While the pandemic ravaged the nation last spring, the Union County Business and Professional Association Board and Past Presidents worked through small groups and online to revamp and energize its service to its membership.
When COVID-19 quieted near the end of summer, in-person meetings resumed in August at a new venue, Pete's Place in Maynardville.
With the meeting changed to the second Wednesday of the month, Mayor Jason Bailey kicked off the program and reviewed various grants that involve Union County. Grants totaled over two million dollars and included funding for sports programs, health and fitness equipment, the farmer's market, a professional outdoor stage, a commercial kitchen, home upgrades, courthouse renovations, community building repairs, technology improvements, police cars, ambulance equipment, safety personnel and equipment, and utility upgrades to access broadband, water, and sewer.
In September, Steve Borden, PE, the TDOT Director and Assistant Chief Engineer for Region 1, reviewed the updated plans for “Connecting Union County to the Region by Completing SR 33 South. He was assisted by Dexter Justis, PE, the Director of Project Development for Region 1 and Andrew Padgett, Region 1 Traffic Engineer.
Borden related that the SR 33 Project is expected to be let out for bids by late summer or early fall of 2021. The timeline to complete the project is 36 to 42 months. In addition, he reviewed the SR 61 projects that are in the engineering phase and would eliminate some curves and make the route safer.
Borden noted that over $40,000,000 had been spent on construction and road improvements from 2010 to 2020 in Union County. From 2021 to 2025, the estimated road investment will be over $48,000,000.
Member questions acknowledged concerns regarding diminished parking lots, water drainage, and safety measures, but also expressed their appreciation for the continuation of road improvements in Union County and the expansion of SR 33.

In October, Representative Dennis Powers and Representative Jerry Sexton discussed issues that will be hot topics during the legislative session beginning January 12.
Among the issues identified were education funding, the economic effect of the pandemic, unemployment concerns, funding a $40.5 billion state budget, student loan regulations, firearm precautions, the opioid crisis, mental health issues, and adding a right-to-work clause to the Tennessee Constitution.
Besides outstanding speakers and action-packed meetings, UCBPA awarded scholarships to three deserving seniors, Savannah Jones, Alex Padgett, and Kennedy Hill. The funding source for theses scholarships is the UCB&PA Scholarship Golf Classic that was held in June and will fund the 2021 scholarship awards.
Even though the Annual Banquet was postponed to 2021, UCBPA named Robbie Corum and Betty Bullen as the Man and Woman of 2020.
The Lions Club, Friends of Maynardville Library, Union County 4-H, Horace Maynard Music Program and Under the Tree received donations, though the Prayer Breakfast could not be held in the spring of 2020.
Finally, the UCB&PA website at www.ucbpatn.com was totally revamped to better serve the members with notifications and reminders of member meetings and information regarding network opportunities in the form of Business After Hours, as well as contact information to market businesses to other members and the public.
Planning for the continuation of this success is ongoing by the board of directors and officers as well as the Past Presidents Committee and has resulted in the membership doubling during 2020.
If you are a business owner or an individual who wants to be part of this energy to make Union County a better place to live, work and play, contact ucbpa.tn@gmail.com. The next member meeting will be by Zoom on January 13 at noon. Notification will be emailed to members by January 7.