Downtown Bristol has a brand new sound
Originally posted at the Bristol Herald Courier.
A new speaker system installed throughout Bristol’s downtown area is supplying residents and guests with a reminder of the cities’ musical legacy, plus its influence on contemporary times.
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School system gives a preview of Viking Academy
Originally posted at Bristol Herald Courier.
BRISTOL, Tenn. – A little more than six months after a vacant car dealership was donated to the Bristol Tennessee school system for use as a career and technical center, faculty from Tennessee High School provided a preview Friday of what will be called Viking Academy to members of the School Board, City Council and representatives from the Tennessee Department of Education.
Viking Academy will be located inside the old Friendship Ford building on Volunteer Parkway, which was donated to the Bristol Tennessee Schools by Mitch Walters and his family. Walters donated the facility to the school system in September of 2021.
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Construction of new work-based learning center underway in Bristol
Introducing Viking Academy – An Innovative High School Model Grant Project
Originally posted at the Bristol Tennessee City Schools’ channel.
Click here to learn how Advance Bristol is connecting Viking Academy students to relevant and engaging workforce development opportunities.
Council meets with Advance Bristol over corridor between The Pinnacle and State
Originally posted at Bristol Herald Courier.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Members of the Advance Bristol organization held discussions with the Bristol Tennessee City Council on Thursday about the possibility of collaborating on various projects including plans to revitalize the State Street corridor from The Pinnacle to Volunteer Parkway.
Back in December of 2021, the Bristol Tennessee City Council applied for a grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) in order to finance a study with hopes of rebuilding and reconnecting Bristol, Tennessee from The Pinnacle to the casino and downtown. Tom Beavers, the director of development services for Bristol, Tennessee, explained what the study consists of and what follows once the study has been completed.
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Advance Bristol debuts with $25,000 contribution for downtown speaker project
Originally posted at Kingsport Times News.
BRISTOL — The Advance Bristol Foundation is ready to enhance downtown Bristol through a recent $25,000 contribution.
Advance Bristol recently awarded the $25,000 to Believe in Bristol to help fund the installation of a speaker system downtown. A press release from Advance Bristol said the $70,000 project is being subsidized via an additional $25,000 provided by Believe in Bristol, $5,000 each from Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia, and $10,000 from Main Street program grants and other private investors.
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New collaborative org, Advance Bristol, tackles Bristol projects
Originally posted at Bristol Herald Courier.
BRISTOL, Va. — Music will soon fill the streets of downtown Bristol thanks to a collaborative effort of local organizations, governments and the Advance Bristol Foundation, a new nonprofit organization established to foster economic growth and community development in the Twin City.
On Thursday, a coalition of local leaders from the private sector gathered at the Michael Waltrip Brewing Co. in Bristol, Virginia to introduce Advance Bristol. The new organization plans to work collaboratively on a variety of projects with Believe in Bristol, the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, local governments and community business and industry leaders. Advance Bristol encourages the private sector to provide financial support and partner with the public sector to execute projects that benefit Bristol’s economic viability and overall appeal.
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Bristol city leaders collaborating with private sector to ‘Advance Bristol’
New Advance Bristol Foundation unveils development initiatives, community partnerships
Originally posted on WCYB.com.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — A coalition of local leaders gathered Thursday evening to introduce the Advance Bristol Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to promote economic growth and community development in Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia.
“In collaboration with Believe in Bristol, Bristol Chamber of Commerce, local governments, and community business and industry, Advance Bristol encourages the private sector to provide financial support and partner with the public sector to execute projects that benefit Bristol’s economic viability and overall appeal,” officials said.
Read the full article here.
Advance Bristol Unveils Economic Development Initiatives and Community Partnerships, Contributes $25,000 for Downtown Project
BRISTOL, Tenn. — A coalition of local leaders from the private sector gathered Thursday evening to introduce the Advance Bristol Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to foster economic growth and community development in Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia.
In collaboration with Believe in Bristol, Bristol Chamber of Commerce, local governments, and community business and industry, Advance Bristol encourages the private sector to provide financial support and partner with the public sector to execute projects that benefit Bristol’s economic viability and overall appeal.
“Advance Bristol’s mission is to engage innovative leaders who are willing to unite in a collaborative spirit to advance the growth and development of Bristol,” said Advance Bristol Chairman David Wagner. “Bristol is indeed ‘A Good Place to Live,’ and we want to work with our community partners to strengthen our cities, both for those who are here now and for generations to come.”
Advance Bristol’s short-term objectives are to:
- expand educational programming and workforce development;
- pursue additional greenspace and common gathering areas in downtown Bristol;
- create a façade improvement grant program; and
- establish and develop art and cultural districts, among other goals.
Potential long-term projects for the organization include:
- additional downtown parking opportunities;
- a world-class indoor sports complex;
- downtown street arch placement and interstate gateway(s) signage;
- a redesign of West State Street;
- new programs and services for the homeless population;
- investment in new housing developments; and
- a broadening of opportunities to use Bristol’s natural resources and outdoor activities.
Advance Bristol’s debut featured a $25,000 contribution to Believe in Bristol, which will help fund installation of a speaker system in downtown Bristol. The $70,000 project is being subsidized via an additional $25,000 provided by Believe in Bristol, $5,000 each from Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia, and $10,000 from Main Street program grants and other private investors.
The system will enable music to be played in the downtown area during regular business hours and will span the length of State Street, from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Commonwealth Avenue and Volunteer Parkway, with additional coverage on adjacent side streets.
Installation of the speaker system is planned to begin in a few weeks, and project officials are hopeful that phase one work will be complete and ready for use during the holiday season. The project is expected to be completed by early spring 2022.
“The idea for the speaker system stemmed from input that our downtown merchants received from shoppers during the holiday season,” said Believe in Bristol Executive Director Maggie Elliott. “The only thing missing from our annual Christmas Open House has been music playing on the sidewalks and streets, so we feel that this project will positively benefit our community and greatly enhance our existing arts and entertainment district.”
Advance Bristol also served as a key partner in the creation of Viking Academy, an off-site, work-based learning program for Tennessee High School and Tennessee Middle School students. Announced in September 2021, the academy will be located at the Friendship Career Center, a more than 24,000-square-foot facility in Bristol, Tennessee, and include automotive, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) and agriculture programs, and serve as an extension of the school system’s existing Career Technical Education (CTE) program.