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Hutsenpiller Insurance Ribbon Cutting

Written by Webmaster on October 7, 2015. Posted in Chamber Blog. No Comments on Hutsenpiller Insurance Ribbon Cutting

Hutsenpiller Insurance held a grand opening on Tuesday, October 6. Their new Lebanon location is next to Kroger at 1416 W Main St, Suite P. The sunny weather was perfect for a ribbon cutting ceremony, which took place at 2 p.m. The Hutsenpiller family was joined by staff, Chamber representatives, and local elected officials for the occasion.

Hutsenpiller Insurance specializes in home, life, auto, and business insurance. As they write policies through Progressive Insurance, Flo (aka Bekah Hutsenpiller) is often on site to enthusiastically greet customers.

The Rodeo Is Coming To Town

Written by Webmaster on October 6, 2015. Posted in Chamber Blog. No Comments on The Rodeo Is Coming To Town

The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber partnered with the James E. Ward Agricultural Center on October 1 to host a Business After Hours, which served as an introduction to the upcoming Junior High National Rodeo Finals to members of the community. Larry Tomlinson, Director of the Ag Center, and Wilson County Commissioner Jeff Joines have been working with the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) to organize and coordinate the event, which will take place in Lebanon in both 2016 and 2017. Tomlinson and Joines each spoke briefly about their experiences with the rodeo in past years in other cities before giving the floor to Ronnie Haslerig and Austin White, who came to the event on behalf of the NHSRA.

The NHSRA is the largest youth organization in the western industry, with an annual membership of more than 12,000 students from 42 states, five Canadian provinces, and Australia. Since its inception in 1949, the mission of the NHSRA has existed first and foremost to promote and support education and to develop the essential attributes of leadership, dedication, commitment, and responsibility in high school and junior high students. Approximately 1,400 members of the NHSRA will be travelling to Lebanon to participate in the 2016 Junior High Finals, slated for June 19 – June 25 of next year.

The pair of rodeo executives discussed some of the logistics of the upcoming Junior High. In addition to several days of set-up, there will be seven days of actual rodeo events, ranging from bull riding to calf roping and barrel racing. Because the 1,400 participants are junior high school age, entire families are likely to come to the event along with them, bringing the total event attendance to around 50,000. The incoming crowd is expected to need approximately 6,000 hotel/motel nights; the total economic impact on the region will likely be in excess of $10 million.

Businesses throughout the county are encouraged to participate in welcoming the rodeo to town by extending business hours, offering special shopping events, stocking supplies such as trailer tires and grocery staples, providing promotional items for welcome baskets, and participating in the trade show at the rodeo. Those wishing to be noticeably marked as rodeo supporters are also encouraged to purchase and decorate a large wooden bull (like the Chamber’s newly-decorated friend Jasper) to position outside their businesses. For more information on the rodeo or how your business can partner to make the event a success, please contact Larry Tomlinson at 615-449-9077.

The crowd listens to Larry Tomlinson & Jeff Joines discussing the rodeo while enjoying a BBQ dinner. Similar to rodeo participants’ required identification, Business After Hours attendees wore back numbers as nametags.

Perma-Pipe Grand Re-Opening

Written by Webmaster on October 6, 2015. Posted in Chamber Blog. No Comments on Perma-Pipe Grand Re-Opening

On October 1, Perma-Pipe, Inc. held a grand-reopening to celebrate their upgraded facility, located at 1310 Quarles Drive. Tours were given throughout the morning, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon with the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber and local elected officials. Lunch was provided by Michael’s Cafe.

Perma-Pipe is the largest manufacturer of pre-insulated piping systems for district heating and cooling in North America. The Lebanon location is one of just four in North America; the company also has several locations in the Middle East and Asia.

Industry Appreciation Luncheon

Written by Webmaster on September 29, 2015. Posted in Chamber Blog. No Comments on Industry Appreciation Luncheon

The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee held their annual Industry Appreciation Day on September 17. This year, lunch was provided to employees of Shenandoah Mills, located just off the square at 145 South Cumberland Street.

