Jordan named co-CEO for Chattanooga’s Launch and other business news | Chattanooga Times Free Press

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Jordan named co-CEO for Chattanooga’s Launch

DeJuan S. Jordan has been named to the newly created position of co-CEO of Launch, a nonprofit group in Chattanooga that helps support startup and early-stage entrepreneurs with a focus on Black-owned, women-owned and micro-businesses.

Jordan is a graduate of the Launch Entrepreneurship program, completing the program in 2017. Since October 2019, she has served as Launch’s director of business support, providing guidance and support to countless entrepreneurs.

“DeJuan has demonstrated with her work as our director of business support, her commitment to our mission and to start-up and early-stage entrepreneurs,” Launch Co-CEO Hal Bowling said in a statement Thursday.”We will benefit even more from her greater involvement with key stakeholders in this new position.”

Jordan’s focus will be day-to-day operations, working closely with all staff and overseeing Launch’s programs. Bowling will handle administrative and financial obligations including leading the development and fundraising efforts of Launch.

CNE offers courses in financial fitness

Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise will offer courses in credit building and healthy financial habits during its Money School on Saturday at the Brainerd Crossroads.

During the courses from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Money School participants will have the opportunity to learn credit building or healthy habits, both sessions led by instructor Jacki Madding. Pre-registration is required due to limited seating.

To register to attend the free Money School and to pre-register for one or both financial fitness workouts, visit moneyschoolcha.org. Attendees who stay for the entirety of the event will be entered in a drawing where one individual will leave with an extra $500 in their pocket.

“The purpose of Money School is to help members of our community gain the knowledge they need to prosper financially. Jacki is incredible at what she does, and we know the information she provides to workout participants will set them on the path to success,” Chelsea Smith, communications director for the group, said in an announcement of the program.

Money School attendees who do not register to attend one of the workout sessions will still be able to participate in a variety of other financially-focused classes. Some of the courses offered will include estate planning with Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, homebuying basics with Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union and investing basics with Truist. There will also be a schedule of courses recommended for teen attendees.

Twitter removes check mark icons

Twitter began removing check mark icons from the profiles of thousands of celebrities, politicians and journalists on Thursday, in one of the most visible indicators of how Elon Musk is changing the company.

A check mark had for years meant that Twitter had verified the identity of the user behind an account, and the icon was considered something of a status symbol. But under Musk, who bought Twitter for $44 billion in October, the social media service has begun to charge individuals $8 per month to maintain their verification status. Musk has said those who do not pay will lose their check marks.

The transition has been rocky. Musk initially proposed charging $20 monthly for verification, but he lowered the price after blowback. He also said previously verified accounts would lose their badges in early April, but few did.

As Twitter began removing check marks from accounts Thursday, some users said they noticed the symbols disappearing and then reappearing on their profiles.

“We are removing legacy verified checkmarks,” the company said in a statement on Twitter. “To remain verified on Twitter, individuals can sign up for Twitter Blue.”

Trade envoy says US won’t decouple China

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai says Washington is not seeking to decouple the American economy from China’s and that U.S. trade sanctions against Beijing are “narrowly targeted.”

Tai told reporters in Tokyo that the U.S. government is carrying out regular trade work with China, though she has no immediate plan to visit Beijing. Tai is on her fourth visit to Tokyo since being appointed USTR.

The United States is seeking to strengthen and expand economic security cooperation with its Asian allies and partners. It’s an issue that has gained urgency amid shortages of computer chips and other goods during the pandemic.

Yellen urges better US-China relations

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has struck a conciliatory tone while talking about strained U.S.-China relations, saying the nations “need to find a way to live together.”

Yellen on Thursday called for cooperation on “urgent global challenges” while supporting economic restrictions on China to advance U.S national security interests. The Treasury secretary’s speech at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies in Washington sought improved relations between the U.S. and China.

The nations have seen increasingly strained relations after the discovery of a Chinese surveillance balloon in U.S. air space and since the Communist nation has grown its ties with Russia despite its war in Ukraine.

Amazon wants aid for Virginia project

Amazon is asking Virginia for nearly $153 million in state incentive payments.

It would be the first tranche of funds to be paid out since the tech giant agreed in 2018 to build a headquarters complex in the state. The application comes even as Amazon has paused work on what will be the centerpiece of its corporate campus — a development project that will feature a 350-foot, helix-shaped tower.

The grant application was released Wednesday by Virginia economic development officials. The request for $152.7 million is in line with the incentive deal Virginia used to lure Amazon.

It calls for Amazon to receive a $22,000 grant for each job it creates. Amazon says that so far it has created nearly 7,000 eligible jobs.

— Compiled by Dave Flessner

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