Business Images Northeast Tennessee Valley Region 2011

business

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Northeast Tennessee Valley Region

Broad Vision

Region sets sights on fiber optic development

Sunny Outlook

Roads Less Traveled

Scenic trails offer adventure, escape

Valley builds reputation for innovation What’s Online Take a stroll through historic Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town.

Sponsored by the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association | 2011

Tennesse�

(423) 586-4121

(423) 586-6382

www.morristownutilities.org

www.morristownchamber.com

Power

• 900 acres of industrial land available in

• Low cost, high reliability, Smart Grid enabled • RP3 (Reliable Public Power Provider) Certified • Experienced commercial/industrial supplier

East Tennessee Progress Center • Convenient/easy transportation arteries to I-40, I-81 and US 25E

water

• One day’s drive to 76% of US population

• Low cost, high ISO rating

• Strong manufacturing environment

• Deep bed carbon filtration system

• Educated workforce:

• “Approved” regional water supplier

– Walters State Community College

telecommunications

– Tennessee Technology Center in Morristown

• High-speed, low-cost Internet, voice and video

• No state income tax on wages and salaries

• 100% FTTH fiber-optic infrastructure • Full array of business solutions

Northeast Tennessee

... where bright futures begin.

Johnson City Power Board 2600 Boones Creek Rd. Johnson City, TN 37615 www.jcpb.com

business

Workstyle

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Broad Vision

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Region sets sights on fiber optic development

Fast Track to Growth

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Valley builds reputation for innovation

Roads Less Traveled

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Scenic trails offer adventure, escape

Insight

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Overview

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Business Almanac

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Business Climate

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Energy/Technology

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Transportation

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Education

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Health

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Economic Profile

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Through the Lens

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On the Cover Sunrise over the Holston River and mountains of Kingsport, Tenn. staff photo

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All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

Please recycle this magazine

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business

®

N orth e a st T e nnesse e Vall ey Regi on 201 1 Edition , volum e 3 Project Manager Emily mcmackin content director lisa battles Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editor Jill Wyatt Contributing writers melanie hill, anita wadhwani, betsy williams Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Jessica Manner, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Vikki Williams Graphic Designer Rachael Gerringer Media Technology Analysts Chandra Bradshaw, Lance conzett, Michele Niccore, Marcus Snyder Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Web Content Manager John Hood Web project manager noy fongnaly Web Design Director Franco Scaramuzza Web Designer II richard stevens Web Developer I Yamel Hall Web account manager lauren eubank Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan I.T. Director Yancey Bond I.T. support technician bryan foriest Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Office Manager/Accounts Receivable Coordinator Shelly Miller Senior Integrated Media Manager Deshaun Goodrich Sales Support Manager Cindy Hall color imaging technician alison hunter Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./business Development Scott Templeton V.P./external communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Custom Publishing Kim holmberg V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens V.P./Sales Charles Fitzgibbon, Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Content Director/Travel Publications Susan Chappell Content Director/Business Publications Bill McMeekin Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop

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An online resource at imagesnetnvalley.com

digital Magazine >> BuSiNeSS

imagesnetnvalley.com ®

NORTheaST TeNNeSSee VaLLey RegiON

Broad Vision

Region sets sights on fiber optic development

Sunny Outlook

Roads Less Traveled

Scenic trails offer adventure, escape

Valley builds reputation for innovation

Lifestyle Find out what it’s like to live here and what makes the community such a special place to be.

What’s Online Take a stroll through historic Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town.

SpONSORed By The NORTheaST TeNNeSSee VaLLey RegiONaL iNduSTRiaL deVeLOpmeNT aSSOciaTiON | 2011

Read the magazine on your computer, zoom in on articles and link to advertiser websites. site guide >> Find available commercial and industrial properties with our searchable database.

Workstyle A spotlight on the region’s innovative companies

success breeds success >> Meet the people who set the pace for business innovation.

Dig Deeper >> Plug into the community with links to local websites and resources to give you a big picture of the region.

Business Images Northeast Tennessee Valley Region is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.

Demographics >> A wealth of demographic and statistical information

For more information, contact: Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association 2425 Hwy. 75, Bldg. 102 NE State Technical Community College Blountville, TN 37617 Phone: (423) 323-1203 • Fax: (423) 323-4016 netvaly.org

Visit business images Northeast Tennessee Valley Region online at imagesnetnvalley.com ©Copyright 2011 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Member Member

The Association of Magazine Media Custom Publishing Council

Member Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association

puts the community at your fingertips.

See the Video Our award-winning photographers give you a virtual tour of unique spaces, places and faces.

guide to services >> Links to a cross section of goods and services special to the community

go online

imagesnetnvalley.com i m a g e sn e tnv a ll e y . c o m

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Have you met Jeff?

With the perfect balance of beauty, brains and ability Jefferson County, Tennessee is fast becoming an ideal location for business in Tennessee. Nestled between Douglas and Cherokee lakes, only minutes from downtown Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Jefferson County offers corporations and individuals alike a unique blend of big-city amenities in a convenient, natural setting.

Jefferson county, tennessee is: Accessible: • Ideal location along Interstates 40 & 81 and four

AffoRdAble: • Low-cost state and local tax environment with incentive

U.S. highways

and financing programs available

•

40 minutes from Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport

•

Norfolk Southern Rail access

ReliAble: • TVA-generated safe and efficient electrical service •

Advanced and redundant telecommunications infrastructure

•

Plentiful supply of water and wastewater resources

HARdwoRking: • Dynamic workforce of more than 240,000 people within a 30-mile radius •

Home to Carson Newman College and 2,000 students

•

Short drive from the University of Tennessee, two community colleges and a regional technology center

•

Right-to-work environment offering affordable labor rates for skilled employees

•

Central Southeastern location providing transportation cost advantages

AvAilAble: • Diverse inventory of readily available commercial and industrial buildings and sites •

Professional, experienced staff ready to your business needs

to leARn moRe, visit us online At: www.selectjefferson.com

To learn more about the opportunities that await your business, contact: Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 890 Dandridge, TN 37725-0890 865-397-9642 bmaul@selectjefferson.com www.selectjefferson.com

Overview

Ten Reasons to do Business in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region freight service at Tri-Cities Airport.

1. Workforce. The region has

more than 300,000 employees with manufacturing backgrounds and a strong work ethic in right-to-work states.

