BUSINESS
imagesnetnvalley.com ®
NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION
Sunny Disposition Region sees rays of opportunity in solar power
Made From the Right Stuff Skilled workforce builds solid manufacturing sector
What’s Online ne ne See video of a business that helps entrepreneurs flourish.
Beautiful and Smart
Spectacular scenery, progressive communities form a winning tandem SPONSORED BY THE NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION | 2010
THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS STORY A prospering business in a place you LOVE to call home
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ee and Southwest Virginia area, ppen without ever leaving home.â€? HANCOCK COUNTY ‌ Rich in history and natural beauty, Hancock County features 222 square miles of central Appalachia’s best hunting, ďŹ shing and outdoor life. The area features abundant natural resources conducive to work and recreation. Cabin and cottage rentals along the Clinch River, as well as biking, canoeing, rafting, and camping are among activities focused on eco-tourism. Twenty-six acres of GreenďŹ eld site sit ready to accommodate industry with broadband, city water, sewer, multi-phase electricity and room to expand. Hancock County Government www.hancockcountytn.com #ONTACT 'REG -ARION s -AIN 3T s 3NEEDVILLE 4.
CLAIBORNE COUNTY ‌
Education, Industry, Community, Scenic Beauty and History Claiborne County has a diverse manufacturing and business industry. Three industrial parks in the county are located outside the main residential area of the cities and provide good transportation access. The Claiborne County Industrial Development Board works with local governments and regional/state economic development agencies to support and assist existing industry and recruit new jobs to the area. ĂŠ
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“Welcome to the East Tennesse where your success story can hap
EXPANSION OPPORTUNITY IN LEE COUNTY ‌ "EAUTIFUL ,EE #OUNTY IN 3OUTHWEST 6IRGINIA BORDERING Tennessee and Kentucky, may be the ideal location for your next successful business move. Come see our new SQUARE FOOT EXPANDABLE TO SQUARE FOOT shell building. It’s ready to go, offering exible features to accommodate your needs with nominal build-out. .EED BROADBAND 'OT THAT PLUS LARGE CAPACITY WATER SEWER and gas utilities. Draw from a tri-state labor pool comprising NEARLY EAGER EDUCATED WORKERS !ND ,EE #OUNTY is ready to offer you the incentives, tools and assistance to establish a proďŹ table operation. A strategic location backed WITH SUPPORT BY THE h"EST 3TATE FOR "USINESS v AS RANKED BY WWW FORBES COM AND #."# 0LUS YOU BENElT FROM STRONG pro-business policies and an excellent quality of life and natural environment. Check this out! #ONTACT 4IM ,ONG s E-mail: tlong@co.lee.state.va.us
Tennessee
(423) 586-4121
(423) 586-6382
www.morristownutilities.org
www.morristownchamber.com
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Le`Zf` :flekp Erwin is a gateway community on the Appalachian Trail and the Apple Festival is one of the Southeast’s top 20 events. Apple Festival
Joint Economic Development of Unicoi County -AIN !VE s 0/ "OX s %RWIN 4. s s &AX WWW UNICOIEDB COM s WWW ERWINUTILITIES COM s WWW UNICOICOUNTY ORG
Morrill Motors Building
Morgan Insulation Building
Hoover Building
AVAILABLE PROPERTIES Morgan Insulation Building - 120,000 Sq. Ft. - 16 Acres - Industrial
Hoover Building - 170,000 Sq. Ft. - 15.4 Acres - Industrial/Warehouse
For more information: www.netvaly.org
Morrill Motors Building - 22,210 Sq. Ft. - 3.94 Acres - Industrial
Northeast Tennessee ... where bright futures begin.
Johnson City Power Board 2600 Boones Creek Rd. Johnson City, TN 37615 www.jcpb.com
BUSINESS 速
Workstyle Made From the Right Stuff
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A skilled workforce forges a solid and growing manufacturing sector across the region.
The Smart Set
22
An entrepreneurial culture is in full bloom in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region.
Insight
30
Overview
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Almanac
12
Business Climate
14
Energy/Technology
30
Transportation
34
Economic Profile
48
Livability
22
Beautiful and Smart
44
Photo Gallery
26
Education
36
Health
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ON THE COVER The Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol, Tenn. PHOTO BY JEFFREY S. OTTO
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I M A G E S N E T N V A L L E Y. C O M
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Greene County T
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Hometown Hospitality, Big Town Business Offering a booming business environment with a strong foundation of support services, Greene County is a community that takes great pride in expanding its cutting-edge technology while carefully preserving its priceless and unique history. The graceful blending of the future and past make it a truly extraordinary community to live and work.
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#ENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE 5NITED 3TATES CREATING A COMPETITIVE COST ADVANTAGE WHEN MOVING PRODUCT AND PEOPLE
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4. AND s 4HREE INDUSTRIAL PARKS WITH SPACE AVAILABLE s 3KILLED WORKFORCE WITH STRONG WORK ETHIC DEPENDABILITY AND A HIGH DEGREE OF COMPANY LOYALTY s 3TATE OF THE ART TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE s .ATIONALLY RECOGNIZED h"LUE 2IBBONv SCHOOLS FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION s ,OCAL FOUR YEAR COLLEGE AND TWO YEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE s #ERTIFIED 4HREE 3TAR #OMMUNITY FOR CONSECUTIVE YEARS
&OR MORE INFORMATION ON MAKING 'REENE #OUNTY YOUR BUSINESS HOME CONTACT
!CADEMY 3T s 'REENEVILLE 4. s ECONDEV GREENECOP COM WWW GREENECOUNTYPARTNERSHIP COM
!D SPONSORED BY 'REENEVILLE ,IGHT 0OWER 3YSTEM
BUSINESS ®
L I F E S T Y L E | W O R K S T Y L E | D I G G I N G D E E P E R | V I D EO | L I N K T O U S | A D V E R T I S E | C O N TA C T U S | S I T E M A P
N O RTH E A S T T E N N E S S E E VA L L EY R EGION 2010 EDITION , VOLUME 2
BUSINESS ®
PROJECT MANAGERS COURTNEY SEITER, ARI SURDOVAL, JESSY YANCEY CONTENT COORDINATORS JENNIFER GRAVES, ERICA HINES STAFF WRITER KEVIN LITWIN COPY EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JOYCE CARUTHERS, JILL WYATT
ONLINE
NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION
PROOFREADING MANAGER RAVEN PETTY
CONNECTIONS
An online resource at IMAGESNETNVALLEY.COM
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAMELA COYLE, JOE MORRIS MEDIA TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, JESSICA MANNER, JANINE MARYLAND, KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS
DIGITAL MAGAZINE >>
MEDIA TECHNOLOGY ANALYSTS CHANDRA BRADSHAW, YAMEL HALL, ALISON HUNTER, MARCUS SNYDER
BUSINESS
imagesnetnvalley.com
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, BRIAN McCORD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER
NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION
WEB CONTENT MANAGERS JOHN HOOD, KIM MADLOM
Sunny Disposition
WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA
Region sees rays of opportunity in solar power
WEB DESIGNER LEIGH GUARIN
Made From the Right Stuff
WEB DEVELOPER JEREMY DICKENS
Skilled workforce builds solid manufacturing sector
AD PRODUCTION MANAGER KATIE MIDDENDORF
What’s Online ne ne
AD TRAFFIC ASSISTANTS MARCIA MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN
See video of a business that helps entrepreneurs flourish.
