Utilities Become Growth Gatekeepers as County Expands
At the South Blount Utility District Water Treatment Facility, a team of 12 employees monitors pumps and filters, responds to alerts and conducts tests every few hours. For most of them, their work takes place in a control room above the plant, where they keep an eye on the system and fill out paperwork. […]
Sports Tourism Quietly Reshapes Blount County’s Economy
When Mike Myers’ father and five friends leased a muddy limestone lot from a Blount County judge for $1 a year more than 60 years ago, the plan was simple: build their sons a ballpark. Maryville College provided the first bleachers. Willocks Brothers donated block for dugouts. South Central Bell contributed retired telephone poles for […]
Local Farms Aren’t Cheaper than Kroger — but the Gap is Shrinking
On May 7, Kroger on Foothills Plaza Drive charged anywhere from $7 to $12 per pound for ground beef — averaging $9.50 per pound. Jessica Waters at local farm C&C Beef charges $9 if you pay cash. And she can probably show you a picture of the cow. Rising grocery prices have not necessarily made […]
Gas Prices, Slow Growth Test Blount County Tourism Outlook
Blount County has maintained an annual 5-6% jump in visitor expenditures since the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, that growth may flatten. For Blount County, where visitors generated $610.9 million in direct spending in 2024, that kind of slowdown would typically raise concern. But on the ground, tourism operators are reading the shift differently. Local experts […]
Local Schools Beat Statewide Average Scores in Report
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 Blount County, said Jessica Belitz, […]
Five Giant Retail Stores, One Fast Growing County
If everything goes according to plan, Blount County will soon have a Costco Wholesale, three Walmart Supercenters and a BJ’s Wholesale Club — five big-box retailers, or a 66% increase from 2025. That growth has left many Blount County residents wondering why national retailers are showing such strong interest in the area. Blount County, along […]
It’s Tough to Be in the Coffee Business These Days
Local coffee entrepreneurs find ways to stay profitable in light of increased coffee prices Julia Sayles has learned a lot about coffee prices this year. Her company, called Kindred Coffee, opened in August. She offers a mix of drinks from the back of a specially designed trailer – a business location chosen because of the […]
