{"id":301,"date":"2026-05-06T19:32:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T19:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?page_id=301"},"modified":"2026-05-08T13:58:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T17:58:32","slug":"featured-stories","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?page_id=301","title":{"rendered":"Featured Stories"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"301\" class=\"elementor elementor-301\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6754d34 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6754d34\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6194387 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6194387\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d83cb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8d83cb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Featured Stories<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7dfe2a5 elementor-widget__width-inherit premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"7dfe2a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_blog_columns_number&quot;:&quot;100%&quot;,&quot;premium_blog_grid&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;premium_blog_layout&quot;:&quot;even&quot;,&quot;premium_blog_columns_number_tablet&quot;:&quot;50%&quot;,&quot;premium_blog_columns_number_mobile&quot;:&quot;100%&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-blog.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-wrap  premium-blog-even\" data-page=\"301\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"3\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-cards\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumb-effect-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-container premium-blog-none-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=647\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Blount-County-Business-News_February-2026_BCB07818.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-649\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Blount-County-Business-News_February-2026_BCB07818.webp 500w, https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Blount-County-Business-News_February-2026_BCB07818-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-effect-container premium-blog-none-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-blog-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=647\" target=\"_blank\"><span>Local Schools Beat Statewide Average Scores in Report<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper \">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=647\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tLocal Schools Beat Statewide Average Scores in Report\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-inner-wrapper\">\n\t\t<p class=\"premium-blog-post-content\">Blount County school districts outperformed the statewide average in the latest Tennessee Department of Education School Report Card, released in late January. But the scores are calculated using a formula that requires context to fully understand, said Maryville City Schools Director Mike Winstead. The results also carry economic implications for \u2026<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-author premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-user fa-fw\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?author=6\" title=\"Posts by Robert Berlin\" rel=\"author\">Robert Berlin<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>February 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-010e4a0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"010e4a0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"e-image-base e-1f3f4ea-17d927d\" data-interaction-id=\"1f3f4ea\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"1f3f4ea\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor\/assets\/images\/placeholder-v4.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"e-image-base e-f60de8c-9b04a5a\" data-interaction-id=\"f60de8c\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"f60de8c\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor\/assets\/images\/placeholder-v4.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"e-image-base e-2661a0d-0fdf898\" data-interaction-id=\"2661a0d\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"2661a0d\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor\/assets\/images\/placeholder-v4.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-912ae45 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"912ae45\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0bcef9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d0bcef9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor\/assets\/images\/placeholder.png\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a8f781 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4a8f781\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae22c12 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ae22c12\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b0af19 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4b0af19\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 data-interaction-id=\"2390002\" class=\"e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"2390002\">Past Stories<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c00688 premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"2c00688\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;force_height&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;premium_blog_columns_number&quot;:&quot;25%&quot;,&quot;premium_blog_grid&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;premium_blog_layout&quot;:&quot;even&quot;,&quot;premium_blog_columns_number_tablet&quot;:&quot;50%&quot;,&quot;premium_blog_columns_number_mobile&quot;:&quot;100%&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-blog.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-wrap  premium-blog-even\" data-page=\"301\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-cards\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumb-effect-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-container premium-blog-none-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=630\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"328\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Blount-County-Business-News_January-2026_BCD_7586.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-633\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Blount-County-Business-News_January-2026_BCD_7586.webp 500w, https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Blount-County-Business-News_January-2026_BCD_7586-300x197.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-effect-container premium-blog-none-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-blog-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=630\" target=\"_blank\"><span>Five Giant Retail Stores, One Fast Growing County<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper \">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=630\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tFive Giant Retail Stores, One Fast Growing County\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-inner-wrapper\">\n\t\t<p class=\"premium-blog-post-content\">By Mathaus Schwarzen Business Reporter If everything goes according to plan, Blount County will soon have a Costco Wholesale, three Walmart Supercenters and a BJ\u2019s Wholesale Club \u2014 five big-box retailers, or a 66% increase from 2025. That growth has left many Blount County residents wondering why national retailers are \u2026<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>February 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-cards\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumb-effect-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-container premium-blog-none-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=119\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Blount-County-Business-News_January-2026_BCD_7509.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-121\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Blount-County-Business-News_January-2026_BCD_7509.webp 500w, https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Blount-County-Business-News_January-2026_BCD_7509-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-effect-container premium-blog-none-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-blog-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=119\" target=\"_blank\"><span>It\u2019s tough to be in the coffee business these days<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper \">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=119\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s tough to be in the coffee business these days\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-inner-wrapper\">\n\t\t<p class=\"premium-blog-post-content\">Julia Sayles has learned a lot about coffee prices this year.\u00a0 Her company, called Kindred Coffee, opened in August. She offers a mix of drinks from the back of a specially designed trailer \u2013 a business location chosen because of the lower overhead needed to break into the local scene. \u2026<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>January 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7aae291 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7aae291\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d61ba24 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1d61ba24\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"2eb2471\" class=\"e-2eb2471-7230155 e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"2eb2471\"><a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?page_id=234\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-heading-link-base\">\n\t\tALCOA\n\t<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c3f50b3 premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"6c3f50b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-blog.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-wrap  premium-blog-list\" data-page=\"301\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-side\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumb-effect-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-container premium-blog-none-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/MHDC-McNabb-Development-150x150.webp\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-718\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=717\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper \">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=717\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tMaryville Housing Authority to Increase\u00a0 Low-Income Housing Opportunities in 2026\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>February 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-side\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper empty-thumb\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=394\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tBlaze Pizza Franchise Closes Alcoa location\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>January 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<hr class=\"e-3e042459-3fb1d2b e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"3e042459\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"3e042459\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"16dc9d59\" class=\"e-16dc9d59-a1aae9d e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"16dc9d59\"><a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?page_id=254\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-heading-link-base\">\n\t\tBLOUNT COUNTY\n\t<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48419b25 premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"48419b25\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-blog.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-error-notice\">\n\t\t\tThe current query has no posts. Please make sure you have published items matching your query.