2. Training. Site selection consultants

rank Tennessee’s FastTrack Job Training as among the 10 best nationally in training and effectiveness.

3. Utility Costs. Tennessee Valley Authority utility companies offer reliable power and rates that are among the nation’s lowest.

4. Location and Transportation.

Our strategic location offers one-day truck access to 76 percent of the nation’s population via Interstates 81, 40 and 26, as well as I-75 and I-77, with service from 55 interstate trucking companies; rail freight service via Norfolk Southern and CSX; and commercial air, charter and air

5. Quality of Life. The region offers opportunities for a wide variety of outdoor activities in beautiful surroundings; quality education; affordable housing and a low cost of living; and friendly people.

9. Technology Resources.

Universities, colleges, technical colleges and location in the Tennessee Technology Corridor give companies a competitive advantage.

6. Infrastructure. Abundant natural gas and water, advanced digital and fiber-optic networks, and other amenities are available.

10. Diversified Economy.

The economy includes medical companies, educational institutions, manufacturers, corporate headquarters and distribution centers.

7. Developed Sites and Buildings.

Updated computerized site and community data – including location, utilities, transportation, zoning and demographics – are available.

For more information, contact: Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association 2425 Hwy. 75, P.O. Box 1022 Blountville, TN 37617 Phone: (423) 323-1203 Fax: (423) 323-4016 www.netvaly.org

8. Cost of Doing Business. Costs

are among the nation’s lowest, thanks to tax credits based on investment and job creation; no sales tax on industrial

Norton

Coeburn 58A

58A

Big Stone Gap Dizney Pennington23Gap 23 SCOTT

Virginia Tennessee

machinery and equipment, raw materials or pollution-control equipment; and a pro-business attitude.

North Carolina

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DuffieldDuffield Mendota Jonesville Jonesville Gate City Gate City LEE

Lebanon 19

WASHINGTON Glade Spring Emory Abingdon Abingdon

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Cumberland Gap VIRGINIA Bristol Mount Carmel Kingsport Blountville Sneedville Arthur Blountville Sneedville Arthur JOHNSON C L A I BTazewell ORNE H A N. C O C KChurch Hill Mountain City Tazewell Mountain City SULLIVAN hR Rogersville Rogersville nc 25E 25E Cli 11W WASHINGTON Elizabethton 421 421 11W H AW K INS .

L Jonesborough Johnson City Rutledge 81Jonesborough ee Beech Maynardville Morristown81 ok 11E r 26 Beech Mountain e Mountain h C HAMBLEN CARTE R Greeneville Erwin Erwin Jefferson Jefferson City City AVERY UNICOI Newland 11E 11W Newland GREENE 11E JEFFERSON NORTH 19W Dandridge 19W 19E 19E CAROLINA Dandridge 40 40 23 23 Spruce Pine To Knoxville

To Asheville

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Entertainment for All Seasons Taste of the Appalachians Are you a wine connoisseur? Don’t miss a trip to Countryside Vineyards and Winery in Blountville. Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians off Interstate 81, the familyowned and operated winery produces red, white and fruit wines that have garnered state and national awards, and offers vineyard tours and tastings. From dry to sweet, visitors can sample all varieties – and buy plenty of bottles to take home. For more information, visit www.cvwineryandsupply.com.

Whether you’re a Broadway musical fan or enjoy quirky comedies, you’re sure to be entertained by the performances of the Encore Theatrical Company at Walters State Community College in Morristown. With a mission of cultivating and promoting performance arts in the Lakeway area, the company offers a diverse slate of live performances, plays, musicals and educational programs for every season.

Star-Studded Tour Are you a fan of country or bluegrass music? Trace the rich Appalachian roots of both genres with a drive down Virginia’s Crooked Road Heritage Music Trail, a 300-mile roadway that encompasses country- and bluegrass-related venues across 10 counties. Don’t miss the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Museum in Bristol, Va., an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution that tells the story of the region’s role in the birth and development of country music. Plans are in the works for a new $9 million facility that will trace the evolution of the genre through audio-visual experiences and include space for live performances, a lecture and film series, and educational programs for all ages. Visit the www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org for details on local jam sessions that you can drop by during your visit. Find maps and information on other landmarks along the trail at www.thecrookedroad.org.

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Almanac Motor Madness Calling all motorheads! Get your classic car fix each May when Borla Performance Industries in Johnson City and the Carter County Car Club team up for the “Spring Fling” Auto Fest. The annual show draws thousands of classic car enthusiasts from across the country, and even gets its own cameo on ESPN. Along with hosting the event, Borla opens its shop doors so visitors can see the research and development work it has going on and provides live music and free installation for anyone who purchases an exhaust system during the event. Alex Borla, company founder and chief executive officer, says hosting the show gives the company a chance to reach out to the community and celebrate the classic car culture. Any kind of vehicle can be displayed at the event. Registration is $25, and more than 200 awards are presented.

Get more details at www.borla.com.

100 Years of Goodness When Andrew Jackson Bush founded Bush Brothers & Company with his sons in 1908, he dreamed of building a community-centered cannery business that would remain in his family for years to come. Nearly a century later, his vision has been realized. Headquarted in Knoxville, Bush Brothers has evolved into an international brand that still thrives near the Chestnut Hill location where it started. To celebrate its Jefferson County roots, the company opened the Bush Beans Visitor Center in 2010, drawing fans from across the country. Housed in the building where A.J. Bush started his first company – a general store where residents bartered goods that couldn’t be produced locally – the center includes a museum tracing the history of the family and company, memorabilia such as tools from Bush’s original canning process, interactive bean-themed exhibits, and a theater featuring Jay Bush, A.J.’s grandson, and his golden retriever, Duke, on the big screen. Visitors can also get a sneak peek at what goes into making the country’s top baked bean brand, visit a replica of Bush’s original general store and sample homemade dishes, Southern specialties and bean desserts.

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Nature’s National Treasures Tourists are rediscovering national parks, and the Northeast Tennessee Valley is home to two of the best. The Cumberland Gap National Park, which passes through Claiborne County, features unique caves, scenic vistas, beautiful waterfalls, lush forests, and the opportunity to catch an up-close glimpse of diverse plant and animal species. In Jefferson, Hamblen and Greene counties, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park – America’s most visited national park – offers majestic views of the southern Appalachian Mountains, unparalleled varieties of plant and animal life, and hundreds of miles of trails.

