State honors Cleveland/Bradley Chamber staff

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Two people from the Cleveland-Bradley Chamber of Commerce recently received statewide awards for their work bringing industry to the area.

Gary Farlow, chamber president and CEO, was recognized along with two men from the Clarksville area with the 2009 Fred Harris Professionals of the Year award from the Tennessee Economic Development Council.

Ross Tarver, chairman of the chamber’s Industrial Development Board and vice president/general manager of Tarver Distributing Co., received the 2009 Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year award. Mr. Tarver also serves on the chamber’s Economic Development Council.

Mr. Farlow was honored along with James Chavez and Mike Evans for significant economic development achievements in Tennessee. Mr. Chavez and Mr. Evans are the president and vice president of economic development for the Clarksville/Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Farlow was cited for numerous economic development activities, topped with the new $1 billion Wacker Chemical plant. Wacker bought 550 acres in Charleston, Tenn., to build a plant to make hyperpure polysilicon for solar applications.

Walt Wood, the Tennessee Economic Development Council’s immediate past president, said “this is the first time in the 13-year history of the award that TEDC has recognized more than one recipient” as the professional of the year.

Doug Berry, chamber vice president for economic development, noted that the community competed in 2008 with Oxford, Miss., to retain Whirlpool jobs.

Calling Mr. Tarver “a tireless volunteer,” Mr. Farlow said he helped get Whirlpool to Bradley County.

Mr. Tarver played a key role in Wacker’s decision as well, according to the chamber.