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6,250 subscribers www.TML1.org Volume 65, Number 10 June 23, 2014 Free Conference mobile app available Connects to all smartphone devices A mobile app featuring the 2014 can also set reminders Annual Conference information is for yourself if you like. available for free and is accessible Conference events are from any smart phone device. color-coded by each Be sure to check out special The app was developed by event type. By using the Tennessee Municipal League the filter button at the happenings in the Exhibit Hall to help improve smartphone users top to apply a filter, you conference experience with this can quickly reference The vendors’ program is an in the Exhibit Hall, TML will recog- easy to use digital guide. It contains categories such as food, important component of the overall nize several vendors and conference detailed conference information on workshops, or special conference experience. The Exhibit sponsors who have been involved workshops, speakers, exhibitors and events. Hall, located in Hall C-D of the with the League for more than 25 special events – and it’s all at your Speakers. To learn Chattanooga Convention Center, years. fingertips. about each of our con- provides the perfect opportunity for As TML celebrates its 75th To download the free app, it’s ference speakers, scroll local officials to learn about new Annual Conference, the League is as easy as searching for “2014 TML through the list and tap products and services, while inter- proud to recognize these companies Annual Conference” in the Apple on the speaker’s photo acting one-on-one with companies for their lasting partnership with the App Store or Google PLAY Mar- to reveal their bios. that support municipalities. League and their enduring support ketplace. There is a web app avail- Exhibitors. The ex- New this year is a special City and commitment to serve Tennes- able for Blackberry and Microsoft hibitors section includes Hall Showcase that celebrates see towns and cities. phones. contact information, city achievements, and highlights • Since 1976 (38 years): How to Use It booth numbers, and links successful, creative programs im- UT - Municipal Technical Once your app has successful- to company websites. plemented in municipalities across Advisory Service ly downloaded to your phone, the And once you’ve left the state. City programs featured • Since 1978 (36 years): conference schedule, workshop in- the conference, you can include: Utility Service Co., Inc. formation, vendor contact informa- always refer back to this • Athens’ sustainable initiatives; • Since 1983 (31 years): tion, plus much more is accessible app to find all the contact • Chattanooga’s neighborhoods Local Government Data Corp. through easy, navigable functions. information you need to program, violence reduction initia- • Since 1985 (29 years): Schedule. To access the confer- get in touch with a ven- tive, and youth and family develop- • Barge, Waggoner, Sumner, ence schedule, tap on the schedule dor. ment initiatives; and Cannon, Inc.; icon and scroll up and down, or flip Sponsors. TML • Franklin’s designation as a Val- • CMI Equipment; left and right through the different Sponsors help under- ley Sustainable Gold Community; • J.R. Wauford & Company days. You can also tap the arrows write some of the con- • Portland’s community wellness Consulting Engineers, Inc.; at the top corners to switch between ference expenses, as well initiatives; and • Waste Management dates. Touching an event will reveal as support us in the daily • South Pittsburg’s National Corn • Since 1986 (28 years): a description, and if it’s a workshop, work of representing Bread Festival. The Tennessee Advisory Improve your conference experience speaker bios are also available. As Tennessee’s municipali- Commission on Intergovern- with this easy to use free mobile app. an added feature, you can create your ties. In this section, you An informative vendor presen- mental Relations (TACIR) own personal schedule by touching can learn more about our tation will also take place in the Ex- the plus symbol next to events. You See TML APP on Page 3 hibit Hall on Monday, June 23, from TML greatly appreciates all of 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Entitled the vendors who participate in the When Disaster Strikes:Be Prepared annual conference and encourage Before and Recover After, will be city officials attending the confer- Upswing in state’s business filings presented jointly by the American ence to take the time to visit the Red Cross and Servpro® Industries, Hall. You just never know what Inc. new product or important business points to brighter economic forecast Also on Monday, during lunch contact you’ll find there! BY VICTORIA SOUTH TML Communications Coordinator Water Infrastructure Bill Never before analyzed data from Tennessee Secretary of State finally clears Congress Tre Hargett’s office, suggests