Maury County Business

Maury coUNTY Business businessclimate.com/maur y- county

From big box to boutique, Maury County revitalizes downtown retail Newly opened State Route 840 boosts area commerce, distribution potential

Steering Growth

Existing businesses drive investment, job creation Sponsored by the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance | 2013

Contents

Maury coUNTY Business

2013 Edition | Volume 17

on the cover Home to Middle Tennessee’s third longest runway, the Maury County Regional Airport is a logistical asset for the area. Photo by Jeff Adkins

7 Overview

8 Discover 37 Economic Profile

32

Logistics

Road Ready

Please recycle this magazine

38

12 16

education

Workforce Warriors

Accelerating Innovation

24

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

Steering Growth

Energy/technology

Entrepreneurs find resources, mentors for startups at Northfield business accelerator

16

Business Climate

20

28

transportation

Taking Off

38

livability

Easy on the Eyes

Newly opened State Route 840 boosts commerce, distribution potential

34

Retail

From Big Box to Boutique Maury County revitalizes shopping scene with national chains and locally owned retailers

42

Health

Raising the Bar Health-care providers boost access, quality of care for area residents

businessclimate.com/maury-county

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Online

What’s on businessclimate.com/maury-county Business Climate Read more about Maury County’s competitive advantages and assets.

Education

Maury couNTy buSineSS businessclimate.com/maur y- county

From big box to boutique, Maury County revitalizes downtown retail newly opened State route 840 boosts area commerce, distribution potential

Steering Growth

Explore workforce development and training programs offered by area educational institutions.

Existing businesses drive investment, job creation SponSored by the Maury County ChaMber & eConoMiC allianCe | 2013

Transportation Learn more about logistics and transportation infrastucture in the area.

Twitter

Demographics

Top Industries

Keep updated and informed on the latest real-time news, developments and information.

Drill down on the numbers behind the region’s powerhouse economy with a full set of statistics and data.

Learn more about the key industry sectors and top companies that make the region work.

Photo Gallery & Videos Our award-winning photographers show you Maury County’s unique faces, spaces and places.

Tablet Take the region with you with a digital edition optimized for tablet viewing.

Trends Learn more about what’s shaping the region’s business climate.

Top Employers Find out who the major players are in the region.

Livability Arts, culture, recreation, entertainment, education, health care and all the things that make the region an outstanding place to live.

Site Guide Links to comprehensive data on available land and buildings.

Cool Companies Meet more innovative, fast-growth businesses finding success.

4 || Maury County

2013 edition | volume 17

Maury coUNTY Business Editor | Emily McMackin Contributing writers | Nan Bauroth, Heather Johnson, Amanda Moorhead, Stephanie Vozza, Gary Wollenhaupt Content Coordinator | Jessica Walker Boehm Staff Writer | Kevin Litwin Proofreading Manager | Raven Petty lead designer | Kacey Passmore Senior Graphic Designers | Stacey Allis, Laura Gallagher, Kris Sexton, Jake Shores, Vikki Williams Graphic Designer | Matt West Creative Technology Analyst | Becca Ary lead photographer | Michael Conti Senior Photographers | Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers | Wendy Jo o’barr, Frank Ordonez color imaging technician | alison hunter Integrated Media Manager | Kari Quill Sales Support Project manager | Sara Quint Sales Support Coordinator | Christina Morgan Ad Production Manager | Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants | Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan Web project manager | David DAy Web Development lead | yamel hall Web Developer I | Nels noseworthy Web Designer II | richard stevens Web Product Manager | John Hood Digital Project Manager | Jill Ridenour Digital Products Designer | Erica Lampley

Chairman | Greg Thurman President/Publisher | Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President | Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales | Todd Potter Senior V.P./Client Development | Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./Operations | Casey Hester V.P./Sales | Jarek Swekosky V.P./Content Operations | Natasha Lorens Audience Development Director | Deanna Nelson Media Technology Director | Christina Carden Distribution Director | Gary Smith Photography Director | Jeffrey S. Otto web services Director | Allison davis Controller | Chris Dudley Senior Accountant | Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator | Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator | Diana Guzman IT Director | Daniel cantrell Executive Secretary | Kristy Giles Human Resources Manager | Peggy Blake

Maury County Business is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance.

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.

For more information, contact: Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance 106 W. 6th St. Columbia, TN 38401 Phone: (931) 388-2155 • Fax: (931) 380-0335 Visit Maury County Business online at businessclimate.com/maury-county ©Copyright 2013 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Ste. 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 Content Council

Member Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance

Columbia We Love Having You Here.® Nestle into a small town with a rich historical background and a sense of warmth and hospitality in Columbia, less than an hour south of Nashville. The Hampton Inn® hotel in Columbia is located off I-65, within easy reach of most historical sites, parks and malls.

• Newly Renovated Lobby • Clean and Fresh Bed • Complimentary Hot Breakfast • Whirlpool Rooms • Fitness Center with PreCor Equipment and Free Weights

I-65, Exit 46 Columbia, TN 931-540-1222 6 || www.columbia.hamptoninn.com

Maury County

Overview

Maury County Offers Ideal Mix of Big-City Access and Small-Town Charm Area known for its Location, Workforce and Livability Assets

facilities in more than 240 acres of parks.

The Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance invites you to see what Columbia, Spring Hill and Mount Pleasant have to offer. To see for yourself, visit www.mauryalliance.com. Or just call Maury County Alliance Director of Economic Development Wil Evans. You are invited to take a look at the old and new advantages a Maury County location offers businesses.

Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance 106 W. Sixth St. Columbia, TN 38401 (931) 388-2155 | www.mauryalliance.com

Maury County

TO NASHVILLE

Spring Hill Santa Fe

7

Williamsport 50 412

WY

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Hampshire

MAURY 65

Columbia Culleoka 31

43

AT

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Mount Pleasant

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n late 2010, the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance unveiled a four-year strategic plan, focusing on a diversified economy for Maury County. The emphasis of this strategy is about capitalizing on the unique assets of the community to create jobs.

One such asset is Maury County’s strategic location on Interstate 65. This enviable location translates into great accessibility and cost effectiveness for a company considering Maury County. Currently, we are in the planning stages to potentially develop a business park along I-65 that will offer companies exceptional access to our regional transportation infrastructure, including I-65, I-24, I-40 and TN-840.

Another asset to help our economic diversification is the Northfield Building in Spring Hill. Formerly GM’s Saturn corporate headquarters, Northfield offers plug-and-play office space to companies looking to be operational in a short timeline. In 2011, the Northfield building became home to IBEX Global, a leading global business process outsourcing provider of customer management solutions. The company occupies 60,000 square feet of the property and employs more than 1,000 people.

Finally, Maury County has a livability factor that is unique among its peers. Not only are we located on I-65, but our proximity to Nashville (30 minutes) and Huntsville, Ala., (50 minutes) provides residents with easy access to metropolitan amenities while also giving them a low cost of living and a great small-town atmosphere.

Known as the Antebellum Capital of Tennessee, Maury County’s rich history and stately old homes help give the cities a distinctive sense of place.

Ancient and beautiful natural landmarks, such as the Stillhouse Hollow Falls and Southport Saltpeter Cave, are complemented by modern recreational

businessclimate.com/maury-county

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Discover Maury County Cool Companies

Bringing Ideas to life From elaborate waterfalls and trees to a giant beanstalk, no structure is too fanciful for Artisan Industry, which creates large-scale play installations for hospitals, parks, and other buildings and public spaces across the country. The Columbia fabrication firm has received national accolades for its whimsical decor. Its work at the Brentwood Children’s Library was recognized on PBS’s Reading Rainbow blog and helped the library score a spot on Livability.com’s list of Top 10 Libraries for Children. Other unconventional companies in the area include: Froggy’s Fog: Makes all-natural, water-based fog and other atmospheric fluids used everywhere from haunted houses, fun centers and theme parks to concerts, musical shows and television productions. Along with customers like Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, Six Flags, Paramount Productions and Cirque Du Soleil, the Columbia firm provides atmospheric effects for military and fire and rescue training.

