GSN Benchmarks A 2025 by The Greeneville Sun

Greene County Partnership has eventful year

BY AMY ROSE | STAFF WRITER

The Greene County Partnership has marked another active year filled with numerous community events, tourism initiatives, and assistance to local businesses.

Jeff Taylor, GCP president and CEO, said Greene County is thriving, despite the challenges of inflation, supply chain disruptions and Hurricane Helene.

“We continue to see strong growth in capital investments, job creation and residential housing,” Taylor said.

The State of Tennessee, local leaders and employers are proving they believe in the future of Greene County, Taylor said, as they continue to make substantial investments:

$80 million in Greene Valley Development for a new campus;

$40 million for a new TCAT (TN College of Applied Technologies);

$100,000 Site Development Greene Valley;

• $2 million Site Development Snapps Ferry;

• $50,000 for Three Star TN Grant for Workforce Development;

• $300,000 Main Street Greeneville Downtown project investment;

• $1.5 million Connected Community Grant for Greene County;

$78,000 Tennessee State Museum Grants;

$15,000 Norfolk Southern to Town of Greeneville; Exit 23 Development initial investment of $15 million; Texas Roadhouse Development initial investment of $5 million; and

• 1 of 10 National Park Service Planning Grants.

Speaking of grants, the GCP Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $32,000 to businesses in Greene County that lost revenue due to the events surrounding Hurricane Helene.

The grants will assist in recovering the revenue lost mainly due to the widespread water outage, a press release from GCP said.

Applications were accepted in the weeks following Hurricane Helene, and an independent selection committee chose the recipients.

A total of 109 new members joined GCP in 2024.

This addition brings the total membership to 604 with 95% retention, Taylor reported in January.

He noted that Greene County ranks above Hamblen and Hawkins counties in a regional wage comparison based on data from the

Tennessee Department of Community and Economic Development.

Greene County’s average hourly wage is $18.62, compared to $19.46 in Sullivan County, $19.32 in Washington County, $18.52 in Hawkins County, and $18.35 in Hamblen County.

Taylor also reported more than 31,000 participants in community engagement in 2024, 157 participants in the Youth Council, and 10,115 pounds of hazardous waste collection.

Taylor shared GCP’s focuses in three areas: livability, talent retention, and economic development.

For efforts to enhance livability, he listed: downtown economic development, continued retail and dining recruitment, and outdoor recreation

For talent retention efforts, he listed: increasing career opportunities awareness, a marketing campaign leveraging technology, and continuing to grow young professionals.

For economic development, he listed: continuing to aggressively market Greene County, promote organic growth within the manufacturing base, identifying and initiating next sites (commercial sand industrial), and recruit developers for entry-level housing.

At its annual awards gala in April, the Partnership recognized several groups and

individuals.

The Small Business of the Year was Artistic Printers, owned by Jeni and Dustin Donahue.

The Industry of the Year was presented to Meco, represented by President Whitney Winter.

Rhonda Humbert won Ambassador of the Year for the second year in a row.

Volunteer of the Year was a high school student, Leland Monahan, the man inside the Banjo the Bear mascot from the GCP.

In a surprise move at the awards gala, Greene County Mayor Kevin Morrison, Greeneville Mayor Cal Doty and GCP Board Chair John Loven presented each member of the staff with an award in recognition of their hard work For Unwavering Dedication and Exceptional Performance in Advancing Greene County.

GCP added three new staff members in 2024.

Bo Woods is director of marketing and business development.

Ashlyn Wilson is events coordinator.

Jessie Beth Miller is community engagement director.

Barb Sell announced she plans to retire as members services director on May 1.

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Rhonda Humbert, center, was named Greene County Partnership’s Ambassador of the Year for the second year in a row in 2024. She is shown at GCP’s annual awards gala with Jeff Taylor, left, president and CEO, and John Loven, of the executive committee.

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

The Dog House was one of 11 recipients of Greene County Partnership Foundation grants to assist with Hurricane Helene recovery.