I.T. DIRECTOR YANCEY BOND I.T. SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY REGIONAL SALES MANGERS CHARLES FITZGIBBON, CHARLES SWEENEY WEB IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR ANDY HARTLEY SALES SUPPORT/COMMUNITY, BUSINESS, CUSTOM RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY
Lifestyle Find out what it’s like to live here and what makes the community such a special place to be.
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT LISA OWENS ACCOUNTS PAYABLE COORDINATOR MARIA McFARLAND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE COORDINATOR DIANA GUZMAN OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE COORDINATOR SHELLY MILLER
Beautiful and Smart
Spectacular scenery, progressive communities form a winning tandem SPONSORED BY THE NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION | 2010
Read the magazine on your computer, zoom in on articles and link to advertiser Web sites.
AD SALES MANGER JAREK SWEKOSKY SENIOR INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER ELIZABETH WEST SALES SUPPORT MANAGER CINDY HALL
NEWS AND NOTES >>
CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN
Our editors give you the Inside Scoop on the latest
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN
development and trends in
SENIOR V.P./SALES CARLA THURMAN SENIOR V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY HESTER
the community.
SENIOR V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER V.P./CONTENT DEVELOPMENT TEREE CARUTHERS V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING KIM NEWSOM
V.P. SALES HERB HARPER, TODD POTTER
Workstyle
SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS >>
CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY
A spotlight on the region’s innovative companies
Meet the people who set the
V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./CONTENT OPERATIONS NATASHA LORENS
CONTENT DIRECTOR/TRAVEL PUBLICATIONS SUSAN CHAPPELL
pace for business innovation.
CONTENT DIRECTOR/BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS BILL McMEEKIN MARKETING CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY SIMPSON
DIG DEEPER >>
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY KRISTY DUNCAN
Plug into the community with
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE
links to local Web sites and
RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP
resources to give you a big picture of the region. 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 e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.
DATA CENTRAL >> A wealth of demographic and statistical information puts the community at
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association 2425 Highway 75, Building 102 Northeast State Technical Community College P.O. Box 1022 • Blountville, TN 37617 Phone: (423) 323-1203 • Fax: (423) 323-4016 www.netvaly.org
See the Video
VISIT NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION ONLINE AT IMAGESNETNVALLEY.COM
Our award-winning photographers give you a virtual tour of unique spaces, places and faces.
©Copyright 2010 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
Magazine Publishers of America Custom Publishing Council
your fingertips. GUIDE TO SERVICES >> Links to a cross section of goods and services special to the community
GO ONLINE
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Turn the pages of our
Digital Magazine BUSINESS
imagesnetnvalley.com
NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION
Sunny Disposition Region sees rays of opportunity in solar power
Made From the Right Stuff Skilled workforce builds solid manufacturing sector
What’s Online ne See video of a business that helps entrepreneurs flourish.
Beautiful and Smart
Spectacular scenery, progressive communities form a winning tandem SPONSORED BY THE NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION | 2010
LIVE LINKS Hot links allow you to quickly link to other sites for additional information, and an ad index allows you to easily locate local advertisers in the magazine.
SEARCH AND YOU SHALL FIND An easy-to-use search function allows you to find specific articles or browse content by subject.
Ranked in the Top 10 Metros of Best Places for Business and Careers in the Country – Forbes Magazine, May 2006 and 2007
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AVAILABLE BUILDING: s Located on 8.9 acres s Reinforced concrete floors
Snap-On tools building – 64,550 sq. ft. Other buildings available up to 296,000 sq. ft.
s Four dock doors s Three drive-in dock doors s Three bridge cranes s All utilities on-site s Located 2.2 miles from Interstate 26
Johnson City/Jonesborough and Washington County Economic Development Board 603 E. Market St., Ste. 200 Johnson City, TN 37601 (423) 975-2380 www.jcedb.org
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NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION
Overview
Ten Reasons To Do Business in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region 1. Workforce. The region has more
5. Quality of Life. The region offers
9. Technology Resources.
than 300,000 employees with manufacturing backgrounds and a strong work ethic in right-to-work states.
opportunities for a wide variety of outdoor activities in beautiful surroundings; quality education; affordable housing and a low cost of living; and friendly people.
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.
economy includes medical companies, educational institutions, manufacturers, corporate headquarters and distribution centers.
7. Developed Sites and Buildings.
For more information, contact:
Updated computerized site and community data – including location, utilities, transportation, zoning and demographics – are available.
Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association 2425 Highway 75
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 freight service at Tri-Cities Airport.
Tennessee
Northeast State Technical Community College P.O. Box 1022
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 machinery and equipment, raw materials or pollution-control equipment; and a pro-business attitude. Norton
Tri-Cities Regional Airport Blountville, TN 37617 Phone: (423) 323-1203 Fax: (423) 323-4016 www.netvaly.org
Coeburn 58A
Virginia
10. Diversified Economy. The
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North Carolina
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DuffieldDuffield Mendota Jonesville Jonesville Gate City Gate City LEE
Lebanon 19
WASHING TON Glade Spring Emory Abingdon Abingdon 58
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Cumberland Gap VIRGINIA Bristol Mount Carmel Kingsport Blountville Sneedville Arthur Blountville Sneedville Arthur JO HN SO N C L A I BTazewell ORNE H A N. C O C KChurch Hill Mountain City Tazewell Mountain City SU LLIVAN hR Rogersville Rogersville nc 25E 25E Cli 11W WASH ING T O N Elizabethton 421 421 11W H AWK IN S . L Jonesborough Johnson City Rutledge 81Jonesborough ee Beech Maynardville Morristown81 ok 11E r 26Beech Mountain e Mountain h C H A MB L E N CART ER Greeneville Erwin Erwin Jefferson Jefferson City City AVERY U NICO I Newland 11E 11W Newland G REEN E 11E JEFFERSON NORTH 19W Dandridge 19W 19E 19E CAROLINA Dandridge 40 40 23 23 Spruce Pine To Knoxville
To Asheville
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Almanac GERMINATING A MAJOR FESTIVAL Atop Roan Mountain, 6,285 feet above sea level, grows the largest natural display of Catawba rhododendron in the world. The gardens come into full bloom in midJune. Each year, on either the third or fourth weekend in June, a festival is held at Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee celebrating the rhododendron bloom. The festival includes crafts, food and a variety of traditional music, plus an array of old-time folkway demonstrations. For more, go to www.roanmountain.com/ festival.htm.
THE FIRST FAMILY OF PICKIN’ Every Saturday night, Southwest Virginia comes alive with the sound of roots and bluegrass music at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons. Founded in 1979, the Carter Family Memorial Music Center was established to honor the Original Carter Family and to preserve the music that earned them worldwide recognition. The venue, which seats more than 1,000 indoors and includes outdoor seating in warm weather, is a major destination on the Crooked Road Heritage Music Trail, which winds through southwest Virginia. Next door is the old A.P. Carter Store, home of the Carter Family Museum. For more, go to www.thecrookedroad.org.
GOOD VIEW, GRANDPA
A FULL TANK OF HISTORY
Grandfather Mountain in Linville, N.C., is the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains and a globally recognized nature preserve.