Softspace Inc.: Designs and fabricates interior design furniture and accessories for the trade show, event marketing, retail and architectural industries at its Columbia facility. Clients have included Maybelline, U.S. Cellular and Nike.

8 || Maury County

Columbia-based Artisan Industry creates large-scale play structures for local libraries, hospitals and other community buildings.

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The City of Spring Hill, TN is Proud to Support Maury County

199 Town Center Pkwy.

P.O. Box 789 Spring Hill, TN 37174 (931) 486-2252 www.springhilltn.org

BMC METALWORKS LLC “Emphasizing High Quality, Service and Value to its Customers�

A 38-year-old company providing a full line of machining, press repair and rebuild, fabrication, and field maintenance services for numerous industries throughout the Southeast. The company, originally established in 1974, has grown to its present size, which includes three large production buildings, totaling more than 70,000 square feet, and positioned on seven acres just 3 miles northwest of downtown Columbia, TN.

1116 New Highway 7 Columbia, TN 38401 931.388.2978 www.bmcmetalworksllc.com

10 || Maury County

by the numbers

Sites To See

66

Antebellum Capital of Tennessee

Number of historic homes and sites in Maury County listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Maury County has more antebellum mansions preserved than any county in the state. One home with an illustrious past is Spring Hill’s Rippavilla Plantation, pictured below. Built in the 1850s, it was the site of a meeting between Confederate generals hours before the historic 1864 Battle of Franklin. Other mansions include: Rattle & Snap: Built for landowner George Polk, the Mount Pleasant home represents one of the best examples of Greek Revival architecture of its time.

Made Here

The Athenaeum: This Moorish Gothic-style home, built for Samuel Polk Walker (nephew of President Polk), flourished as a girls’ school in the late 19th century.

Engine of Ingenuity

Elm Springs: Built by a New Orleans merchant, the home was one of the only ones not burned by the Union Army during its occupation of Columbia.

Since making headlines more than 20 years ago for bringing GM’s Saturn concept car to life, Maury County has earned a reputation for its automotive production prowess. The once-idled Spring Hill plant is back at it again, producing the auto giant’s new crossover sports utility vehicle, the Chevrolet Equinox, as well as parts for its iconic Chevrolet Corvette. GM also tapped Spring Hill as a manufacturing site for the four-cylinder Ecotec engine used to power models like the Chevrolet Malibu. Other Maury County companies producing high-tech products include:

Oaklawn: This Spring Hill plantation home served as the headquarters for Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood the night before the Battle of Franklin.

Experimental Design & Analysis Solutions Inc.: Makes the GPS-enabled performance tracking tool Ripxx used by athletes, including several U.S. Olympic teams, to train for skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, mountain biking and other extreme sports competitions.

GrafTech International: Produces advanced graphite materials and refractory products used in everything from steel manufacturing to petrochemical, electronics and aerospace products at its Columbia facility.

Who’s Here

Centers of Excellence From one of the most highly ranked health-care systems in Middle Tennessee to an assembly hub for GM’s up-and-coming vehicles, Maury County is a center for excellence in both services and production. Serving 260,000 people in south central Tennessee, Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia is the largest hospital between Nashville and Huntsville, Ala., and the flagship center for medical facilities in Marshall, Wayne and Lewis counties. Repeatedly ranked as a top health-care system by Truven Health Analytics, formerly Thomson Reuters, Maury Regional operates accredited centers specializing in cardiac, cancer, neurological and orthopedic care. Other key employers in the region include: GM: Operates a flexible assembly plant in Spring Hill that produces high-indemand vehicles, along with engines and components supplied to GM plants worldwide. Employs more than 1,800.

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation: Nation’s largest state farm bureau; provides its 650,000 members with financial, marketing and political support as well as life, health, auto and property insurance. Employs 625 in Columbia. businessclimate.com/maury-county

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Business climate

Steering Growth Existing businesses expand and thrive, driving investment and job creation in Maury County

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ith an enviable location on the I-65 corridor 30 miles south of Nashville, Maury County has enjoyed a burst in business growth that shows no signs of stopping. Attracting corporate investment and jobs, it prepares for the future by taking care of the businesses it has today.

“Maury County has a pro-business climate,” says Wil Evans, director of economic development and

interim president for the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance. “Several of our existing businesses have recently announced expansions, and we’re seeing interest from new companies that are considering opening a location in our area.”

General Motors recently kicked off production of its new Ecotec engine in Spring Hill and announced the addition of other vehicles, which will create more than 2,000 jobs.

“The creation of jobs at Spring Hill manufacturing is a direct result of GM’s recent $460 million

“We’re doing great things to improve and develop a future workforce.”

Wil Evans, director of economic development and interim president for the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance

12 || Maury County

GM GM recently invested

$460 million

into its Spring Hill manufacturing plant.

Production of the Ecotec engine and other vehicles in Spring Hill will create more than

2,000 jobs.

GM’s Spring Hill plant produces the Chevrolet Equinox and the four-cylinder Ecotec engine. The facility also includes a stamping plant, polymer injection molding operations and a painting operation.

investment into the plant,” says Kristy Bergstrom, GM spokesperson. “The investment facilitated additional flexibility to our state-of-the-art engine plant and led to the creation of more than 800 new jobs in 2012. Spring Hill manufacturing will continue to play a critical role within GM North America.

With 26 product launches for model years 2012 and 2013, it supports an astonishing 19 of those by supplying engines and parts.”

The area’s mix of business and quality of life advantages make it an attractive location for GM, according to Bergstrom.

“Maury County offers competitive rates for conducting business, an ideal location to transport vehicles, parts and engines to sites across GM’s North American operations, and wonderful amenities for

our employees and affiliates,” she says.

“Southern hospitality is especially prevalent in Maury County with many GM employees opting to remain in Tennessee even after retirement.”

More Automotive, Business Expansions GM’s restarted operations in Maury County have had a ripple effect, bringing automotive suppliers to the region like Magna Seating, which produces seats for the Chevrolet Equinox at its primary assembly plant in Ontario and moved to Columbia to support production of the vehicle.

Auto parts manufacturer IB Tech hired close to 500 employees at its new Mount Pleasant facility. And on the call center front, IBEX Global, a customer businessclimate.com/maury-county ||

13

management technology company, is looking to expand its Spring Hill operations.

“IBEX Global has about 1,100 employees,” Evans says. “They have become one of our largest employers since they opened their call center in Spring Hill in 2011. We definitely appreciate the automotive market as a huge part of our economy, but we also know a diverse economy is a strong economy. We’re working to recruit different types of advanced manufacturers as well as logistics, operations and support centers similar to IBEX Global.”

Evans says the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance works to keep existing businesses happy and in the area by meeting with industry leaders. His office conducted 40 interviews of existing business leaders during 2012 to identify and address their needs.

“We are always looking to improve what we have to offer,” he says.

Building a World-Class Workforce

Opening in 2011, IBEX Global, a call center in Spring Hill, is now one of Maury County’s top employers.

Magna Seating operates a production support site in Columbia.

14 || Maury County

One area that county officials are constantly enhancing is the education system. Evans says the county has strong schools and is committed to continuous improvement.

“We’re doing great things to improve and develop a future workforce,” he says.

Maury County is home to Columbia State Community College and Tennessee Tech Centers in nearby Hohenwald and Pulaski, all of which offer programs to prepare workers. A 25,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing development center is also open at the Northfield facility in Spring Hill.

The county is also served by the South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance and the Tennessee Career Center, both of which help businesses by pre-screening applicants and coordinating workshops and training.

“These facilities are top-notch in the state,” Evans says. “I’ve heard from people in other parts of the state that have good things to say about our organization. We can definitely offer job training for companies that are looking to locate or expand here.”

Maury County also offers an exceptional quality of life, Evans says.

