Posted: Sunday, June 7, 2009 7:41 am

The Tennessee Beef Industry Council is mo(oo)ving its headquarters from Franklin to Murfreesboro late this summer, confirmed the council’s executive director.

The council, which has been in existence for 24 years, manages the Beef Checkoff Program for Tennessee cattle producers, Valerie Bass said.

The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the National Beef Research and Promotion Act in the 1985 Farm Bill.

“All cattle producers throughout the nation pay into the Beef Checkoff Program which provides funding for research and promotion of beef and beef products throughout the U.S.,” Bass said.

The Tennessee Beef Council provides educational kits for Tennessee teachers free of charge.

“We provide health professionals factual nutrition information and materials they can use with their clients,” Bass said. “We also provide funding for beef advertising throughout the state and work with retailers like Kroger and Publix to promote beef in the meat case. The beef council also works with many of the state’s foodservice operators. Two of the most recent foodservice National Beef Backer Award Winners are headquartered right here in Middle Tennessee, Logan’s Roadhouse and O’Charley’s.”

Bass said the council’s board of directors researched the Middle Tennessee area and decided that Murfreesboro was a “great place to be permanently located in the state. Murfreesboro is centrally located, easily accessible and provides exceptional amenities for businesses without losing its cozy hometown charm.

“The beef council is looking forward to becoming involved in the community,” she said.

The council’s office will be located in the Cason Lane area just off of Brandies Circle.

“We will continue to promote beef throughout the state on behalf of the state’s 48,000 cattle producers (Rutherford County ranks No. 11 in number of beef cattle),” Bass said.

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FASTSIGNS, a full service custom sign and graphics business, opens Monday, June 8 in Carpenter Village Shopping Center at 833 Memorial Blvd, Suite I, across the street from Stones River Motors.

Hours of operation are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call the store at 893-2888. Or go to their website at www.fastsigns.com

The center, owned by husband and wife team Bob and Terry Schneider, provides a full range of sign and graphic solutions to area businesses, organizations and events, from full-color banners and point-of-purchase signs, to building site signage and vehicle graphics.

“Our goal is to create effective, affordable signs and graphics for our customers that will help them deliver their message 24 hours a day while maximizing the efficacy of their sign budget,” Bob said. “Quality signage is an integral part of generating new sales, gaining repeat business and forming new leads for future sales. In these difficult economic times, businesses should consider the many options available that are cost-effective and easily changeable—and that is where FASTSIGNS will help.”

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Highlights from Business News at Murfreesboropost.com:

The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce is still in talks with its final candidate for the president position. A decision should be made within a week.

The Small Business Management Institute seminar titled “Building Customer Allegiance” is slated for June 11 at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. Sponsored by Steven’s Family Tae Kwon Do, the seminar will be conducted by Allyn Walker with Dale Carnegie Training from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Admission is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Call 893-6565 to reserve a spot by Monday, June 8.

Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.