KNOXVILLE - During his weekly update, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs talks about the iLab at L&N STEM Academy, year-round school supply closets, and more.

Mayor Jacobs helped break ground this week on the iLab at L&N STEM Academy. The iLab will bring together students and industry in the technology and innovation space, helping to solidify Knox County’s place as a hub for innovation.

“Many thanks to the State of Tennessee for a $5 million grant as well as Batelle, and other companies and organizations for their support,” says Mayor Jacobs.

Mayor Jacobs also highlights the launch of year-round school supply closets at Wesley House, the Corryton Food Pantry at Rutherford Memorial United Methodist Church, and Grace Baptist Church’s Grace Community Center on Tennessee Avenue.

“We started SchoolMania to help make sure that students start the year off right with the supplies they need. Of course, those supplies will run out during the year,” says Mayor Jacobs. “Thank you to our generous community partners for making this possible.”

With 11 days left in his term, Mayor Jacobs reflects on his past eight years in office and the Knox County team that worked with him.

“The easy part is coming up with an idea or a vision. The hard part starts as you bring that idea to life, and my senior directors have been marvelous at that,” says Mayor Jacobs. “I could not have been surrounded by a better group of people. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to them for making me look good over my tenure in office.”