Lee Erwin
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com

Monday, February 10, 2014 1:22 PM
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Aspire Clarksville, an economic development foundation to benefit Clarksville-Montgomery County officially launched its new campaign at a kickoff breakfast Monday, February 10. The new, five-year campaign hopes to raise $3.8 million for local business development and is expected to bring over 3,500 jobs to the area.

State Senator Dr. Mark Green of Align MD and State Representative Joe Pitts with Planters Bank, co-chairs of the campaign presented the goals, initiatives and projected return on the investment for the campaign. The new effort, titled “A Focus On The Future” is the fifth campaign since Aspire Clarksville began in 1996.

The Aspire Clarksville Foundation was created as an initiative of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council to improve the economy and livability of the community by attracting significant capital investment and expansion by business and industry creating better opportunities and jobs.

Chairman of the Board for RJ Corman Railroad Group, Fred Mudge, was the keynote speaker at the breakfast. Mudge, spoke in place of RJ Corman President Craig King who was not able to attend. Mudge spoke about the importance of Clarksville-Montgomery County’s emergence as a strong economic engine for the region.

Green talked about the Aspire program, the community, and his business. “Aspire is a unique opportunity for us, each of us to give back, myself included, for what you’ve done for my family and for what this business community has done in its open for business mentality in helping my company grow,” said Green.

Pitts had this to say about Aspire. “From its beginning Aspire Clarksville has been based on visionary thinking and strategic forward planning. We’ve proven time and again ahat Clarksville could achieve if we just pooled our resources, time, energy and yes money, and worked together to market our community

At the end of the meeting Senator Green and Representative Pitts unveiled a display showing that the latest Aspire Clarksville campaign has already reached $2.685 million, 71 percent of its goal.