Comment on 3-county economic partnership celebrates collaboration

With four bases positioned in a diamond around the Millennium Centre conference room and banners resembling an outfield draped on the walls, Thursday’s Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership luncheon had an obvious theme. The baseball decorations and “Field of Dreams” movie theme were more symbolic to the group’s “team effort” approach to economic endeavors than it was to entertain the guests. More than one year ago, local government officials and business leaders approved the structuring of an economic partnership that aimed to unite the economic abilities of Washington, Unicoi and Carter counties. Now, NeTREP CEO Mitch Miller said regional partners meet on a biweekly basis and share ideas about enhancing economic prosperity in the region. “It’s just sharing ideas.