The Federal Agenda
Beginning in 1972 and continuing through today, the East Tennessee Economic Council convenes groups of community leaders, members the business community and others to ask the questions: What’s important? What can we work together to achieve? Through this process we hope to achieve a community consensus around critical issues that can improve the quality of life in East Tennessee.
The agenda is a living document, built around the framework that the federal missions in the region are vital building blocks of the economic infrastructure. Sustaining and enhancing those critical missions, working to create new missions, and using the talent and technology deployed here by the federal government to catalyze new businesses is our mission.
This year, 2006, the Council set as its number one priority finishing the environmental cleanup work on the Oak Ridge Department of Energy Reservation.
The Oak Ridge federal complex has made tremendous strides since the end of the Cold War. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been transformed not just physically, but with new missions and new scientists to infuse new energy into the lab’s programs. Similarly, the Y-12 is beginning a revitalization program that will make the National Nuclear Security Administration’s plant safer, more secure and more effective in accomplishing its critical missions. In order to continue making progress with our core missions and to attract new federal missions, we must finish the cleanup job!
While finishing the cleanup work is our number priority, we must continue to push forward on a variety of other programs: They include:
Modernize the DOE/NNSA complex
National security facilities at Y-12 are underway with the construction of the new uranium storage facility. New manufacturing facilities on the site are needed to continue to serve national security missions safely and securely.
Science Education/Programs
Science, math, and technical education should be viewed as a critical component of regional economic development and U.S. global competitiveness. East Tennessee can make a significant contribution to ensuring the region and the nation has a reliable supply of educated and prepared scientists, engineers, and technical professionals.
National Security/Homeland Security
Support the growing number of private companies locally performing vital national security missions, and help companies take advantage of small business innovation and research (SBIR and STTR) programs.
Energy Programs
Maintain and enhance Oak Ridge’s role as a national technology development center of excellence for nuclear energy programs, energy efficiency programs, and alternative fuels.
Nanotechnology Programs
Support the collaborative work of Technology 2020 in the local area and within the Southeast United States to develop partnerships that fully utilize the Center for Nanophase Materials, the Spallation Neutron Source, the High Flux Isotope Reactor and the supercomputing capabilities of the DOE complex.