Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber announced that Governor Phil Bredesen and Hemlock Semiconductor Group President and CEO Rick Doornbos  will be the keynote speakers at this year’s Governor’s Conference on Economic and Community Development, September 14th and 15th. The conference will be at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Governor Bredesen and I are pleased a nationally recognized business leader like Rick Doornbos has agreed to take part in our upcoming conference,” said Commissioner Kisber. “As we position Tennessee for the nation’s economic recovery, conference attendees will have a valuable opportunity to hear from a range of business leaders and site selection consultants about what industries will drive job growth and investment in the years ahead.”

Rick Doornbos, Hemlock Semicondutor Grp President & CEO

In a press statement, Doornbos said, “Because of the vision of Governor Bredesen and Commissioner Kisber, I believe Tennessee is poised to play a leadership role in the development of jobs related to clean technologies. I’m looking forward to sharing my perspective on how we can maximize the creation of good paying jobs in this sector in the years ahead.”

In June, the Pew Center for the States named Tennessee one of the top three states in the nation for potential creation of future clean energy technology jobs, according to Kisber’s press release. In addition to Doornbos, the conference will feature breakout sessions with Dr. Thom Mason, director, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Robert Pittman, senior principal, Janus Economics, Ed McCallum, senior principal, McCallum-Sweeney, Michael Cutri, managing director, Cushman & Wakefield, Bob Robers, VP, Jones, Lang, LaSalle and Mark Williams, president, Strategic Development Group.

Mr. Doornbos will keynote the Commissioner’s Luncheon on September 14th at noon while on September 15, Governor Bredesen will keynote the Governor’s Luncheon at noon. Following the Governor’s Luncheon there will be a photo session with ECD’s 2009 Three-Star and Tennessee Main Street certified communities.

Among the topics for this year’s Governor’s Conference on Economic and Community Development are:

• How Green Are My Incentives — a look at incentive programs for clean technology jobs
• Do Prospects Notice When I Tweet? — using social media to communicate in economic development
• Clean Energy Heats Up the Job Market — how investing in the clean energy sector will create jobs and transform our  economy
• The ABC’s of IDB’s — a legal framework for setting up more effective industrial development boards and megasite authorities
• How Site Selectors Use Data Mining — making sure your Web site draws attention when site selectors search
• Your New Jobs May be Homegrown — supporting entrepreneurs in your community

A full list of conference topics is available, along with registration information on the ECD home page at www.tnecd.gov. Advance registration is $200 ($175 for spouses) with early registration closing September 4th, 2009. Hotel accommodations at Gaylord Opryland Hotel can also be handled through the conference website.

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to create higher skilled, better paying jobs for all Tennesseans. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. To find out more, go to www.tnecd.gov.

About Hemlock Semiconductor Group

The Hemlock Semiconductor Group is comprised of two joint ventures: Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation and Hemlock Semiconductor, L.L.C. The companies are joint ventures of Dow Corning Corporation, Shin-Etsu Handotai and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. Hemlock Semiconductor is a leading provider of polycrystalline silicon and other silicon-based products used in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices and solar cells and modules. Hemlock Semiconductor began its Michigan operations in 1961 and broke ground at its Tennessee location in 2009.

“Support the troops!” has some meat behind it in Oak Ridge. “We’re here for the veterans!” is the rally cry of East Tennessee’s veterans business outreach programs. That is the consensus of three Clarksville citizens who, along with over 250 others, attended the all-day Oak Ridge Veterans Business Conference. Dr. James H. Cossingham, President, Gold Eagle Corp. and his associate, Turner McCullough Jr.- contributing writer for this publication, attended the conference at the invitation of Herstle Cross, CEO, Cornerstone Equipment, Supplies & Consulting. Cornerstone is an SBA-8A Native American company at the Oak Ridge National Nuclear Security Agency.

Ms Felicia Johnson, newly named director of the Clarksville Small Business Development Center at Austin Peay State University also attended. She was seeking to establish contacts with her counterparts in East Tennessee and especially Oak Ridge, which could enhance opportunities for her future clients in Clarksville and Montgomery County. The conference was held at the Y-12 National Nuclear Security Agency Complex’s New Hope Center, 602 Scarboro Road, the new visitors and conference center at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Complex.

The conference was hosted by the Y-12 National Security Complex and the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services Procurement Technical Assistance Center. Co-sponsors and partners included Bechtel Jacobs Company, City of Knoxville, City of Oak Ridge, East Tennessee Military Affairs Council, Knox County Government, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, Knoxville Utilities Board, the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Additional participants included Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Roane State Community College, Small Business Administration, Tennessee Small Business Development Center, Tennessee Economic and Community Development and its Business Enterprise Resource Office, Tennessee Valley Authority, United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Department of Energy, and Wackenhut Services Oak Ridge Team.

The purpose of the Veterans Business Conference is to increase business opportunities for service-disabled veteran and veteran-owned small businesses. Michael Scott Golden, CEO, Veterans Construction Inc. was the keynote speaker. Veterans Construction is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business of Knoxville, Tennessee with extensive experience with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Veterans Administration.

Attendees heard important information on the status of veteran small business programs throughout the federal government; a forum regarding business opportunities with DOE and NNSA prime contractors; information of doing business with federal, local and state governments and seminars about developing a business plan and financing small business ventures. Fort Campbell’s Contracting Office also gave a presentation and met with conference attendees on contracting opportunities and procedures. The Oak Ridge Y-12 Complex is aggressively pursuing technology transfer licensing opportunities and seeks service-disabled veteran and veteran owned businesses for its ventures.

The conference center’s corridor was filled with governmental and business entities offering information, contracting registration forms, free gifts and contact information. Registration was accomplished with a continental breakfast and a boxed lunch was available at the mid-day break.