“Our atmosphere is definitely that of a smaller community,” he says. “Everybody knows everybody. But we are close enough to Nashville to offer the livability factors desired by some.

Maury County has it all.”

– Stephanie Vozza Read more about Maury County’s business climate and workforce at businessclimate.com/maury-county.

Community Collaboration

Team Maury business leaders come together to create excitement, change When businesses open in Maury County, a whole team of professionals is available to help them grow.

Boosting business and quality of life is the mission of two groups recently launched by the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance.

“Our chamber has several committees, such as membership and public affairs, that keep business leaders updated and informed on issues,” says Kara Huckaby, director of the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance. “We host annual events and provide a State of Maury County address, too. But we’ve launched two groups in particular that further the involvement opportunities for our business leaders.”

Women of Wisdom, which launched in the spring of 2012, is a group that meets monthly.

“It was formed as a way to educate ourselves about the issues that affect community, particularly women in the workforce,” Huckaby says.

Huckaby says the group, which has grown to about 30 members, looks at financial issues as they pertain to women and highlights agencies that are making a difference in the community.

“Most of our programming and speakers are geared toward personal development,” Huckaby says.

Generation Maury, launched by the Chamber in 2011, is geared toward advocacy. With a membership of about 40 young professionals, speakers

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address local government, education, business codes and retail studies.

“This is a group for those who want to empower themselves and move forward,” Huckaby says. “Anytime you increase knowledge and awareness of current issues you are increasing the likelihood that things will get done.

Generation Maury is a group that is eager to learn and make a difference.

By empowering them with knowledge, we empower them to make a difference.

“These two groups have increased the passion and involvement in our county,” she continues. “People are excited to be in Maury County. When you’re involved and excited, you become engaged.”

– Stephanie Vozza

workforce development

Workforce Warriors Programs and partnerships give Maury County students the skills needed to excel in the area’s top industries

M

aury County is committed to providing relocating and expanding companies with the best possible workforce. To prove it, educators are working hand in hand with industry leaders to address skill gaps before they arise and prepare future workers for high-in-demand jobs in the area’s top industries.

One vital partner in this effort is the Workforce Development and Conference Center at Northfield, a nonprofit facility that helps advance business, economic and workforce development for southern Middle Tennessee. Housing a 25,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing lab, one-third of the center is used for training, and the rest of the 300,000-square-foot space is available for lease to

16 || Maury County

companies creating jobs. The facility allows education providers throughout the region to offer classes under one roof, some of which are even offered to dualenrollment high school juniors and seniors.

“All classes are developed with the assistance of the South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance to focus on the emerging job market and close skill gaps,” says Tom Brewer, director of the Workforce Development and Conference Center at Northfield.

Columbia State Community College offers several courses at Northfield, including EMS emergency medical training and paramedic training. The Tennessee Technology Center at Hohenwald provides training for automotive technology and industrial maintenance, along with a program for certification as a Licensed Practical Nurse. The Tennessee Technology Center at Pulaski also holds

Columbia State students can take medical technician courses at Northfield’s Workforce Development and Conference Center.

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courses at Northfield in CNC computer numeric controlled machine technology, phlebotomy science, customer service/call center preparation and solar photovoltaic technology.

Workforce-Ready Curriculum Along with its partnerships with regional colleges and tech centers, the South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance provides numerous services to both employers and job seekers. Its 34-member workforce board, governed by business leaders

A Columbia State student gets hands-on training as part of the Advanced Integrated Industrial Technology program offered at the Northfield facility in Spring Hill.

across the region, meets regularly to discuss the needs of local employers and evaluate how the current workforce can meet those needs.

Jan McKeel, executive director of the SCTWA, says it can be as simple as asking, “How do you describe what you want in an employee?”

SCTWA then works with schools to find graduates who meet these needs or help the schools better understand which courses should be offered to address those gaps.

Under the umbrella of the SCTWA is the Tennessee Career Center, the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Vocational Rehabilitation and Adult Education (Project Learn). All of these entities collaborate to help companies find their ideal employees, partly through aptitude tests that measure interests and skills in a particular area, including math and reading. National Career Readiness Certificates are then issued at a bronze, silver or gold level.

“Employers have also come to rely on these certificates as an excellent screening device for finding qualified applicants,” McKeel says.

18 || Maury County

Ahead of the Curve Columbia State Community College also partners with Northfield for some of its training in the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and Advanced Integrated Industrial Technology (AiiT) programs.

The goal is to provide hands-on experience in labs and through internships and practicums, whenever possible.

Columbia State’s AiiT program launched in fall 2012, with 22 students at Northfield.

“The emphasis for AiiT is to train graduates for the highly technical manufacturing jobs of today with skills in hydraulics, pneumatics, electricity and robotics,” says Dearl Lampley, dean of the science, technology and mathematics division at Columbia State. “All courses have critical-thinking and problem-solving skills embedded in the labs.”

Columbia State Community College also offers the EYH (Expanding Your Horizons) and GRITS (Girls Raised in Tennessee Science) programs, both founded by Middle Tennessee State University professor Judith Iriarte-Gross.

“The primary mission of these organizations is to further enhance the opportunities and awareness of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) academic fields, primarily for young females,” says Glenn Hudson, associate professor of math at Columbia State. “Although females represent about 50 percent of the population, they hold less than 25 percent of all the available STEM-type professions in the U.S.” Through high school and college programs and educational alliances, Maury County continues to elevate the skills of job seekers, an approach that benefits both local employers as well as current and future workers in the area.

–Amanda Moorhead

State-of-the-Art labs Thanks to the quick actions of the grants office of Columbia State Community College, the school inherited six pieces of equipment the U.S. Department of Energy no longer needs. Three oscilloscopes (used to monitor varying signal voltages), a microscope, a hygrometer (used to measure the moisture content in the environment) and a frequency meter found new homes in the college’s physical science, physics and chemistry laboratories. For more details on Columbia State’s programs and facilities, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

STEM Education

Studies in STEM

Maury County public Schools district adds technology, engineering to curriculums Emphasis on new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum at Maury County middle and high schools is revolutionizing the way students learn and helping them stay plugged into a changing world.

At Spring Hill High School and Sante Fe Unit School, students have the opportunity to take pre-engineering courses. Each week, students from Spring Hill High School and Hampshire Unit School participate in Tech Tuesday, which allows them to bring their own technologies, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, netbooks and e-readers to the classroom to use during lessons.

Mt. Pleasant High School is home to a STEM Academy that offers technology courses focusing on everything from minor design and construction to renewable energy.

“All of the STEM courses incorporate working as a team, developing leadership skills and critical-thinking skills,” says Molly Hulen, the school’s STEM quality leader. “The courses also let students apply what is being taught in other classrooms.”

Not only are these efforts better preparing students for a four-year college education, but they are also training them for the possibility of

beginning a technical career right out of high school.

Improved test scores reflect the well-rounded education students are receiving, as well as the success of intervention programs designed to help them better understand their strengths and where they should aim to improve.

High school graduation in Maury County rose six percent in 2012, according to the Tennessee Department of Education report card.

Rates grew from 81.9 percent in the 2010-2011 school year to 87.3 percent in 2012.

– Amanda Moorhead

Energy/technology

Accelerating Innovation Entrepreneurs find resources, mentors for startups at area business accelerator

new Spring Hill business accelerator gives entrepreneurs access to resources and venture capital.

20 || Maury County

the Northfield accelerator hosts Entrepreneurial boot camps to help area startups broaden the scope of their ventures.

Northfield’s Autoxlr8r is designed to help entrepreneurs launch new technologies for the automotive industry.

W

hen it comes to promoting startups, Maury County puts its money where its mouth is. Last year, the county opened a business accelerator at the Northfield Workforce Development & Conference Center in Spring Hill to give area entrepreneurs access to resources and venture capital. The accelerator is part of the Southern Middle Tennessee Entrepreneur Center (SMTEC), a publicprivate partnership and one of nine regional entrepreneurial accelerators established and partially funded by the state of Tennessee.