BO WOODS

ASHLYN WILSON

JESSIE BETH MILLER

BARB SELL

Greeneville gets several new businesses

BY AMY ROSE | STAFF WRITER

Greeneville finally got a Texas Roadhouse, a book store, along with several other commercial developments and unique businesses in the past year.

Iris Books & Coffee opened in September at 702 W. Main St.

A grand opening event was attended by a large crowd.

The business specializes in used books for all ages and also sells coffee, tea and pastries.

For more information, visit “Iris Books and Coffee” on Facebook.

Texas Roadhouse, along with a new Panda Express, were the first tenants to open in the Shops At Greeneville development on East Andrew Johnson Highway, near Walmart.

Texas Roadhouse is a fullservice, casual dining restaurant and bar known for its hand-cut steaks, unlimited fresh buttery rolls, and peanuts, along with ribs, chicken, salads, hamburgers and vegetables.

Texas Roadhouse opened in November, followed by Panda Express in January.

The site plan for Texas Roadhouse, approved by the city in October 2023, showed construction of an approximately 9,000-square-foot restaurant with 221 parking spaces on a roughly 3-acre lot.

For some local residents, the new restaurant is extremely long-awaited because they may remember previous plans for a Texas Roadhouse 23 years ago at a nearby site.

The previous developer’s plans fell through due to high excavation costs, and the much anticipated new Texas Roadhouse has been very busy since its opening.

Panda Express also has been

busy since opening.

The fast-casual American Chinese restaurant is in a 2,600-square-foot building with indoor seating and a two-lane drive-thru.

For more information on the first two tenants of the Shops At Greeneville, visit www. texasroadhouse.com and www. pandaexpress.com .

Downtown Greeneville got two new unique businesses — a candy shop and an outdoor beer garden.

The Gentry opened in March 2024 featuring “The Tap Shack” with several craft beers and four igloos that can be rented for meeting space, relaxation or other get-togethers.

Other features of The Gentry include a large television screen, fire pits, cornhole boards, outdoor seating and tables, a stage and a restroom trailer.

The Gentry is located at 119 W. Depot St.

For more information, visit “The Gentry” on Facebook.

The new downtown candy shop, Sweeter Than Sweet Candy Company, opened in October at 105 N. Main St., a retail space of the General Morgan Inn.

Sweeter Than Sweet carries a wide variety of candies, from lollipops and jelly beans to chocolates and taffy, just to name a few. They also carry Made In Tennessee products and a large selection of sweet drinks.

The candy shop is an independent franchise of the Sweeter Than Sweet Candy Company formed in 2019 in Morristown.

For more information, visit “Sweeter than Sweet Candy Co.Greeneville TN” on Facebook and Instagram.

Another new business with

“Sweet” in its name is Sweet’s Sports Tavern

The sports bar at 805 Tusculum Blvd. opened in January and has been busy with live music, watch parties, trivia, karaoke, billiards and more.

The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, salads, wings and appetizers.

For more information, visit “Sweet’s Sports Tavern” on Facebook or “Sweet’s Sports Tavern & Eatery” on Instagram.

Another unique new business is The Factory Adventure, located in a former warehouse space at 400 W. Church St. near Highland Elementary School.

The family friendly venue opened June 29 and features a gaming area, stage, laser tag arena, party rooms, playground, escape rooms and more.

For more information, visit the website at www. thefactoryadventure.com or the Facebook page, “The Factory

Adventure.”

Coffee-related businesses were popular, including 7 Brew, The Brew Spot and the embattled Scooter’s Coffee

The drive-thru Scooter’s at 1595 E. Andrew Johnson Highway is located on the site where Long John Silvers was demolished in 2022.

Following delays, Scooter’s opened in June, but closed unexpectedly after just a few months in operation.

A new franchisee is expected to reopen the Scooter’s location, but a date has not been announced.

For more information, visit www. scooterscoffee.com .

7 Brew opened in May and has been busy at the corner of East Andrew Johnson Highway and North Rufe Taylor Road.

The drive-thru offers more than 20,000 unique drink combinations, from the original Blondie, a

SUN FILE PHOTO

Greeneville finally got a Texas Roadhouse in 2024.

