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Commissioner Matt Kisber Honored by Resolution at Excellence in Tennessee Awards Banquet

NASHVILLE – Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber announced Wednesday that the Three-Star Program and the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence have received a 2010 Innovator Award from the Southern Growth Policies Board for their unique partnership assisting Tennessee communities. Commissioner Kisber was also honored for his economic development contributions in a resolution presented by TNCPE’s Chairman of the Board Dennis Vonderfecht at the Excellence in Tennessee Awards Banquet Wednesday.

The Innovator Award honors communities and organizations that work creatively to improve economic opportunity and quality of life on a regional basis. Three-Star maintains a close partnership with TNCPE, a nonprofit organization that uses the Criteria for Performance Excellence based on the Baldrige National Quality Program to assess Three-Star communities’ strategic plans. TNCPE then provides coaching and feedback to help communities implement and improve their plans. The result is stronger communities that are more attractive to new business with more diverse economies and greater job opportunities.

“I know there could not be a more deserving honoree, and I congratulate Three-Star and TNCPE for a job well done,” Commissioner Kisber said. “We at the state value this partnership immensely, and their demonstrated commitment to excellence bodes very well for the long-term economic health of Tennessee.”

The 2010 Innovator Awards will be presented at Southern Growth's 2010 Chairman's Conference, “Driving the Next 20 Years: Maximizing the New Automotive Industry in the South,” held June 7-8 in Lexington, Ky. Hosted by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, the conference will focus on the role the automotive industry can play in creating jobs and investment in the South. More information about the conference can be found at www.southerngrowth.com.

"The Three-Star Partnership is an excellent example of a program that helps communities focus their local efforts on specific actions to improve quality and face the future,” said Ted Abernathy, Southern Growth Policies Board's Executive Director.

“One of the core principals of our community development strategy is partnership, and the 2010 Innovator Award validates our collaborative approach,” said Melinda Keifer, director of the Tennessee Three-Star Program. “We at Three-Star are honored to partner with TNCPE on such a close level, and we look forward to even greater success as we continue to work together.”

“We believed all along this was an innovative approach to economic and community development, but winning the Southern Growth Policies Board Innovator Award for the state of Tennessee confirms it,” said Katie Rawls, president and CEO of TNCPE. “We’re delighted to receive the honor.”

Based on the success of the partnership between Three-Star and TNCPE, Commissioner Kisber announced Wednesday that a grant of $100,000 to TNCPE will extend the partnership, which was set to expire this year. The funding will insure that communities continue to have access to TNCPE’s program evaluation and improvement tools at no cost.

In addition to announcing the Innovator Award and the continued partnership between Three-Star and TNCPE, Commissioner Kisber received an honorary resolution and award from TNCPE for his leadership in establishing the partnership.

“Commissioner Kisber’s groundbreaking approach to economic development – integrating proven business methods at the community level via TNCPE and the Three-Star program – deserves to be publicly recognized and benchmarked,” said Rawls.

The resolution was developed by the TNCPE Board of Directors to recognize Commissioner Kisber’s efforts to integrate organizational excellence initiatives in Tennessee’s communities through the use of the Criteria for Performance Excellence. The Criteria are based on the Baldrige National Quality Program, and TNCPE is the only organization in the nation to apply the Baldrige Criteria at a municipal level.

At the Excellence in Tennessee Awards Banquet Wednesday night in Franklin, Tenn., seven Three-Star communities received Level I TNCPE Awards: Cumberland County-Crossville, Gibson County, Lauderdale County, Livingston-Overton County, McNairy Regional Alliance, Sumner County and Wayne County. NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership and the Johnson City/Jonesborough/Washington County Economic Development Board received Level II TNCPE Awards.

All of the award-winning Three-Star communities were carefully evaluated by TNCPE’s Board of Examiners, a highly trained volunteer corps composed of professional leaders from across the state. The process provided valuable insight that the communities will use to improve the quality of life for their citizens.

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to create higher skilled, better paying jobs for all Tennesseans. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. To find out more, go to www.tngov/ecd.

About the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence
The non-profit Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE) is an economic development program that uses the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence to improve systems and processes among businesses and organizations throughout Tennessee. For more information about TNCPE, please visit http://www.tncpe.org.

About the Southern Growth Policies Board
The Southern Growth Policies Board is a non-partisan public policy think tank based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Formed by the region's governors in 1971, Southern Growth Policies Board develops and advances visionary economic development policies by providing a forum for partnership and dialog among a diverse cross-section of the region's governors, legislators, business and academic leaders and the economic- and community-development sectors. This unique public-private partnership is devoted to strengthening the South's economy and creating the highest possible quality of life.

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Contact: Michaela Jackson
Phone: (615) 253-4897
E-mail: Michaela.Jackson@tn.gov