NEWPORT-The Cocke County Partnership is "looking at the idea" of hosting an economic forum in early 2013.

Partnership President Don Hurst told the group's executive committee on Thursday that the event would bring approximately 15 agencies together with members of Cocke County's CLB, Newport's City Council, and other local groups.

The gathering would include representatives from TDOT, TVA, Walters State Community College, Tennessee Technology Center, Newport Utilities, Jefferson-Cocke County Utility District, and other organizations and businesses, who would share information about their groups.

"No one has ever done this before," said Hurst, who said bringing the groups together with local leaders would give Cocke County's government, educational, and business officials the opportunity to become better informed.

"We called state leaders to see what other counties had hosted such an event," said Hurst, "so that we could pattern our forum after theirs. Apparently no one has ever done this before."

For more details, please see the latest edition of the Newport Plain Talk.