East Tennessee Economic Development Agency: Jobs Now! Case Study

For the first time in the history of the Knoxville-East Tennessee region, an economic partnership and plan has been created to generate economic development. R&M Resouce Development created a collaborative and seamless economic development strategy and work program for the 16 county, 1 million populous region by bringing together the four major economic organizations- East Tennessee Economic Development Agency, Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership, Oak Ridge Economic Partnership and Blount Partnership.

R&M Resouce Development successfully implemented a specific work program to enable the four independent organizations to collaborate together to support the economic vision for the region. Jobs Now!, a 12-month economic development campaign, was launched in January 2003 to develop an investment base of $10.75 million over five years to implement the economic vision for the region. The cornerstone of Jobs Now! is the creation of 35,000 new jobs by attracting new companies and higher-paying jobs, fostering growth and retention of the existing industry base and enhancing the entrepreneurial environment for new start-up businesses. For more details about EDEDA vistit their Website at http://www.knoxvilleoakridge.org/