Which Way to Grow? How Two Highways Could Reshape Blount County’s Future
Local governments across Blount County are preparing to spend millions of dollars on a highway that may not open for another decade. Supporters say the investment is about more than building the Pellissippi Parkway Extension. Together with the ongoing Alcoa Highway relocation project, they argue the construction will shape where the county grows, improve access […]
Alcoa’s First In-N-Out Burger Clears Planning Commission Hurdle
Alcoa’s first In-N-Out Burger has moved a step closer to reality. The Alcoa Municipal-Regional Planning Commission approved concept plans and a related subdivision plat for the restaurant development at Springbrook Farm June 18. A representative of In-N-Out Burger declined to comment on an anticipated construction schedule. The proposed restaurant would be located on Tesla Boulevard […]
Townsend Adds Oversight to Rental Market
Townsend formalized oversight of its short-term rental market through a permitting and inspection system during its regular Board of Commissioners meeting May 19. City staff said the changes are aimed at improving safety standards and giving the city better visibility into the industry. The new ordinance requires short-term rental operators to maintain a city-issued permit […]
Alcoa Overhauls Sign Ordinances, Offering Path to Digital Billboards with Fewer Locations
Changes to Alcoa’s sign ordinances approved in May will mean an easier process that what has been in place for developers to find pertinent information — and potentially fewer billboards in town. The new ordinances will allow advertising companies to swap static billboards for their digital cousins as long as they meet a 16-point list […]
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. […]
The Grotto Fills a Specialty Houseplant Gap in Blount County
When Plant People Botanical Boutique closed its doors in March 2025, local plant enthusiasts were left without a dedicated shop close to home. Chelsea Foster noticed — and decided to do something about it. Foster opened The Grotto at 357 Sanderson St. in Alcoa on May 15, bringing a curated houseplant shop back to Blount […]
Tattoed Taco to Begin Construction This Summer on Broadway Ave.
James Tomiczek, the developer behind The Greenway Village near Gamble Avenue, is preparing to construct an elevated Mexican food restaurant concept at 205 W. Broadway Ave. in downtown Maryville. Tentatively named “Tattooed Taco,” the restaurant will have a price point aimed at an accessible middle ground in downtown dining. “It’ll probably be more than your […]
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 […]
Maryville Martial Arts Studio Building Sold, Owner Vows No Interruption
Championship Martial Arts owner David Church said the business will remain open without interruption as staff look for their next home. The property, located at 1906 W. Broadway Ave., Maryville, was sold to Knoxville-based Tailwater Properties on March 26. Tailwater, which offers development, brokerage and real estate investment, has listed the building for lease. In […]
Prisma Health Wins Rezoning for Outpatient Complex Near Royal Oaks Subdivision Homes
The Maryville City Council approved a rezoning request May 5 by Prisma Health — the corporate owner of Blount Memorial Hospital — that would allow the company to build an outpatient facility on Golf View Drive. The land affected, totaling about 16 acres, sits alongside the Royal Oaks subdivision in Maryville. If completed, the facility […]
Alcoa Eyes New Fire Station Site Amid Growth
Alcoa officials have tentatively authorized a land purchase to replace a fire station in a growing service area, signaling continued investment in public safety infrastructure amid development. The purchase agreement, approved by city commissioners last month, is currently in the due diligence phase. The city would acquire land on Hawks Landing Drive to build a […]
Safety Fixes Planned for Lowes Ferry curve
Louisville is moving to fix a safety issue on Lowes Ferry Road as it works to protect access to one of its publicly-funded recreation assets. The town plans to install a series of low-cost safety measures within weeks at an S-curve near Poland Creek Campground, one of only two access points to the site. According […]
Townsend Eyes Rules on Rentals, Workforce
Townsend officials are preparing to use a new community plan to guide decisions on short-term rentals, workforce housing and future development in the city’s tourism-driven economy. The Community Plan Advisory Committee delivered the plan to the city manager’s office March 17. City Manager Don Stallions said he expects the city to begin using it to […]
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 […]
Developers, City Leaders Bet on Downtown Growth
When Maryville completed its Downtown Master Plan in 2024, the research painted a picture of the downtown business landscape. The business mix included mostly restaurants, government services and health care. Businesses in the study area numbered around 280, with 7,400 workers and only a few hundred residents. In other words, Maryville’s downtown was a source […]
Alcoa Seeks Vendors for June FreedomFest
Alcoa will accept vendor applications to join its annual Independence Day celebration, FreedomFest, until March 31. City staff said vendors will know whether they have been accepted by April 2. The event, scheduled for June 27, promises visitors music, entertainment and a professional fireworks show. Emily Assenmacher, public information officer and event coordinator for Alcoa, […]
Plan Aims to Support Future Development in Louisville
Louisville will spend $30,000 to create a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to unlock the potential for future infrastructure improvement grants ahead of anticipated regional growth. According to staff with the East Tennessee Development District, the plan would help town officials identify infrastructure in need of upgrades and repairs to improve local road safety. Chris Oelgotz, […]
Zoning Ordinance Changes Streamline Permit Processes and References, Control Density
A new version of Louisville’s zoning ordinances approved Jan. 13 will increase clarity for developers, according to city staff. The new document collects amendments to its outdated predecessor and consolidates the regulatory framework to streamline permitting and reference. Business owners, Louisville Building and Codes Official Barry Otinger said, can now expect “clarification of what the […]
Townsend Eyes Permit Change to Reduce Event Uncertainty, Streamline Approvals
Townsend staff said a proposed ordinance would shift special event permit approvals from a public vote by the Townsend Commission to an administrative review by city staff, a change officials say is intended to streamline the process without increasing the number of events. Under the new framework, applications would be reviewed administratively by the city […]
Rush Hemp Farms Moving Operations to NC
Rush Hemp Farms owner Ryan Rush said his business will relocate some of its operations to North Carolina this year. The move is a response to passage of House Bill 1376 and Senate Bill 1413 which became law January 1. The law bans the sale of products with high levels of THCa, THCp, and other […]
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 […]
Blaze Pizza Franchise Closes Alcoa location
Blaze Pizza closed its only Blount County location in December, with staff clearing equipment from the building as late as Dec. 30. The Hunters Crossing, Alcoa location opened in 2018. A statement issued by the company called the move “necessary” but did not go into detail on why the business closed its doors. The future […]
Pistol Creek Stormwater Work to Begin Immediately, Prepare for Future Development
Alcoa will pay $1.2 million for stormwater infrastructure off Faraday Street, setting the stage to open an interior section of the Springbrook Farm development. The scheduled work will begin immediately and allow construction on the Werner Avenue corridor to continue. It also enables installations like the anticipated Alcoa Costco location. “We’re going to put in […]
Donations, Grants Fund Louisville Park Improvements and Disc Golf Course
Public input and grant dollars are fueling Louisville’s park improvements, with several hundred thousand dollars set to enable work on the Poland Creek Campground and Recreation Area and Town Hall Playground. Town officials have also approved plans for a disc golf course near the town hall. The plans stem from consultation with citizens obtained while […]
Townsend Prepares for Annual Winter Beer Fest
Company Distilling in Townsend will play host to the annual Tennessee Winter Beer Fest Feb. 21, an event that has raised more than $266,000 to date for the New Hope Children’s Advocacy Center. The hoppy celebration promises all-you-can-drink access to at least 20 breweries and helps fill an expanding gap in the nonprofit’s funding. The […]
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 […]
