Chattanooga, TN

With numerous good reports on the economic front over the last few weeks, many are starting to suggest that the recession is over. Jobs though continue to be a problem.

To answer questions about the impact of the stimulus program, the administration has announced that the stimulus is approaching 1,000,000 jobs saved or created. From the White House blog.

According to information on Recovery.gov, Tennessee has been an especially fortunate recipient of the stimulus funds.

Still, Tennessee's unemployment remains over 10% through September, despite the 1156 jobs identified as created by the stimulus. Some good news is starting to be announced locally. More on that later.

UPDATE STIMULUS IMPACT FOR TENNESSEE: Posted November 1, 2009

As promised the stimulus figures were updated on Recovery.gov. The new figures indicate that the stimulus has created over 640,000 jobs nationwide, and 9548 in Tennessee.

The Chattanooga Community Kitchen is in the process of its Fast Day Fund raiser.

This fund raiser has taken different forms, but has been the main fund raiser for the Kitchen for many years.

The Kitchen has received national recognition as a model for a local non profit organization. It was originally started in 1982 as a feeding program. There were 7 downtown churches that partnered to meet a growing need in Chattanooga.

The Kitchen has its own blog. You can stay current on needs and on offerings by checking updates here.

The main program is to provide food 365 days a year:

• Breakfast 7:00am to 8:00am seven days a week
• Lunch 11:00am to 11:45am seven days a week
• Dinner 4:00pm to 4:45pm weekdays

Other programs focuson employment, shelter, counseling. A big help for many homeless is that the Kitchen provides a place for basic, essential services like bathrooms and showers, telephones, mail, washers and driers, and more.

The Community Kitchen is well known and well respected in Chattanooga because of its long service to the needs of our community.

You can help by volunteering or with a donation. Click here to make a donation.

The Chattanooga Renaissance Oktoberfest was held this past weekend.

My friend and local social networking hero, insurance agent extraordinaire Jon Moss provided these videos.

The 2009 Women's Expo in Chattanooga, presented by Memorial Health Care System, was held Tuesday.

The annual event is all about the women - Food, Fashion, Fun. 

This year featured Taste of Home Cooking School and Belk's Fashion Show. The MaryEllen Locher Foundation receives 10% of the ticket sale proceeds.

Vickie Phillips and Tina Christein from our office went this year and came back raving about all the new things they learned.

Photos from some of the booths.

Tina and Vickie were also interested in the Time 2 Save Workshops and the P90X Fitness Program.

The excitement is building for the First Annual Chattanooga's Renaissance Oktoberfest, this weekend, October 24, from 11am to 7pm.

The Renaissance Oktoberfest is being directed by the City of Chattanooga's Department of Education,Arts & Culture and will benefit the EAC afterschool initiative. 

Activites include:

Chattanooga Market: "Market on the Bridge". The Market will continue its celebration of Chattanooga's Renaissance on Sunday, back at the First Tennessee Pavilion. With Big River Grille and Brewing Works, the Chattanooga Market will host the Oktoberfest Beer Gardens on Walnut Street Bridge and in Coolidge Park.

The Choo Choo Musical Parade will end the day, featuring performances by students from the Center for Creative Arts singing Chattanooga Choo Choo. Other local artists include Emily Grace, Tim Jester, B Wordstar, Dennis Massengale and No Big Deal band, Neshaw Callaway, Frank Taylor and Dalton Roberts as the Choo Choo's engineer.

Across the River at the Bluff View Art District, celebrations will include glass blowing, local farmer ware, face painting, food and drink from all of the Bluff View restaurants.

The Hunter Museum will have discounted Oktoberfest admission to the last weekend of its New York Cool exhibit, including work by American artist Adolph Gottlieb. Enjoy German music on the outside plaza.

On the Coolidge Park Stage there will be local performers, including No Big Deal as the feature band, along with Elijah James, Jerry Rogers, John Latham, and T-Ran Gilbert& 22Visions.

Chattanooga Parent Magazine will present the Renaissance Oktoberfest Children's Village in Coolidge, with arts and activies for children and families.

This is a business and government partnership event taking place on both side's of the River. Just another example of how great Chattanooga works and celebrates together.

It is going to be a fun time. Can't wait til Saturday.