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Riding the Rapids The Northeast Tennessee Valley teems with waterways perfect for canoeing, kayaking and whitewater rafting.

One of the best and most challenging is the Nolichucky River. The scenic river, which flows through East Tennessee in Unicoi County and Western North Carolina, offers a variety of rapids that cut their way through the deepest gorge in the eastern United States. To plan a rafting adventure, visit www.noc.com/whitewater-rafting/nolichucky-river.

Getting Close to Crockett The Northeast Tennessee Valley is known as home to many of America’s first frontiersmen, including the famous Davy Crockett. Visitors can tour the boyhood home of Crockett, who grew up in Morristown, at Crockett Tavern Museum, located off U.S. Highway 25E. The museum features a 1790s reconstruction of the original tavern built by Crockett’s father and a replica of Crockett’s first gun. A historic walking tour in Dandridge, where Crockett lived part of his adult life, takes visitors past his old haunts and treats them to a one-man show about the “King of the Wild Frontier.” Visit www.discoveret.org/crockett to plan a trip tracing Crockett’s footsteps.

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Business Climate

Ripe for Business Northeast Tennessee Valley strategically positioned for growth

What’s Online  For more about the advantages of doing business in the region, go to imagesnetnvalley.com.

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Story by Betsy Williams

W

ith its well-educated and trained workforce, low business and utility costs and an abundance of shovel-ready sites, the 15-county Northeast Tennessee Valley region offers a host of advantages for expanding and relocating businesses.

“The Northeast Tennessee Valley provides a really welcoming business climate, with 15 counties and their respective communities that operate as a true regional partnership,” says Alicia Summers, executive director of the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association (NETVRIDA). “This gives us the ability to collectively market our superior assets, including skilled labor, diverse education offerings, transportation arteries, data communications connectivity and a hospitable quality of life.”

The region boasts a multifaceted economy that includes medical technologies, automotive suppliers, corporate headquarters, distribution facilities and a range of manufacturers.

“We are a close-knit group who work hard to make jobs happen here,”

says Tommy Olterman, project manager for Tennessee Valley Authority Economic Development.

“Our location to the major markets makes us very attractive to companies to locate here and to expand.”

Education Assets One such company is Japanese automotive bearing manufacturer Koyo. The company first located in Washington County in 2006, investing $27 million in a facility that produces tapered roller bearings used in vehicle axle and transmission systems. In November 2010, Koyo broke ground on a $30 million, 61,000-square-foot expansion projected for completion in 2011.

The company plans to increase its local workforce from 60 to 125 employees over the next three years.

“The educational programs we have were key to Koyo’s decision to locate and expand here,” says P.C. Snapp, executive director of Washington County’s economic development board, noting that programs were tailored to meet the needs of the company and the i m a g e sn e tnv a ll e y . c o m

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commercial buildings, also recently expanded its operations.

The Bloomington, Minn.-based Donaldson Company, a worldwide provider of filtration systems and replacement parts for industrial and engine markets, announced plans to relocate three of its production lines from an out-of-state facility and expand its current facility in Greene County, investing $2 million.

The expansion will create 85 jobs

Japanese families that located there.

Ideal for Expansion Koyo is not the only company that has found recent success in its Northeast Tennessee Valley location.

Plastics manufacturer Double H Plastics, which expanded its Pennsylvania- and Indiana-based operations to Morristown in 2008, and employs 100, thrives in the region. The GE plant in Morristown, which produces breaker boxes for

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within the next two years.

Having a regional industrial association that works collectively to market community assets means that communities can take advantage of targeted advertising opportunities, exhibiting at national and international trade shows and putting the power of an unmatched utility – TVA – behind its efforts with site-location consultants and initiatives such as this year’s effort

to target the suppliers and multipliers in the Toronto market, says NETVRIDA’s Summers.

“It all adds up to a global presence, resulting in jobs and investment for our region,” she says. “This region has a labor force of more than 300,000 skilled workers, meaningful incentives, a strategic transportation network and a can-do attitude that have created a strong and growing economy.”

The Sleep Inn & Suites® hotel in Kingsport is conveniently located off Interstate 81, just one mile from the Tri-Cities Regional Airport. This Kingsport, Tennessee hotel is minutes from area points of interest like the Fort Henry Mall, East Tennessee State University and Bays Mountain Park. The Bristol Motor Speedway is also nearby.

The Allandale Mansion, Bristol Caverns, Historic Jonesborough and Johnson City are all only minutes away. Several shops are nearby. A variety of restaurants are located in the area. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and restaurant is within walking distance.

Full-service amenities and features include: • Free airport shuttle service • Free continental breakfast • Free wireless high-speed Internet access • Free USA Today • Free local calls

200 Hospitality Place • Kingsport, TN 37663 • (423) 279-1811

www.sleepinn.com/hotel/tn288

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Broad Vision Northeast Tennessee Valley sets its sights on fiber-optic developments

Story by Betsy Williams

T

he Northeast Tennessee Valley is becoming a magnet for data center sites that bring high-paying jobs.

With a robust, reliable fiber-optic network and high-speed broadband connectivity in communities across its three states, the region is home to the nation’s first Tier III certified commercial data storage facility. Three communities – Bristol, Tenn., Morristown, Tenn., and Duffield, Va. – are on the list of 15 that have been pre-qualified as primary data center sites by the Tennessee Valley Authority, a designation based on accessibility, telecommunications infrastructure, and electric power availability and reliability.

“The Northeast Tennessee Valley is a prime location, not for any one particular reason, but due to the synergies of our regional assets,” says Lewis Cox, president of the Northeast Tennessee Technology Council and IT planning coordinator for Mountain States Health Alliance.

“Our stable geology and favorable geography place us at low risk, we have several institutions of higher learning located within our region, and our government support is excellent at local, state and national levels.”

Virtual Efficiency According to Cox, solid telecommunications infrastructure and the TVA power system with its low rates and excellent reliability have created a stable, dependable environment for entities such as the Mountain States Health Alliance, a 14-hospital health system with locations in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

“We take advantage of the excellent telecommunications network that exists in our region, especially in the areas of electronic records exchange and video-conferencing,” Cox says of the Johnson City data center. “This reduces

A clinician uses medical technology at Johnson City Medical Center, part of the 14-hospital Mountain States Health Alliance system.

