accomplishments 2011

Review of 2010-2011 Economic Summit Focus Group Accomplishments

Presented by: Dr. Al SpritzerPresented by: Dr. Al SpritzerETSU College of Business and TechnologyETSU College of Business and Technology

November 1, 2011November 1, 2011

Strategic Areas:Livable CommunitiesInfrastructureBusiness DevelopmentHealth and MedicalTourism and Hospitality Education and Workforce

Focus Group: Livable Communities

Facilitators: Dan Reese and Jenny Lockmiller

Livable Communities Focus Group

The Lady of the Fountain returns to Fountain Square.


Completion of the Historic Marker Program for Downtown Johnson City.


University Edge apartment complex between ETSU and Downtown completed with JCDA and TIF assistance.


Neighborhood revitalization projects continued by Johnson City Community Development Dept. and Eastern 8 Community Development Corp.

400 East Unaka Ave. Johnson City


Completion of South State of Franklin Greenway: ETSU to Downtown Johnson City.


Acquisition of Tweetsie Trail: Johnson City to Elizabethton.


Construction begins on Memorial Park Community Center in Downtown Johnson City including new aquatics facilities.

Focus Group: Infrastructure

Facilitator: Mitch Miller

Infrastructure Focus Group

I-26 interchanges in Gray (Exit 13), Boones Creek (Exit 17) and University Parkway (Exit 24) begin redesign phase process through the Tennessee DOT.


TN Highways 36 and 75 improvements – Expanding to 5 lanes to Tri-Cities Regional Airport.


Tri-Cities Regional Airport receives grant funding: $10 Million – expanding southern taxiway and

rerouting existing road. $250,000 to recruit new flights and/or airline service to

the region.


An additional 67 acres acquired for the Washington County Industrial Park near Historic Jonesborough.


Construction begins on Bristol Highway widening from Johnson City Honda to Bachman Toyota.


Johnson City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion - $23.6 million project.

Sewer Line upgrades leading from Boone Lake to the Johnson City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant - $10.5 million project.


Jonesborough Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion - $4.7 million project; awarded $1.5 Million Rural Development Grant.


Johnson City Medical Center constructing 278,000 square foot parking garage – 867 parking spaces.

East Tennessee State University plans $21 million parking garage – 1,200 spaces.

Focus Group: Business Development

Facilitators: Todd Smith and Jose Castillo

Business Development Focus Group

Completed 3rd Annual “Will This Float?” program, an event which has received Kaufmann Foundation recognition.

“Will This Float?” won an Excellence in Economic Development Award from the International Economic Development Council.

Sponsorship of Entrepreneurial Week activities in November.

Maintained a Tri-Cities wide entrepreneurial network.


New retailers and restaurants continue to choose Johnson City, Jonesborough and Washington County.


Supported website identifying hotspots within the Tri-Cities. Distributed stickers for businesses offering WiFi Internet access to display in storefronts.

Developed a minority business mentoring effort to spur entrepreneurial activity.

Maintained Economic Summit website: www.economicsummit.org.

Focus Group: Health and Medical

Facilitators: Gary Mabrey and Dr. Randy Wycoff

Health and Medical Focus Group

New Franklin Woods Community Hospital in Med-Tech Park completed.

This project accomplishes the full build-out of major properties in Med-Tech Park.


Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy earns accreditation.


Continued to sponsor Johnson City’s “Up & At ‘Em” program and annual “Turkey Trot” activity with over 2,200 Thanksgiving morning participants.


Quillen College of Medicine ranks #1 in nation for producing primary care physicians by George Washington University School of Public Health in a survey of 141 medical schools.

U.S. News and World Report ranks Quillen College of Medicine 6th in U.S. for rural medicine training.

Focus Group: Tourism and Hospitality

Facilitators: Brenda Whitson and Teresa Treadway

Tourism and Hospitality Focus Group

Motorcycle riders attracted to Johnson City and the region by new campaign and website promoting 12 of the South’s greatest motorcycle rides, all originating from Johnson City: www.southerndozen.com.

Hosted motorcycle travel writers for a familiarization tour.


Hosted the Age 13 & Under Boys Baseball World Series with 15 teams from 8 states; 700 visitors, 414 room nights with an overall economic impact of $500,000.


Hosted the Age10 & Under Girls Fast-pitch National Championship with 31 teams including 8 from California and 9 from Texas.


Bluegrass Half-Marathon had 679 participants.300 kids participated in “Itty Bitty Bites”

Kids Bluegrass Half Marathon. 2010 Bluegrass Half-Marathon won Pinnacle

Award in special events category.


Gray Fossil Site awarded $145,026 grant for center improvements and visitor amenities.

Focus Group: Education and Workforce

Facilitators: Dr. Janie Snyder and Dr. Linda Garceau

Education and Workforce Focus Group

Hosted Youth Expo at Johnson City Mall on August 18.


ETSU celebrates Centennial Year: 1911-2011.


Northeast State Community College plans for Downtown Johnson City branch.


Continued Chamber Partners in Education program, with every City and County school participating.

Continued active membership in the regional Workforce Investment Board by providing resources to meet needs of employers and the local workforce.

Continued support for the “Tennessee Diploma Project” to improve education quality in the State.


Continued financial and other support for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library under direction of Johnson City Public Library.

Over 175,000 books have been distributed in Washington County.

Thanks to the many whohelped achieve this year’s accomplishments!