SUN FILE PHOTO

Infinity Jewelers opened in a former bank building.

Businesses mark milestones, transitions, expansion

BY AMY ROSE | STAFF WRITER

Several businesses in Greeneville reached significant milestones or experienced major transitions in the past 12 months.

The fate of Greeneville’s Big Lots store hung in the balance during the last quarter of 2024 and into the first quarter of 2025.

The local store started a goingout-of-business sale Dec. 19, but a week later the struggling discount retailer announced changes that could result in some stores staying open.

Big Lots announced Dec. 27 it would be sold to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, and Variety Wholesalers Inc. planned to acquire 200-400 Big Lots stores and keep them open under the Big Lots brand name.

The announcement came after Big Lots filed bankruptcy in September, failed to sell to a private equity firm, and started going-out-of-business sales at all stores, including Greeneville, on Dec. 19.

Then Gordon Brothers began announcing lists of hundreds of stores that would have their leases sold, meaning they would not remain as a Big Lots. Greeneville was not on those lists.

On Feb. 3, the Greeneville store showed up on a list filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Delaware by attorneys for Big Lots.

This list showed 200 stores in 15 states slated to have their leases transferred to Variety Wholesalers, Inc., meaning they would remain open under the Big Lots brand.

The court documents included a filing deadline of Feb. 18 for any objections to the store locations remaining open.

Big Lots has reportedly asked the court to give it until April 7 to develop the final list of stores that will continue to operate.

Big Lots has been located at 1475 E. Andrew Johnson Highway for decades and completed a store remodel and grand re-opening in 2013.

MCDONALD’S REBUILT

Also experiencing a transition in 2024 was the McDonald’s restaurant at the corner of Tusculum Boulevard and Austin Street.

The fast-food restaurant and drive-thru was demolished and rebuilt within four months.

It employs more than 60 people, features a double lane drive thru with mobile ordering technology, and is equipped with order kiosks in the lobby and and the newest cooking facilities, a press release from the company said.

A site plan approved in November 2023 by the Greeneville Municipal Planning Commission showed an approximately 3,780-square-foot McDonald’s restaurant with 29 parking spaces.

JOHN DEERE EXPANSION, RECOGNITION

John Deere Power Products announced plans to expand its manufacturing operation in Greeneville, investing nearly $15 million and adding 25 new jobs through 2025.

This expansion will allow the company to meet increased projected customer demand for the Z300 and Z500 zero-turn mowers, according to a press release from the Tennessee

Department of Economic and Community Development.

In other John Deere news, the company’s first-ever electric zero-turn mower, manufactured in Greeneville, was a finalist in the Tennessee Manufacturers Association’s “Coolest Thing Made In Tennessee” contest.

The mower advanced to the top eight of the competition, but the Nissan Rogue was the winner.

The Rogue, made in Smyrna, and the John Deere mower were up against products made across the state from Kingsport to Shelby County, including eclipse glasses, helicopters, whiskey and candy.

After products were nominated, they competed online in a popular vote round with more than 75,000 votes from Tennessee residents, a press release said.

For more information, visit www. tnecd.com or www.deere.com or www.coolestthingmadeintn.com .

ECU 90 YEARS

Eastman Credit Union (ECU) celebrated 90 years of service in 2024.

The financial institution was chartered Sept. 10, 1934.

ECU is celebrating the service milestone with a campaign focusing on stories shared by members and staff.

Greeneville has two ECU locations on East Andrew Johnson Highway near Walmart and on West Andrew Johnson Highway near the Towne Crossing 8 movie theatre.

For more information on Eastman Credit Union, visit www.ecu.org .

PETTIT’S 75 YEARS

Pettit’s Market in Mohawk celebrated 75 years of service to the local community in August.

The celebration featured food, music, an inflatable course, face painting and antique engines and farm equipment.

The historic country store at 6515 McDonald Road was purchased in September 2022 and remodeled prior to reopening in March 2023.

For more information, visit “Pettit’s Market” on Facebook or Instagram.