Built in 1930 by Carson Rose and operated until 1956, the historic Rose Service Station off Highway 25E in Tazewell in Claiborne County, Tenn., was restored by the town of Tazewell in 2001. Visitors sitors can now see it in its original ginal condition, representing ting a Gulf “filling station” n” from days past.
It includes the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge, a 228foot suspension bridge, as well as alpine hiking trails and a number of animals in natural habitats, programs with staff naturalists, a nature museum and a gift shop. Linville hosts the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games on the second full weekend each July. For more, go to www.grandfather.com.
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The station’s authentic, old-style gasoline pumps evoke memories of an age when Highway 25E was referred to as the Dixie Highway and was a major federally ly designated north-south outh route through the area. rea.
WELL-PRESERVED VED NATURE Located in Kingsport, Tenn., ., the 3,500-acre Bays Mountain Park is a nature preserve that features eatures a 44-acre lake, nature center, ter, farmstead museum and planetarium anetarium theater with a 40-foot diameter meter dome.
BLANKETING THE COUNTY WITH ART Jefferson County, Tenn., shows off its quilting in a different manner. The artistry of the Smoky Mountain Quilt Trail can be seen in a number of spots throughout the county along the 25E Scenic Byway. Traditional quilt squares adorn some 20 historic barns and buildings in seven Jefferson County communities, from Stars Over Tennessee at Smoky’s Steak & BBQ Restaurant in Dandridge to Card Trick at Thomas Heating & Cooling in Strawberry Plains. A list of quilt locations can be found at www.jeffersoncountyvacation.com.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THIS ONE H T International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough The is an educational and cultural institution dedicated to building a better world through the power of storytelling. st TThe center conducts research, hosts events, ssponsors outreach and education programs, and advocates tirelessly for the use of storytelling a to produce positive change in lives, workplaces and communities. a
Much of the park, just a few w miles from downtown Kingsport, lies in n a natural basin and is a protected haven for or wildlife. The park is open year-round, d, and seasonal activities include crosscountry skiing and nature walks, where more than 60 varieties es of wildflowers can be seen. Park programs are an integral gral part of the curriculum of local schoolchildren, hildren, and in recent years, the park has assumed regional importance, with students from 33 counties in five states taking part. For or more information, go to www.baysmountain.com. m.
THE PLAY’S THE THING The Barter Theatre is a 77-year-old performing arts venue in Abingdon, Va., that stages major productions from February through December. The theater’s productions draw more than 160,000 patrons each year. The theater is housed on what had once been the site of a Methodist church built in 1829. The Barter stages a variety of productions each year at its 507-seat theater and takes several of its shows on the road. Among the actors who’ve trod the Barter’s boards are Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal and Ernest Borgnine. For more, go to www.bartertheatre.com.
What’s Online line ne Take a video tour of the historic Barter Theater at imagesnetnvalley.com.
TThe center’s campus includes the 200-year-old Chester Inn, the 14,000-square-foot Mary B. Martin C Storytelling Hall and a three-acre park. A major S storytelling festival sponsored by the center takes st place each fall in Jonesborough. For more, go to p www.storytellingcenter.net. w
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Business Climate
The Right Combination Workforce, low costs, cooperation breed new investment in region Story by Pamela Coyle
infrastructure
skilled workforce
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low costs
A
S TA F F P H O T O
solid, dedicated workforce, low taxes and modest costs are attracting new business, investment and expansion to a 15-county region that includes corners of Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. Working across state lines and political boundaries, the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region is landing deals and working with prospects waiting for the economy to improve. “We pride ourselves on being a one-day’s drive to 75 percent of the working market,” says Tommy Olterman, a regional development specialist with the Tennessee Valley Authority. “We have a shot at any company looking at the Southeast.” Right Way Marketing opened a new call center in Johnson City, Tenn., in March 2009. Johnson City also is home to a new 65,000-square-foot distribution center for U.S. Marble. “From looking on a map and evaluating the highway system and Johnson City’s central location to serve eastern and southeastern U.S. markets, we felt that this is the perfect site for our expansion,” the company said in announcing its plans. Wellco Enterprises, a manufacturer of footwear for military, tactical, industrial and outdoor applications, will open a new manufacturing plant in the Morristown Airport Industrial District, bringing more College dorm room manufacturer Southco Furniture has expanded its operations to Greenville, Tenn.
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than 100 new jobs to the area. Furniture manufacturers are moving in, too. SouthCo. Inc., which specializes in college dormitory furniture, relocated 40 miles from Del Rio, Tenn., and now has a 100,000-square-foot assembly warehouse in Greeneville, Tenn. Norm Clark, the company’s president, says a fabrication facility might follow. The labor pool, he says, has a good work ethic and is skilled and educated. “What drove this was this was the
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building, the location and the workforce,” Clark says. “My partner and I both live in this town and wanted to support the local community.” BJS North America East Inc., part of Swedish furniture manufacturer BJS, opened its new plant in Dandridge, Tenn., in October 2009. The company, an IKEA supplier, makes mostly bedroom accessories such as tables, headboards, chests and day beds from high-quality fiberboard. The project represents 150 new jobs.