“This requires a dollar-for-dollar match, so we solicit funds from local philanthropies and the business community,” says Dan Marcum, executive director of SMTEC. Last summer Marcum led SMTEC’s first major initiative, the TenneSeed Camp, a 12-week immersion program held at Northfield and the Tullahoma accelerator for 11 regional startups.

“It teaches things I didn’t learn in an MBA program. It was an eye-opening experience,” says Michael Letterman, CEO of Cortac, a startup company in the nearby city of Hendersonville that produces a product called CTAV, a revolutionary device that works with military body armor to provide cooling and reduce the impact of gunshots.

During summer 2013, SMTEC staged its second TenneSeed Camp and attracted more than 500 applicants, up fourfold from 2012.

“If we see they have high probability of success, we can help speed that up by exposing them to the experience of topquality mentors, proven processes and

networking them with key individuals around the U.S.,” Marcum says.

This time the camp was held for the most part at Northfield, but also included visits to other accelerators in the Southeast, where participants were able to network with other venture capital firms and entrepreneurs to enlarge the scope and perspective of their ventures from regional to national.

Automotive Bootcamp Spurs Innovation In addition to the accelerator’s annual TenneSeed bootcamp, Marcum is focusing on developing entrepreneurship in several niches, including automotive, aerospace, defense and law enforcement.

During the summer of 2013, SMTEC revved up its first AutoXLR8R, a

25%

of the economy in Tennessee is automotivebased

Participants in the AutoXLR8R bootcamp were provided with office space and

$20,000

in exchange for six to 10 percent equity.

The Northfield Workforce Development & Conference Center is now home to a business accelerator that helps entrepreneurs find a market for their ideas. businessclimate.com/maury-county ||

21

22 || Maury County

Entrepreneurs, Start Your Engines

In summer 2013 the Northfield Workforce Development & Conference Center hosted AutoXLR8R, an automotive bootcamp sponsored by the Southern Middle Tennessee Entrepreneur Center and a regional network of research institutions, engineering schools, and automotive manufacturers and suppliers.

THE CONTENDERS: 10 selected entrepreneurs

THE TERMS: Office space and $20,000 in exchange for six to 10 percent equity, plus immersion in accounting, legal, HR and marketing training and visits to southeastern auto plants as well as Clemson University’s International Center of Auto Research.

13-week automotive bootcamp co-sponsored by an extensive network of research institutions, top engineering schools, and automotive manufacturers and suppliers. The program was designed to identify, commercialize and fund promising new technologies born in the area that are applicable to the automotive industry.

“In Tennessee, 25 percent of the economy is automotivebased, so there are vast opportunities available for inventive technologies as vehicles to become technologically advanced,” Marcum says.

One concept is superhydrophobic materials that repel water – a process that could be used in the automotive or defense industry, Marcum adds.

“It takes four to six years to develop an auto, but some of the new technologies take only four to

THE CHALLENGE: 13 weeks to identify, commercialize and secure funding for promising new technologies applicable to the automotive industry

six months, so we’re looking at how they can be integrated both at the time of sale and the aftermarket,” he says.

With the automotive industry in recovery, the southern portion of the United States is targeted for assembly plants as well as Tier 1, 2 and 3 subcontractors, and “we hope to help build that base,” Marcum says.

The AutoXLR8R bootcamp, held May through August at the Northfield Center, immersed 10 selected entrepreneurs in accounting, legal, human resources and marketing disciplines, as well as venture capital opportunities. In addition, participants were provided with office space and $20,000 in exchange for six to 10 percent equity. Entrepreneurs also traveled to auto plants inside and outside the state, and visited Clemson University’s

International Center of Auto Research, located in Greenville, S.C., to interface with engineers on ideas for the industry’s future.

Ultimately, the goal of SMTEC is to help startups understand what it takes to make connections in the venture capital community.

“At these bootcamps, we help companies turn an idea into an investable story,” Marcum says.

–Nan Bauroth

EnErgy/tEchn ology

Accelerat Innovatioing n

W

hen it comes networkin to promoting g them with key individual around the startups, U.S.,” s This time the Marcum says.

Maury County camp was most part at held for the puts its money Northfield , but also included visits to other mouth is. Last where its accelerato year, the county of the economy Southeast, rs in the business accelerator opened where participan in tennessee at the Northfield a to network Workforce ts were able is with other Developme automotiveventure capital nt & Conference firms and Center in Spring entreprene Hill to give urs to enlarge based scope and entreprene area perspectiv the urs e of their ventures from regional venture capital.access to resources and to national. of the Southern The accelerator is part Middle Tennessee Automotive Entreprene participants Bootcamp ur Center in the Spurs Innovation private partnershi (SMTEC), a publicautoxlr8r In addition p to and the one regional entreprene accelerato of nine bootcamp TenneSeed r’s annual were bootcamp, urial accelerator established provided with Marcum is focusing on s and partially office developing state of Tennessee funded by the entreprene in several niches, space and urship including automotive “This requires . aerospace, defense and a dollar-formatch, so law enforceme , dollar During the we solicit in exchange nt. summer of funds from philanthro for six revved up 2013, local pies and the to 10 percent its first AutoXLR8 SMTEC business communit equity. y,” says R, a executive director Dan Marcum, Last summer of SMTEC. Marcum led first major SMTEC’s initiative, the Camp, a 12-week TenneSeed held at Northfieldimmersion program and the accelerato r for 11 regional Tullahoma startups.

“It teaches things I didn’t MBA program. learn in an It was an eye-openin experience ,” says g CEO of Cortac, Michael Letterman , a startup company the nearby in city of Henderson produces a ville that product called revolution CTAV, a ary device that works military body armor to provide with and reduce cooling the impact of gunshots.

During summer 2013, SMTEC its second staged TenneSee d Camp and attracted more than 500 applicants up fourfold , from 2012.

“If we see they have high probability success, we can of exposing them help speed that up by quality mentors,to the experience of proven processes topThe Northfield and Workforce a

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EntrEprEn Eurs find mEntors for start rEsourcEs, ups at businEss accElErat arEa or

nEw spring hill businEss accElEra tor givEs EntrEprE nEurs to rEsourc accEss Es and vEnturE capital.

20 || maury county

thE northfiE ld accElEra tor hosts EntrEprE nEurial boot camps to hElp arEa startups broadEn thE scopE of thEir vEnturEs .

northfiE ld’s autoxlr8 r is dEsignEd to hElp EntrEprE nEurs nEw tEchnol launch thE automot ogiEs for ivE industry .

business accelerator

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Digital Magazine Read it online or on your tablet and quickly share articles with friends. businessclimate.com/maury-county ||

23

|| Maury County County 2424|| Maury

Logistics

Road Ready W hen Mike Wade sends truck drivers on routes to the west of Maury County, he knows they’ll have a safer and faster journey since the opening of State Route 840.

Wade, vice president for Mount Pleasant Transfer, a trucking company with terminals across Middle Tennessee, sees the opportunities the new bypass around Nashville creates for transportation businesses like his.

His firm offers next-day delivery for less-thantruckload shipments to many points in the region. That means every minute counts.

“Any time you can stay out of a major city, you’re a whole lot better off regarding safety,” Wade says. “It does cut down on some miles, but the No. 1 thing that’s helped us as a trucking company is the safety issue.”

The final 14-mile leg of the 78-mile corridor in southern Middle Tennessee opened officially on Nov. 2, 2012, marking the end of a project that began in 1986. Overall, State Route 840 runs through Wilson, Rutherford, Williamson, Hickman, and Dickson counties, connecting with I-40 east of Nashville at Lebanon, I-24 near Murfreesboro, I-65 south at Franklin and I-40 near Dickson, and opening up the potential for local businesses to increase commerce from Memphis to Texas.