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P h o t o C o u r t es y o f W i l l G r i f f i t h

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travel between locations, increasing efficiency, and allows our health-care providers to more effectively collaborate.”

Reliable Data Storage OnePartner, which provides co-location data storage for businesses, has run an advanced technology and applications center in Duffield, Va., since 2008. Its Tier III certification provides uninterrupted computing infrastructure.

“In this region, the economic development entities from multiple counties join efforts,” says OnePartner Director Tom Deaderick, who will assume the presidency of the Southwestern Virginia Technology Council this year.

“The Virginia Tobacco Commission has invested $60 million in fiber and telecommunications infrastructure in this area. The location we selected was the center point of that infrastructure in southwest Virginia. It is really great that Duffield has been able to lead the way nationally.”

Data storage reliability is paramount in the development and success of such centers, and Deaderick says the region has lived up to its reputation as a premier location.

“We have a 100 percent up-time performance record since October 2008,” Deaderick says of OnePartner.

“It’s an assurance to the customer that really trumps the usual service level agreements in the marketplace.”

OnePartner’s presence and success have helped the region in its ability to recruit new companies that require data storage, Deaderick says, and he welcomes the location of other data centers within the region.

The labor force has been excellent, he says, with zero turnover among the company’s 14 employees since it launched operations in Duffield.

New Jobs and Investment Telecommunication advances have also led to new jobs and investment. Advanced Call Center Technologies, a national consumer finance and mortgage servicing company, expanded its Johnson City operations and added 300 jobs.

Communities like Morristown are doing their part to prepare the region to be competitive, providing fiber-optic service to all residential and industrial districts.

Technology centers are sprouting up at colleges and universities throughout the region to build a solid workforce for this emerging industry.

Todd Bennet t

P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f O n e Pa r t n e r

Left to right: OnePartner provides co-location data storage for businesses in Duffield, Va.; Advanced Call Center Technologies, a national consumer finance and mortgage servicing company, expanded operations, adding 300 jobs to its facility in Johnson City.

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Fast Track to Growth Region builds reputation for innovation

Story by Kevin Litwin • Photography by Todd Bennett

C

ongratulations are in order.

A number of companies in the Northeast Tennessee Valley are experiencing success thanks to recent growth or rapid expansion. Many of the companies – from entrepreneurial startups to international corporations – are flourishing and growing fast because they embrace innovation.

One such company is wireless handset remanufacturer Touchstone Wireless, which formed in Bristol in 2005 as a merger of two local startups, both of which started out of garages.

Touchstone has grown to 700 employees and occupies 102,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

It was recently acquired by Fortune 500 wireless support and distribution

company Brightpoint, whose clientele includes major wireless companies such as T-Mobile. The Brightpoint acquisition could bring even more jobs to the region.

“The combination of our companies provides Touchstone with access to greater resources, from logistics and distribution to repair and recycling,” Touchstone Wireless chairman and co-founder Allen Hurley says.

Touchstone is one of the top employers in Bristol, and Hurley says the company prides itself on developing green technology.

This Deal Is Electric Another Northeast Tennessee Valley innovation success story

Employees at JD Squared create high-tech automotive parts for the NASCAR racing industry.

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is Exide Technologies, which also has a manufacturing base in Bristol and recently contracted with Chrysler to begin shipping advanced electric-car batteries to the automaker beginning in July 2011.

Revved and Ready In Johnson City, a family-owned metal fabrication manufacturer, JD Squared, relocated from Florida two years ago. The company utilizes skilled machinists to create high-tech automotive parts for the NASCAR racing industry. Because of their business ties to NASCAR, owners Bob and Kim Hughes point out that having their company in Johnson City is ideal because of its close proximity

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An employee uses a laser to cut a piece of metal at Johnson City-based JD Squared, a metal fabrication manufacturer that relocated from Florida two years ago.

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to Bristol Motor Speedway.

Heavy Dose of Fiber Meanwhile, Bristol Tennessee Essential Services is an electric, telephone, Internet and cable provider that helps nurture others in the area by recruiting new high-tech industries and helping support businesses that have recently relocated or expanded.

BTES began an aggressive marketing campaign in January 2011 to recruit more businesses to Bristol.

Mike Browder, BTES chief executive officer, says the high-speed Internet technology company has started to heavily promote Bristol through national trade publications, trade shows, media conferences and technology-based websites.

“We’re doing this with a big splash,” Browder says. “We’re going to show everybody who we are and what we look like. Bristol is a really high-tech community with full fiber access and an extensive electricity system. We need to start letting that be known.”

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Energy/Technology

In the Green Northeast Tennessee companies save money by going green

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Story by Anita Wadhwani

I

n just under a year, Morristown car parts maker Mahle Industries reduced its energy bill by a staggering $324,000.

The facility’s extreme energy makeover served as the first test of a Tennessee Valley Authority pilot program that creates partnerships between local utility companies, the Department of Energy, TVA officials and industrial customers to identify ways to reduce energy consumption and save companies money.

But Mahle is far from being the only energy-efficient standout among the industrial, commercial and small businesses operating throughout the 15-county Northeast Tennessee Valley region.

Energy Partnerships Benefit Northeast Tennessee The current economic environment, in which cost reductions are a key business strategy, Northeast Tennessee companies – from bike shops to factories – increasingly are experimenting with a variety

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photos by Todd Benne t t

S ta ff P h o t o

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of energy-efficient strategies in their facilities and cutting costs in the process.

Local incentives in the form of grants and energy rebates have sweetened the deal, and TVA and other energy experts have helped introduce companies to available national grants as well.

In the case of Mahle, the first step in their partnership was a 2009 energy audit of its production facilities.

Working with TVA assessors and company staff, the audit identified more than 14 energy reduction steps, Dennis McCallister, technical/support services director for Mahle Industries, says.

Some changes cost nothing to implement. The audit found a secondary furnace constantly running in the company’s foundry could simply be turned off without disrupting production, McCallister says.

Others required significant financial investments by the company – replacing all of the plant’s lighting fixtures, for example.

A $50,000 Department of Energy grant helped fund the project.