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<hr class=\"e-4061b764-bdb8077 e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"4061b764\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"4061b764\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"338a2080\" class=\"e-338a2080-3450c03 e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"338a2080\"><a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?page_id=259\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-heading-link-base\">\n\t\tFRIENDSVILLE\n\t<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c63b2bf premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"c63b2bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-blog.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-error-notice\">\n\t\t\tThe current query has no posts. Please make sure you have published items matching your query.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<hr class=\"e-1a293f1-3195148 e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"1a293f1\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"1a293f1\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"310451d8\" class=\"e-310451d8-db2c534 e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"310451d8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?page_id=273\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-heading-link-base\">\n\t\tGREENBACK\n\t<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33aaebd6 premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"33aaebd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-blog.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-wrap  premium-blog-list\" data-page=\"301\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-side\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumb-effect-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-container premium-blog-none-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/02\/Autocad3d-3-150x150.webp\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-681\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=678\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper \">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=678\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tCadform 3D prepares to open manufacturing location in Greenback\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>February 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<hr class=\"e-f7b7ee8-73f02ad e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"f7b7ee8\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"f7b7ee8\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"c0a09eb\" class=\"e-c0a09eb-bceff56 e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"c0a09eb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?page_id=278\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-heading-link-base\">\n\t\tLOUISVILLE\n\t<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ca06f5c premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"7ca06f5c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-blog.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-wrap  premium-blog-list\" data-page=\"301\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-side\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper empty-thumb\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=712\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tZoning Ordinance Changes Streamline Permit Processes and References, Control Density\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>February 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-side\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper empty-thumb\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=384\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tDonations, Grants Fund Louisville Park Improvements and Disc Golf Course\u00a0\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>January 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<hr class=\"e-a8ac6a6-b1cf566 e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"a8ac6a6\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"a8ac6a6\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"d598899\" class=\"e-d598899-a54de04 e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"d598899\"><a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?page_id=283\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-heading-link-base\">\n\t\tMARYVILLE\n\t<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a71688c premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"5a71688c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-blog.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-wrap  premium-blog-list\" data-page=\"301\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"2\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-side\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper empty-thumb\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=683\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tRush hemp farms moving operations to NC\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>February 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"2\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-side\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper empty-thumb\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=657\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tFounder of Van Metre School of Dance, Appalachia Ballet dies at 86\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>February 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"2\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-side\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper empty-thumb\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=392\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tBroadway Commercial Real Estate upgrades bring three additional storefronts to area\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>January 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"2\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-side\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper empty-thumb\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=390\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tAllevia Technology buys Historic bank building\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>January 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<hr class=\"e-3d054796-2dee19e e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"3d054796\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"3d054796\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"4cbce4d7\" class=\"e-4cbce4d7-a02aa6a e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"4cbce4d7\"><a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?page_id=288\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-heading-link-base\">\n\t\tROCKFORD\n\t<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7643e743 premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"7643e743\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-blog.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-wrap  premium-blog-list\" data-page=\"301\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-side\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumb-effect-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-container premium-blog-none-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Blount-County-Business-News_February-2026_BCB07853-150x150.webp\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-671\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=669\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper \">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=669\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tWildflower garden center preparing to open location in rockford\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>February 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<hr class=\"e-1c82ccd5-7ea0d96 e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"1c82ccd5\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"1c82ccd5\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"2022eadf\" class=\"e-2022eadf-914123f e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"2022eadf\"><a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?page_id=289\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-heading-link-base\">\n\t\tTOWNSEND\n\t<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b9c58a1 premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"6b9c58a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-blog.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-wrap  premium-blog-list\" data-page=\"301\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-side\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumb-effect-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-container premium-blog-none-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Hot-Air-Balloon-Festival-2024-214-150x150.webp\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-710\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=709\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper \">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=709\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tTownsend eyes permit change to reduce\u00a0 event uncertainty, streamline approvals\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>February 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-outer-container\" data-total=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-container premium-blog-skin-side\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumb-effect-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-container premium-blog-none-effect\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Logo-BeerFest_2026-200x200-1-150x150.webp\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-133\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Logo-BeerFest_2026-200x200-1-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/Logo-BeerFest_2026-200x200-1.webp 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-thumbnail-overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=132\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-content-wrapper \">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-inner-container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=132\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\tTownsend Prepares for Annual Winter Beer Fest\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-blog-meta-separator\">\u2022<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-blog-post-time premium-blog-meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar-alt\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>January 15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<hr class=\"e-44d7f3ef-41a182b e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"44d7f3ef\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"44d7f3ef\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"e-image-base e-b105279-3e48672\" data-interaction-id=\"b105279\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"b105279\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor\/assets\/images\/placeholder-v4.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70deead e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"70deead\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74603f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"74603f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor\/assets\/images\/placeholder.png\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Featured Stories It\u2019s tough to be in the coffee business these days It\u2019s tough to be in the coffee business these days Photo by Robert Berlin Alec Glover, 30, pours espresso at Beard Brothers Coffee in Maryville. He&#8217;s been in the coffee business for more than 10 years. &#8220;For me, it&#8217;s about the people,&#8221; he [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_angie_page":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-301","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=301"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":607,"href":"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/301\/revisions\/607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}