Maury County offers easy access to Route

Newly opened State Route 840 boosts commerce, distribution potential for Maury County

840 via I-65, putting it within easy reach of interstates running north, south, east and west. Trucks from the county will no longer have to travel on narrow state highways or detour for miles to connect with I-40 in Nashville before heading west.

Plus, the route will allow Maury County to offer a more accessible workforce and plenty of opportunity for economic development that relies on highway transportation.

Drawing a Wider Labor Force Companies like Mount Pleasant Transfer, American Corrugated and others serving markets to the west can save time and costs by skirting traffic around Nashville.

The route also opens up the labor pool because now workers can apply for jobs at companies where the commuting time was not feasible before.

The South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance has held job fairs for workers in Maury County to fill open positions in Dickson and other counties. Maury County landed two large employers with the opening of IBEX Global in Spring Hill and IB-Tech in Mount Pleasant, and the opening of 840 helps companies draw from a larger talent pool.

“We think it will really open up some paths that folks haven’t necessarily thought about before,” says Jan McKeel, executive director of the workforce alliance. “We’re trying to get the

25 25

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40 24

65

Santa Fe

Spring Hill 396

Williamsport

MAURY COUNTY Hampshire Cherry Glen Industrial Park

412

Columbia Culleoka

Mount Pleasant 31 43

State Route 840 Newly opened segment of SR 840 Interstate Highway

26 || Maury County

40

word out that this drive has been cut down, and it’s commutable now.”

Future Developments The new route enhances the area’s highway system and boosts its attractiveness to companies that rely on transportation and logistics. Additionally, Maury County is looking to capitalize on its proximity to Interstate 65.

In cooperation with the Tennessee Valley Authority, area economic development leaders have been busy examining sites along I-65 to find the perfect spot for a potential new industrial park.

The as-yet-unnamed I-65 business park could position Maury County to compete for corporate offices like those in nearby Cool Springs.

Recently, the existing 547-acre Cherry Glen Industrial Park in Mount Pleasant received a boost with a commitment to build a 50,000-square-foot speculative building to attract companies.

The county donated 12 acres of land and will make additional investments, along with the city of Mount Pleasant and Mount Pleasant Power Systems.

Local leaders expect these steps to be just the first to support additional economic development.

“This could really open up northern Maury for development,” McKeel says. “It will be very convenient to jump on 840 because if you’re headed west, you do not have to go through Nashville.”

Thanks to State Route 840’s easily navigable corridor and quick, convenient access to major interstates, truck drivers, commuters and customers have plenty to be happy about.

“There are a lot of good things to say about it,” Wade says.

– Gary Wollenhaupt

Find out more about State Route 840’s impact on Maury County at businessclimate.com/maury-county

transportation

Taking Off Maury County’s diverse transportation network primed for major growth, improvements and upgrades as the area grows

M

aury County is an area that offers plenty of positives for businesses, including a strong transportation network.

Infrastructure that gives the county a logistical and distribution advantage include direct access to Interstate 65 as well U.S. Highways 412, 43 and 31, along with proximity to newly opened State Route 840. Maury

28 || Maury County

County is only 40 miles from Nashville and just four hours away from key markets such as Atlanta, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Huntsville, Lexington, Louisville and Memphis.

Maury County also has convenient rail service via CSX and the Tennessee Southern Railroad, which connects to the Port of Florence 60 miles away.

Air Access A key transportation asset in Maury County is the Maury

County Regional Airport. The Mount Pleasant-based airfield has a 6,000-foot runway, ideal for larger corporate jets and freight carriers that has recently been resealed and repainted.

“Our fuel islands have been upgraded, and in the spring of 2013 we relocated our taxiway, moving it over about 50 feet to provide easier maneuverability for all of our flight customers,” says Paul Turner, manager of Maury County Regional Airport. “We also rent Hertz cars out of our airport, and

Home to Middle Tennessee’s third-longest runway, Maury County Regional Airport is ideal for larger corporate jets and freight carriers.

40 corporate and individual planes are parked on site.”

Turner says the airport averages 150 flights each month, plus it accommodates transient and military aircrafts.

“In early 2013, four Apache helicopters from New York stopped at the airport to refuel on their way to Louisiana for training; then the four helicopters and two additional Blackhawk jets specifically stopped at our airport on their return trip to New York,” he says. “All of the pilots said they were so impressed with our hospitality on their way to Louisiana that they returned two weeks later.”

Turner adds that the airport serves the needs of area business and industry with charter service for both passengers and freight. Aircraft maintenance is available, along with heated hangars.

“We are open 24 hours, and our terminal is equipped with an on-site conference room for anyone to use,” he says. “This airport is a real asset to Maury County.”

Beautifying the Boulevard Adding to Maury County’s transportation infrastructure are major plans to beautify and improve James Campbell Boulevard in Columbia, the

Maury County Regional Airport

Maury County Regional Airport averages

150 flights each month

businessclimate.com/maury-county ||

29

Norman Wright, director of development services for the city of Columbia “It’s the most valuable stretch of real estate in all of Maury County,” says Norman Wright, director of development services for the city of Columbia.

In the next few years, the boulevard will undergo a number of traffic and sidewalk upgrades to improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians, Wright says. He adds that the

overall focus of the improvement project is to transform the busy thoroughfare from a highway into a city street.

“Highways are where motorists drive through the area as fast as possible, but city streets are made for much slower stop-and-go traffic and are lined with nice trees, sidewalks and bike lanes,” he says.

“This is an overall $10 million

W e st CAMP JAMES M .

BELL Bo u l eva

rd

county’s most traveled corridor.

The boulevard, designated as U.S. Highway 50, serves as the location of Maury Regional Medical Center, the Walmart Supercenter, Belk, the Columbia Mall, hotels, and numerous businesses and restaurants, so a long-term plan is under way to improve traffic routes while adding to James Campbell’s aesthetic charms.

MAURY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

TROT

HATCHER

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v en DA

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LANE

So ut h JAMES M . CAM PBELL Bo

WALMART SUPERCENTER

ul ar ev

COLUMBIA MALL

d

“It (James Campbell Boulevard) is the most valuable stretch of real estate in all of Maury County.”

BELK

Planned Beautification and Route Improvements to James Campbell Boulevard County 30 || Maury

project that will take time to raise money and complete, but it’s a top priority here in Columbia and Maury County.

“The city will build a two-lane road between the parking lots of Walmart and the adjacent Belk department store to alleviate traffic, plus construct some through-streets to Hatcher Lane to provide further access to Walmart,” he continues. “Plans for James Campbell Boulevard stretch to the year 2050, but residents will begin seeing initial upgrades very soon.”

–Kevin Litwin

Find out more about Maury County’s transportation network at businessclimate.com/maury-county

Maury County offers shortline rail service through the Tennessee Southern Railroad.

Supporting the Community for More Than 55 Years

Cytec Industries Inc. Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee

Providing Complete Manufacturing Support and Solutions

Plant Maintenance • Machining Services Metal Fabrication and Welding Turnkey Project Management 1940 Oakland Pkwy.

Columbia, TN 38401 (931) 388-6202

www.columbiamachineworks.com

32 || Maury County

Economic profile Population (2012 estimate) Maury County: 81,990

Top Employers Maury Regional Medical Center:

2,135

Population growth in Maury County

GM Spring Hill Manufacturing:

Major Population Centers (2011 estimate)

1,868

Maury County Public Schools:

1,580

29,735 Mount Pleasant:

4,591

94,487

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation & Affiliates:

81,990

Spring Hill:

34,915

80,956

IBEX Global:

69,498

Columbia:

625

2000

2010

2012

2016

Walmart:

2000 Census: 69,498 2010 Census: 80,956 2012 Estimate: 81,990 2016 Projection: 94,487

1,200

500 IB Tech:

Labor Force

36,200 Income

Per Capita Income:

$23,098 Change in Avg. Household Income since 2000: 10%

385

Sources: Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance, U.S. Census Bureau

City of Columbia:

373

Cost of Living Median Household Income:

$53,728

$$ Estimated Rent for a 2BR Apartment:

Medium Home Sale Price:

$118,420 $713

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Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant recently opened a new location in historic downtown Columbia. The Franklin, Tenn.-based eatery and live music venue is already helping draw more traffic downtown.

