The International Bluegrass Music Association will bring its multiday World of Bluegrass event to Chattanooga for three years starting in 2025.
The first five-day Chattanooga-based WOB event, scheduled for Sept. 16-20, 2025, will feature a convention, trade show, awards show, artist showcases across downtown and a two-day live music festival with top bluegrass artists worldwide.
“In our mission to spread the music, IBMA considered 30+ destinations for a new home,” says Ken White, executive director of IBMA. “While other cities could offer the necessary commitment, the passion and enthusiasm of the people of Chattanooga truly stood out. This city’s unique charm and hospitality makes it a perfect home for WOB artists and guests.”
The event marks the first outlay from the Tennessee Special Event Fund, a $25 million fund established in 2022 to attract large-scale events expected to generate at least $10 million in visitor spending and $1 million in state and local taxes. The Chattanooga Tourism Co. will use the award to invest in the support and growth of the WOB event.
“This event is not only a testament to our state’s vibrant cultural heritage but also a significant economic driver for our communities,” says Rep. Patsy Hazlewood (R-Signal Mountain), chair of the House Finance Committee. “We are excited to support this event that will bring Bluegrass enthusiasts together in our city and give us an opportunity to showcase Tennessee and Chattanooga to an audience coming from literally around the world.”
The Tourism Co. estimates the 2025 WOB event will attract 18,000-plus overnight visitors and more than 45,000 including day visitors, generate $30.1 million in economic impact and yield $1.1 million in state tax revenue. Visitor spending will support local jobs and additional tax revenues, benefiting multiple industries beyond tourism.
10-digit dialing, new 729 area code coming
With new telephone numbers in high demand, the Tennessee Public Utility Commission approved the addition of the new 729 area code to the existing 423 area code region, which covers two noncontiguous regions in eastern Tennessee, serving communities such as Bristol, Chattanooga, Johnson City and Kingsport, as well as many other smaller communities. This process is known as an area code overlay.
The overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code but will require dialing the area code and the 7-digit telephone number to complete local calls. All customers with the 423 area code should prepare for 10-digit dialing and the introduction of the new 729 area code.
Starting Aug. 5, a six-month permissive dialing period begins, to give customers adequate time to adjust to including the area code when they make a local call. During this permissive dialing period, local calls can be made with either 7 or 10 digits.
Starting Feb. 5, 2025, all local calls made within the 423 area code must be dialed using 10 digits (area code + the 7-digit telephone number). On and after this date, calls using just 7 digits will not be completed, and will be routed to an announcement.
Starting March 5, 2025, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers from the new 729 area code. The new 729 area code will coexist everywhere in this region with the 423 area code. Anyone receiving a 729 number will be required to dial 10 digits as well.
For additional information, please visit the Tennessee Public Utility Commission website at: https://www.tn.gov/tpuc/news.html or contact your local telephone service provider.
2023 state tourism spending tops $30B
Tennessee tourism generated a record $30.6 billion in direct visitor spending and saw 144 million visitors to the state in 2023, according to new data from Tourism Economics and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
Tennessee’s direct visitor spending increased 6.2% in 2023. This follows two consecutive years of double-digit growth, driving Tennessee to a 125% recovery over 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
Highlights from the report include:
• Tourism generated $30.6 billion in direct visitor spending in 2023, a 25% increase over two years
• Tennessee visitors spent $84 million each day in 2023, generating $3.2 billion in direct state and local tax revenues in 2023. Without tourism, each Tennessee household would have to pay an additional $1,160 in taxes each year
• Average taxes on direct visitor spending reduces the burden on community residents to fund infrastructure, education health and safety services
• Visitor spending sustained 191,522 direct jobs, one of every 24 jobs in the state
• Employment supported by visitor activity increased 3% in 2023, rebounding to 98% of pre-pandemic levels
• Domestic visitor spending is 127% recovered to pre-pandemic (2019) levels
• International visitor spending is at 81.6% of pre-pandemic (2019) levels
• Tennessee visitors topped 144 million in 2023, up 3 million over 2022, led by relatively stronger growth in day visits
Nissan Rogue ‘Coolest Thing Made In TN’
Nissan Rogue owners, take note: you’re driving the Coolest Thing Made in Tennessee.
The Nissan Rogue, made in Smyrna, has been voted the winner of the inaugural Coolest Thing Made in Tennessee contest, organized by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce.
The winner was announced last at the official contest luncheon and Smart Solutions for Smart Factories Expo at The Commons at PIE Innovation Center in Cleveland, Tennessee.