LINK HILLS 70 YEARS

Link Hills Country Club celebrated its 70th anniversary Saturday, June 22, with a Summer Member Social and membership drive.

All longtime and new members, along with prospective members, were invited to the celebration.

The event began at 4:30 with tours of the facilities, including the swimming pool and golf facilities.

From 6 to 8 p.m., attendees enjoyed music, and free snacks in the ballroom, followed by live music and cocktails on the patio.

A special dinner menu was available for purchase.

Link Hills is located at 1325 E. Allens Bridge Road south of Greeneville.

For more information, visit www. linkhills.com .

JAYNES FLOORING 50 YEARS

Jaynes Flooring reached the milestone of 50 years in business in 2024.

Ronnie and Faye Jaynes purchased the flooring store from Buddy Boswell in 1974 when it was located on Tusculum Boulevard.

They stayed in that location until building a larger facility at 3225 E. Andrew Johnson Highway. Then in 1995, a larger facility was built at 3245 E. Andrew Johnson Highway, where the business remains today.

The family owned business has provided all types of services in the flooring industry, including carpet, vinyl, hardwood, engineered hardwood, luxury vinyl, ceramic tile and area rugs.

PALACE BARBER SHOP CLOSES

The historic Palace Barber shop closed in early 2025 after 59 years of service.

James Davis retired after serving five generations of customers at

what he said was the oldest barber shop in Greeneville, and likely the oldest business that was still operating under its original name.

He recalled when Palace Barber Shop was located on Depot Street where he worked for one year before he moved to Towne Square Shopping Center on Summer Street and worked for the other 58 years.

He was the first tenant of the shopping center and remembers when it had a gravel parking lot.

After retirement, Davis said he planned to take day trips with his wife of 63 years, Carolyn, continue raising beef cattle on the family farm located off the 107 Cutoff, and “go home and kick back.”

SUN FILE PHOTO

This mower made in Greeneville was a finalist for the coolest thing made in Tennessee.

FILE PHOTO

Jaynes Flooring celebrated 50 years in business.

business.

Barber Shop closed in early 2025.

Greeneville gets several new businesses

BY AMY ROSE | STAFF WRITER

The former Greene Valley Developmental Center in Tusculum is undergoing a transformation that should benefit the community for generations to come.

Just as the former developmental center, which closed in 2017, provided jobs to many Greene Countians, two state projects on land along East Andrew Johnson Highway will also add to local employment rolls.

Another tract of former state-owned undeveloped property off Edens Road will soon house the Greene County Health Department and a water bottling business, with plans to eventually expand to include other commercial enterprises.

Demolition of former developmental center buildings continued in 2025 to make way for the two projects along East Andrew Johnson Highway.

The state-owned land will house a state Department of Disabilities and Aging East Tennessee regional complex, and a Tennessee College of Applied Technology satellite campus.

The state is investing nearly $100 million in the two projects, including $60 million toward the DDA regional complex and more than $30 million at the TCAT campus, officials have said.

The TCAT satellite campus and and DDA complex are both scheduled to open in 2026.

DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES AND AGING

The new DDA buildings and an open courtyard area will encompass about 17 acres and 82,000 square feet. Construction is budgeted at $43.5 million for the project. It is funded in part by federal dollars, according to officials.

DDA East Tennessee Regional Office Director Terry Jordan-Henley said at a groundbreaking ceremony last year that the new campus “is basically the future of the department.”

The Department of Disability and Aging will serve Tennesseans with disabilities and seniors.

Jordan-Henley noted that the facility would support Tennesseans of all ages and would reflect the mission of the state department.

“We want a campus that is completely inclusive, and that allows people with disabilities to navigate and work within the campus with no barriers,” he said.

Jordan-Henley said the facility would include an “enabling technology demonstration home” in addition to a new seating and positioning clinic.

He added that the regional DDA complex would employ people in numerous categories and programs. They include licensure and quality assurance, East Tennessee Community Homes and Strong Homes, the Katie Beckett program, the Tennessee Early Intervention System, intake and case management, operations, administrative services, plans review, therapeutic services, regional nursing, behavioral analysis, clinical supports and maintenance.