In Hawkins County, Tenn., a project by the Hawkins County Industrial Development Board and Phipps Bend Joint Venture Board will result in construction of a 67,500-square-foot speculative building in the Phipps Bend Industrial Park. A variety of incentive programs are available from the city and regional economic development entities, as well as at the state level. A $1.3 million grant from Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and
Lots of Legwork AGENCY’S INITIATIVES BOLSTER BUSINESS Businesses in the 15 counties in the Northeast Tennessee Valley benefit from initiatives ranging from seminars on working with Volkswagen to certifying sites as shovel-ready, courtesy of the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association. (NETVRIDA) An April 2009 Volkswagen forum, attended by representatives of more than 150 companies, was especially important because the automaker has its own vendor certification process. Going through those steps is the only way to get business from VW, says Alicia Summers, executive director of NETVRIDA. Automaker supply has been one of the region’s target sectors for several years, and Summers leads a regional delegation to Frankfurt, Germany, every two years for the largest trade show in the industry. “We felt like we might be ahead of the game because we already had established relationships,” she says. Independent site certification is another effort to stay ahead of the curve. Jack Lawson, director of economic development for the Blountville, Tenn.-based Sullivan County Partnership, says the project will help distinguish the region and make it more attractive to prospect companies. NETVRIDA contracted with Site Selection Group of Dallas to designate sites as ready-to-build, with water, power and sewer systems in place and Phase I environmental studies completed. The initiative is similar to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s certified megasite program, but on a smaller scale. Parcels need to be at least 10 acres. “Geographically, we’re not able to put together 1,000 acres of land, but we do have smaller sites that meet the certification criteria. This initiative will establish an inventory of sites ready for industrial use,” Summers says. Site Selection Group has given the “shovel-ready” stamp to the first batch of about a dozen parcels, including one in Hamblen County and one in Sullivan County. “It is an incentive,” Summers says. “You’ve saved companies time, and time is money.” – Pamela Coyle
By the Numbers Northeast Tennessee Valley Region
15 Number of counties in service area of Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina
1.2 million Total population in trade area
300,000 Workforce in region
Average weekly wage in region
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$649
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Community Revitalization Commission, for example, helped finance a $3.8 million state-of-theart electronic medical records facility in Duffield, Va., developed by OnePartner and Holston Medical Group that will serve 37 Virginia Department of Health locations. The TVA offers low-interest loans, credits for electrical use and technical and design services, Olterman says. “The communities up here are ready to do business,” he says. I M A G E S N E T N V A L L E Y. C O M
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Made From the Right Stuff Skilled workforce forges a solid manufacturing sector
Story by Joe Morris
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hile economic conditions have caused some contraction, economic development officials and employers alike say ongoing efforts to attract and retain industry are paying off in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region. Manufacturing employs 70,000 workers in the three-state region, which includes powerhouses such as Eastman Chemical, John Deere and King Pharmaceuticals. The region has attracted millions of dollars in foreign investment from companies such as Canadian-owned U.S. Fence. When Canada’s Foliot Furniture located a new manufacturing facility in Greeneville, officials cited the presence of skilled labor as one reason it picked Greene County over several other locales. The $1.5 million investment in 2007 will mean more than 100 jobs over time, and it was indicative of what the area can do when it markets its assets effectively, says Bill Carroll, general manager of Greeneville Light & Power System. “A trained workforce is what manufacturers
look at first, along with location, proximity to transportation and power costs and reliability,” says Carroll. “We have worked through our Greene County Partnership, which combines a lot of our economic development organizations, to make sure we get the message out about our assets. A lot of initial inquiries are done online, so we put our buildings, our sites and our workforce information online so we can make that first cut and get their feet on the ground here and sell them on our communities.” In Morristown, VIFAN USA bucked a trend in its industry to ship production to China and India and added 130,000 square feet to its existing plant. The $72 million project that will add 55 jobs at the maker of clear and metalized biaxiallly oriented polypropylene for food packaging’s operations. VIFAN, which came to Morristown in 1998, already employs 120 at the 300,000-square-foot plant, which it has expanded twice. Being able to tout the area’s positives also
Skills Builder A joint effort among Domtar, Eastman Chemical Co., Northeast State Technical Community College and the city of Kingsport, Tenn., created the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing, which opened in fall 2009. The center provides classroom and lab space for companies to conduct training for employees who work in advanced manufacturing jobs. Northeast State Community College, which operates the center, offers several courses there in areas such as electrical, machine tool and welding technologies and chemical process operations.
American Water Heaters is a manufacturing mainstay in Johnson City, Tenn. S TA F F P H O T O
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Playing Their Parts VW’S OPERATION DRIVES SUPPLIER OPPORTUNITIES means promoting its educational assets as well as the nuts-and-bolts issues such as power and people, says C. Thomas Robinson, president and CEO of the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are blessed with a strong workforce and also with good training facilities,” he says “Tennessee Technology Center at Morristown and Walters State Community College have worked with our industries on customized training, and we promote that heavily when we’re recruiting because it’s a real plus.” In Johnson City, Mullican Flooring is investing $6 million and adding a production line for its solid prefinished hardwood flooring. The company looks to grow its workforce by more than 50 percent over the next two years. The same factors came into play during Scott County, Va.’s, successful courting of Rogers Foam Corp., which put a $1.4 million manufacturing facility in the Duffield (Va.) Regional Industrial Development Park in late 2007. The move created 50 jobs, but also highlighted successful partnerships among state agencies and
other entities to move ahead on major economic development initiatives, says John Kilgore, executive director of the Scott County Economic Development Authority. “A contact office is very important to a locality in having that one source where the individual business can contact without all the red tape,” he says. In addition to skilled and loyal employees, American Water Heaters in Johnson City, Tenn., also has benefited from nearby colleges and universities for training management and its labor pool, says Chuck Wright, corporate communications director for A.O. Smith Corp., which has owned the 1,175-employee manufacturer since 2006. The parent company is so high on American that it recently added a 27,000-square-foot testing facility on its campus, which will serve all of Smith’s water-heater lines. “Our people are very customer oriented, which is absolutely essential in our industry,” Wright says. “We’ve also been able to tap into a lot of technical and managerial talent in the region, so it’s been good for us in that regard as well.”
Eastman Chemical Co. maintains its headquarters in Kingsport, Tenn. S TA F F P H O T O
WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED REGION OFFERS A STRONG DOSE OF HEALTH-RELATED MANUFACTURING
The Northeast Tennessee Valley Region is building a reputation for health-related manufacturing. KING PHARMACEUTICALS INC. is headquartered in Bristol, Tenn., and has manufacturing facilities there and in four other cities. The company makes products to treat such conditions as chronic pain, hypothyroidism and insomnia. It has about 2,000 employees. CROWN LABORATORIES in Johnson City, Tenn., operates two divisions, Blue Lizard and Del-Ray Dermatologicals, that produce therapeutic shampoos, moisturizers, cleansers and prescription steroid lotions. The company’s signature product is Blue Lizard Australian Suncream.
Volkswagen’s plans for a $1 billion manufacturing facility in Chattanooga will put the Northeast Tennessee Valley region in a prime spot to capture supplier-related enterprise. The Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association hosted a forum in Bristol in April 2009 that put companies in the region in front of Volkswagen Group of America executives to explore possible support and supply options for VW’s $1 billion Chattanooga plant, which is scheduled to open in 2011. VW has said local sourcing will be a critical part of its operations, with a goal of having 90 percent of the vehicles it produces at the plant have U.S.-made content. The Northeast Tennessee Valley region already boasts an impressive roster of automotiverelated enterprises. Cooper Standard Automotive Inc., for example, makes emissions management and power steering system management components in Surgoinsville in Hawkins County, Tenn. DTR Tennessee has operations in Midway in Greene County, Tenn., that employ more than 850 workers and in Tazewell, Tenn., in Claiborne County that employ 450 workers making rubber products used primarily in automotive manufacturing. Korean automotive supplier Sam Dong Co. Ltd., a Tier 2 supplier of wiring used in transformers, opened its first U.S. plant in Rogersville in Hawkins County in 2008. And Borla Performance Industries, which designs and builds high-performance exhaust systems for street, off-road, and racing vehicles, began manufacturing operations in Johnson City, Tenn., in 2008. I M A G E S N E T N V A L L E Y. C O M
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The Smart Set Region’s resources cultivate a budding entrepreneurial culture Story by Joe Morris
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ith a solid core of highereducation institutions, small business and technology development centers, and resources to help companies grow and flourish, the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region is fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship. The region’s quality of life, coupled with the technological capabilities to keep businesses connected to clients, is a draw for entrepreneurs. The East Tennessee State University Innovation Laboratory, for example, works with entrepreneurs to help them establish viable companies and then transfer that technology into the marketplace. As part of Johnson City’s emerging Med-Tech Corridor, the lab works to propel new businesses into the region, creating new jobs and a high-tech bioscience sector, says
Rayford Johnson, lab director. “We are focusing on the area of bioscience as we go forward, although we are still working with some tech companies,” Johnson says. “We’re just one piece of some things that are being done around here to support sciences and grow the economy. There’s a lot of opportunity here in medical science, and science and technology as a whole. The lab is an integral piece of helping keep those firms close by once they’ve spun out.” The lab opened in 2001 and currently has eight tenants. One of its graduates is Banc Intranets, a provider of intranet-based applications such as portal, document and content management for financial institutions. Having the lab space available not only got the company started, but also fostered a sense of local loyalty among
Rayford Johnson, director of East Tennessee State University’s Innovation Laboratory, which assists entrepreneurs in bringing new technology to the marketplace
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the founders, says Rod Glinisty, the company’s executive vice president. “Everything they did for us was very positive, and it was a good place to have offices and some general services,” Glinisty says. “Otherwise it would have been a very difficult start for us. It also was a factor in our decision to buy a small office space and remain in an area that we feel will be growing.” That’s a vote of confidence echoed by Jose Castillo, a new-media consultant based in Johnson City. Castillo ticks off the university’s presence as well as other organizations and grassroots efforts for helping to fuel the current small business growth in the technology sector. “I think there is a strong drive for this here,” he says. “The people here are the types who have that entrepreneurial spirit built into them, and we’re seeing that play out in tech startups and tech-driven companies coming up here and around the whole region.”