“Our company has had an energy team in place for 10 years, and we’re always looking for ways to trim our energy costs,’’ McCallister says.

“This program really got us moving ahead.’’

programs in their facilities.

Businesses in Carter, Claiborne, Greene, Hamblen and Washington counties have converted to solar power, thanks to a $9 million Tennessee Solar Institute program that assists businesses in purchasing and installing small-scale photovoltaic solar systems.

A small veterinary clinic in Elizabethton became the unlikely

site of the largest rooftop solar array in the Tri-Cities area in November 2010 through its participation in the solar program. The Elizabethton Veterinary Clinic’s solar installation keeps an estimated 10.8 tons of carbon dioxide emissions out of the environment each year. And it’s a significant operating-cost savings for the two partners who operate the 40-year-old animal practice.

Companies Test Alternative Energy Mahle’s success story has prompted the Tennessee Valley Authority to begin designing a broader, regional industrial energy program that it plans to have in place by the end of 2011. In the meantime, companies throughout the 15-county Northeast Tennessee Valley region are experimenting with energy-efficient Clockwise from top left: The Elizabethton Veterinary Clinic in Carter County, Tennessee, has the largest rooftop solar array in the Tri-Cities; Using solar energy has reduced the clinic’s operating costs; TVA has developed a program to reduce energy consumption and save companies money.

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Tri-Cities Regional Airport is centrally located between the region’s three major cities: Kingsport, Bristol and Johnson City.

What’s Online Find more about Northeast Tennessee Valley’s transportation network at imagesnetnvalley.com.

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Transportation

Distribution Dream Valley has excellent infrastructure system in place

Story by Kevin Litwin

H

ome Shopping Network runs a 1.2-million-square-foot shipping center out of Piney Flats in Sullivan County, largely because of the excellent transportation options in the Northeast Tennessee Valley.

Meanwhile, Walmart operates a 1-million-square-foot distribution center in Greene County, and officials with the huge retailer often point to the region’s transportation system as a key factor in their local success.

The Northeast Tennessee Valley has become a business center for many trucking firms and companies that bring in raw materials or ship out products. The region’s strategic location offers many advantages, including one-day access to 76 percent of the nation’s population via three major interstates and six U.S. highways.

Those three interstates – I-26, I-40 and I-81 – cross through the Valley, while I-75 and I-77 are in close proximity. All these interstates are especially important to the more than 60 transportation-based

Airport Serves Northeast Tennessee Valley The Valley also provides residents with convenient air travel, with Tri-Cities Regional Airport centrally located between the cities of Kingsport, Bristol and Johnson City.

“We serve a 60-mile radius from the

airport that reaches into northeast Tennessee, southwest Virginia, parts of western North Carolina and parts of Kentucky,” says Melissa Thomas, director of marketing and air service development at Tri-Cities Regional Airport. “We are located in Blountville about 3 miles off I-81 and are close to I-26 as well, so we are an excellent vantage point for

S ta ff P h o t o s

Interstates 26, 40 and 81 cross through the Northeast Tennessee Valley.

companies located in the region.

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motorist and trucking access.”

Tri-Cities provides about 18 outbound passenger flights each day on Delta Airlines, US Airways, American Airlines and Allegiant Air. “Delta serves Detroit and Atlanta with nine daily flights, while US Airways has seven flights to Charlotte, and American serves Chicago with two daily departures,” Thomas says.

“Allegiant Air offers low-fare service to Florida markets such as Orlando and Tampa, with four passenger flights each week.”

Tri-Cities Airport Upgrades Tri-Cities Regional also has a Foreign Trade Zone that allows cargo carriers to bring in goods tax- and duty-free, and eight hangars on-site that can house a wide range of private aircraft and corporate jets.

“We’ve also been making a lot of improvements to the south side of our airfield, specifically to attract companies that might want to have their operations on the airport grounds,” Thomas says.

“There is a business/industrial park in place, and we have a nice building

on-site. The business park is perfect for companies that are looking to relocate to the Southeast and might need access to an airstrip. That type of property is difficult to come by.”

Rail Serves Northeast Tennessee Valley Meanwhile, the Northeast Tennessee Valley is also served by two major railroads, CSX and Norfolk Southern, which provide Tier I rail access to the strategic ports of Norfolk, Va., and Charleston, S.C.

Northeast Tennessee Valley’s Transportation Network Coeburn

Norton 23

23

R

Gate City

VIRGINIA

25E

25E

Maynardville

. hR c n Cli 11W 11W L. e e ok

Rutledge

r he

C Jefferson City 11E

11W 40

40

R

R

R

Mount Carmel Church Hill R

R

R

R R

R

58

R

81

R

58

Blountville

R

R R

R

Abingdon

Mendota R

Sneedville

Glade Spring

19

Duffield

Jonesville

Arthur Tazewell

Lebanon

Big Stone Gap

Dizney

Cumberland Gap

58A

58A

R

Mountain City

R

Rogersville 421

81Jonesborough

81

26Beech Mountain

11E

Erwin R

R R

R

11E

Dandridge

19W

R

NORTHNewland 19E 19E CAROLINA

19W

23

23

To Knoxville

421

Spruce Pine

To Asheville Interstate Highways

U.S. Highways

R

R

Norfolk Southern Corp.

R

R

CSX Stations

Highways:

Air:

Rail:

I-40, I-26, I-81; six U.S. highways; numerous state highways and county roads

Tri-Cities Regional Airport

Norfolk Southern and CSX

• Close proximity to I-75 and I-77 • Within a day’s drive to more than 70 percent of the U.S. population • 55 trucking and freight companies serve the region

Airport

• Offers 40 flights a day, including nonstop service to six hubs: Atlanta, Memphis, Orlando, Charlotte, Cincinnati and Detroit • Has a primary runway of 8,000 feet • Includes 13,000-square-foot cargo facility • Provides full customs services

• Provide access to the Port of Norfolk and the Port of Charleston • Include north-south and east-west routes

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Education

Making the Grade Innovation grant will groom Northeast Tennessee Valley students for top careers

Story by Kevin Litwin

Todd Bennet t

F

amed technology entrepreneur Bill Gates knows about schools in the Northeast Tennessee Valley.

The billionaire’s Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was one of the recent contributors to a $21 million Investing in Innovation (i3) grant approved for the Northeast Tennessee College and Career Ready Consortium.

