{"id":527,"date":"2026-05-08T11:20:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?page_id=527"},"modified":"2026-05-08T13:34:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T17:34:30","slug":"state-government","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?page_id=527","title":{"rendered":"State Government"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"527\" class=\"elementor elementor-527\" 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\">State Government<\/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=\"527\">\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\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<h2 class=\"premium-blog-entry-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/businessnews.blountcounty.news\/?p=685\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t2026 Tennessee vacation guide released\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\">The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development released the 2026 Vacation Guide heavily focused on Dolly Parton&#8217;s impact on the state&#8217;s tourism industry. The 150-page magazine, produced by Franklin-based Journal Communications, Inc., is distributed to an estimated 500,000 visitors annually and helps boost local tourism by serving as a how-to travel \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>May 9, 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;33.33%&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\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<\/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-32c8b546 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"32c8b546\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"28151db7\" class=\"e-28151db7-6e469c6 e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"28151db7\"><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-3913370c premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"3913370c\" 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=\"527\">\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 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-574147cf-c9d0208 e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"574147cf\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"574147cf\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"50686525\" class=\"e-50686525-aba4260 e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"50686525\"><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-40cf2b23 premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"40cf2b23\" 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-5b11079b-9ffaf2e e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"5b11079b\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"5b11079b\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"8bdeeb7\" class=\"e-8bdeeb7-f34b391 e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"8bdeeb7\"><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-26df4549 premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"26df4549\" 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-40c6acc4-ec59174 e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"40c6acc4\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"40c6acc4\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"e3a06ba\" class=\"e-e3a06ba-71f9939 e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"e3a06ba\"><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-6cf8c8a9 premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"6cf8c8a9\" 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=\"527\">\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 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-541bdb99-a3ac270 e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"541bdb99\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"541bdb99\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"39ffe05a\" class=\"e-39ffe05a-2365bdb e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"39ffe05a\"><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-655c556e premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"655c556e\" 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=\"527\">\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-4cd19ea1-0018ed0 e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"4cd19ea1\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"4cd19ea1\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"3b773403\" class=\"e-3b773403-036554e e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"3b773403\"><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-6cfeca86 premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"6cfeca86\" 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=\"527\">\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-4fc03d0a-87483e1 e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"4fc03d0a\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"4fc03d0a\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"65b78520\" class=\"e-65b78520-0d46f75 e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"65b78520\"><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-500750e9 premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"500750e9\" 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=\"527\">\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 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-5d93a8d-9519bde e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"5d93a8d\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"5d93a8d\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"5bb91f69\" class=\"e-5bb91f69-1c6d42d e-heading-base\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"5bb91f69\"><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-30574456 premium-blog-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-blog\" data-id=\"30574456\" 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=\"527\">\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-63425ea5-7878766 e-divider-base\" data-interaction-id=\"63425ea5\"  data-e-type=\"widget\" data-id=\"63425ea5\" \/>\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>State Government The current query has no posts. Please make sure you have published items matching your query. Past Stories The current query has no posts. Please make sure you have published items matching your query. ALCOA Blaze Pizza Franchise Closes Alcoa location \u2022 January 15, 2026 BLOUNT COUNTY The current query has no posts. 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