An equally crucial education process has been enlightening business resource agencies such as Tennessee Small Business Development Center, Small Business Administration and the Women's Resource Center to the services offered by the PTA Center. These daylong events featuring business development and contracting assistance for women business owners have been held in Murfreesboro, Jackson, Chattanooga, Franklin and Knoxville. Plans are now underway to continue the series in 6 other locations in 1999. Since mid-1980, CIS has operated a technical assistance and training service on environmental issues of concern to manufacturers. Initially, the CIS effort was free-standing, but it quickly evolved into a partnership with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Assistance is provided in areas ranging from waste minimization to hazardous waste audits.
It is designed to help manufacturers find markets for large quantities of scrap. About 160 companies were listed at the end of 1998. Portland Pallets is a small, family-owned business in Portland employing 40 people. In 1996 Center staff helped the company expand its wood waste recycling business. CIS provided Portland Pallets with a study that identified large generators of wood waste in its service area.