a strong correlation between the BY CAROLYN BERNDT nation’s aging infrastructure. number of new business filings in National League of Cities The bill includes several import- Tennessee and an upswing in the ant other provisions: state’s economy. The number of With large bipartisan majori- • Sets target expenditures for a initial filings is found to have a ties, the House and Senate passed gradual increase in the percent- positive and significant relationship the Water Resources Reform and age of user fees that are spent with a number of important Ten- Development Act (WRRDA) that through the Harbor Maintenance nessee economic indicators such as will provide resources to upgrade the Trust Fund for harbor and port employment, personal income, and nation’s aging water infrastructure. maintenance, reaching 100 per- total tax revenues, according to the The bill authorizes $12.3 billion for cent by 2025. newly released Quarterly Business Hargett Fox 34 new lock, dam, levee, port and • Amends the Clean Water Act to and Economic Indicators Report. ecosystem restoration projects and ensure that projects funded with “It’s a very timely database on is doing across the state, as well as “The durable manufacturing sector includes a new pilot program that State Revolving Loan Funds what businesses are doing in our the nation. is doing well. The non-durable with makes loans available to local gov- maximize the potential for effi- state,” said Dr. William Fox, director “As you look at the data, you see a life of under three years, aren’t ernments building large water and cient water use, reuse, recapture of the Center for Business and Eco- some really exciting things for Ten- seeing any growth, but the durable-- wastewater-related infrastructure and conservation; adds language nomic Research at the University of nessee,” Fox told reporters during a think automobiles--- is showing a projects and activities. NLC had that states may provide additional Tennessee, which partnered with the recent conference call. “By creating lot of health in Tennessee.” advocated for the bill, which now subsidization to local govern- state in developing the report. “It’s a a history such as the Secretary of Franchise and excise taxes ex- awaits the President’s signature. ments in the form of principal new tool in our arsenal to understand State’s office, we can study not just perienced better April collections The five year, $350 million forgiveness and negative interest what’s going on in Tennessee.” what’s happening in the current than the rest of the fiscal year, ac- pilot program, known as the Water loans; includes a Buy American With highs nearing pre-reces- quarter, but what’s happened in more cording to the report, a question Fox Infrastructure Finance and Innova- requirement for iron and steel sion figures, the report notes, in the than a decade, giving us a very good and his agency hope to gain greater tion Act program, (WIFIA, modeled and requires EPA to conduct a past 12 months, the state has filed measure of these relationships. What insight into in the coming year. after the successful TIFIA program), review of the SRF State allotment 28,798 new companies, compared we find in this most recent quarter is “It looks like there were a num- provides low-interest loans and formula. with 30,000 in 2007. a 10th consecutive quarter of growth ber of one-time events that might loan guarantees for large water and • Allows local project sponsors “Growth in the number of start- in the number of new entities. You explain why we saw such a big de- wastewater-related infrastructure to submit proposals to the Army up businesses in the first quarter have to go back to the middle of the cline, and not things strictly related projects and activities (projects of Corps, which in turn would sub- signals continued improvement in 2000s to see a window that long.” to underlying economic trends, but at least $20 million or $5 million mit a list to Congress for project the economy over the spring and According to Fox, sectors such more linked to tax planning and for communities serving less than authorization. summer,” Fox said. “We’ve seen ini- as LLCs, particularly those initially relationships between individual 25,000 people). While there are • Allows local project sponsors to tial evidence of this in employment headquartered outside of the state, companies in Tennessee,” said Fox. limitations on the use of the program, contribute their own funds to the numbers for April.” are faring very well along with do- “The thing about franchise and ex- including a cap on the percentage of Army Corps to carry out studies According to Fox, the report mestic entities. The leisure and hos- cise taxes is that their relationship a project that can be funded through and move projects forward via will accomplish three things: ex- pitality industry continues to grow with broad economic measures is the program and a provision that the processing of permits.