The Knoxville Chamber today held its annual meeting to discuss the challenges and successes facing the Chamber and the Knoxville business community.

Some of the Chamber’s largest accomplishments this fiscal year include moving to tiered benefits membership, hosting the largest array of events with an increased attendance, implementing Innovation Valley, Inc. for economic development and working on a variety of workforce and education initiatives. The Chamber did all this and ended the year with a positive financial bottom line.

Some of the challenges that the Chamber sees include a struggling national economy, lack of public support for specific economic and workforce development efforts, cross-town transportation concerns, and a changing marketplace due to technology.

Mike Hamilton, chairman of the board of directors, addressed these topics at the meeting, but remained confident in both the Chamber and Knoxville business community.

Hamilton said, “There are challenges, both immediate and in the future, but I am confident that we will overcome them and that Knoxville and the Knoxville area will continue to be an economic powerhouse.”

Click here to read the text of Hamilton’s speech at the meeting.

Click here for the chart of economic development impact of consumer spending in Knox County, referenced in Hamilton’s speech.