The Northeast Tennessee Technology Council works with Castillo and dozens of other entrepreneurs and techoriented firms of all sizes, providing seminars and other networking opportunities to connect the growing community. That gives the 120-member organization a broad perspective, says Debbie Boggs, executive director, who likes what she sees these days. The council’s Web site features a list of all tech companies in the region, something Boggs says helps economic development officials when they’re talking up the area’s growing tech and science sector. “With the Innovation Lab, GeekSouth and other organizations, things have really taken off around here,” Boggs says. “We keep all the lines open we can between other organizations, and we have a lot of different companies on our board. We’re always looking for ways to remarket ourselves and our members so that we can grow the companies that
are here as well a bring in new ones.” While his business isn’t in a technology arena, Dan Provenzano says networking and outreach for one industry sector can help everyone else. Provenzano is co-owner of Kingsportbased GTS Refreshment Services, which offers food, vending and beverage services to companies and institutions in a two-state region. New business means a potential new client, and that’s always good news for the 13-year-old company. “There are a lot of positives about the area,” Provenzano says “It’s a community that is starved for good companies. When Ken Frolich and I started this company we didn’t ask for a lot of help, because we didn’t think we needed it. It’s good to see how many agencies and local government efforts have come online to give that kind of support, how the mentality of local government has changed dramatically in that respect. It’s going to change this area dramatically for the better.”
Average Wages By Industry Northeast Tennessee Valley Region Natural Resources and Mining
$765 $698
Construction
$922
Manufacturing Trade, Transportation and Utilities
$533
Information
$488
Financial Activites
$723
Professional and Business Services
$676
Education and Health Services
$737
Leisure and Hospitality
$247 0
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Jose Castillo of ThinkJose is a Johnson Citybased entrepreneur, writer and consultant on new media and convergence technology.
What’s Onlinee S TA F F P H O T O
Jose Castillo details a new space for entrepreneurs at imagesnetnvalley.com
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Gallery
An art deco masterpiece built in 1931 and now on the National Register of Historic Places, the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol, Tenn., is home to Theatre Bristol, the Piedmont Chapter of the Theatre Organ Society, the Bristol Ballet Company and the Bristol Concert Choir. Staff Photo
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Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County, Va. Staff Photo
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Gallery
The breathtaking Rhododendron Gardens are a fixture of Roan Mountain State Park. Photo by Antony Boshier
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The Four Elements is a sculpture by artist Hanna Jubran in downtown Kingsport. Staff Photo
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Energy/Technology
A Sunny Disposition Region sees rays of opportunity in solar energy
Story by Pamela Coyle
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roducers of the raw materials for solar energy manufacturing have take a shine to the Volunteer State, and the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region is positioning itself to take advantage of the opportunity. Wacker Chemie AG is investing $1 billion in a facility in Bradley County, Tenn., for production of hyperpure polycrystalline silicone. Hemlock Semiconductor, a competitor, is building its own $1 billion plant in Montgomery County, Tenn., for production of semiconductors for solar panels. Such momentum, plus Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen’s solar energy initiative, should draw other companies that make materials for solar installations, especially specialized glass. In the Northeast Tennessee Valley, the anchor is in place with Kingsport’s AGC Flat Glass, the world’s leading producer of solar glass. The site is the company’s largest solar voltaic cover class production facility in North America. It has another plant in Church Hill, Tenn., and a coatings plant in Abingdon, Va.
“AGC provides the foundation in our region for solar-related companies,” says Alicia Summers, executive director of the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association. “We are hoping to feel the effects of the Wacker Chemie and Hemlock operations and are working to prepare ourselves for when that interest comes to our region.” AGC itself already is adding new solar glass manufacturing capacity to its Church Hill operation, citing increased North American demand. “What we see as unique is that there are two types of solar modules that take glass, and both types will be produced in close proximity,” says Ed Wegener, AGC’s solar business unit manager. “It is a distinct advantage for prospective customers.” The Kingsport plant makes one version; the facility in Church Hill, in Hawkins County, will start producing the second type in 2010. “Our company made solar glass in early
What’ss Onlinee Read more about the region’s alternative energy enterprises at imagesnetnvalley.com.
AGC Flat Glass is adding capacity to its solar glass operations in the region. S TA F F P H O T O
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S TA F F P H O T O TODD BENNET T
AGC Flat Glass, which makes glass used in solar panels, has a major presence in the Northeast Tennessee Valley region.
1980s when solar wasn’t much more than a dream,” Wegener says. Hawkins County already is home to two other solarrelated companies: Short Mountain Silica, which produces high-quality silica sand, and Contour Industries, a small glass specialty manufacturer. A solar provider has expressed interest in Wise County, Va., and the state’s southwest corner also has sparked interest among biofuel firms, says Glen “Skip” Skinner, executive director of the Lenowisco Planning District Commission. Lenowisco is short for Lee County, the city of Norton, and Wise and Scott counties. Solar supply chain prospects will find the region hospitable. A company investing $500,000 and creating at least 25 new jobs in Tennessee is eligible for a $2,000 tax credit per worker – $4,500 if the site is in an economically distressed county. That is a standard across-the-board incentive. But Tennessee is taking an extra step for green power suppliers. If the company is spending at least $250,000 in the state, Tennessee will pick up the tab for any future carbon offset tax. The Tennessee Solar Institute, a new initiative, will be
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jointly run by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee. More than $60 million in federal stimulus money allowed the projects to move forward. The Solar Institute will provide innovation grants to solar firms based in the state. A separate program will provide grants to help businesses buy and install smallscale solar systems.
MORE INSIGHT A MAGNET FOR TECH ENTERPRISE Scott County, Va., has a new home to attract high-tech enterprises in the 45,000-square-foot CROOKED ROAD TECHNOLOGY CENTER, a $5.5 million multiuser building whose first tenant is the LENOWISCO Planning District Commission. A pharmaceutical company is moving in, too. A $4.5 million grant from the Virginia Tobacco Commission helped pay for the project. The Tech Center is in Duffield in the Scott County Regional Business and Technical Park.