Maury County revitalizes shopping scene with national chains and locally owned retailers

34 || Maury County

From Big Box to Boutique

Retail

W

hether shoppers prefer the dazzle of a mall, the eclecticism of a boutique or the convenience of a superstore, Maury County delivers.

Long considered one of the most thriving towns in south central Tennessee, Maury County’s county seat of Columbia has maintained a thriving retail market for decades. With the town square serving as its heart and soul, locals in decades past could spend all day downtown, shopping at JCPenney and Woolworth’s, having lunch at the By-Path Café or catching a show at the Princess Theater.

But like many small towns nationwide, the development of suburbs, shopping centers and strip malls pulled people away from downtown. Revitalization efforts began in the 1980s with initiatives such as the Tennessee Main Street Program, organized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, but results ebbed and flowed – until now.

Retail in downtown Columbia is in the midst of an upswing. New businesses, such as Pie Sensations, The Old Curiosity Book Shop and Wall Candy Custom Framing & Gallery, are joining established operations such as The Wheel bike shop and Ted’s Sporting Goods.

“Downtown Columbia offers a great opportunity for retail because it is such a pleasing place to be in,” says Kristi Martin, executive director of Columbia Main Street. “Columbia has history and integrity.”

The Puckett’s Effect One especially pleasing newcomer is Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant, a

Home to unique shops and restaurants, downtown Columbia is a popular retail center.

popular eatery and live music venue with locations in Franklin, Nashville and now Columbia. The newest Puckett’s location offers two private dining rooms as well as a second-story event center that accommodates up to 400 people.

Puckett’s Columbia also marks the flagship for Puckett’s Creamery, a handchurned ice cream shop located next door to the restaurant.

The excitement surrounding Puckett’s Columbia is something that James Lund, co-owner of The Old Curiosity Book Shop, calls “The Puckett’s Effect.”

“Downtown has needed an anchor store for a long time,” Lund says. “Little stores like us aren’t going to do that as well as a place like Puckett’s.” businessclimate.com/maury-county ||

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Pie Sensations, which sells homemade pies, truffles, cakes and other sweet treats, is one of several new businesses that have opened along the courthouse square in downtown Columbia.

Lund and his wife, Heather, opened the Old Curosity Book Shop in December 2012 two doors down from Puckett’s Columbia, making it an ideal place to linger before or after a meal.

“There are a lot of really nice, unique stores in downtown Columbia, and we wanted to be a part of that,” Lund says.

In addition to new business, aesthetic improvements to

downtown, including everything from bike racks to the Duck Riverwalk trails and Farmer’s Market pavilion, add to the appeal. Columbia also has plans to overhaul James Campbell Boulevard, a busy thoroughfare that provides access to the Columbia Mall and other businesses. The project is part of a larger vision to enhance livability.

“We’re planning to install bike

lanes, sidewalks, trees and new streets,” says Norman Wright, City of Columbia development services director. “We’re confident that our plan will improve safety, property values and access. If it happens to help the mall, that’s just icing on the cake.”

Springing Forward While Columbia regains its foothold, neighboring Spring Hill

“There are a lot of really nice, unique stores in downtown Columbia, and we wanted to be a part of that.”

James Lund, co-owner of The Old Curiosity Book Shop

36 || Maury County

Above left: The Old Curiosity Book Shop in downtown Columbia offers residents a place to linger after a big meal.

Above right: Founded in 1955, Ted's Sporting Goods is one of Columbia's staple stores.

enjoys a growing, family-centered population, which makes it an attractive choice for large shopping centers such as The Crossings, a development that includes stores like Target and Kohl's, as well as almost 50 additional retailers.

“We receive a vast amount of retail traffic from areas such as Wayne County,” says Spring Hill City Administrator Victor Lay. “People like that can get in and out without the traffic of larger cities such as Franklin.”

From the mega-shopping of Spring Hill to the mid-size and boutique offerings of Columbia and Mount Pleasant, Maury County has retail to suit myriad tastes and budgets. And the future holds promise for even more diversity.

“The time is right for renewal in downtown,” says Wall Candy co-proprietor Mary Helen Payne of her Columbia locale.

Neighbor James Lund agrees.

“The square isn’t just the place to get tags anymore,” he says.

– Heather Johnson

RETAIL

W

Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant to the area's many businesses in historic downtown Candy Custom Columbia has including The Framing & helped rejuvenate Old Curiosity Gallery.

Book Shop, the local retail The Wheel, industry by Ted's Sporting drawing people Goods, Pie Sensations and Wall

MAURY COUNTY REVITALIZES SHOPPING SCENE WITH NATIONAL CHAINS AND LOCALLY OWNED RETAILERS

32 || maury county

From Big Box to Boutique

hether shoppers prefer the dazzle of a mall, the eclecticism a boutique or of the convenienc superstore, e of a Maury Long considered County delivers. one of the most thriving towns in Maury County’s south central Tennessee, has maintained county seat of Columbia decades. With a thriving retail market for the town square its heart and serving as soul, locals in decades past could spend all day downtown, JCPenney and shopping at Woolworth’s at the By-Path , having lunch Café or catching the Princess a show at Theater.

But like many the developmen small towns nationwide, t of suburbs, centers and shopping strip malls pulled people away from downtown.

Revitalizati efforts began on in initiatives such the 1980s with Street Program, as the Tennessee Main National Trust organized by the Home to shops for Historic and restaurants, but results Preservatio ebbed and flowed. n, Columbia is a center of activity downtown Until now. in Maury County.

Retail in downtown Columbia is in the midst of an upswing. popular eatery New businesses, and live music such as Pie Sensations locations in venue with , The Franklin, Nashville Shop and Wall Old Curiosity Book Columbia. The newest Puckett’s and now & Gallery, are Candy Custom Framing offers two private location joining established dining rooms operations a second-stor as well as such as The y event center Wheel bike and Ted’s Sporting that shop accommodates up to Goods.

Puckett’s Columbia 400 people.

“Downtown Columbia offers also opportunit flagship a great for Puckett’s marks the y for Creamery, a a pleasing place retail because it is such churned ice handcream to be in,” says Martin, executive to the restaurant. shop located next door Kristi director of Main Street.

The excitement Columbia “Columbia surroundin has history and integrity.”

Columbia is something that g Puckett’s co-owner of James Lund, The Old Curiosity The Puckett’s Shop, calls Book Effect “The Puckett’s Effect.”

“Downtown One especially has needed an anchor store for a long Puckett’s Grocerypleasing newcomer is time,” Lund & Restaurant stores like us says. “Little ,a aren’t going to do well as a place like Puckett’s.” that as

businessclim

ate.com/mau

ry-county

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That’s Entertainment Downtown businesses hosting regular events include: Artisan Party: New and local artist showcase First Thursday of the month 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Wall Candy Custom Framing & Art Gallery 116 W. 7th St., Columbia Local Author Book Club: Last Thursday of the Month 7 p.m.

The Old Curiosity Book Shop 12 Public Sq., Columbia Music on Main: Mt. Pleasant Grille Saturday at 6 p.m.

100 S. Main St., Mt. Pleasant.

businessclimate.com/maury-county

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livability

Easy on the Eyes Natural Beauty, cultural attractions and Outdoor escapes Highlight maury county’s quality of life

Maury County boasts several bed-andbreakfasts and three wineries with regular tastings and events.

38 || Maury County

The area is home to more than 60 antebellum sites included on the national register of historic places.

Popular outdoor draws include the duck river, southport saltpeter cave and chickasaw trace bike trail.