The DDA project will include an administrative building, seating and positioning clinic, an “enabling technology home” and a warehousemaintenance building surrounding an open courtyard.

The administrative building will include a conference room that could be used for some community-related events, Ned Stacy, architect and project manager, told the Tusculum Board of Mayor and Commissioners last year.

“I’m just so excited about this project. It’s been a long time coming,” said Stacy, of the Thompson & Litton architectural firm.

“A lot of money is going to be spent out there and we are trying to make everybody proud,” he said.

Tennessee DDA Commissioner Brad Turner added that the regional facility aligns with the department’s move away from institutionalization.

“This is about freedom. This is about independence. This is about creating a new department and a new beginning,” he said. “I think when people start seeing the construction happening it’s actually symbolic of a new beginning that has independence, and freedom and the ability to live in the community at the forefront of what we want to do.

“The American dream doesn’t have an expiration date, nor does it have a litmus test on age or ability. It should be accessible to everybody, and these buildings, these ideas, these visions and these missions that we have are all represented in the culture of Greene County and east Tennessee as a whole,” Turner added.

Building construction is now underway “and will continue to summer/fall 2026 for a proposed opening date,” Stacy said.

TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY

Across the former Greene Valley entrance driveway from the Department of Disability and Aging facility, a Tennessee College of Applied Technology satellite campus is under construction.

The 55,000-square-foot building will be located near the former Greene Valley entrance on U.S. 11E and encompass about 14 acres. The projected completion date is February 2026.

Suzanne Cox, president of TCAT Morristown, which will oversee the new campus in Tusculum, recently said officials worked closely with John Fisher, of Fisher and Associates, in designing the campus.

“It’s a state-of-the-art facility”, Cox said. “We’re so excited to see it rise to life.”

Phase One of the project, “abatement and demolition of the existing cottages, began in November (2024). The project is currently on time for the 2026 completion,” Chris Edmonds, Industry, CTE, and Grants Coordinator for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Morristown, said in early 2025.

The new TCAT satellite campus will offer graduating high school students from Greene County the opportunity to pursue their studies locally.

“There’s just a lot of options for kids after high school. It keeps the kids closer to home,” Fisher told the Tusculum Planning Commission in 2024.

The building design includes areas dedicated to specific areas of study, including practical nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, cosmetology, computer integration technologies, welding, machine tools, HVAC, industrial maintenance and industrial electricity

It will also include an administrative wing and multi-purpose rooms that could be used by the public for lectures and similar activities, Fisher said.

The one-story building is designed for possible future expansion.

“This would allow for a lot of expansion. That’s why it’s recommended for 14 acres,” Fisher said.

UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY

Development plans are also proceeding on a 336-acre tract of undeveloped land south of Edens Road that was part of the Greene Valley property.

The Tusculum-Greeneville-Greene County Industrial Development Board gained title from the state to the undeveloped tract of property in 2024.

An MX-2 Mixed Use District rezoning measure was approved for the land in September 2024 by the Tusculum Board of Mayor and Commissioners that specifies the development “of a wide range of business and light/medium industrial uses for the purposes of creating clean economic development and to promote high-paying job growth,” according to ordinance provisions.

Infrastructure like water and electrical service must be installed on most of the property before it is developed.

One section of the property along Edens Road that has infrastructure in place will soon be the site of the new 12,000-square-foot Greene County Health Department building.

Another nearby property will soon be the home of Eternal Water, a spring water bottling company.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new health department building was held in January.

The state is providing $5 million in federal grant funding for the construction of the new health department facility, and Greene County is providing a $1 million funding match.

An additional $1.5 million grant will fund the construction of a multimedia and broadbandconnected community education center that will also be a part of the new health department location.

Officials said the facility is expected to include more than 10 exam rooms, multiple dental rooms, a telemedicine center and a demonstration kitchen.

Benefield Richters, an architecture firm out of Knoxville, designed and is overseeing the project.

