May is Business and Industry Appreciation Month

May kicks-off Tennessee Business and Industry Appreciation Month and Governor Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber salute Tennessee’s business and industry community for the contributions they bring to our economy, our communities and our work force.

"Tennessee businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy, providing jobs to support Tennessee families and communities,” said Gov. Bredesen. “The state thanks the business community for their continued support, not only during this special month of recognition, but throughout the year."

Commissioner Kisber pointed out that greater collaboration between the state, local communities and business has created greater alignment in economic development. He pointed to events like Tennessee’s first-ever Manufacturing Summit in 2005 as an example of how ECD worked with partners like the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry and TVA to meet with Tennessee industry to develop strategies around job creation and job preservation.

"Existing industry help us recruit other businesses and industry to invest in Tennessee," said Kisber. "Economic successes don’t happen as the result of a single effort, but through focused partnerships between state government, local communities and the business community."