NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced Monday that Business Facilities, a leading national publication focused on site selection and economic development, has named Tennessee its 2014 State of the Year for a second consecutive year. Tennessee becomes the first state in the award’s history to win back-to-back honors for economic development efforts and the first state to win the ...

Proposals are being accepted for a 10-year concession contract of the Cades Cove Riding Stable in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The National Park Service (NPS) Southeast Regional Office has issued a prospectus seeking proposals from individuals or businesses interested in competing for a 10-year concession contract to provide guided horseback rides and related services at the Cades Cove ...

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health is urging all Tennesseans to increase their efforts to prevent flu and flu-related health threats by getting immunized and talking with their healthcare providers about flu-like symptoms. Since 2007 there have been 29 pediatric flu-related deaths recorded in Tennessee, including three in December 2014. That is the highest number of pediatric flu deaths ...

The Sevier County Hospitality Alliance (SCHA) will host the largest and most attended hospitality and tourism trade show in Tennessee on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, TN from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. “This will be our 14th Annual Hospitality Trade Show in Sevier County and we are expecting this year’s show to be the ...

Visitors to the area and local residents will have many dining options for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Sevierville. “A variety of Sevierville restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year, providing visitors and locals with great places to eat for the holidays,” says Amanda Marr of the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce.   Johnson Family ...

Dollywood celebrates its 30th anniversary season in 2015 with a festive nod to its past while unveiling a new project designed to enrich the award-winning theme park for years to come. Officials today announced an impressive schedule for the upcoming season, including a new contemporary Christian music event, as well as plans for a $5.5 million project to enhance the ...

Sevierville’s Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass festival (May 15 & 16, 2015) has announced the entertainment lineup for its eleventh annual event, including a headline performance from famed bluegrass group, Steep Canyon Rangers. Festivities and music get underway in downtown Sevierville on Friday, May 15 at 5 p.m. with a live performance from local bluegrass and Americana group Dixieghost. Popular artists ...

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today unveiled his Insure Tennessee plan, a two-year pilot program to provide health care coverage to Tennesseans who currently don’t have access to health insurance or have limited options. The program rewards healthy behaviors, prepares members to transition to private coverage, promotes personal responsibility and incentivizes choosing preventative and routine care instead of unnecessary ...

LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge in its first year pumped multiple millions of dollars into the local economy and had an estimated attendance of more than 250,000 people. Independent research on just three of the 25 events to date – the National Quartet Convention, the Celebrators Conference and the Fall Rod Run – estimated $24.2 million in local spending, primarily ...

A program of music, storytelling and crafts in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will share the traditions of an Appalachian Christmas. Great Smoky Mountains National Park announces the 39th annual Festival of Christmas Past celebration on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Sugarlands Visitor Center. The event, sponsored in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains ...