Area Development, a leading magazine covering corporate site selection and relocation, has honored the state of Tennessee with is prestigious Gold Shovel Award. The honor is presented annually to the state achieving the most success in terms of job creation and economic impact.

“I’m delighted that Tennessee has been recognized by Area Development for our efforts to create higher skilled, better paying jobs for our citizens. The investments Tennessee has attracted in the past year have positioned our state for the next generation of new jobs and increased growth,” said Governor Phil Bredesen.

Economic development projects announced in 2008 were considered for the award. Based on the number of high-value added jobs per capita, amount of investment, number of new facilities and industry diversity, Tennessee achieved the highest weighted overall score.

Bob Parks Realty Corporate Real Estate Services Department is active in the economic development with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and is a lead investor in the 2010 Partnership. For more information, click here, or contact: relocation@bobparks.com.

Complete details on the Gold and Silver Shovel Award winners ~ they are posted online at: www.areadevelopment.com.

Posted By: Tammy Carroll

Exciting times ahead for the people of Rutherford County and the surrounding Nashville area!

The Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tennessee has a commitment to receive a $1.6 billion loan to manufacture electric vehicles and build a new battery facility near the plant. Major construction is planned for 2010 after Nissan complies with an environmental assessment to ensure that the project doesn’t degrade the environment. According to Holly Sears Weber of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, “This is going to not only keep existing jobs at the Nissan Smyrna facility, but also create new jobs, both at the facility and in construction and possibly suppliers for the product.”

For more information on how this facility will help stimulate the economy, click here.

Bob Parks Realty is committed to helping families who are interested in relocating to Nashville ~ Middle Tennessee. Our full service Corporate Real Estate Services Relocation Department is trained in corporate relocation services and has a wonderful welcome relocation package available. If anyone is interested they can email: relocation@bobparks.com for more information. To get connected to the school systems or search for homes, go to: www.bobparks.com

Posted By: Tammy Carroll

Web 2.0, Facebook, LinkedIn, Plaxo, Twitter, Blogs, ActiveRain, Trulia Voices ~ does this all sound like a foreign language? Well, get ready to be blasted in to another world! The world of “Social Networking.”

Social Networking is the new norm. Staying in touch and in the flow with friends, family, business associates, past clients and attracting new clients is part of the process of social networking. When focusing on our SOI, sphere of influence, it can attract business by connecting with people who know, like and trust us. Part of social networking is being an expert in an area and sharing that information with others.

When you hear the word blogging and social networking, do you think, “I don’t have time for all that”? Well, in my most humble opinion, we don’t have time not to social network. Blogging can be fun! I’m having fun right now just thinking about all the ways I want to social network, what I want to write about and how I can weave my work and my personal life in to my social networking. Our work and personal lives are intertwined already and this give us a platform to reach out to others and stay connected while having a little fun.

You may ask, “Why on line?”. You don’t have to be a geek to do it. Anyone can social network! If you are texting, emailing, blogging, or twittering you are social networking. It is the same as you interact off line you do on line. Reaching out to people you know, having conversations, sharing ideas, learning new things keeps us in the loop and moving forward. All this technology helps us give high personal touch in a new way. I knew I had to find out more about social networking when my 70 year old mother was trying to get Twitter on her phone so she could receive her daily Bible verse from her church. WOW, was all I could say. Did I get connected? You bet I did and it’s been fun ever since.

Within our company, Bob Parks Realty, we have started two new blogs:
GuideMeHome2Nashville.com and GuideMeHome2NashvilleRutherford.com, which has gotten our agents in the flow of writing, being creative and having fun. We are building a library of information for friends and clients who may be moving or relocating to the Middle Tennessee Nashville area. Our agents are specialists within their geographic service area and able to help clients get connected within our communities. We provide an Internet Website Guide (Click Here for more info) of information to help with the relocation / moving process.

So, you see “social networking” can help us stay in touch and provide information while being creative and having fun. I say go for it, jump in and start social networking!

Posted By: Tammy Carroll