“The Nissan Rogue’s victory in our inaugural contest is a testament to the outstanding quality and impact of Tennessee’s manufacturing sector,” says Bradley Jackson, president and CEO of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry. “This award highlights the exceptional work being done at Nissan’s Smyrna plant and their contribution to the automotive industry.”
The Tennessee Chamber and Tennessee Manufacturers Association, in partnership with the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services, Chattanooga Regional Manufacturers Association and Smart Factory Institute Tennessee, launched the lighthearted competition earlier this summer.
The contest sparked a wave of excitement across the state, drawing over 100 submissions from a diverse array of innovators and manufacturers. Participants ranged from high-profile brands like Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, M&M’S Peanut Butter Minis, and Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie to emerging local enterprises showcasing Tennessee’s tapestry of creativity and craftsmanship.
La Paz to offer course for Latino entrepreneurs
La Paz Chattanooga, the longest-serving nonprofit organization working directly with the Chattanooga area’s rapidly-growing Latino population, is set to kick off a 2024 business class Aug. 22. The 12-week course will be taught by Prospera Strategies Partner Marco Pérez, who will conduct the sessions in Spanish.
“The Latino population in Chattanooga is a thriving and vibrant community with a profound work ethic,” says Stacy Johnson, CEO at La Paz. “Something as simple as a language barrier shouldn’t hold our Latino friends and neighbors back from pursuing entrepreneurship or from expanding and growing existing businesses.”
The course will cover topics including branding, strategy, business financials and team development, licensing, accounting, staffing practices and more. Free to participants, the course was made possible by generous funding from Hamilton County and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s DSEW (Digital Skills, Education and Workforce Development) program.
Those interested in participating should contact La Paz program staff by calling (423) 624-8414 or texting (423) 401-0880 by Aug. 9.
County unemployment rates see seasonal spike
Seasonal changes in employment that occur annually, such as school breaks, caused Tennessee’s county unemployment numbers to increase in June, according to new data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
Unlike the statewide unemployment rate, at an all-time low in Tennessee, county unemployment rates are not adjusted to take into account seasonal impacts.
June’s data showed unemployment rates increased in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties during the month. Eighty-two counties had unemployment rates less than 5% in June, while the remaining 13 counties had 5% or greater rates but less than 10%.
Sevier and Williamson counties reported the lowest unemployment numbers for the month, with rates of 2.7%. Both counties saw an increase of 0.6% between May and June.
Cheatham County had the next lowest rate at 2.8%, which was a 0.5% jump from its May rate.
Bledsoe County had the state’s highest unemployment rate in June. At 5.8%, the county experienced a 1.4% increase in a month-to-month comparison.
McNairy County came in with the second-highest rate at 5.7%, a 1.5% increase from its rate in May.
Tennessee’s statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June remained at a record-breaking 3% for the second month, as TDLWD reported July 18.
Read & Ride program extended to end of year
Chattanooga Public Library and Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) have announced that the Read & Ride program has been extended through Dec. 31.
Thanks to the popularity of the pilot program this summer, both the Library and CARTA will continue to offer free bus passes to K-12 students when they sign up for the library’s fall reading challenge.
The Read & Ride pilot program launched June 1 as a new incentive for students who participate in the library’s summer reading program: Make. Play. Read. Learn. (MPRL).
Through the end of July, 2,166 K-12 students signed up for the MPRL reading challenge, and 677 of those students also picked up Read & Ride bus passes.
“Every day this summer, we’ve seen students use CARTA to visit our library branches,” said Dr. Lyn Hunter, the Library’s Youth Services Supervisor. “As both a librarian and a mom, I can say it’s been an incredible experience. CARTA gives these kids autonomy while still providing a safe mode of transportation, but that’s not all. They’re also supporting parents and caregivers who may not have the availability or means to get their kids around to all the great programs in Chattanooga.”
The Read & Ride bus passes are available at any library location now through the end of the year. To get a card, students or their caregivers just need to register for the Read & Ride reading challenge at a library location, through the Beanstack app or at chattlibrary.beanstack.org. Passes for K-fifth graders will continue to cover the fare for an accompanying adult.
Tennessee gase prices fall 5 cents to $3.06 avg.
Tennessee gas prices moved less expensive over last week, falling five cents, on average. Tennessee also moved into the third least expensive state gas price average in the country. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $3.06 which is five cents less expensive than one month ago and 32 cents less than one year ago.