High in Fiber STUDY ON BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY HELPS LURE BUSINESS provider. “He said we needed to prove it.� The impression that the region is backward is not only outdated, but flat out wrong, she says. “This area is full of entrepreneurs and innovators. We have business incubators and several start-up companies,� she says. “It really is a bright spot.� – Pamela Coyle
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The Northeast Tennessee Valley is wired, and the region has the research to prove it. A new study documents minimum and maximum upload and download speeds by cable modem, DSL, ethernet, fiber optic and frame relay in each of the region’s 15 counties. The study details what technologies are available and where. For example, in the threestate region, only two counties, Avery, N.C., and Claiborne, Tenn., did not have fiber optic deployed when the study wrapped up late in 2009. Regional officials say prospect companies always ask about broadband availability. “It is a huge economic development issue,â€? says April Eads, president of the Northeast Tennessee Technology Council. The study, released in December 2009, was a joint effort between the Technology Council and the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Association. Scott County, Va., uses broadband as a selling point. “We’ve got all the bandwidth they would ever need, organized in a way not only for commercial employees but work-at-home opportunities,â€? says Glen “Skipâ€? Skinner, executive director, Lenowisco Planning District Commission. The push for a white paper started two years ago when Eads and other economic development officials were meeting with site consultants in Dallas. When Eads told a wellknown consultant that Ă‘ortheast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia were filled with fiber optic cable, he laughed. “He said he didn’t believe it,â€? says Eads, who also is business development director at Bristol Tennessee Essential Services, a cable, Internet and phone
CHECK OUT HAWKINS COUNTY FOR YOUR BUSINESS FUTURE
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Transportation
Buckled In Road, rail, air service keep the region connected
Story by Kevin Litwin
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hether by road, rail or air, the Northeast Tennessee Valley region can move the goods, an attribute that is a prime selling point for companies that need to bring in raw material or ship out products. Three interstate corridors – I-26, I-40 and I-81 – cross through the region, fed by key federal and state highways. Interstate 75 and Interstate 77 are in close proximity, putting the region within a day’s drive of 76 percent of the U.S. population. The interstates are especially important to the more than 60 transportation-based companies located in the region. As for rail service, CSX Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp. serve the region and provide Tier I rail access on north-south and east-west routes. The rail carriers connect to vital ports such as Charleston, S.C., and Norfolk, Va., and officials with Norfolk Southern have been conducting a study to find a possible location for a new intermodal facility in Tennessee. A major holding in the region’s transportation portfolio is Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Sullivan County, Tenn. The airport, supported jointly by the cities of Bristol, Johnson City and Kingsport, accommodates an average of nearly 425,000 passengers each year and is a draw for travelers in northeast Tennessee, southwest Virginia and western North Carolina. “We recently increased our leisure traffic numbers considerably when carrier Allegiant Air began offering low-fare service to a variety
of Florida markets,” says Melissa Thomas, director of marketing at Tri-Cities Regional Airport. “Allegiant connects to Clearwater, Orlando, Sanford, St. Petersburg and Tampa, and our travel numbers to those cities obviously increase even more when the weather starts getting a little colder.” Besides Allegiant Air, Tri-Cities Regional also hosts regional carrier US Airways Express, which connects to US Airways Charlotte hub, and Delta Connection, which flies nonstop to Delta Airlines hubs in Atlanta and Cincinnati. The airport is marketing its cargo program, says Thomas, and has the space to accommodate freight carriers that might be interested in serving the region. The airport also administers a Foreign Trade Zone, which allows goods to be brought in tax and duty free, another enticement for cargo carriers. Tri-Cities Regional’s three-story terminal includes a restaurant and rental car service by Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National. The airport also has eight hangars ranging from 8,000 square feet to 28,000 square feet that can house a wide range of private aircraft and corporate jets. And for business travelers, the terminal has a Tri-Cities Regional Business Center that offers services such as free wireless Internet access. “Travel by any means in the Northeast Tennessee Valley is convenient,” Thomas says. “Good transportation access is one of the many positives about this region.”
The Northeast Tennessee Valley region boasts a number of transportation advantages, including easy access to major interstate corridors and commercial air service at Tri- Cities Regional Airport.
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By the Numbers Tri-Cities Regional Airport
425,000 Number of passengers Tri-Cities Regional Airport handles annually
118,835 Size of Tri-Cities Airport terminal and concourse in square feet
23,000 Size in square feet of cargo facilities
8 Number of hangars ranging size from 8,000 to 28,000 square feet for corporate and private aircraft
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM TRI CITIES REGIONAL AIRPORT Asheville, NC
76
Knoxville, TN
100
Charlotte, NC
170
Greensboro, NC
205
Nashville, TN
279
Louisville, KY
303
Atlanta, GA
312
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Charleston, SC
42
Washington D.C.
392
Indianapolis, IN
415
Virginia Beach, VA
446
Memphis, TN
490
Jacksonville, FL
516
Philadelphia, PA
532
Chicago, IL
596
New York, NY
613 MORE AT IMAGESNETNVALLEY.COM
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Education
Class Is in Session Employer needs shape the work of the region’s colleges
Story by Joe Morris
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f knowledge is power, the Northeast Tennessee Valley is plugged in, thanks to more than a dozen colleges and universities as well as six technology centers spread across the region. The presence of a variety of highereducation institutions and the range of academic disciplines they cover ensures a steady supply of wellschooled workers for employers. That, coupled with nimble responses to new
and existing employer needs, has created a strong synergy between town and gown throughout the region. “Everything we do is about trying to support the community,” says Nancy Brown, dean of workforce development at Walters State Community College, which has campuses in Morristown, Greeneville, Sevierville and Tazewell, Tenn. “We are always developing new academic and continuing-education programs.
The presence of a dozen colleges and universities and a network of technology centers gives the Northeast Tennessee Valley region an ample supply of skilled workers.
MORE INSIGHT FIVE COLLEGES, ONE ROOF THE KINGSPORT CENTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION is a $12 million, 54,000-square-foot facility that will let students take courses from affiliated colleges and universities in programs ranging from associate to doctoral degrees. The facility is administered by Northeast State Community College and combines the resources of Carson-Newman College, King College, Lincoln Memorial University, Northeast State and the University of Tennessee under one roof. Students will be able to earn selected baccalaureate and graduate degrees from participating colleges and universities as well as associate degrees from Northeast State. For more, go to www.kingsporthighered.org.
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Higher Education Colleges and universities in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region: • Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn.; www.cn.edu • East Tennessee State University, Johnson City; www.etsu.edu • Emory & Henry College, Emory, Va.; www.ehc.edu • King College, Bristol, Tenn.; www.king.edu • Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tenn.; www.lmunet.edu • Milligan College, Elizabethton, Tenn.; www.milligan.edu • Northeast State Technical Community College, Blountville, Tenn.; www.nstcc.cc.tn.us • Tennessee Technology Centers, Elizabethton, Morristown; www. elizabethton.tech.tn.us, www.morristown.tech. tn.us • Tusculum College, Greeneville, Tenn.; www.tusculum.edu • Virginia Highlands Community College, Abingdon, Va.; www.vhcc.edu • Virginia Intermont College, Bristol, Va.; www.vic.edu • Walters State Community College, Morristown, Tenn.; www.ws.edu
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Walters State Community College works with employers to develop specialized training programs.
