Adam KinseyAdam Kinsey and Jeff McClendon have been appointed to the board of the Chattanooga Housing Authority.
Kinsey is a real estate developer and entrepreneur focusing on urban, mixed-use and entertainment projects, including the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Since 2001, Kinsey has been involved in projects totaling more than $350 million in development that emphasize living, working and playing in downtown settings.
McClendon, who is president of the Mary Walker Towers Residents’ Association and a resident of the CHA community for six years, was named to serve the unexpired term of CHA resident Bettye Robinson, who passed away earlier this year. The Chattanooga native is a graduate of Kirkman High School and served in Vietnam in the U.S. Army.
“As a resident of one of our CHA communities, Jeff McClendon brings unique experience to the board,” Mayor Andy Berke said. “Adam Kinsey knows the importance of working with businesses, property owners and area stakeholders to build consensus as projects are developed.”
Close wins award for local Realtors
Chattanooga Realtor Travis Close, a former president of the Greater Chattanooga Realtors, was recently recognized as the 2018 Realtor Party Champion for leading Chattanooga Realtors in exceeding their political fundraising goal in Tennessee.
“I’m very humbled by this award,” said Close. “I’m proud to help Realtors locally, statewide, and nationally in our advocacy efforts.”
The Greater Chattanooga Realtors also was recognized with the 2018 President’s Cup & Triple Crown awards for its political support for the National Association of Realtros and its Political Action Committee.
“Through Realtors’ advocacy, we are able to make sure that homeownership is within reach for more people every day; locally and nationally,” said Kim Bass, the current president of the Greater Realtors association.
Services companies grew at slower pace
U.S. service companies grew at a slower pace in March, as business activity and new orders slipped from strong levels in February.
The Institute for Supply Management, an association of purchasing managers, reports that its service index fell to 56.1% last month, down from 59.7% in February. Any reading above 50 signals growth.
The service sector, which is where most Americans work, has been expanding for 110 straight months, according to the survey-based ISM index. March’s results indicate that growth should continue, although it might be somewhat slower than previous ISM reports suggested.
“We had such a strong report last month, I didn’t know whether we could stay up in that high altitude – apparently not,” said Anthony Nieves, chair of the ISM non-manufacturing business survey committee.
U.S., China resume talks
The U.S. and China opened a ninth round of talks Wednesday, aiming to further narrow differences in an ongoing trade war that has deepened uncertainty for businesses and investors and cast a pall over the outlook for the global economy.
The latest negotiating session on American soil follows a similar set of talks held last week in Beijing.
Larry Kudlow, a top White House economic adviser, said “good headway” was made when U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met in the Chinese capital with a delegation headed by Vice Premier Liu He, a confidant of President Xi Jinping.
Kudlow expressed optimism that the parties would narrow the areas of disagreement further this week.
“They’ll be here for three days, maybe more,” he told reporters at a roundtable sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.