Roane Chamber Legislative Agenda Presented
Tuesday January 15, 2008
Legislative Breakfast 2008
A significant crowd was present at the Roane Alliance recently for the Legislative Breakfast session with State Senator Tommy Kilby and State Representative Dennis Ferguson. Chamber of Commerce and local elected officials were briefed on current developments and progress in government affecting Roane County.
The forum, hosted by The Roane Alliance and the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Chamber, provided an opportunity for the committee to present their Legislative Agenda to these elected officials. Headed by Dr. Gary Goff of Roane State Community College, the committee identified community needs to advance economic development, transportation and education within Roane County.
The following principal concerns were presented for consideration:
Economic Development & Tourism
- We strongly recommend expanded funding to the state's tourism branding campaign be targeted to specific regions and counties for appropriate tourism marketing materials.
- We strongly recommend funding be made available to local governments for land acquisition, infrastructure support, and building construction to meet industrial development recruitment and retention needs.
- We request that State laws be revised to allow financial incentives be made available for retail businesses.
- We endorse additional funding for the expansion and continued up-grade of the Rockwood Airport Industrial Park to enhance regional economic development.
- We desire the necessary funds to complete Phase III building requirements of the Exposition Center to enhance Roane County tourism and agricultural activities.
- We request new funding for the Princess Theater in Harriman to enhance tourism to Roane County.
- We request new funding to build a Conference/Convention Center to enhance tourism to Roane County.
- We need to enhance the fire protection services within Roane County in order to reduce insurance costs to recruit business development and to support home construction and ownership. Establish a Regional Fire Academy at Roane State Community College.
Transportation & Infrastructure
- We encourage the timely widening of Highway 61 between Harriman and Oliver Springs. This will help to facilitate ease of movement of employees and suppliers between the two cities.
- We support the completion of the widening of Highway 29 to enhance tourism and traffic movement.
- We support the widening of Hwy 95 from the split to the guard shack in Oak Ridge.
- We endorse the widening of Highway 70 from Kingston to Rockwood to better serve our transportation requirements.
- We want a South Roane County Bridge from Rockwood to south of the river to enhance cross county travel.
- We desire a new bridge across Caney Creek for support to the growth of the many housing developments within the county.
- We support the expansion of New Hope, Post Oak, Valley Road, and Caney Creek Roads into Rockwood to improve our transportation infrastructure.
Education
- We request that the legislature pursue and support increased funding for pre-kindergarten and increased BEP funding needed to make Roane County school children competitive in a global economy.
- We recommend State support of a P-12 curriculum re-structuring to ensure Tennessee high school graduates have appropriate math, English, and science skills to enter the high skill, high wage workforce.
- We recommend the legislature support enhanced teacher preparation and certification at the State's colleges and universities.
- We support full funding of public technology centers, community colleges, and universities for capital improvements, operational expenses, and the implementation of educational requirements.
- We would like to see the state support more educational capital projects with funding.
More information on the Legislative Affairs Committee and the Chamber of Commerce is available by calling (865) 376-5572 or online at http://www.roanealliance.org/.