Anytime something like green energy comes along, we look at how that can be an opportunity for us.” The college’s Center for Workforce Education works with area industries and other economic development organizations to provide specific job training programs, and the facility also works with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development through that agency’s career centers. “We make sure we hone in on what trends we think have the most opportunities for our area, both now and in the future,” Brown says. “We’re called on pretty consistently for information, assistance and recruitment efforts, and so we want to continue to be able to train the workers these companies will need.” Multiple career tracks also can be studied at Tusculum College, in Greeneville, Tenn., whose programs and services have a $67 million economic impact on the area based on an East Tennessee State University study. “We are at the table when discussing community-wide issues, and are engaged with the Greene County Partnership, regional chambers of commerce and local governments’ economic development efforts,” says Dr. Nancy Moody, president. Tusculum’s residential-college program
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aims to offer majors that will provide graduates to meet the needs of business and industry. The college also tailors programs specifically for working adults and nontraditional students in Greeneville and its off-site locations in Morristown and in the Tri-Cities. Other colleges that continue to expand their degree and training programs include Lincoln Memorial University, which has 12 extended sites in addition to its main campus in Harrogate, Tenn., and Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon, Va. That college’s Center for Workforce Training & Continuing Education offers customized, pre-employment and re-training among other services. The center supports the college and the community through an ongoing dialogue with business and industry in Washington County, the city of Bristol and western Smyth County, Va., says Melinda Leland, dean. “This dialogue includes working with economic development officials who are attracting prospective businesses, developing new training ideas to support employee development and partnering with internationally renowned training organizations to bring progressive training to our area,” she says.
A Big Thinker ETSU HAS A DEEP REACH, BIG IMPACT IN THE REGION economic impact on the region pegged at $437.8 million. In addition, the medical college increased family incomes by $162.6 million and created more than 3,800 jobs, according to a university study. A report by the ETSU Bureau of Business and Economic Research projected that by its second year of operation, the College of Pharmacy would add $10.9 million to the
East Tennessee State University is a major education asset in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region. The university earned the top score among Tennessee’s public universities in a statewide evaluation of educational quality released in early 2009. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission examined students’ performance on standardized tests of critical thinking and knowledge in their major field, pass rates on licensure exams, employer satisfaction with recent graduates, results of accreditation and academic program reviews, retention and graduation rates, and programs to assist students transferring to ETSU. The 14,700-student ETSU offers more than 200 undergraduate, graduate and medical degree programs of study in six colleges Arts & Sciences, Business & Technology, Education, Medicine, Nursing and Public & Allied Health. ETSU conferred its first four-year degrees in 1926 and has added dozens of courses of study since, including doctoral programs in nursing, audiology and physical therapy in the last five years. The College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy alone have an
regional economy, which included spending for salaries and supplies. The 350-acre main campus in Johnson City includes more than 60 academic buildings and offices totaling more than 3 million square feet. The 31-acre Veterans Affairs campus, which includes the university’s James H. Quillen College of Medicine, includes 10 buildings and more than 600,000 square feet of space.
Providing Reliable, Safe and EďŹƒcient Electric Service “It’s the Cooperative Wayâ€?
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Health
Small Communities, Big Medicine Region’s providers invest in treatment, technology, facilities
Story by Joe Morris
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ne of the biggest drawbacks faced by largely rural areas is a lack of local health-care options. Not so in the Northeast Tennessee Valley region, which is home to two of the country’s fastestgrowing providers. Johnson City, Tenn., has been the hub for Mountain States Health Alliance since 1998, when the Johnson City Medical Center purchased six Columbia/HCA hospitals in the region. Mountain States now has 14 hospitals providing services in 29 counties in Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina, and posting $1 billion in net revenues. And from its base in Kingsport, Tenn., Wellmont Health System operates eight full-service hospitals and has operating
partnerships and clinical affiliations with three other facilities. Wellmont also operates psychiatric, assistedliving and hospice services at three specialty facilities. Both providers are consistent investors in new technologies and physical enhancements to their networks, and with several thousand employees, each affects the region’s economic development in myriad ways, says Ed Herbert, vice president of communications and marketing for Mountain States. “We always see dividends for the residents when we invest in the area, everything from the construction workers at new facilities to the physicians we bring in through our recruitment process,” Herbert says.
In the last year, Mountain States has rolled out robotic surgery, refurbished operating rooms, further augmented its electronic medical records and medication dispensing systems and continued work on three new hospitals that are being designed to meet LEED certification requirements for environmentally friendly construction. “We see ourselves as an asset to economic development,” Herbert says. “What we do is important because we provide tremendous health-care resources to this market, which will help it to grow.” Wellmont, too, is aggressively adding facilities and services, says Andy Hall, director of government relations. A former economic I M A G E S N E T N V A L L E Y. C O M
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S TA F F P H O T O S
development official, Hall says he’s seen firsthand how important health care is to relocating and expanding businesses. “They would look at schools, retail, the government setup, but they always wanted to know about the doctors and the hospitals,” Hall says. “Access to quality health care is always a big driver.” Wellmont’s major projects include the final stages of a $110 million renovation at its Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport. And through various outreach efforts, the provider also finds many other ways to make its presence felt throughout the community. “I don’t think there’s anywhere in the state that has three trauma centers, which speaks very highly of the quality of and access to health care in Northeast Tennessee,” Hall says. “And when you look at the spinoff jobs we generate, you can see that there is a significant impact all across the board. “We get involved in the community, and work with officials so that we can be partners in the region’s growth. That’s extremely important to us.”
The presence of two major health-care systems provides high-quality treatment options throughout the region.
MORE INSIGHT HEALTH-CARE HEAVYWEIGHTS WELLMONT HEALTH
MOUNTAIN STATES HEALTH ALLIANCE
www.wellmont.org
www.msha.com
Founded in 1996, Wellmont operates eight full-service hospitals in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. It also is operating partner at another hospital in the region and maintains clinical affiliations with two other hospitals in Virginia. Wellmont, which employs 7,000 people in the region, offers services ranging from community-based acute care to psychiatric services to highly specialized tertiary services such as neonatal intensive care.
Formed after Johnson City Medical Center Hospital acquired six Columbia/HCA hospitals in Northeast Tennessee in 1998, Mountain States now operates 14 hospitals totaling about $1 billion in net revenues. Mountain States provides a spectrum of health services to residents in 29 counties in Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina, and its system includes 21 primary/preventive-care centers and numerous outpatient-care sites.
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What’s Onlinee Take a virtual stroll on the trails of Bays Mountain Park at imagesnetnvalley.com.
