Jim Blenco, President and CEO of Orion Laboratories, LLC
East Tennessee start-up honored in annual competition
The 2009 Fairview Technology Center Startup Business Competition was a big success. After two previous rounds of competition and participation in a three-week ‘Idea Launch’ seminar series conducted by Tech 2020, six companies competed in the finals held at Pellissippi State Tech Community College on May 12, 2009. The six finalists companies included: EyeHearU Media Corporation, Red Flag Corporation, NewCo, Emergency Response Systems, Orion Laboratories, LLC, and Invergys Analysis Solutions. First place went to Orion Laboratories.
Orion Laboratories is producing a unique technology to produce solar-grade silicon that is far lower than production methods currently being employed across the globe. Their intent is to deploy into a full-scale manufacturing plant in East Tennessee that will produce solar grade silicon for sale in foreign and domestic markets.