F

rom its picturesque, pastoral setting to landmarks rich in history and heritage, Maury County has a charm that sets it apart from other communities its size. Aside from its natural beauty, the area offers a wealth of quality-of-life advantages that make it an attractive place to visit and live.

“It is a nice-sized community, and it’s friendly and welcoming with warm Southern hospitality,”

property taxes, a top medical facility, the four seasons, good restaurants and plenty to do,” she says.

Retire Tennessee is a state economic development initiative that markets 12 Tennessee counties through advertising campaigns in trade shows and other outlets.

Natural Attractions Outdoor buffs can find plenty in the area to keep them occupied.

“Maury County has a full range of recreational activities such as

The Duck River is a favorite spot for canoeing and kayaking in Maury County.

says Brenda Pierce, executive director of the Maury County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“Plus the county is easily accessible to Interstate 65 for convenient drives to Nashville or Huntsville.”

Maury County is home to highquality schools, Pierce adds, as well as an active arts community that includes a recently opened children’s museum called aMuse’um.

“Maury County has also been designated a Retire Tennessee community thanks to affordable housing, low cost of living, low

golf, fishing, horseback riding, hunting, bowling and hiking at five spacious parks,” Pierce says.

“Columbia State Community College offers continuing education classes available to people of all ages, and the more active and adventurous can try caving at Southport Saltpeter Cave, while mountain bikers can enjoy several challenges at Chickasaw Trace Bike Trail.”

Another one-of-a-kind recreational asset in Maury County is the Duck River.

“The Duck is great for canoeing and kayaking, plus a new River

Walk Park with a farmers market is open along the river on Riverside Drive, a couple blocks from the downtown Columbia district,” Pierce says.

A Heaping of History, Culture Maury County boasts several bed-and-breakfasts and three wineries, all of which are in Hampshire, with regular tastings and events. Natchez Hills Vineyard’s 200-seat event center puts on a weekly concert series and occasional dinner theater performances, while Amber Falls Winery and Cellars has live music on the weekends, including a monthly Gumbo Sunday event.

Keg Springs Winery offers an array of wines to sample in its tasting pavilion.

Downtown Columbia hosts annual events, Pierce says, including the highly anticipated Mule Day celebration that brings 80,000 people to the community each late March or early April.

“There are other festivals such as a Southern Fried Festival each fall that is a big draw for dozens of live music acts, and a Sunset Symphony every summer as well as an autumn Country Ham Festival in Spring Hill,” she says.

“Historic preservation is also a big deal in Maury County where more antebellum homes are preserved than in any other county in Tennessee.”

Several antebellum sites in Maury County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Athenaeum Rectory, Elm Springs, Rattle and Snap, Rippavilla Plantation and St. John’s Episcopal Church. Also a proud part of the community is the James K. Polk Ancestral Home, the former residence of America’s 11th president.

“Besides the Polk Home, on that same block in downtown Columbia is a Sisters House where two of President Polk’s sisters once lived, plus there is a Polk businessclimate.com/maury-county

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Kid-Friendly Fun

Kids Kingdom in Columbia’s Maury County Park is a popular playground, drawing between 600,000 and 800,000 visitors each year.

From outdoor to indoor adventures, Maury County offers plenty of pintsized entertainment, including: aMuse’um: Children are encouraged to explore, discover, imagine and create through interactive exhibits and educational play at this downtown Columbia museum.

Ring Farm: Families can enjoy hayrides, a corn maze and Halloween ghost tours at this corn and soybean farm in Columbia.

Kids Kingdom: With a castle-like structure, a sandbox and plenty of play areas, this playground at Maury County Park is a favorite among families.

Whippoorwill Lake: Adultsupervised fishing for bass, bluegill, catfish and sunfish is available for kids at this 25-acre lake in Williamsport.

The Royal Brush: Kids can channel their inner artist at this paint-your-ownpottery studio near the Columbia Mall.

Presidential Hall that features exhibits related to Polk and his presidency,” says Tom Price, curator at Polk Presidential Hall.

“People can first enter the Sisters House for a quick introductory video, then tour the James K. Polk Ancestral Home and all its interesting belongings, and finally visit the Presidential Hall. They are three amazing historic

attractions all within yards of one another.”

The three Polk sites are open seven days a week, Price says, with several items on display that were owned by the former president and his family.

“Touring the Sisters House and the Polk Home are like stepping back into the first half of the 19th century, just 50 years after the

Natural Gem Part of a 90-acre state natural area 20 miles southwest of Columbia and three miles northeast of Summertown off U.S. Highway 43, Stillhouse Hollow Falls is a must-see. The natural area opened to the public in 2006 with a small parking area, signage, a kiosk and developed trails. Streams, waterfalls and wildflowers regale hikers along the 2.3-mile trail. Those who want more can explore a small forest of sugar maples, sycamores, white oaks, beeches and tulip poplar trees near the falls.

40 || Maury County

U.S. was formed,” he says.

“And the Polk Presidential Hall showcases all aspects of the vibrant presidency. One of our recent exhibits was entitled Sarah Polk: First Lady of Style, which highlighted the First Lady’s life because she was an unconventional woman of the 19th century.”

–Kevin Litwin

cuisine

A Full Plate Maury County restaurants offer diverse dining It’s feast first at restaurants throughout Maury County – and each town in the area is served well, with a diversity of eateries from meat-andthrees to fine dining.

Newcomers to the local restaurant scene include the Columbia location of Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant, which has Southern cooking and live music on the menu, and River Terrace Restaurant, which serves up authentic Cajun cuisine cooked by native New Orleanians.

Columbia also offers places like Buckhead Coffee House, Embers Tavern & Grille, Legends Steakhouse, Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse, Christy’s 6th Street and Stan’s Restaurant, while Spring Hill has destinations such as

Amigo’s Mexican Grill, JJ’s Barbecue, Pancho’s Place, YaYa’s Bakery & Cafe and Sultan Table. Campbell Station Store & Restaurant serves customers in Culleoka, and Mount Pleasant Grille is a favorite of diners in Mount Pleasant.

An upscale venue that has been a fixture in downtown Columbia’s public square is Square Market & Cafe, which opened in 2003.

“It took a while to get established because no restaurants and very little retail were on the square at that time,” says Debra Mann, owner of the eatery. “But word grew, and so did our restaurant.”

Square Market & Cafe is now open for breakfast and lunch MondaySaturday and dinner on weekends.

“Dinner can feature anything from steak to salmon served in an elegant and romantic atmosphere,” Mann says.

“Our chef is Chris Howes, a graduate of the famed Johnson and Wales College of Culinary Arts. We’re lucky to have Chris.”

Mann adds that all items on the menu are fresh and made to order, and catering services are also available.

“We were nominated in seven restaurant categories in the recent Columbia Daily Herald Best of Maury competition, including best wait staff, best romantic environment and best soups,” she says. “We enjoy being in Maury County and thank our customers for supporting us all these years.”

–Kevin Litwin

Health

Raising the Bar

42 || Maury County

Health-care providers boost access, quality of care for area residents

M

edical advancements are common­ place at Maury Regional Medical Center, home to heart, cancer, neurology and orthopedic centers, and nationally acclaimed for its patient care and safety.

Located in Columbia, the hospital was recently ranked among the nation’s top 100 hospitals by Truven Health Analytics, formerly known as Thomson Reuters. The facility was also the only hospital in Tennessee to attain Truven Health’s annual Everest Award, which recognizes hospitals that have achieved both the highest level of current performance and the fastest long-term improvement over the course of five years.

Maury Regional’s ongoing expansions and enhancements to technology and services continue to boost the quality of and access to care for patients. A new Maury Regional Cancer Center opened in June 2012 at the Columbia Mall.

The new center includes a FHG Oncology physician practice, a large chemotherapy area and an on-site pharmacy.

“As the number of cancer patients treated at the hospital continued to increase, it created the demand for a more spacious facility,” said Alan Watson, Maury Regional Medical Center CEO. “The site at the Columbia Mall was selected for patient convenience and affordability compared to building a new center.”

