Drive for the Future

A consortium led by the Institute of Public Service representing the automotive supply chain that exists within a 69-county, four-state core region of the Tennessee Valley has garnered a federal Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) designation. Being selected for this designation as a manufacturing community elevates the consideration for $1.3 billion in future federal funding and technical assistance. IMCP is a federal initiative to accelerate resurgence of manufacturing in targeted regions. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the state of Tennessee, the Tennessee Board of Regents, state automotive manufacturing associations, state manufacturing extension partnerships, regional economic development organizations and others were part of the Drive for the Future proposal.

CTAS-ConnectCounty Connections

The UT County Technical Advisory Service has developed a new website that will allow county officials, grouped by office, to connect with each other on trending issues. CTAS Connect is a place where county mayors, highway officials, sheriffs, assessors, registers, county clerks, clerks of court, trustees, county attorneys and purchasing agents can log in to ask questions of their peers from other counties. They can discuss issues important to their offices, share documents, find answers to questions and exchange information.

Reduce Supplier Risk

2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO engine

Today, an average automobile can have as many as 30,000 parts, depending on car size, and most of these parts come from outside suppliers. Vehicle recalls and accidents related to faulty equipment grab headlines and can cost auto companies money and damage reputations. Nissan North America is partnering with the UT Center for Industrial Services (CIS) to provide training to parts suppliers to help prevent defects. CIS and Nissan developed a training curriculum that was put into place late last year. So far, more than 350 supplier representatives have received the training.

A Day in the Life

day-in-the-life
For one day at the end of April, Tennessee cities were in the spotlight, more specifically the view finder of cameras belonging to UT Municipal Technical Advisory Service consultants. Municipal Management Consultant Pat Hardy came up with the idea for consultants to take pictures while out in the field. The photos were displayed during the annual Tennessee Municipal League conference. “A day in the life of Tennessee cities might show a city recorder or a public works employee during the course of their day,” Hardy says. “This allows visitors to our booth to experience the scope of what happens in the course of a day in public service.”