Growth Issues

Meet with local leaders and join the dialogue on the challenges of growth and find out what you can do to shape a safe, strong, sustainable community. 

The Blount Chamber continually monitors growth issues affecting Blount County and the East Tennessee region. Specifically, the Chamber addresses air quality and transportation issues.  Members interested in Planned Growth Briefings should contact Kathy Delozier or sign-up on the Get Involved Form.

Check this out....Guide to Help Businesses Confront Climate Challenge

New! Housing Committee

The Housing Commitee will address local housing issues and promote practices to enhance the local housing market and the community's quality of life. Meetings begin in March and will be held as needed.  Contact Vicky Jones to receive a meeting notice for the upcoming meetings.  Below are other organizations that address growth issues in the areas of: land use, air and water quality, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and community health.

Land Use

Contact name: Bill Clabough
Organization: Foothills Land Conservancy
Telephone: (865) 681-8326
Email: bclabough@foothillsland.org
WebSite: http://www.foothillsland.org/

Contact name: Ralph Lovely
Organization: UT – Agriculture Extension Service
Telephone: (865) 982-6430
Email: rlovely@utk.edu
WebSite: blount.tennessee.edu

Contact name: Charlene DeSha
Organization: Keep Blount Beautiful
Telephone: (865) 681-4809
Email: keepblo@earthlink.net
WebSite: http://www.keepblountbeautiful.org/

Contact name: Linda Hoke, Director, Council on the Southern Community
Organization: Southern Growth Policies Board
Telephone: (919) 941-5145
Email: lhoke@southern.org
WebSite: http://www.southern.org/

Contact name: Scott Poland
Organization: City of Maryville Planner
Telephone: (865) 981-1302
Email: skpoland@ci.maryville.tn.us
WebSite: http://www.ci.maryville.tn.us/

Contact name: Erin Hall , Owner, Canvas Hair Design
Organization: Downtown Association
Telephone: (865) 981-8881

Contact name: Chris Hamby
Organization: City of Alcoa Planner
Telephone: (865)-380-4737
WebSite: http://www.cityofalcoa-tn.gov/

Contact name: John Lamb
Organization: Environmental Health Action Team Land Use subcommittee
Telephone: (865) 273-5750

Contact name: John Lamb
Organization: Blount County Planner
Telephone: (865)-273-5750
Website:http://www.blounttn.org/planning/
Email:mailto:planning@blounttn.org/

Water Quality

Contact name: Ashley McBee
Organization: Little River Watershed Association
Telephone: (865) 980-2130
Email: ashley.mcbee@littleriverwatershed.org 
Website: www.littleriverwatershed.org, http://www.littleriverbigfuture.org/

Contact name: Carlos Yunsan
Organization: Environmental Health Action Team
Water subcommittee
Telephone: (865) 549-5243
Email:mailto:carlos.a.yusan@state.tn.us

Organization: Blount County Soil Conservation District
Telephone: (865)-983-2011

Organization: Tennessee Valley Authority
Telephone: (865)-988-2420
http://www.tva.gov

Organization: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Telephone: (888)-891-8332

Contact name: Kenny Wiggins
Organization: City of Alcoa
Telephone: (865)-380-4700
Website: www.cityofalcoa-tn.gov

Contact name: Jeff Rose
Organization: City of Maryville, Water Dept.
Telephone: (865)-981-3322

Air Quality

Contact name: Kathy Delozier
Organization: Regional Clean Air Coalition
Telephone: (865) 983-2241
Website: www.etnrcac.org

Organization: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Telephone: (888)-891-8332

Contact name: Carlos Yunsan
Organization: Environmental Health Action Team
Air Quality subcommittee
Telephone: (865) 549-5243
Email: carlos.a.yusan@state.tn.us

Contact name: Jean H. Peretz
Organization: The University of Tennessee Energy, Environment and Resources Center
Telephone: (865)-974-1838
Email: speretz@utk.edu
Website: http://eerc.ra.utk.edu

Contact Name: Jonathan G. Overly
Organization: East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition
Telephone: (865)-974-3625 or (865)-803-7555
Website: www.etcfc.org

Contact Name: Jim Renfro, Air Resource Specialist
Organization: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Telephone: (865)-436-1708
Email: jim_renfro@nps.gov
Website: http://www. nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/air-quality.htm 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Contact name: Ken Voorhis
Organization: Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Telephone: (865) 448-6709
Email: ken@gsmit.org
Website: www.gsmit.org

Organization: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Telephone: (865) 436-1200
Website: www.nps.gov/grsm

Contact name: Jim Renfro, Air Resource Specialist
Organization: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Telephone: (865) 436-1708
Email: jim_renfro@nps.gov
Website: www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/air-quality.htm 

Community Health

Contact Name: Jane Andrews
Organization: Community Health Initiative
Telephone: (865) 977-5718
FAX (865) 977-5779

Contact name: Micky Roberts, Director
Organization: Blount County Health Department
Telephone: (865) 9983-4582
Website: www.blounttn.org/health.asp
Email: micky.roberts@state.tn.us