Unveils INCITE Initiative as First Step Towards Innovation Leadership in Southeast

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced a $50 million initiative designed to support innovation across the state. The goal of the program, called INCITE for its focus on innovation, commercialization, investment, technology and entrepreneurship, is to raise Tennessee’s profile in innovation-based economic development and drive growth in the creation of knowledge-based jobs. INCITE is a component of Haslam’s recently announced Jobs4TN strategy and will be managed by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD).

Jobs4TN Plan Includes Four Key Strategies; ECD to Reduce Staff by 35 percent

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner (ECD) Bill Hagerty today announced the Jobs4TN plan, which lays out the administration’s economic development strategy resulting from a top-to-bottom review of the department. The governor’s Jobs4TN plan focuses on:

Career Coaches Bring Job Matching and Training to Rural Communities
 
NASHVILLE - Governor Haslam and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development today unveiled three vehicles designed to improve outcomes for those looking for work. Three “Career Coaches” were customized with 10 computer workstations with Internet access, printers, fax machines, and flat screen TV’s with SMART Board overlays to facilitate classroom instruction. The intent of these roving offices is to bring job matching and training to rural communities that have limited access to a Tennessee Career Center.

Legislation Focuses on Educating Workforce, Identifying Best Teachers, Revising Civil Justice System

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam today introduced his administration’s legislative package for the 2011 session, focusing on educating the workforce, identifying the best teachers and revising the state’s civil justice system.