Candidates vying to become Knoxville’s next mayor will share ideas and perspectives on entrepreneurship and innovation at an upcoming mayoral forum presented by the Innov865 Alliance, the local collaborative of organizations advancing the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The public is invited to attend the forum, scheduled for March 5, 2019, at Relix in downtown North Knoxville.
Moderated by anchor Kristin Farley from WATE 6 On Your Side, the Alliance’s media partner, the forum will explore candidates’ positions on critical aspects of Knoxville’s economy, specifically entrepreneurship, innovation and access to capital. The candidates will be joined by a panel of local entrepreneurs, supplying questions for lively discussion and debate. The six mayoral hopefuls who have filed necessary paperwork to appoint a treasurer for the 2019 mayoral election have been invited to attend. As of this release, contenders Mike Chase, Indya Kincannon, Eddie Mannis, and Marshall Stair have each confirmed their attendance.
“This evening presents a rare opportunity to gather each mayoral candidate, local entrepreneurs and stakeholders, and the East Tennessee community together under one roof to examine our region’s economic climate and the role that startups play in our future,” said Tom Ballard, an Innov865 Alliance founding member and Chief Alliance Officer at PYA. “These conversations and the resulting knowledge and connections are invaluable tools to position Knoxville as more fertile ground for local entrepreneurship and growth.”
All interested persons are invited to attend the mayoral forum. Ticketing information and additional details are available here. Doors will open promptly at 5:00 p.m. for the 5:30 p.m. forum.