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Livability
Beautiful and Smart Progressive communities, spectacular scenery form a winning combination
Story by Kevin Litwin
S TA F F P H O T O
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popular Southern adage states that when God was creating the mountains, he took a little extra time making the Smokies. Natural beauty is a big part of life in the Northeast Tennessee Valley, and the Great Smoky Mountains are a big reason why. But life in this region is so much more. From its historic and revitalized downtowns to its bounty of cultural treasures and recreation options, the Northeast Tennessee Valley region brims with opportunities to live, work and play. The region’s forwardthinking leadership has married the best elements of the past with leading-edge innovations in areas such as sustainability and broadband connectivity. History is front and center in the region. For example, Jonesborough has been around since 1779 and is the oldest town in Tennessee, while Greeneville, founded in 1783, is the second oldest. The bounty of natural assets and
stellar recreation options leave no excuses for not getting outdoors. Golf Digest ranks the Tri-Cities area of Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol as the second-best place in the United States to live and golf. Fly Fisherman magazine rates the region as one of the nation’s premier spots for angling. “Another key component of life in the valley is the friendliness of the people,” says Cate Abraham, marketing manager for the Johnson City Development Authority. “When my husband and I first moved here, we got lost one day and pulled to the side of a deserted road. Suddenly, a car filled with teenagers came speeding out of nowhere, and screeched to a halt when they saw us. My husband and I were nervous, but the teens merely wanted to know if we were lost and if we needed help. That’s what friendly life is all about around here.” Population figures are also slowly on the rise throughout the region, partially due to the inward flow of
Water spirals down a 45-foot drop at Linville Falls on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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make the Top Seven list of “most intelligent communities” worldwide by the Pacific Telecommunications Council for pioneering work in the area of municipal broadband. Other lofty rankings for the region include the valley being listed as one of the top 10 Best Places for AfricanAmericans to retire, according to Black Enterprise Magazine. In addition, Forbes listed Johnson City in the top 50 for Best Small Places for Business and Careers in the United States. The region is also home to dozens of popular annual festivals, including the Sycamore Shoals Celtic Festival in
Elizabethton, Tenn., and the Clinch Mountain MusicFest in Scott County, Va. There are also get-togethers such as the Appalachian Fair in Gray, Tenn.; the Unicoi County Apple Festival in Erwin, Tenn., and the Mountain Treasures Festival in Dungannon, Va. “And don’t forget the music scene, which is incredible throughout the valley,” says Christina Blevins, executive director of a Believe in Bristol organization. “In fact, a Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center is being developed in Bristol, Va., with a scheduled opening in 2011.”
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“halfbacks” – people from the North who retired to Florida but are now moving halfway back to live in the beautiful valley. “These folks are finding out about all the affordable housing, low costs of living and quaint Main Street settings in these parts,” Abraham says. “And although quaint, there are many technological advancements, such as digital and fiber-optic networks in place throughout the valley.” Johnston City’s commitment to environmental and energy conservation won it the first ever 2008 Municipal League Green City Leadership Award. Bristol, Va., was the lone U.S. city to
The region’s communities are populated with historic, revitalized and vibrant downtowns.
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Palate Pleasers REGION COOKS UP RENOWNED RESTAURANTS When Andreas Herholz arrived in the United States from Freiberg, Germany, in April 2001, he had a dream of opening an authentic German restaurant. Seven years and one month later, his dream came true. Freiberg’s is named for his hometown in the German state of Saxony, and the restaurant is located in Johnson City, Tenn. “I enjoy being in the Northeast Tennessee Valley because people here go out to eat all the time,” Herholz says. “Business has been going very well. I average about 10,000 meals a month.” Ridgewood Barbecue in Bluff City, Tenn., is renowned for its smoked, pulled pork, and tangy, dark red, smoky sauce. Other noted dining spots include 12 Bones Smokehouse in Kingsport, Tenn., which specializes in ribs and soul food; and Russo’s Restaurant in Johnson City, which is known for its New Orleans-style cuisine. The Campus Drive-In in Gates City, Va., specializes in home-style food that includes such items as a sirloin steak and cheese sandwich topped with peppers and onions. At The Mustard Seed lunchtime restaurant, menu choices include a grilled corned beef sandwich served on marble rye bread that is shipped in from New York. “I get all my fresh breads directly from a New York deli, plus all of my salads feature surprises such as cranberries or lavendercolored blackberry dressing,” says Robin Norris, owner of The Mustard Seed. – Kevin Litwin
What’s Onlinee See video of Freiberg’s restaurant, a Johnson City tradition, at imagesnetnvalley.com.
visit our
advertisers Appalachian Electric Co-Op www.appalachianelectric.coop Bristol Tennessee Essential Services www.btes.net Bristol Virginia Utilities www.bvub.com Doubletree Hotel www.doubletreejohnsoncity.com Eastman Chemical Company www.eastman.com Economic Development Board www.jcedb.org Elizabethton Electric www.elizabethtonchamber.com
Greeneville Light & Power Holston Electric/ Hawkins County www.holstenelectric.com Johnson City Power Board www.jcpb.com
Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association www.netvaly.org Powell Valley Electric www.pve.coop
Joint Economic Development of Unicoi County
Scott County Economic Development Authority www.scottcountyva.org
Morristown Utility Systems www.musfiber.net
Tri-Cities Regional Airport www.triflight.com
Networks-Sullivan Partnership www.networkstn.com
Wellmont Health System www.wellmont.org
Northeast State Community College www.northeaststate.edu
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ECONOMIC PROFILE
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
BUSINESS SNAPSHOT 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.
POPULATION (2008)
MAJOR INDUSTRY SECTORS
REGION 760,075
Manufacturing, 22% Trade Transportation & Utilities, 23%
TENNESSEE Carter County Claiborne County GreeneCounty Hancock County Hawkins County Hamblen County Jefferson County Johnson County Sullivan County Unicoi County Washington County
59,492 31,461 66,157 6,693 57,477 62,132 51,074 18,112 153,900 17,718 118,639
Education and Health, 17% Government Professional and Business Services, 9%
REGION $34,460
TENNESSEE Carter County Claiborne County Greene County Hancock County Hawkins County Hamblen County Jefferson County Johnson County Sullivan County Unicoi County Washington County (Tenn.)
$32,287 $29,822 $35,246 $24,375 $37,398 $37,147 $39,580 $30,447 $39,706 $35,042 $40,267
VIRGINIA
Leisure & Hospitality, 11%
Lee County $29,365 Scott County $31,044 Washington County (Va.) $39,148
Financial Activities, 4.8%
NORTH CAROLINA
Information, 4.1%
Avery
$36,068
MAJOR EMPLOYERS Mountain States Health Alliance
8,700
Wellmont Health Systems
7,000
Eastman Chemical
6,700
K-VA-T Food Stores
3,800
East Tennessee State University
2,800
Citigroup
1,950
MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS (2007)
VA Medical Center
1,600
Advance Call Center Technologies
1,200
Johnson City, Tenn. Kingsport, Tenn. Bristol, Tenn. Bristol, Va.
American Water Heater
1,200
VIRGINIA Lee County Scott County Washington County
23,448 22,850 53,038
NORTH CAROLINA Avery County
17,884
59,866 44,191 25,351 17,424
Bristol Compressors
950
AGC Flat Glass North America
670 MORE AT IMAGESNETNVALLEY.COM
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NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION
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Ad Index 39 APPALACHIAN ELECTRIC CO-OP 10 BRISTOL TENNESSEE ESSENTIAL SERVICES
2 JOINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF UNICOI COUNTY 1 MORRISTOWN UTILITY SYSTEMS
47 BRISTOL VIRGINIA UTILITIES C3 DOUBLETREE HOTEL
42 NETWORKS-SULLIVAN PARTNERSHIP
42 EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
10 NORTHEAST STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
9 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD
C4 NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
8 ELIZABETHTON ELECTRIC C2 POWELL VALLEY ELECTRIC 6 GREENEVILLE LIGHT & POWER 33 HOLSTON ELECTRIC/ HAWKINS COUNTY
48 SCOTT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 48 TRI-CITIES REGIONAL AIRPORT
4 JOHNSON CITY POWER BOARD
9 WELLMONT HEALTH SYSTEM