Construction of the facility must be completed by June 2026 due to requirements involved with the grant funding being used for the project.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Ralph Alvarado attended the groundbreaking and complimented Greene County’s leadership in pursuing the grant, which included federal paperwork and audits. He said local leadership seized the opportunity.

“You get to reap the benefits of a new facility, which is going to be exciting,” Alvarado said.

The existing health department building is 52 years old.

The Greene County Health Department will have Eternal Water as a neighbor.

Jennifer Salyer, project manager and a landscape architect with Barge Design Solutions, the Kingsport firm working with Eternal Water, recently explained details included in a landscape plan to members of the Tusculum Planning Commission.

The proposed Eternal Water building covers 130,000 square feet, including 6,000 square feet of office space.

The site will include 14 truck docks and a dedicated truck entrance for safety purposes, Salyer said.

Evergreens, other trees and additional vegetation will provide a visual buffer and “overall aesthetic” to the property, which borders the Tusculum Linear Trail, she said.

Part of the property borders McAfee Road, which would need some improvements to accommodate the facility, Salyer said.

The Greeneville Water Commission would provide water service to the business.

Roger Stokely, the plant manager at the company’s Newport-based facility, said in early March the company hoped to have the plant in operation sometime in the first quarter of 2026.

Eternal Water announced plans last year to draw spring water for the bottling operation from Hampton Spring, which flows into Middle Creek in Afton before emptying into the Nolichucky River.

caramel and vanilla breve, to 7 Energy, smoothies, shakes and teas.

The business kicked of its local presence by donating thousands of drinks to local groups, offering free T-shirts to qualifying customers, and writing friendly messages on customers’ cars.

For more information, visit www.7brew.com and follow 7 Brew on Instagram (@7brewcoffee), TikTok (@7brewcoffee), Facebook (facebook.com/7brewcoffee) and Twitter (@7BrewCoffee).

The Brew Spot opened in December between Bealls and Workout Anytime in The Greeneville Commons.

In addition to barista coffee, the business serves whips and iced drinks, energy teas, fruit bowls, sandwiches and more.

For more information, visit www.thebrewspotcoffee.com or download the “Brew Spot Coffee” app.

Gyros Subs and More opened in January in the former location of Central Park, 1365 E. Andrew Johnson Highway

The menu includes authentic gyros, burgers, subs, wings, salads, seafood and more.

Hometown Marketplace opened in July in the former Fatz Cafe building, 3140 E. Andrew

The Partnership organizes numerous community events throughout the year, including: Greeneville Antiques Appraisal Fair & Show, June Dairy Days, Wings & Wheels on the Greene, Depot

Johnson Highway.

The new market, deli and bakery features hot foods for takeout, soft pretzels and deli meats, along with pre-packaged fresh-cut salads, homemade soups, homemade desserts, and more. Customers can pick up hot food to go or shop farmers market style for prepackaged foods.

For more information, search for “Hometown Marketplace” on Facebook under the category of Food & Drink.

Infinity Jewelers opened in October offering expert craftsmanship in estate jewelry and unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.

Led by a master jeweler, the business at 1604 E. Andrew Johnson Highway specializes in custom designs, repairs and personalized service.

For more information, visit “Infinity Jewelers” on Facebook.

The Clearance Corner, a business venture of Roberts Furniture, opened in July in Towne Square Shopping Center.

The Clearance Corner, 239 W. Summer St., offers a variety of furniture and accessories at bargain prices.

For more information, visit www. robertsfurnitureonline.com .

And finally, Greeneville got its third Dollar Tree location in August in East Gate Shopping Center.

Street Party, Shop Small Saturday, the Greeneville Christmas Parade, and the biggest community event, the Iris Festival in May, which will mark its 30th anniversary this year.

For more info about the Greene County Partnership, visit www. greenecountypartnership.com

For more information on new businesses, see my Business Bits column, published as needed in Thursday’s edition or online at www.greenevillesun.com/business.

Another place to find more

information on new local businesses is the Greene County Partnership’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ GreeneCountyPartnership . MORE PHOTOS | on next page