News & Notes | UT at Chattanooga named the top institution in Tennessee for military veterans
Tennessee ranks near the bottom in terms of survival rates of small businesses at their three- and five-year marks.
From Chattanooga:
As the nation celebrates Veterans Day, we took note that the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) has been named the top institution in Tennessee for military veterans by Military Times, a leading independent news source for service members and their families.
The publication annually surveys colleges and universities across the country to assess their veteran-focused programs. Responses, along with public data from the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, are “rigorously analyzed by the Military Times data team to create a trusted, unbiased ranking.”
Along with its #1 ranking among Tennessee colleges and universities, UTC placed 40th nationally among 215 public institutions ranked.
“Being named best in Tennessee and placing in the top 40 nationally is a huge accomplishment,” said Sylvana Matthews, UTC Director of Veteran and Military Affairs. “It shows that we’re not only a strong competitor among civilian universities but also reinforces UTC’s commitment to serving veterans and their families.
From Knoxville:
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), and defense technology company Lockheed Martin announced the signing of a new five-year master research agreement, reinforcing a longstanding partnership that helps UTK take its research capabilities from the lab to the field.
“This partnership allows UT(K) researchers to conduct true translational research,” said James Andes, Director of National Security Research Initiatives for UTK. “Our research concepts are matured by working with technical champions at Lockheed Martin, and as a result, our technologies get scaled up and out into defense applications.”
From Across the Volunteer State:
This is not something about which you might want to brag.
Capital on Tap, a company that offers a credit card and spending management platform for small business owners, analyzed Bureau of Labor Statistics data to determine the percentage of start-ups that are still active after three years — and broke down the U.S. states with the highest and lowest chance of survival in three- and five-year time frames.
Tennessee ranked near the bottom in terms of survival rates at the three- and five-year marks. Those numbers were 58.21 percent and 46.81 percent respectively. Only the states of Arizona, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Washington and the District of Columbia had worse rates. The rankings can be found here.
“There are over 30 million small businesses in the U.S., making up an enormous percentage of the economy, and as this number continues to grow, so will innovation and commercial drive,” says Damian Brychcy, Chief Executive Officer at Capital on Tap. “This research should serve as a positive sign to entrepreneurs in the top ten states who are thinking about starting a business.”
Another from Knoxville:
Three Roots Capital (3Roots) is celebrating several achievements.
- In August, it closed the largest loan transaction in the organization’s history. It was a $21 million loan with commercial real estate firm Fiser Inc. The project named Middlebrook Farm is a 280,000 sq ft industrial warehouse development that will create more than 170 jobs in a low-income census tract of Knoxville.
- The organization has also welcomed two new team members. Keith Hickey joined the 3Roots team as Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer. Previously, he was Director of Lending and Banking Relationships at Pathway Lending. Keith has been in finance and banking for over 30 years. Kevin McDonnell serves as the organization’s Controller. He has 25 years of work experience, three with Deloitte and 22 with Alcoa.
From Cookeville:
The Tennessee Tech University’s Center for Rural Innovation has (TCRI) long been a shining example influencing positive economic development in our region. Now, an award from the recent Southeast Tourism Society’s annual Connections Conference has made it official with TCRI receiving the “2024 Shining Example Partnership Award” for its rural tourism initiative, working directly with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and communities across the state.
“This recognition from peers in the tourism industry validates that we’re on the right track,” said TCRI Assistant Director Andrea Kruszka. “Getting an award like this from an organization and people I respect feels incredible. I know the work we’re doing is valuable and making a difference in the communities we serve.”
The award-winning initiative was launched in November 2022 to empower rural communities by providing resources to strengthen their tourism sectors through three key pillars: destination branding, small business assistance, and economic impact studies.
From the eastern part of Tennessee:
DENSO, a leading mobility supplier, has announced that the DENSO North America Foundation (DNAF), its philanthropic group, has awarded more than $2.7 million in education grants to 22 North American community colleges and universities. The grants are focused on helping students advance their educations in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields and explore career opportunities in skilled trades, manufacturing, and other technical areas. Such grants enhance the company’s wider efforts to support the workforces of today and the future.
Among the recipients are:
- Cleveland State Community College;
- Pellissippi State Community College;
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Athens;
- TCAT Knoxville;
- Tennessee Tech University;
- University of Tennessee (UT) at Chattanooga; and
- UT, Knoxville
From Memphis:
Epicenter and The Society of Entrepreneurs are joining forces to present the 6th annual “Next Big Thing Pitch Competition” from 4 to 6 p.m. CST on November 21 at the FedEx Institute of Technology. The event will showcase six of Memphis’ most promising emerging start-ups. The public is invited to attend an exciting evening as these innovative founders take the stage to pitch their visions, compete for a grand prize, and share what’s next for the future of Memphis entrepreneurship.
The start-ups competing are
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