KINGSPORT TENNESSEE

Expand Cost Reduction Options for Housing Development
Provide assistance to developers to increase opportunities for construction of new housing in our city. New housing
stock available in Kingsport in the last decade consistently trails the tri-cities by 66%.
Improve Code Enforcement
Beautification is one of the major themes to come out of the OneKingsport Summit process. One way to accomplish
improved areas is to increase code enforcement. Several tools are being considered to enable the city to proactively
reverse signs on neglect and stagnation neighborhoods.
Study the Benefits of a Neighborhood Leadership Panel
The Strong Neighborhoods subgroup (under the housing post-summit workgroup) identified other cities who have a
Neighborhood Committee/Commission/Panel that works to implement best practices and maintain the appeal of a
true neighborhood.
Guidelines for Neighborhood Councils
Another item from the Strong Neighborhoods subgroup was to provide a toolkit online that assists neighborhoods
in creating their own associations, best practices for associations and other opportunities to bring a neighborhood
together.
Market Nearer to Career Benefits
The Move to Kingsport Program will work to implement creative ways for employers to entice their new hires to locate
in Kingsport. Some opportunities may include an incentive, but that would be at the employers’ expense.
Forgivable Home Improvement Loans
The City’s Community Development Block Grant Program offers opportunities for low-income families to make
needed repairs and maintenance to their homes. The city will work to market this availability to qualified applicants.
Market to Retirees and Military
This is another initiative by the Move the Kingsport program to encourage retirees and military to relocate to Kingsport
through attendance at trade shows and targeted advertising. Additionally, Move to Kingsport will market the benefits
in both time, money and health of living nearer to your career or workplace.
Product Creation Center
The year one approved recommendation is to develop an initial plan for a Product Creation Center, which encouraged
manufacturing jobs and new entrepreneurs in Kingsport through a center for new product testing and development.
Currently, Eastman has partnered with Aether Global Learning, a think tank for transformational learning & leadership.
This partnership provides the ability to move forward quickly and is advantageous to both the city and the partnership.
Host a Makerspace Summit
Many agencies, from education to business and more, are interested in some form of a permanent makerspace in
Kingsport. The summit would be an opportunity to bring all the interested parties together and collaborate on the
possibilities for a multi-site trade and craftsman makerspace. The city is known for its public-private partnerships, and
this is another example of one that could be an economic driver (and fun) for the region.
Economic Development Portal
The economic development portal is a program to bring all economic development organizations and entrepreneurial
organizations together, so as to offer a “no wrong door” policy to people who want to start or expand a business.
Partners include but are not limited to, Accel Now, KOSBE, NETWORKS, and Holston Business Development Center.
The first step in the portal is a website that walks someone through questions that will determine which agency is the
best starting point for them.
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