Local Business Owners Venture To Expand

Custom Care Cleaners Newest Location, White Pine, TN
– Staff Photo by Jeff Depew

The economic outlook for Tennessee is looking up for 2014, according to a recent report to the Governor from the University of Tennessee’s Center for Business and Economic Research. Unemployment rates are expected to drop this year and a boost is predicted for personal economics. In Jefferson County, the beginnings of an economic climb can be seen in the business community, as they move forward with an eye toward an increasing bottom line for the first times since the economic downturn of 2008. Locally, some established business owners have recently ventured to expand their operations, some by pumping up their staff at existing locations and others by opening shop in new areas.

One such business, Custom Care Cleaners, has expanded from their flagship Jefferson City location and satellite store in Dandridge to a third location in White Pine. Owner Will Newman stated that the time was right to make a progressive move and he anticipates the new White Pine store will be equally successful to the Jefferson City and Dandridge properties. Newman is not new to the local business market and he shares the University report’s optimism regarding economic progress in 2014. In addition to opening the new store, Newman is also expanding services to include pick up and delivery service for residents in the city limits of Jefferson City, Dandridge and White Pine, as well as continuing with a successful alteration service. Newman stated that he is optimistic that new and expanding business will find this year continuing the economic upswing in the County.

Tourism and lodging are expected to play big into the 2014 recovery effort and Walt and Lynn Rosin, owners of Dandridge Pizza and More, located in Dandridge, are hoping to be a part of the 2014 boon. The Rosins are looking to open a second restaurant in the Historic Town Square in Dandridge in the early spring. Their current restaurant has seen growth and, having weathered the most recent economic crisis, they feel confident that the community is ready to support new businesses. Like Newman, the Rosins are not solely relying on their new location to plump up their bottom line. They, too, are looking to add delivery services for their customers in a continuation of constantly assessing ways to better serve the public. Both Newman and the Rosins are already firmly established in the business community and have their fingers on the pulse of small business in Jefferson County and both are hopeful that other entrepreneurs take advantage of the beginnings of economic recovery.

A rise in the housing market appears to be on tap, according to the report to the Governor and that should be a welcomed relief to the many real estate agencies that are located in the area. As the family bottom line increases, the Center predicts that the housing market will continue to rebound. Contributing to the climb in the market is that nominal personal income is forecasted to increase by 4.2% in 2014 and even slightly more than that in 2015.

With the economic outlook enjoying an upturn, it is possible that more business will open locally, or more business owners like Newman and Rosin will take the leap of faith and expand. The more faith that the business community has in the economy, the faster the climb from the economic pit of the past six years.