The consortium was organized by the Greeneville-based Niswonger Foundation, which is partnering with 15 local education agencies to earmark the money for advanced academic initiatives at 29 high schools in 11 counties throughout the Valley.

A primary goal of the grant is to better prepare students to pursue top careers, so they can contribute to the economic growth of Tennessee.

“The Niswonger Foundation was founded 10 years ago by Scott Niswonger (pronounced NICE-wonger), a successful area businessman who believes that communities build their economic growth through a strong education system,” says Linda Irwin, director of school partnerships for the Niswonger Foundation. “To secure the $21 million federal i3 grant for local schools, we had to provide a

Students are hard at work in a computer lab at Unicoi County Middle School, which was constructed in August 2010 with a focus on innovative technology and energy efficiency. i m a g e sn e tnv a ll e y . c o m

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Northeast Tennessee Valley Schools Awarded Investing in Innovation Grants

Greene County Schools Bristol City Schools

Hancock County Schools

WA SH INGT ON

S C O TT

Kingsport City Schools

Washington County Schools

Sullivan County Schools LEE

Virginia g a

Johnson County Schools

HANCOCK

JOH N S ON

C L A I BORN E SU L L IVA N

HAW K I N S

Carter County Schools

WA S H I N G T O N

Hawkins County Schools

HAMBLEN

CA R TE R

Hamblen County Schools

GR E E NE

Elizabethton City Schools AV E R Y

UN IC O I

North Carolina

JEFFERSO FF ER E N 40

To Knoxville

Cocke County Schools

Greeneville City Schools

Unicoi County Schools To Asheville

Johnson City Schools

School Systems Receiving Investing in Innovation (I-3) Grants

percentage of matching private funds.

One of the contributors was the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which believed in what we are doing. It’s nice to mention Bill Gates’ name when you’re trying to raise money for education.”

learning it is offered to three other high schools in the region,” Irwin says.

Scholarships a Smart Investment Some of the i3 grant money is also going toward scholarships for top students in the Northeast Tennessee Valley.

“It’s a very selective process – we recently chose only 10 students from a batch of 130 nominations we received,” Irwin says. “A key stipulation to receiving a scholarship is that each student must commit to returning to Tennessee after his or her college graduation to become a community leader in this state.

We want the graduates to become important factors in the overall workforce and economy of Tennessee.”

Greeneville High Students Learn Chinese The $21 million will be distributed over five years for initiatives such as online learning, Advanced Placement and dual enrollment opportunities, career and college counseling, and distance learning technology.

“One of the distance learning classes currently taking place is a Chinese language course being taught at Greeneville High School, and through real-time distance

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N ort h e a st T e nn e ss e e V a ll e y R e g i on

New Unicoi Middle School Tops in Tech Another piece of recent good news on the Valley education front was the opening of a new Unicoi County Middle School in August 2010. The school was constructed with a focus on energyefficient features and innovative technology, which includes classrooms equipped with advanced sound systems connected to interactive touch-enabled smart boards.

Students in some classrooms also have access to iPads, and the school is purchasing more to use as a teaching tool for raising test scores.

“Providing students with more opportunities to use technology is something that our teachers are excited about,” says John English, principal of Unicoi County Middle School.

Green Means Go Walters State debuts clean energy tech program Walters State Community College in Morristown has been given the green light to offer a clean energy technology program that trains students for careers in renewable energy and clean technology.

Clean energy is a fast-emerging industry in the Northeast Tennessee Valley region.

“Green/clean energy is a sector where good, high-paying jobs are becoming abundant, and Walters State wants to be on board,” says Nancy Brown, dean of workforce development at Walters State Community College. “We applied to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and they issued us a $953,000 grant to develop a clean energy tech program.”

program and is collaborating with a number of energy industries, including working with the Tennessee Solar Institute so we stay at the forefront of everything.”

Other Hot Careers Brown adds that besides clean energy technology, WSCC is working with the National Association of Workforce Boards to bring other

hot career training programs to the college.

“Walters State serves 10 counties, and many of our students live in rural areas,” she says. “We have a strong Center for Workforce Education on campus, and we want to train students in careers that are innovative and rewarding both today and for years to come.”

– Kevin Litwin

Classes Are Ready Brown says much of the grant money has gone toward purchasing advanced training equipment, as well as providing payroll for industry specialists who are teaching the courses.

“The Tennessee Board of Regents has developed the curriculum, and students can now earn an associate of applied science degree in clean energy technology,” she says. “Walters State wants to lead this teaching

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Health

Well Treated State-of-the-art medical services, facilities abound in the Valley Story by Melanie Hill

C

utting-edge technology and nationally ranked hospitals make the Northeast Tennessee Valley region a true health-care destination.

From two major medical providers with facilities throughout the region to progressive community hospitals, residents in the Valley don’t have to go far for convenient care. Here’s a look at the region’s top health-care providers.

Mountain States Health Alliance Mountain States Health Alliance operates 14 hospitals throughout Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina.

Its flagship facility, Johnson City Medical Center, is a comprehensive, acute-care teaching hospital affiliated with East Tennessee State University.

Named a Top 100 Heart Hospital by Solucient, which produces a national benchmark for success study, JCMC offers an array of services, including rehabilitation, wound care, a regional cancer center and Mountain States Cardiovascular Health. MSHA also has introduced interventional cardiology services at its Indian Path Medical Center in Kingsport.

In 2010, MSHA unveiled the HeartCoach Mobile Screening Unit, a 40-foot-long RV equipped to provide screenings to residents in rural areas.

Test results are reviewed on the spot with a health educator.

“The new age of health care is preventive medicine, and that is what the HeartCoach is all about,” says Cindy Salyer, MSHA vice president Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport was recently named one of America’s 50 best hospitals for heart care.

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for cardiovascular services.

MSHA’s Sycamore Shoals Hospital in Elizabethton is a full-service hospital housing the Women’s Pavilion – a modern facility for childbirth and treatment of infertility, incontinence, breast health and more.

Wellmont Health System Wellmont Health System operates eight full-service hospitals in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

In 2010, Wellmont and Cardiovascular Associates partnered to form The Wellmont CVA Heart Institute, a group of 36 board-certified physicians in nine community cardiac offices.

