PILOT Programs Supported Industry Growth In 2021

SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB Construction is underway on the new location for Big G Express trucking company, which intends to relocate its operations currently based in Hamblen County to Mosheim when the facility is ready.

A billboard for Big G Express is clearly visible along 11E next to the site where the trucking company’s new facility is being built in Mosheim.

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

BY CICELY BABB

STAFF WRITER

Multiple industry expansions, representing $16.5 million in local investment and more than 350 jobs retained in Greene County, are supported through PILOT tax abatement programs approved last year.

Construction is underway in Mosheim for a new facility for Shelbyville-based Big G Express’s East Tennessee trucking operations, an expansion to Premium Waters’ local facility started and was completed in 2021 and an expansion to Parkway Products’ local operations announced in January is also being supported with a PILOT.

PILOT, or payment in lieu of taxes, programs support companies in expanding operations locally as they allow a delay on having to pay the increased property tax value. Instead, under a PILOT, the Industrial Development Board of Greeneville and Greene County takes ownership of the expansion or equipment purchased through the PILOT program and leases it to the company for seven years, while the

Premium Waters’ local facility was expanded by more than 50,000 square feet in 2021.

SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB

company continues to pay property tax on the pre-expansion value.

“The value is that this is in exchange for the creation of additional jobs including construction, electricity and any supplies impacted by the expansion,” Greene County Partnership President Jeff Taylor explained in May, when the PILOTs for Big G and Premium Waters were approved. “Not every community has a PILOT program, and this gives us an advantage when it comes to recruiting and retaining jobs.” BIG G EXPRESS

Big G intends to relocate its Hamblen County operations to Greene County when the new Mosheim facility is ready, and company President and CEO Greg Thompson said the location is ideal for multiple reasons.

“As we have grown, we have kind of outgrown our place down the road in Russellville, so we were looking for a larger footprint when we found that location in Greene County,” Thompson said. “We’ve got a lot of employees in that general area anyway, and it’s not far off the interstate and close to industries, so it was a great fit for us.”

Thompson said all employees currently based in Russellville will be offered the opportunity to transfer, plus the expansion will create new jobs with Big G.

“We plan to close that location in Russellville down and relocate everybody up the road. I anticipate everybody moving, and we’ve got more than enough room to grow at that location, so we’ll definitely be looking to hire some additional employees,” he said.

Construction on the $8.5 million project began in October, and Thompson said it is on track to finish for Big G to relocate this summer despite recent weather-related delays.

“We’ve had some setbacks with the weather, but other than that it’s progressing well,” Thompson said. “The lot is paved, and the building is up and has a roof on it, so we’re moving right along, and we anticipate by mid- to late-summer we’ll be moving in.”

Thompson said he is excited for Big G to grow in East Tennessee.

“We’re looking forward to getting in there and meeting everybody, and I hope we can attract some new employees and grow in the area,” he said.

For more information about Big G, visit www.biggexpress.com.

PREMIUM WATERS

The expansion at Premium Waters, which adds storage for the private label water bottle company to keep customer orders until they are ready to be picked up or delivered, started in February and was completed in December.

Greeneville Plant Manager Don Myers said the addition of 53,000 square feet makes the company’s shipping process much more efficient.

“Before we had the space here to hold it, a lot of our products would go on a truck, we’d have to drive it maybe half a mile to a warehouse and unload it, and then load it again when the customer comes to pick it up,” Myers explained. “This space allows us to store items

SEE PILOT ON PAGE 3A

Benchmarks A Story Index

PILOT Programs Supported Industry Growth In 2021 .......................................................2 Depot Street Businesses Open Throughout Construction ...................................................5 2021 Was An Employee’s Job Market ..................................................................................7 High Demand, Low Inventory Made 2021 A Great Time To Sell ........................................7 Industrial Development Board Looks To Chart Path Of Greene Valley Property ..............8 Individuals, Businesses, Organizations Earn Professional Honors ....................................9

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