Shenandoah Mills was founded by Dale Nunnery in 1990, when he purchased the facility from Martha White Foods. The company specializes in the production of many different dry food products – specifically batters and breaders. Their client list includes Cracker Barrel, Long John Silvers, Captain D’s, Hillshire Farms, Sara Lee, and more. Approximately 100 truckloads of dry mixes are shipped out per month, which totals about 50 million pounds of product per year. Still, in their 25 years of business, Shenandoah Mills has never shorted a single order.

Members of the Economic Development Committee got the opportunity to talk to the executive staff about the business and its history while other employees ate lunch from Honeybaked Ham Co. The Chamber would like to extend a huge thanks to First Freedom Bank for sponsoring the event.

Cumberland Chiropractic Ground Breaking

Written by Webmaster on September 29, 2015. Posted in Chamber Blog. No Comments on Cumberland Chiropractic Ground Breaking

On September 11, Dr. Ryan House of Cumberland Chiropractic and Sports Medicine had a ground breaking ceremony at what will soon be his new office location. The Cumberland Chiropractic office is currently located at 1416 West Main St. Suite H, but will be moving to their new building located behind Dunkin’ Donuts on West Main in 2016. Dr. House (pictured at center) was joined by his wife and staff, local officials, Chamber representatives, and others involved with the new building for the ceremony.

Farmers Insurance Grand Opening

Written by Webmaster on September 22, 2015. Posted in Chamber Blog. No Comments on Farmers Insurance Grand Opening

Michael and Isaac Bradford along with many other members of the Farmers Insurance family were recently joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors, local officials, and other members of the community to celebrate the opening of their office at 224 W Main Street, Suite E. They had a live radio broadcast, hot dogs, finger foods and cake, and a ribbon cutting ceremony. We are excited to welcome them to the community and the Chamber!

7th Annual Taste of Wilson County

Written by Webmaster on September 15, 2015. Posted in Chamber Blog. No Comments on 7th Annual Taste of Wilson County

Your Chamber supports education because we know that the foundation of our community starts with the education of our youth.

The Chamber Education Division and our Business & Education Coalition are proud to offer teachers and students a way to encourage continued education throughout Wilson County. The Chamber raises money at our annual Taste of Wilson County to give back to our education programs in Wilson County. Proceeds benefit our Teacher Grant Program, Books from Birth Program, Tennessee Scholars Program and other education scholarships.

The Teacher Grant Program was started by Ken Howell, Chamber Lifetime Member, in 1995. Teacher grants are offered by the Chamber Education Division to Wilson County teachers each year and awarded at an annual breakfast sponsored by Cumberland Real Estate G-team Jackie Gaither and Kevin Gaines. This year’s grant amount has been increased from $500 in previous years to $599 maximum per grant. The Education Vice Chair, Education Committee, Board of Directors and Chamber staff celebrate with the teacher and students when the items requested for the project have been purchased and unveiled to the classroom. Including 2015 teacher grants, the Education Division has awarded 433 grants totaling over $175,000. A special thank you to our Wilson County teachers who have participated and made a difference in our schools. The deadline for this year’s grant applications is Friday, September 18. Applications may be found at the following link.

Teacher Grant Application

Wilson Books from Birth is another program sponsored by the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce. Under the direction of Peggy Simpson, all Wilson County children from birth to five years old are eligible to enroll. Each month, a free book is mailed to the child for the parent(s) to read to their child for the beginning of a successful education.

Each year the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce graduates Wilson County students that have completed the requirements of the Tennessee Scholars Program. In 2015, 417 Wilson County students graduated from the program, and to-date, a total of 3,984 have received a diploma from the Chamber since 2005. The Tennessee Scholars program is a course of study that encourages students to take more demanding courses in high school. The curriculum provides an education that better prepares students to enter a technical school, a post-secondary educational institution, or the workplace.