Also in 2012, Maury Regional added neurosurgery to its list of hospital specialties. Its neurosurgery services include craniotomies, radiosurgery for treating inoperable brain tumors, spinal surgery for degenerative disease, and removal of benign and malignant spinal tumors.

Excellence in Cardiac Care The hospital’s cardiac program also marked a milestone, with

The newly opened Maury Regional Cancer Center, located in the Columbia Mall, offers increased space and convenience for cancer patients.

physicians performing their 1,000th radial artery cardiac catheterization since the procedure was first introduced at Maury Regional in 2011.

“The radial artery cardiac catheterization is less invasive, reaching the heart via a small puncture through the wrist,” Watson says. “The benefits to the patient include a significant decrease in recovery time and discomfort as well as a lower possibility of complications.”

The medical center offers cardiovascular and thoracic services through a collaboration with Vanderbilt Heart. Services include interventional procedures, such as angioplasty and stenting, as well as cardiac bypass surgery, defibrillator implantation and more.

Health Care Expands in Spring Hill Maury Regional first expanded into Spring Hill with a threephysician primary care practice and imaging center on Main Street, and now the hospital is adding a facility near the intersection of Port Royal and Saturn Parkway.

Services at Maury Regional Spring Hill, which opened in the spring of 2013, include pediatrics, physical therapy and radiation oncology, along with an outpatient surgery center for general, gynecological, ophthalmologic, orthopedic, urological, and ear, nose and throat surgeries.

Health provider TriStar Centennial also expanded into Spring Hill. In February 2013, a businessclimate.com/maury-county

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visit our advertisers America’s Home Place www.americashomeplace.com Ascend Federal Credit Union www.ascendfcu.org BMC Metalworks LLC www.bmcmetalworksllc.com Bostelman Enterprises www.bostelmaninc.com City of Columbia www.columbiatn.com City of Spring Hill Tennessee www.springhilltn.org Columbia Academy www.cabulldogs.org Columbia Hampton Inn www.columbia.hamptoninn.com Columbia Machine Works www.columbiamachineworks.com Columbia Power & Water Systems www.cpws.com Columbia State Community College www.columbiastate.edu Community First Bank & Trust www.cfbk.com Cytec Industries Inc. www.cytec.com Duck River Electric Membership Corporation www.dremc.com Fanciwork/Patchtown www.patchtown.com Farmers Service www.fbtaxservice.com First Farmers www.myfirstfarmers.com General Motors www.gm.com Heritage Bank & Trust www.heritagebankandtrust.com Kraft CPAs www.kraftcpas.com Martin Methodist College www.martinmethodist.edu Maury County Convention & Visitors Bureau www.antebellum.com Maury County Public Schools www.mauryk12.org Maury Regional Medical Center www.mauryregional.com Painting with a Twist www.paintingwithatwist.com/columbia Parks Motor Sales Inc. www.parksmotorsales.com Redman-Davis Insurance www.redmandavis.com TAP-RSI www.tap-rsi.com Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation www.tnfarmbureau.org Tennessee Livestock Producers www.tennesseelivestockproducers.com Vanderbilt Medical Center www.vanderbilthealth.com/williamson VIP Moving & Storage of Tennessee www.vipmovingandstorage.com YMCA of Middle Tennessee www.ymcamidtn.org Zion Christian Academy www.zioneagles.org

44 || Maury County

new TriStar Medical Park at Spring Hill opened near the intersection of Kedron Road and Saturn Parkway. The three-story, $15 million building has a freestanding emergency department on the first floor staffed by boardcertified physicians and emergency care staff.

“The entire first floor features a 10,000-square-foot, 24/7/365 emergency department that has 12 rooms, including two dedicated pediatric rooms, one large trauma room and an isolation respiratory room,” says Joe Mazzo, vice president of clinical operations for TriStar Centennial. “Much of the U.S. is moving toward freestanding emergency room facilities in growing communities, and Spring Hill certainly has needed such a medical park for some time.”

The goal of the medical park is to provide as many health-care services as possible to area residents, Mazzo says.

“Current services include X-ray, CT scans, ultrasound and imaging, plus telemedicine that allows doctors from afar to offer helpful diagnoses,” he says. “We will eventually lease second- and third-floor offices for cardiology, ob/gyn, mammography and other specialties. There is no surgery or overnight stays at the Spring Hill medical park. Its main purpose is being an emergency department along with specialty offices.”

The emergency department also has a medical laboratory as well as an adjacent helipad.

“There is also a decontamination room, a seclusion room and plans for much more,” Mazzo says.

“Spring Hill continues to be an expanding community, and we want to eventually have all of its medical needs covered.”

–Kevin Litwin

Find out more about Maury Regional Medical Center’s expansions at businessclimate.com/maury-county

Highly Ranked for Health Care Maury Regional Medical Center www.mauryregional.com

Named among 100 Top Hospitals and Received the everest award in 2013 from Truven Health Analytics, Formerly Thomson Reuters Named Top health System in 2011 and 2012 By Truven Health Analytics Named Among 50 tOp Cardiovascular Hospitals in 2012 By Truven Health Analytics Received the QUEST Award for High Value health Care in 2011 by Premier Health-Care Alliance Home to a level III Accredited chest pain center

First hospital in Tennessee to receive a Pathway of excellence designation from the American nurses credentialing center businessclimate.com/maury-county

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Gallery

take a step back in time Housed in a restored church originally built in 1882, the Polk Presidential Hall, the exhibition center for the James K. Polk Home, offers visitors a glimpse at historic documents and artifacts related to U.S. presidents Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson.

46 || Maury County

A Shopper’s Mecca Home to an array of eclectic shops and locally owned boutiques, the Public Square in Columbia is a popular stop for shoppers looking for unique merchandise.

businessclimate.com/maury-county

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Maury County Public Schools 501 West 8th St. Columbia, TN 38401 (931) 388-8403 Find us on

w w w.m a u r yk12.o rg

PROGRESS THROUGH RECYCLING Since 1983

1202 S. James Campbell Blvd., Ste. 14 Columbia, TN 38401

931-388-0222

www.paintingwithatwist.com/columbia

WORLD-CLaSS MOVIng aT an affORDabLe PRICe If you are moving across town or across country, VIP Moving & Storage is the right choice.

Tennessee Aluminum Processors is proud to SUPPORT and BE INVOLVED with Maury County community-wide activities

Local Moves Proud members of:

Long Distances Corporate Moves

7207 Hoover Mason Rd. • Mt. Pleasant, TN 38474 (931) 379-5836 • Fax: (931) 379-0473 www.tap-rsi.com

The official movers of the:

Office Relocations

(931) 388-0557 • (615) 586-6676 • www.vipmovingandstorage.com

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

Can you imagine … a world without children?

We Can’t.

Call 1-800-996-4100 to help. www.stjude.org

48 || Maury County

Ad Index

32 America’s Home Place

32 Cytec Industries Inc.

C4 Ascend Federal Credit Union

32 Duck River Electric Membership Corporation 32 Fanciwork/Patchtown

10 BMC Metalworks LLC

C2 Bostelman Enterprises

1 First Farmers 5 General Motors

15 City of Columbia

10 City of Spring Hill Tennessee

32 Heritage Bank & Trust

32 Columbia Academy

44 Kraft CPAS

27 Martin Methodist College

22 Maury County Convention & Visitors Bureau

48 Maury County Public Schools

C3 Maury Regional Medical Center

48 Painting With A Twist

6 Columbia Hampton Inn

32 Columbia Machine Works

41 Columbia Power & Water Systems

22 Columbia State Community College

44 Community First Bank & Trust

Ad Index (cont.)

31 Parks Motor Sales Inc.

33 Redman-Davis Insurance

48 TAP-RSI

32 Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation

2 Vanderbilt Medical Center

48 VIP Moving & Storage of Tennessee

48 YMCA of Middle Tennessee

19 Zion Christian Academy