Venture Notes April 28, 2008

VW -- UT Economist Matt Murray told us a couple weeks ago he was deep into a new study of the economic impact of the auto industry, and he was afraid he was going to be asked to hurry-up delivery of that assessment, to get it on the table before the General Assembly adjourns in May. Not long after our conversation, Volkswagen went public with the facts it's considering Tennessee's Clarksville and Chattanooga, as well as Michigan and Alabama sites, for a manufacturing facility. Since the news broke, Murray has been harder to reach.

Nashville -- The Entrepreneur Project of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Partnership 2010 took a big step forward last week, when a majority of the 75-member EP task force convened to consider a proposal for creating an Entrepreneur Energy Center in Middle Tennessee. The Center concept suggests the entity would, if it comes to fruit, provide services and resources to foster creation and growth of early-stage high-growth ventures. The scenario also calls for improving availability of low-cost facilities for ventures, plus a regional marketing initiative aimed at improving awareness of the region's assets. This and other ideas remain under consideration. The EP's recommendations are to be finalized and made public by
sometime in June.

Statewide -- Tennessee Technology Development Corporation is putting together an Enterprise Network, designed to connect small business owners, corporate innovators and campus-based researchers. For more information on participating, visit the TTDC site.