“This notion of an institute implies a level of sophistication and quality that’s pretty unique,” says Cardiovascular Associates founder Harry Turner, M.D. “We’re taking the excellent provision of cardiac and vascular care to the next level.”

Wellmont’s Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport was named one of America’s 50 best hospitals for heart care in a 2011 Thomson Reuters study,

and was ranked the No. 1 hospital in Tennessee for cardiology by HealthGrades, a leading health-care ratings company. In 2010, the hospital completed a $113 million renovation that included a new intensive care unit, new operating suites, and expanded emergency and radiology departments.

Wellmont’s Bristol Regional Medical Center was the region’s first hospital to offer a digital cardiac catheterization lab and a primary stroke center. It performs surgical procedures utilizing two state-of-theart robotic systems – the CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery System and the da Vinci Si Surgical System.

Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System Covenant Health’s MorristownHamblen Healthcare System has served the eight-county Lakeway area for more than a century. MorristownHamblen’s Centers of Excellence include the Emergency & Critical Care Center, Heart, Lung & Vascular Center,

Morristown Regional Cancer Center, Surgical Services Center, the Joint and Spine Center and the Women’s Center.

Lakeway Regional Hospital Operated by Community Health Systems, Morristown’s Lakeway Regional Hospital was the first in Tennessee to perform hip replacement using a unique navigation technology involving an infrared camera and tracking software. The system eliminates the need for many preoperative X-rays or CT scans and can lead to shorter hospital stays and fewer complications.

“It’s like having a GPS system in the operating room,” says orthopedic surgeon Wayne McLemore, M.D. “We have the opportunity to give patients a new hip that has increased strength, stability and range of motion, even in difficult anatomic situations.”

The system is also used for total knee replacements and sinus procedures.

Haven for Healing Franklin Woods opens Tennessee’s first green hospital Franklin Woods Community Hospital didn’t have a ribbon-cutting ceremony when it opened its new building in June 2010. It held a vine-cutting ceremony.

The medical center in Johnson City became the first “green” hospital in Tennessee, having been granted a silver certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design by the U.S. Green Building Council.

“Most health-care facilities in the country have received general LEED certification, but for Franklin Woods we aimed higher and expected to receive at least a silver certification,” says David Nicely, Franklin Woods Community Hospital CEO and a vice president with Mountain States Health Alliance, the hospital’s parent company.

Aah, Like a Spa Nicely says Franklin Woods almost has a spa-like feel with water features, gardens, wood beams, glass walls, indoor trees and plenty of green space and natural light.

The floors are made of cork instead of ceramic tile or

wood, and the back of the hospital is a dense forest that will remain untouched.

A big reason why hospital officials decided to go “green” is because studies show that aesthetic and environmental features will benefit both patients and staff, and boost their spirits as they work and heal. Other amenities at the hospital include walking trails and healing gardens filled with benches, picnic tables and water fountains.

“This hospital is putting a strong emphasis on wellness and energy efficiency,” Nicely says.

Patients All Over the Valley The 240,000-square-foot hospital was constructed on a 25-acre lot adjacent to The Wellness Center inside Med Tech Park. Franklin Woods Community Hospital is a not-for-profit medical facility that has 80 beds and offers a full array of primary care and some specialty services to patients throughout the Northeast Tennessee Valley.

– Kevin Litwin i m a g e sn e tnv a ll e y . c o m

37

Antony Boshier

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Livability

Roads Less Traveled Scenic trails offer adventure, escape

Story by Kevin Litwin

photos by Todd Benne t t

L

ooking for a beautiful outdoor escape? Then look no further – and drive no farther – than the Northeast Tennessee Valley.

The Valley offers a wealth of freshair possibilities thanks to its mild climate, natural beauty and abundant trails, which include a number of scenic walking trails as well as expansive driving venues. The region abounds with places to hike, fish and bike, and outdoor adventurers can find skiing and rafting less than an hour away.

Anyone who likes to hike, mountain bike or ride horseback will find a welcome retreat on the Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34-mile rail-trail that runs from Abingdon, Va., through the Blue Ridge backwoods to the North Carolina state line. Virginia Creeper passes through Mount Rogers National Recreation Area along with the

highland country of southwestern Virginia, and is known for its foliage and overall richness in beauty.

By the Way, a New Byway Meanwhile, a number of destination roadways are available to motorists.

East Tennessee Crossing byway, also known as U.S. Highway 25E, is an 83-mile roadway that was designated a National Scenic Byway in 2010 by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

East Tennessee Crossing passes through Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen and Jefferson counties, and is expected to increase heritage and recreational tourism throughout the region.

“Tennessee is a touring state,” says Tennessee Commissioner of Tourism Susan Whitaker. “We have moved from 14th to eighth as the most visited state in the union, and this is going

The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34-mile rail-trail that runs from Abingdon, Va., through the Blue Ridge backwoods to the North Carolina state line. i m a g e sn e tnv a ll e y . c o m

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Unicoi County …

Strong Community, Sound Opportunities

Joint Economic Development of Unicoi County

100 Main Ave. • P.O. Box 628 • Erwin, TN 37650 • (423) 743-9555 • (423) 743-6717 Fax www.unicoiedb.com • www.erwinutilities.com • www.unicoicounty.org

Need Infrastructure?

We’ve got you covered!

The 550-acre Phipps Bend Industrial District is ready and waiting for your industry. All of your industrial needs are in place including: • A 70,870-square-foot spec building ready for occupancy • Rail connection spur to Norfolk-Southern line • Utility infrastructure including electricity, gas, water and sewer • Tennessee Technology Center located on site • Skilled workforce • Located adjacent to four-lane U.S. Hwy. 11W • Close proximity to four major interstate highways • Diverse mixture of existing industry • Located within one day’s drive of 75% of major U.S. markets • Tri-Cities Regional Airport 30 miles away Hawkins County Industrial Development Board 107 E. Main St., Suite 221 • Rogersville, TN 37857 (423) 272-7668 • (423) 921-2410 Cell • (423) 272-0200 Fax E-mail: hawk4112@bellsouth.net • www.hawkinstnindustrial.com

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N ort h e a st T e nn e ss e e V a ll e y R e g i on

“Tennessee is a touring state. We have moved from 14th to eighth as the most visited state in the union …”

– Susan Whitaker, Tennessee Commissioner of Tourism

to bring even more people here.”