The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce offers a number of annual scholarships that are based on a select criteria. College education scholarships are awarded annually in the spring. The Chamber typically awards around $12,000 in scholarship money annually.

SAVE THE DATE: Taste of Wilson County, OCTOBER 8, 2015

Join your Chamber for a great evening to celebrate education in Wilson County. Food vendors will be sharing their favorite food products, and marketplace vendors will have other items for purchase. There will also be face painting, inflatables, and a balloon artist available for children’s enjoyment.

Ticket pricing for the Taste of Wilson County is as follows:

Adult (age 12+): $20 in advance; $25 at event
Child (ages 6-11): $5 in advance; $10 at event
Children age 5 & Under: Free
VIP Ticket (includes seat in VIP tent): $30
VIP Table (seats 8): $250

Call the Chamber office today at 615-444-5503 to reserve your ticket!

Lebanon and Wilson County have fantastic foods to highlight, so come experience the taste in Downtown Lebanon from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. on October 8. We look forward to seeing you there and partnering with you to support education in Wilson County!

Marketplace and food vendor space is still available! Follow the link below:

Taste of Wilson County Vendor Application

Lebanon Municipal Airport Ribbon Cutting

Written by Webmaster on September 9, 2015. Posted in Chamber Blog. No Comments on Lebanon Municipal Airport Ribbon Cutting

On Thursday, September 3, Lebanon Municipal Airport staff were joined by members of the community, local elected officials, and the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber for a grand opening and ribbon cutting. Airport Commission Chairman T.O. Cragwall and Airport Manager Heather Bay (pictured above) gave their thanks to the community as well as local and state government entities who have supported the building project. Chairman Cragwall also discussed the economic impact that the growth of the airport has and will continue to have on the city and county. He noted that with the completion of the new hangar, there are 17 total, which are currently all rented and have long waiting lists.

Scarecrow Stroll 2015

Written by Webmaster on September 1, 2015. Posted in Special Events Blogs. No Comments on Scarecrow Stroll 2015

The Chamber of Commerce Special Events Committee invites local businesses, civic groups, and families to get creative and participate in the Second Annual Scarecrow Stroll. The project aims to decorate the square for fall and draw attention to downtown businesses.

Participants will create their own unique scarecrows (no store-bought versions allowed) that will be displayed around the square throughout the month of October. Several awards will be given for entries, including Best Overall – Square Merchant, Best Overall Non Square Merchant, Most Creative, and Fan Favorite. Each display will have a photo on the Chamber’s Facebook page; photo likes will be counted as votes to determine the winner of Fan Favorite. Voting for Fan Favorite will take place October 2 through October 25. Winners in all other categories will be determined by a sub-committee appointed by the Chamber.

Applications and a complete set of rules and regulations are available at the Chamber, located at 149 Public Square, or by clicking the link below. The application fee is $25. Call the Chamber office at 615-444-5503 for more information.

2015 Scarecrow Stroll Application

Submit your application today and be sure to come stroll with the scarecrows on the square during October!

The 2014 Scarecrow Stroll winners are pictured below:

Bryan Insurance – Fan Favorite

Quality Rehab & Health Center – Most Creative

Pediatric Dentistry of Lebanon – Best Overall Display

Wilson County Fair – Most Wilson County

Libelle Beech Salon Ribbon Cutting

Written by Webmaster on August 25, 2015. Posted in Chamber Blog. No Comments on Libelle Beech Salon Ribbon Cutting

The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Libelle Beech Salon to the Chamber community. The new salon, located at 706 West Main Street in Lebanon, hosted a grand opening on the evening of August 24. The night included a special prayer, flag presentation, and ribbon cutting in addition to heavy hors d’oeuvres.

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Libelle Beech Salon, owned and run by Rachel Beechboard, provides services ranging from hair color and cut to facials and manicures. Call Rachel and her team at 615-784-4620 for more information or to make an appointment.

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