“To keep up with her marvelous growth and to make the most of her opportunities, Maryville must have a real Chamber of Commerce. This can be done by the co-operative activity of all of Maryville,” reads a 1920 Maryville advertisement.
The newly formed Maryville Kiwanis club founded our Chamber of Commerce on January 25, 1920. In its early days, the Chamber recruited 600 members at $10 each, focusing on issues like housing, city planning, education and transportation. One of their first efforts ensured fair telephone and railroad rates for Blount County citizens.
Over the past century, the Chamber has helped create a productive, prosperous economic community and enhance the overall quality of life in our region.
1920s:
EDUCATION:
- The Maryville High School property was purchased.
- The library opened in the remodeled historic Toole House.
HOUSING:
- Blount County Housing Corporation was established as a progressive plan to solve the housing problem.
- Between 400-500 new Alcoa and 50-100 Maryville homes were built.
TRANSPORTATION:
- Assisted in establishing a bus line connecting Maryville and Alcoa and served as the main transportation of workers to Alcoa Aluminum. Fare was 10 cents.
1930s
EDUCATION:
- The Chamber addressed financial needs of schools.
TRANSPORTATION:
- Blount County built U.S. 129 from Calderwood St. to the North Carolina state line through Deal’s Gap.
- Plans began on McGhee Tyson Airport & efforts to draw industry to Blount County.
1940s
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Organized the Board of Realtors.
- The Chamber formed an Agriculture Committee, Retail Merchants groups, a Tourist Committee, a Health Committee, and an Economic Recruitment group.
HEALTH
- Blount Memorial Hospital opened
TRANSPORTATION:
- The city limits were joined by the opening of the Veterans Viaduct in Maryville and new Hall Road in Alcoa.
1950s
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Tennessee Textile Corporation settled in Blount County.
HEALTH:
- The Chamber established the Health and Sanitation Committee.
QUALITY OF LIFE:
- The Chamber established the Parks & Recreation Committee.
- The formation of United Way, known as the United Community Fund, was established, and operated under the umbrella of the Chamber for 10 years.
- 7,000 trees were purchased and placed around Blount County.
Prior to Keep Blount Beautiful, the chamber spearheaded many beautification clean-up efforts in Blount County. These programs remained on the Chamber’s annual program of work well into the 1990s.
TRANSPORTATION:
- Many roadway improvements like resurfacing, widening and additional roads.
- The four-lane roadway, State Highway 73, was completed from Edison Street in Alcoa to the University Bridge in Knoxville.
- McGhee Tyson Airbase opened.
1960s
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- The Blount County Industrial Development Board was incorporated and the master plan for the Blount County Industrial Park was initiated.
- The Chamber advocated for the completion of Tellico Dam.
HEALTH:
- Maryville’s first landfill was established.
1970s
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Encouraged the development of a convention motel on the airport property.
- Aided the Maryville Glove Company in acquiring Carpenter School for new production operations.
- The Chamber issued land use proposals to assist in the organized growth for Blount County. These were instituted to protect property values and maximize benefit from land use.
- Efforts began for Maryville Towers Senior Apartments. Construction planned for 1975.
- Ten-member delegation went to Washington, D.C., to support completion of the Tellico Dam project.
HEALTH
- Campaign began to recruit more doctors for Blount County area.
- Advocated restoration of Thompson Brown House. House was relocated and preserved for proposed health center.
CHAMBER
- Undergoes major reorganization: Chamber, Industrial Development Board and United Way of Blount County.
- Received its first accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
TOURISM
- The Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau was founded, and a Townsend Visitor Center was established
TRANSPORTATION
- Led the purchase of the right of way for construction of the highway TN 95 from Maryville to Loudon Countyline.
- Advocated widening of Highway 321 from Maryville to Townsend.
- Proposed Pellissippi Parkway to be included with other highway improvements for 1982 World’s Fair.
1980s
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Designed the MVP 3-yr program to attract industry.
- Assisted in the formation of the Foreign Trade Zone.
- Big Springs Industrial Park was established.
- Stock Creek Development Center Grand Opening
EDUCATION:
- The Chamber launched mini-grant program for teachers.
- The Adopt-A-School program was implemented by the Chamber.