White Lightning Trail East Tennessee Crossing follows the original path of the Cherokee Warriors Path, the Wilderness Road across Clinch Mountain, the Dixie Highway of the Civil War period, and Thunder Road of moonshining lore. Thunder Road is also nicknamed White Lightning Trail because of its reputation for running moonshine during Prohibition. It passes through Claiborne and Hamblen counties and ends at the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park.

“For us, this designation of National Scenic Byway will cultivate more opportunities for heritage tourism, allowing Claiborne County to showcase our hidden treasures

that are so rich in history,” says Dennis Shipley, executive vice president/director of the Claiborne County Chamber of Commerce.

Sunnyside Up Another impressive driving trail in the Northeast Tennessee Valley is Sunnyside Trail, stretching 475 miles from Sevierville through 12 counties to the Tri-Cities area. More than 350 locations are highlighted along the trail for motorists to visit and enjoy.

“There are people who will do an entire driving trail and then there are people who will just do portions,” says Jennifer Spence, assistant commissioner for marketing at the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “It’s always a greater product when you can link all of the treasures together, and the trails point out everything a visitor would love to do, from unique little mom-and-pop restaurants to historic sites and antique shopping.”

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AVAILABLE BUILDING: • Located on 24.32 acres • Reinforced concrete floors • Seven dock doors Superior Industries Building • Two drive-in dock doors 308,651 sq. ft.

• All utilities on site • Located 3.5 miles from Interstate 26 Johnson City/Jonesborough & Washington County Economic Development Board 603 E. Market St., Ste. 200 Johnson City, TN 37601 (423) 975-2380 www.jcedb.org

visit our

advertisers Joint Economic Development of Unicoi County Erwin Utilities www.unicoiedb.com

Bristol Tennessee Essential Services www.btes.net Bristol Virginia Utilities www.accessbristolva.com

Morristown Utility Systems www.musfiber.net

Eastman Chemical Company www.eastman.com

Networks-Sullivan Partnership www.networkstn.com

Economic Development Board of Johnson City www.jcedb.org

Northeast State Community College www.northeaststate.edu

Elizabethton Electric www.elizabethtonchamber.com

Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association www.netvaly.org

Greene County Partnership www.greenecountypartnership.com

OnePartner www.onepartner.com

Holston Electric/Hawkins County www.hawkinstnindustrial.com

Scott County Economic Development Authority www.scottcountyva.org

Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce www.selectjefferson.com

Sleep Inn & Suites www.sleepinn.com/hotel/tn288

Johnson City Power Board www.jcpb.com

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Wellmont Health System www.wellmont.org

economic profile Business snapshot

Population (2009) Region 765,292

Tennessee Carter County Claiborne County Greene County Hancock County Hawkins County Hamblen County Jefferson County Johnson County Sullivan County Unicoi County Washington County

59,043 31,243 66,282 6,588 57,784 63,033 51,722 18,006 154,552 17,740 120,598

Virginia Lee County Scott County Washington County

25,166 22,585 53,018

North Carolina Avery County

17,932

Major Population Centers (2009) Johnson City, TN Kingsport, TN Bristol, TN Bristol, VA

63,141 44,758 25,821 17,690

Strong training and workforce development programs that produce skilled, educated workers, the presence of a network of colleges and technology training centers, and low utility costs and low tax rates make the Northeast Tennessee Valley region an attractive location for doing business.

The 15-county region is home to several major manufacturing concerns and a host of technology-oriented enterprises.

Major industry sectors Trade Transportation & Utilities, 23% Manufacturing, 22% Education & Health, 17%

Jefferson County

$39,580

Johnson County

$30,447

Sullivan County

$39,706

Unicoi County

$35,042

Washington County

$40,267

Leisure & Hospitality, 11%

Virginia

Professional & Business Services, 9%

Lee County

$29,365

Scott County

$31,044

Washington County

$39,148

Financial Activities, 4.8% Information, 4.1%

North Carolina Avery County

Median Household Income

$36,068

Region $34,460

Tennessee Carter County Claiborne County Greene County Hancock County Hawkins County Hamblen County

$32,287 $29,822 $35,246 $24,375 $37,398 $37,147

What’s Online For more demographic, statistical and community information on the Northeast Tennessee Valley region, go to imagesnetnvalley.com and click on Demographics.

SCOTT COUNTY, VIRGINIA “We’re a Natural …”

For Your Next Business Location

Living green starts from the ground up.

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant.

It's easy. That's living healthy and green.

Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon

(276) 386-2525 • www.scottcountyva.org

i m a g e sn e tnv a ll e y . c o m

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Through the Lens

Get the Story Behind the Photo Now that you’ve experienced the Northeast Tennessee Valley region through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit imagesnetnvalley.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

From Our Photo Blog: Northeast Tennessee Valley REGION I don’t mind telling people my weight.

It’s 141,312 beans, give or take a bean or two. You’ll just have to convert beans to pounds to know for yourself.

I try to keep my eyes on the road as I drive about 5 miles down a winding two-lane road off I-40 in rural Tennessee.

The road is barely big enough for two cars to pass, much less a car and a tractor trailer full of beans. Those trucks are coming from the Bush Brothers & Company in Chestnut Hill, and they’re hauling “Bush’s Best.”

Right across the street from the company’s plant is the original A.J. Bush & Company general store from 1897. It now serves as the Bush’s visitor center, a place where you can learn about the long history of the Bush family’s business and probably more information about beans than you ever wanted to know. And that’s where you can find out your weight in beans.

Posted by Todd Bennett

More Online

See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at imagesnetnvalley.com.

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Ad Index

C3 Bristol Tennessee Essential Services

27 Bristol Virginia Utilities

23 Eastman Chemical Company

42 Economic Development Board of Johnson City

4 Elizabethton Electric

40 Joint Economic Development of Unicoi County Erwin Utilities 1 Morristown Utility Systems

30 Networks-Sullivan Partnership

30 Northeast State Community College

35 Greene County Partnership

C4 Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association

40 Holston Electric/ Hawkins County

C2 OnePartner

43 Scott County Economic Development Authority

6 Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce

2 Johnson City Power Board

15 Sleep Inn & Suites

41 Wellmont Health System