Nashville, TN – Recently, the state of Tennessee launched a comprehensive program to raise awareness about the benefits of registered apprenticeships.
ApprenticeshipTN is designed to increase the number of skilled employees that comprise our state’s workforce.
Under the program, apprentices participate in supervised on-the-job training, as well as job-related education. Additionally, they are compensated, and their wages continue to increase as they move further into the program.
As part of ApprenticeshipTN, the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development has established an apprenticeship organization to work directly with employers, institutions of higher learning, community partners and trade organizations, as well as additional state agencies across all three Grand Divisions in order to develop and implement new registered apprenticeship programs.
For more information about AprenticeshipTN, click here.
Republican Leaders Approve Measure Declaring Tennessee The “Volunteer State”
This week, Republican leaders also approved a measure officially designating the state of Tennessee as the “Volunteer State.”
House Bill 1562 designates the “Volunteer State” as the official nickname of Tennessee. While Tennessee has held this distinction since 1812, it is not currently documented in state law — until now.
The state of Tennessee has been referred to as the “Volunteer State” because of its tradition of answering the call of duty, especially during the War of 1812. At the time, Tennessee was asked to send 1,500 troops to defend the lower Mississippi region as part of this conflict. Instead, the “Volunteer State” answered the call by sending 30,000 troops.
House Bill 1562 now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
Press Release from the U. S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Invests $9 Million In Broadband For Rural Tennessee Communities
Release No. 0152.20
Contact: USDA Press
Email: press@oc.usda.gov
The Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invested $9 million in four, high-speed broadband infrastructure projects that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for 3,744 rural households, 31 businesses, 41 farms and a critical community facility in Tennessee. This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program investments.
“Our core mission at USDA is to increase rural prosperity through boosting economic opportunity in rural America,” Perdue said. “We know that rural communities need robust, modern infrastructure to thrive, and that includes having access to broadband e-Connectivity. Under the leadership of President Trump, USDA is proud to partner with rural communities to deploy this critical infrastructure, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Ben Lomand Holdings Inc. will use a $2.2 million ReConnect Program grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network to rural northeastern Cumberland County. The funded service areas include 222 households, six pre-subscribed businesses and three pre-subscribed farms spread over 100 square miles.
North Central Communications Inc. will use a $1.4 million ReConnect Program grant to provide broadband service to residents and businesses in rural Smith County. The funded service areas include 164 households, 10 pre-subscribed businesses and 21 pre-subscribed farms spread over 22 square miles.
Peoples Telephone Company, dba TEC, will use a $1 million ReConnect Program loan and a $1 million ReConnect Program grant to provide broadband service to residents and businesses in rural Houston County, Henry County, Stewart County and Montgomery County. The funded service areas include 642 households, two pre-subscribed businesses and five pre-subscribed farms spread over 38 square miles.
United Communications Inc. will use a $3.3 million ReConnect Program grant to provide broadband service to residents and businesses in rural Wilson, Rutherford, Williamson and Maury counties. The funded service areas include 2,716 households, 13 pre-subscribed businesses, 12 pre-subscribed farms and a critical community facility spread over 48 square miles.
President’s Day, February 17th, 2020, State Office Closed
Contact Information
Rep. Curtis Johnson
636 Cordell Hull Building
425 5th Avenue, North
Nashville, TN 37243
615.741.4341
Email: rep.curtis.johnson@capitol.tn.gov
For more information about the Tennessee General Assembly, check our website at: www.capitol.tn.gov