HEALTH
- Helped establish a Health Care Coalition.
- Supported hospital’s expansion programs and extension of Morganton Road for the best hospital accessibility.
CHAMBER
- Formed the Chamber foundation
- Established a cooperative working relationship with Knoxville and Oak Ridge Chambers to achieve mutual economic development and legislative goals.
- Started the Ambassador program to act as a communications link between chamber & members.
TRANSPORTATION:
- Received approval of a federal highway designation of U.S. 321.
- Advocated for the widening of Hwy. 73 from Blount Memorial Hospital to Townsend.
1990s
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Announced the creation of 646 new jobs in Blount County with expansions for 16 industries.
- The Industrial Development Board joined the Tennessee Economic Partnership, a statewide effort to lure new business to Tennessee.
- Advocated for the National Spallation Neutron Source in Oak Ridge
- Downtown Maryville Revitalization project included Ruby Tuesday complex, public parking, Greenbelt Park, and theater reopening.
- Oversaw the purchase of Partnership Park South
- Sold two tracks in Stock Creek to two small manufacturing operations
EDUCATION
- Launched the CARE (Chamber Awards and Recognizes Educators) Program.
- Launched the Tennessee Valley Scholars program.
CHAMBER
- A partnership agreement was signed with Pellissippi State to establish the Small Business Resource Center.
- Established Leadership Blount
- Established the East Tennessee Military Affairs Council.
TRANSPORTATION
- Obtained funding for second leg of Foothills Parkway.
- Received government grants totaling $378,000 to extend the greenway trails.
- Partnered with the Airport Hilton for a facility expansion to include larger meeting accommodations.
WORKFORCE
- The Chamber held its first job fair to connect employers with potential employees
2000s
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- The Economic Development Board opened international offices in the United Kingdom and Japan.
EDUCATION
- New public library opened on Cusick St.
- The Chamber board committed $100,000 to create the Institute for Automotive & Manufacturing Advanced Practice.
- The first Career Day for high school juniors was held at the Pellissippi State Community College Blount County campus.
CHAMBER
- The inaugural Taste of Blount introduced hundreds to local restaurants.
- The Chamber received the Governor’s 3-Star Award.
- The Chamber received the ranking of accreditation with Five Stars, the highest honor bestowed on a local chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
SMALL BUSINESS
- The Chamber received the Governors’ Tennessee Small Business Advocacy Award.
TRANSPORTATION
- The Chamber helped facilitate the Hwy. 321 project through Townsend, which was completed 30 days ahead of schedule.
2010s
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Alcoa Inc. announced its second major North American expansion to meet the demands for durable aluminum sheets for automotive production.
- The Clayton Center for the Arts opens on Maryville College campus.
CHAMBER
- The Chamber hosted its inaugural Pigs & Politics event to bring elected officials and the public together in an apolitical atmosphere.
TOURISM
- The Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority is established and events such as Hops in the Hills, Grains and Grits, and the Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival are established to promote tourism.
WORKFORCE
- Administered the Alcoa Foundation grant for manufacturing internships for local youth.
- Introduced thousands of students to local careers at the annual 8th Grade Career Fair
- Hundreds of graduating high school seniors participated in Job Signing Day
2020s
CHAMBER
- Over the last 20 years, the Chamber has collaborated with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) to conduct nearly 300 training events reaching over 3,000 attendees.
- With the assistance of the TSBDC, the Chamber has helped 93 businesses get started resulting a capital infusion of over $45 million and more than 2,600 jobs created or retained.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Amazon, Smith & Wesson, and Company Distilling all made investments in Blount County.
- Saw nearly half-billion dollars of economic development investment and nearly 2,000 new jobs
- Launched redesigned BlountIndustry.com website
TOURISM
- Ranked 8th in the state for direct visitor spending of $477 million in 2021, for a daily average of $1.3 million.
- Continued sellouts of Grains and Grits Spirits and Hops in the Hills Festivals.
- Launched redesigned SmokyMountains.org website
WORKFORCE
- Redesigned and launched BlountAreaJobs.com as a landing page for local companies to post jobs, gather resumes and for job seekers to learn about the area, gain access to skills and learning opportunities.
- See continued growth of employers at annual job fair