This week, the U.S. Small Business Administration will share a preliminary overview of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program included in the pandemic relief package signed into law on Dec. 27. Eligible organizations with a reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic will have the opportunity to receive up to a $10 million grant under the program. In total, $15 billion was designated for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant as part of the Economic Aid Act.

The first informational webinar will take place today, Thursday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. EST. The webinar will provide introductory information about the grants, who can apply, how to prepare and additional details regarding eligibility.

Read more here.

In preparation for the upcoming 2021 Tennessee Vacation Guide, TDTD partnered with Gannett to ensure the remaining 2020 supply was distributed broadly in time for year-end. Nearly 70,000 guides were distributed as an insert to subscribers across the state in The Columbia Daily Herald, The Knoxville News Sentinel, The Jackson Sun, Memphis Commercial Appeal and The Tennessean between Dec. 23 and Dec. 30.

The 2021 Tennessee Vacation Guide will be available in mid-February. Information regarding preorders of bulk supply is forthcoming.

Mary Katelyn Price Joins as Communications Specialist

Mary Katelyn Price joins the TDTD team as Communications Specialist. In her new role, Price will support media relations and industry communications.

Prior to TDTD, she worked at The GreenRoom PR, where she assisted on projects for some of country music’s biggest stars such as Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts and Thomas Rhett. A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Price graduated from Belmont University with degrees in Music Business and Public Relations.

During her time in college, she completed internships at the Country Music Association, FlyteVu, Sony Music Nashville, Tennessee Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Justice, and more where she developed a passion for telling stories that make an impact on others and advance an organization's mission.

Shana Haynes joins the TDTD Team as I-75 Welcome Center Manager. Haynes is a native of the Hamilton County, Chattanooga area. She grew up visiting the sites of her home state with her family and has a love for historic Tennessee log cabin homes. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in history at Lee University and always knew she wanted to work on the tourism side of history.

During and after college she did several internships at history museums and eventually landed a position with the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum as a tour guide where she worked for four 1/2 years moving up to head of the education and history department.

One of her biggest career accomplishments is creating an exhibit that won an Award of Excellence from the Tennessee Association of Museums. She is excited about her new job with TDTD and looks forward to showing guests just how amazing her home state is.