Governor's conference celebrates success
  
From Staff Reports

   This weekend, Gov. Don Sundquist and Tony Grande, state commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD), will join the state's economic leaders for the 49th Annual Governor's Conference in Nashville.
   "The dedication of Tennessee's communities and business partners played a vital role in the economic growth we experienced in the last eight years," Sundquist said. "By working together, we succeeded to bring more than 285,000 new jobs and a record-breaking $40 billion in capital investment to our state."
   In the past eight years, according to the state's Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee has experienced record-breaking successes in economic growth and job creation. The Governor's Conference will look back at the administration's efforts to reposition the state as a vibrant business location.
   Sundquist and University of Tennessee President, Dr. John Shumaker, will offer keynote addresses. The conference will also feature a panel discussion with top-tier business executives.
   The conference will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of Tennessee's Three-Star Communities program. The celebration will honor more than 65 communities that have made a commitment to develop the necessary tools to attract business investments and to create jobs.
   More than 95 booths and 67 communities, featuring ECD's many public and private-sector partners, will be exhibiting throughout the Governor's Conference.