lewis said.

Lewis said in the six years LightWave Solar has been in operation, the company has doubled in growth and revenue. Being in Johnson City for only three of those years, Lewis said he hopes to reach out to more local businesses in the area.

While the Piney Flats store is the guinea pig for a fully functioning solar powered Food City, Smith said solar expansion to other stores is still a possibility, but not right away.

Representatives from LightWave Solar, the Planning Department of Johnson City, the Johnson City Power Board and Food City company officials were present for the news conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

But as one begins to get all of the necessary paperwork together, filing a tax return isn’t always the easiest thing to do.

For the fourth year in a row, Milligan College is offering free income tax preparation through April 16 – one day before the April 17 deadline.

The preparations are performed by IRS-certified volunteers mostly comprised of Milligan students who have gone through a three-week certification process.

“It teaches them practical uses of their skills that they have been trained on, from bookkeeping to management to actual tax (work). They’re also discovering that outreach can be done using a skill they have that’s in high demand,” said Dr. Harold Branstrator, assistant professor of business administration at Milligan.

Branstrator, who iniated the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, program at Milligan, supervises the students as they work with the public to prepare tax returns. VITA is an IRS-sponsored and recommended program that uses highly-trained volunteers to offer free preparation and filing for those who earn an annual income of $50,000 or less, have a physical disability, are a non-English speaking citizen or a citizen over the age of 55.

VITA preparers can inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify such as earned income tax credit, child tax credit and credit for the elderly or the disabled.

Taxpayers are asked to bring W-2s, income statements and, if available, last year’s return if available to their appointment.

Returns are electronically-filed and directly deposited, usually in fewer than 10 days and sometimes in less than a week.

The VITA program at Milligan has grown significantly in its four years at the school. During the first year, Branstrator did 35 returns. The second year saw 100 returns completed using two volunteers. Year three saw the number of returns increase to 300 with the help of three volunteers.

This year, 28 volunteers are working with the program, and Branstrator’s goal is to complete 500 returns.

Student volunteers receive course credit for their work as well learn skills that are necessary whether or not they pursue a career in the business world.

For most of the students in the program, it’s also a way for them to give back to the community.

“It’s really cool just to be able to go out into the community and we show up to these places and people just come at no cost to anybody,” said senior Chris Fry.

Tracey Woods, a senior majoring in business, said she wanted to get credit while also being able to do mission-type work from the comfort of school.

“It’s something that I’m actually trained to do instead of going somewhere like Africa. This is something that was more practical for me to do,” she said.

Training to prepare tax returns is the kind of skill that could very well benefit these students later in life, according to Branstrator.

“They actually have to train themselves to do something that’s completely foreign to them and be competent at it in order to pass government exams. They’re also understanding these services can easily be switched around to work for someone else and make a sizable chunk of money,” he said.

With Milligan’s emphasis on servant leadership, Bob Mahan, professor of accounting and area chair of the business department, said the school’s participation in the VITA program is the perfect example of the kind of leadership students are trained for.

“We like to push and promote servant leadership and I think this fits in very well with the concept of servant leadership but also Christian education. This is a chance to put your education and, in this case, a professional skill into work to give back to the community,” he said.

This year’s sponsors include the Washington County Mayor’s Office, Washington County schools, Carter County schools, Eastern Eight Community Development, Catholic Charities and the Johnson City Housing Authority.

For more information on the free tax clincs, call 773-6438 or 461-8756.

Officials with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the Planning Commission and the Historic Zoning Commission have been discussing the possibility of how to address the issue of itinerant, or temporary, businesses in Jonesborough for several months. The issue was once again brought up last week during a joint meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the Planning Commission.

Leaders discussed the possibility of creating a temporary business permit that would serve businesses using transient business licenses, which are obtained through the state.

To obtain the proposed temporary business permit through the town, business owners would be required to get a standard business license through the state. The temporary business permit would require site plan approval from the town. It would allow the business to operate for more than six months, which is the maximum amount of time a business is allowed to operate in one location under the transient business license.

Right now, there are only a handful of businesses that would be affected if the town approves the new permit, including the Smokin’ Pig BBQ stand that operates off U.S. Highway 11E near Headtown Road.

The popular barbecue hotspot has been in operation for nearly two years, according to owner Jerry Hipps. During his time in Jonesborough, Hipps said the town has been working to address the permit issue.

“They’ve been working on something for two years, but they haven’t come up with anything yet,” Hipps said.

Hipps operates the business under a transient business license, which requires him to pay $50 every 14 days. That license also calls for the operator to pack up and move each day – an aspect of the license that hasn’t been enforced by the town in regard to the barbecue stand.

With a transient business license, operators aren’t allowed to put up any kind of signage and the license can only be renewed for up to six months. After that point, the operator must pay business taxes if the business is making more than $3,000 per year.

Under the proposed temporary business permit, Hipps would have the added benefit of being able to use the permit for a year, as well as being able to put up a sign. The town, however, would be able to set restrictions and requirements on landscaping and other aesthetics.

One of the aspects that has yet to be determined is what kind of price tag the new permit would come with. Town officials are working to make the permit more beneficial for business owners who might want to operate for a longer period of time when using the transient business license.

Until the town determines the cost associated with the proposed license, Hipps said he’s unsure if he would be able to continue to operate under the new permit.

“At some point, I’ve got to leave. I’m not going to be here forever,” he said. “If I’m going to have to spend a bunch of money, I’m just going to take it elsewhere.”

Temporary businesses operating under the proposed permit would not be able to operate in downtown Jonesborough unless it’s during a special event or if the business is being operated by the owner of a permanent business.

Town officials are expected to address the proposed temporary business permit at a future meeting.

“These are changes in the newsroom designed to basically let our readers know where news should be delivered,” Managing Editor John Molley said.

There are three primary changes within the newsroom structure.

First, the title of city editor has been dropped and replaced with the new position of news editor.

Sam Watson, who most recently served as Internet and special projects editor at the Press, has been named news editor. In this capacity, Watson will be responsible for all daily local news, both for print and the Internet.

Watson has been with the Press since 1988. He was named full-time education writer in 1990 – a position in which he covered local schools and higher education for more than 18 years.

Second, Brad Jolly, who served as city editor with the Press since the mid-1980s, has been named assistant news editor/specialty pages. Jolly will assist the news editor as needed and be primarily responsible for coordinating copy for business, outdoors, religion and Heritage sections.

Jolly has been with the Press since 1980 and has served in a number of capacities during his tenure.

Third, Rex Barber will become assistant news editor/online, with the primary responsibility of assisting the news editor in the Press’ electronic publishing activities, in addition to his continued coverage of East Tennessee State University.

Barber has been with the Press since 2004. He has most recently served as a web reporter with an emphasis on covering higher education.

These structural shifts will hopefully make interaction between the newsroom and readers more “user-friendly,” Molley said.

The newsroom can be contacted by calling 929-3111.

Two of the businesses adding jobs in Jonesborough are two of the town’s newest establishments.

Snap Fitness and Tractor Supply Co. are both under construction in the former shopping center that housed White’s Fresh Foods along Boones Creek Road.

Snap Fitness, 413 Boones Creek Road, will have about five personnel once it opens in mid-March, according to franchise owner Clarence McMurray.

McMurray said they have been hiring and training people over the past several weeks while the space undergoes construction.

There will be two physical trainers and at least three staff members operating the gym.

The gym itself will be similar in makeup to the Johnson City location, McMurray said. The 4,500-square-foot gym will be somewhat larger and include a room that can used for Zumba and other physical activities.

Snap Fitness is based in Chanhassen, Minn. It’s a fast-growing franchisor of compact, state-of-the-art 24/7 fitness centers worldwide. Each facility features 24/7 access, cardio and strength-training equipment, value-add fitness services and a safe, secure environment. The fitness center was ranked No. 1 for fitness franchises in 2009.

Tractor Supply Co. will open its doors in the former White’s grocery space at 507 Boones Creek Road.

Tentatively planned for completion in March, the store will employ 12 to 17 people in full-time and part-time positions.

The new location, which is being constructed by Simmons Construction of New Tazewell, will include sales floor and support service space, a fenced exterior space for storage and display of large sale items including fencing, sprayers and livestock equipment.

Tractor Supply is the largest retail farm and ranch supply store chain in the United States and operates more than 1,000 stores in 44 states. Its stores are focused on supplying the lifestyle and maintenance needs of recreational farmers and ranchers, tradesmen, small businesses and those who enjoy the rural lifestyle.

With the spring season just a little more than a month away, Lowe’s in Jonesborough, 1498 E. Jackson Blvd., is preparing for the busy season by adding about 35 new jobs at its location, according to assistant store manager Jason Carrier.

The first week of March is typically when the busy spring season starts, so Lowe’s locations in Jonesborough, Johnson City and Elizabethton are expected to hire about 150 people in total.

Lowe’s was founded in 1946 and has grown from a small hardware store to the second largest home improvement retailer worldwide. The store stocks 40,000 products in 20 product categories ranging from appliances to tools, to paint, lumber and nursery products.

Lowe’s operates more than 1,725 stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

For more information on Snap Fitness, call 232-7627 or visit www.snapfitness.com/jonesborough.

For more information about Tractor Supply Co., visit www.tractorsupply.com.

For more information on Lowe’s in Jonesborough, call 788-7000 or visit www.lowes.com.