Gov. Bill Lee announced on Thursday a new economic recovery group aimed at getting Tennessee’s economy going again.
“COVID-19 has not only created a public health crisis, it has hurt thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of hardworking Tennesseans,” said Gov. Lee. “As we work to safely open Tennessee’s economy, this group will provide guidance to industries across the state on the best ways to get Tennesseans back to work.”
Over the last four weeks, over 324,000 Tennesseans have filed for unemployment benefits, according to WSMV.
The group of 30, which is made up of business leaders, state legislators and state officials, is led by Tennessee Department of Tourism Development Commissioner Mark Ezell, according to the governor’s press release.
“This public-private partnership will prioritize connection, collaboration, and communication across industries, the medical community and state government,” Ezell said. “We’re grateful to these leaders for serving at a critical time in our state’s history.”
This new economic group comes on the same day, President Donald Trump announced his three-step plan to re-open America. In his plan, Trump has given state governors to power to open individually rather than all at once.
“All of American society is engaged and mobilized in the war against the invisible enemy. While we must remain vigilant, it is clear that our aggressive strategy is working,” Trump said.
Lee has not publicly decided on how Tennessee will go forward with Trump’s new plan.
As of Friday, Tennessee has 6,589 cases and 142 deaths, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.
Members of the Economic Recovery Group include:
Lee Administration Representatives:
- Mark Ezell, Director
- Sammie Arnold, Chief of Staff
- House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R – Portland)
- Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R – Franklin)
- Brandon Gibson, Senior Advisor to Governor Lee
- Bob Rolfe, Department of Economic and Community Development
- Greg Gonzales, Department of Financial Institutions
- David Gerregano, Department of Revenue
- Dr. Charles Hatcher, Department of Agriculture
- Dr. Jeff McCord, Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Hodgen Mainda, Department of Commerce and Insurance
- Tony Niknejad, Governor’s Office
- Brig. Gen. Scott Brower, COVID-19 Unified Command
- Dr. Morgan McDonald, TN Dept. of Health, Deputy Commissioner
- Butch Eley, Department of Finance & Administration
Industry Representatives:
- Jim Brown, National Federation of Independent Business
- Bradley Jackson, TN Chamber of Commerce
- Beverly Robertson, President & CEO of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce
- Rob Ikard, TN Grocers & Convenience Store Association
- Rob Mortensen, TN Hospitality & Tourism Association
- Colin Barrett, TN Bankers Association
- Fred Robinson, TN Credit Union League
- Dave Huneryager, TN Trucking Association
- Will Cromer, TN Hospital Association
- Mayor Kevin Davis, President of TN County Services Association
- Mayor Jill Holland, President of TN Municipal League
- Jeff Aiken, TN Farm Bureau
- Tari Hughes, Center for Non-Profit Management
- Roland Myers, TN Retail Association
- Clay Crownover, President & CEO of Associated Builders & Contractors of Tennessee
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media. If you have any tips, email Zachery at [email protected].
I guess the Governor believes that given a 30 person council that no one can be shouldered with responsibility. I see no way on earth how a group of this size can ever get anything done. It only took the governor to shut down the state. It should only take the governor to open it up again. Come on, Mr. Lee, admit your failing when you shut everything down and just open everything up again. I believe that us Tennesseans can handle that.
Almost impossible right now to get to the dentist or to the vet, among many other things, imagine the backlog when we get going again. The governor has the authority to open us back up, couldn’t we just do it, please?
I know that this is a start, and I’m sure that all of these people are well intentioned individuals. Additionally, I’m happy to see that this Chinese Communist Party created, media-hyped malady and self induced economic downturn may be coming to an end.
But, do we really need 30 people to tell the citizens of Tennessee how to do what they were doing 6 weeks ago? Imagine the start of the Indianapolis 500 or the Daytona 500, with 30 people standing there with a green flag in their hands. And by the way, aren’t most of the people on the list already in positions where their regular job is to “help” Tennessee citizens and businesses?
Bill, just say, “Let’s get ready to rummmmble!” And we’ll take it from there!