Small start, big results for HV community group
Led by State Farm agent Sage Kohler as president — along with a strong board and core ground-level membership — Hardin Valley Business and Community Alliance is helping build up this fast-growing community.
Over the last year alone, according to Kohler, the group sponsored and served a “Thanks” giving lunch for Hardin Valley Academy teachers and administrators; participated in an active Hardin Valley Angel Tree campaign, which provided 1,300 gifts for 172 families; helped spearhead a “personal item” donation drive for Ben Atchley Veteran’s Home; and assisted Chrys Huston with her annual community clean-up event.
Kohler said the group first started informally, organized by a King College administrator.
“We started meeting at the college to talk about Hardin Valley in 2018, but it didn’t meet consistently, and when COVID hit everything stopped,” she explained.
Beyond that initial gathering, Kohler said she saw the need for Hardin Valley to have its own community group, just as the Powell community does with Powell Business and Professional Association — a group for which she also served as president.
“That organization provides some of the most community service in Knox County, and we realized there wasn’t anything like that here in Hardin Valley,” she said.
Even in the middle of COVID shutdowns, she obtained a list of Hardin Valley and Karns businesses to contact and gauge interest.
“We decided to meet, over Zoom, and see where it might lead,” she said.
From the very beginning, “we had at least 15 to 20 people on the calls every month” as fledgling HVBCA began, Kohler said. “What we have been and are trying to do is bring business and community members together to see what the community needs.
“Here in Hardin Valley, we don’t have a community identity yet, but we are building up a group of people who care about our community — both where it has been and where it is going.”
By the time of the final Zoom call in April 2021, the group had a board of directors and officers elected, which include Hardin Valley Academy principal Dr. Rob Speas as vice president; Hardin Valley Planning Advocates co-founder Kim Frazier, secretary; and Eric Wolburg of Regions Bank as treasurer.
By-laws were established and approved; committees on communications, membership, events and “Valley Vision” were begun; and the group’s website, e-mail and Facebook pages were created.
“We even have a place on our website for the community to find volunteer opportunities,” Kohler added.
They began meeting in person last May, first at Orange Hat, then last October at Hardin Valley Church of Christ — one of the organizations’ platinum founding members — where it continues to meet beginning at noon the third Wednesday of each month.
The first two meetings are free of charge to attend. Annual dues are $50, which is used for insurance, printing, website maintenance and other necessities.
The group, which currently has 44 members, is always looking for new supporters, members and partnerships, Kohler said.
Future items the HVBCA is already planning to undertake includes the maintenance and changing of the Hardin Valley sign (located at the power station on Hardin Valley Road); a “Christmas in the Valley” event; support of HV Church of Christ Food Pantry; and helping support Pellissippi students in need and Ben Atchley home veterans.
“One thing we hope to work on with Knox County, is being able to reopen the Community Center,” located on Hickory Creek Road which has stood vacant for several years and has been the target of vandals, Kohler added. “We would also like to find land that we could use for a hiking trials or a park.
We are currently talking with them about upgrading Melton Hill Park and adding some security. It’s such a beautiful area. It’s a shame it’s not being kept up and promoted to the community.
“We hope to change that.”
Upcoming, the group is also sponsoring a Food Truck night March 23 in the upper parking lot of HVA with Farragut-area resident Dale Akins, who has overseen a burgeoning weekly Food Truck event in Choto at the Davis YMCA.
“We were already looking to add another Food Truck hub, but we needed plenty of parking, and thought HVA would be the best option,” Akins said. “Every Wednesday, from 4 to 7 p.m. we will have this pop-up Food Truck event for kids and teachers getting out of school, or for families who want to come out in the evening.”
There are also plans for the next community cleanup 9 a.m. to noon April 2. Those wishing to participate are asked to meet up at Food City on Hardin Valley Road.
For more information about HVBCA, visit www.hvbca.org.
