Business Images Northeast Tennessee Valley Region: 2009

BUSINESS

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NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION

Production Line Prowess Hundreds of manufacturers employ 70,000 workers

Here, There, Everywhere Central location makes transportation a breeze

Ancient Hills, Modern Skills SPONSORED BY THE NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION | 2009

contents BUSINESS TM

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OVERVIEW

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BUSINESS ALMANAC

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BUSINESS CLIMATE

Industrial-Strength Assets

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Area leaders team up to promote development.

Success Stories

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TR ANSPORTATION

Here, There, Everywhere

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Location and infrastructure facilitate shipping.

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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Ancient Hills, Modern Skills

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Preparing tomorrow’s workforce is today’s priority.

Collaboration Is Key

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EDUCATION

Building Opportunities

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Region’s colleges cooperate for the greater good.

MANUFACTURING

Production Line Prowess

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Manufacturers employ about 70,000 people here.

Vat’s Up?

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HEALTH

Doctors, Pharmacists & More 26 ETSU students and graduates enhance care.

A Common Objective

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LIVABILITY

The Eyes Have It

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Recreational and cultural opportunities abound.

Festive About Festivals

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Two Towns, Two Andrews

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ECONOMIC PROFILE

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On the Cover PHOTO BY IAN CURCIO Hills near Kingsport, Tenn., at sunrise

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I M A G E S N E T N VA L L E Y. C O M

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BUSINESS TM

NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION 2009 EDITION, VOLUME 1

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

MANAGING EDITOR MAURICE FLIESS COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JESSY YANCEY ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER MATT BIGELOW STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SHARON H. FITZGERALD, ANNE GILLEM, JOE MORRIS, JESSICA MOZO, AMY STUMPFL DATA MANAGER RANETTA SMITH REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN MCCORD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN SMITH ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS LEAD DESIGNER ERICA HINES GRAPHIC DESIGN ALISON HUNTER, JESSICA MANNER, JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ WEB DESIGN LEAD FRANCO SCARAMUZZA WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN AD TRAFFIC JESSICA CHILDS, MARCIA MILLAR, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER V.P./SALES HERB HARPER V.P./SALES TODD POTTER V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS BILL McMEEKIN MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM KIM NEWSOM MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR JAMES SCOLLARD IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

Business Images Northeast Tennessee Valley Region is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

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 VISIT BUSINESS IMAGES NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION ONLINE AT IMAGESNETNVALLEY.COM

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contents LIFESTYLE | WORKSTYLE | DIGGING DEEPER | VIDEO | LINK TO US | ADVERTISE | CONTACT US | SITE MAP

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244 Love St. Erwin, TN 37650 (423) 743-1820 Fax: (423) 743-1833 www.erwinutilities.com

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Industry suits our nature in Hawkins County â&#x20AC;¦ s 4HE ACRE 0HIPPS "END )NDUSTRIAL $ISTRICT IS SURROUNDED BY A ACRE WILDERNESS BUFFER s 2AIL CONNECTION SPUR TO .ORFOLK 3OUTHERN ,INE s !DJACENT TO FOUR LANE (IGHWAY 7 s #LOSE PROXIMITY TO FOUR MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS s ,OCATED WITHIN ONE DAY S DRIVE OF OF MAJOR 5 3 MARKETS s 5TILITY INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING ELECTRICITY GAS

water and sewer s 4RI #ITIES 2EGIONAL !IRPORT LOCATED MILES EAST s 4ENNESSEE 4ECHNOLOGY #ENTER LOCATED ON SITE s 3KILLED WORKFORCE s $IVERSE MIXTURE OF EXISTING INDUSTRY

CONTACT: Hawkins County Industrial Development Board % -AIN 3T s 2OGERSVILLE 4. s #ELL &AX s % MAIL HAWK BELLSOUTH NET WWW HAWKINSCOUNTY ORG DEVELOPMENT

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All this â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and more â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in beautiful East Tennessee!

N O R T H E A S T T E N N E S S E E VA L L E Y

overview

TOP 10 REASONS TO DO BUSINESS IN THE NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION 1. WORKFORCE. The region has more than 300,000 employees with manufacturing backgrounds and a strong work ethic in right-to-work states.

2. TRAINING. Site selection consultants rank Tennessee’s FastTrack Job Training as among the 10 best nationally in training and effectiveness.

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

10. DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY. Our economy includes medical companies, educational institutions, manufacturers, corporate headquarters and distribution centers.

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

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, Tri-Cities Regional Airport Blountville, TN 37617 Phone: (423) 323-1203 Fax: 423-323-4016 www.netvaly.org

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.

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

VIRGINIA

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

TENNESSEE NORTH CAROLINA

7. DEVELOPED SITES AND BUILDINGS. Updated computerized site and community data – including location, utilities, transportation, zoning and demographic statistics – is readily available by phone or Web site.

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.

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SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of the Northeast Tennessee Valley region at imagesnetnvalley.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.

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‘WORLD’S FASTEST HALF MILE’ Stock Car Racing might have said it best. The magazine listed Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway as one of the Top 10 Tracks to Watch and Race On. Bristol is known as the “world’s fastest half mile,” and NASCAR hosts Sprint Cup races there every March and August. Those races draw 160,000 spectators to each event, compared to 18,000 fans at the speedway’s inaugural race in 1961.

The concrete track features banking of up to 30 degrees in the corners.

THE INN CROWD Andrew Jackson stayed there, and so did Andrew Johnson and James K. Polk.

The Netherland Inn House Museum and Boatyard Complex was constructed in the early 1800s on the Holston River in Kingsport, Tenn.

Today, the three-story building is a museum, and the inn is the nation’s only registered historical site that was both a stagecoach stop and a boatyard.

Now owned by the Netherland Inn Association, the building is furnished to represent life in the frontier days of the 1800s. A first-floor tavern, second-floor family quarters and third-floor guest rooms are decorated with period pieces.

TUNNEL VISION Yes, Virginia, there is a Natural Tunnel in your state.

The tunnel in Scott County was long used by railroads, beginning in the 1890s, and 20th century politician William Jennings Bryan called it the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” The commonwealth of Virginia acquired the tunnel and 100 surrounding acres in 1967 and eventually established Natural Tunnel State Park.

Today, trains don’t run through the tunnel, and pedestrians are welcome to view the walls that show evidence of prehistoric life.

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business almanac

WHEN BALD IS A GOOD THING Forty Angora goats enjoyed munching on a mountain from July through September 2008.

The animals were used primarily to eat thick Canada blackberry vegetation growth along the four “balds” of Roan Mountain, Tenn. This helped to preserve the views for hikers along the Appalachian Trail.

Several individuals, groups and universities backed the effort. Officials with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy say they appreciated the initiative because managing the grassy balds is difficult.

SKIING IS BELIEVING PHOTO COURTESY OF BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA

There is plenty of schussing and whooshing in Avery County, N.C., during the cold-weather months.

The county is home to Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain resorts, which are popular destinations for downhill and cross-country skiers. Avery County is in the northwest mountains of North Carolina, in a section known as the High Country.

CELEBRATING NEW AND OLD There was plenty of hoopla when the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport opened its spacious Eastman Center on Aug. 28, 2008.

The county’s population is under 18,000, and most of its cities and towns have fewer than 1,000 residents. However, it is fast becoming one of the most desirable tourist destinations and second-home communities in the southeastern United States.

Bruce Pearl, head coach of the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team, was the event’s keynote speaker.

He also cut the ceremonial ribbon and stayed for a couple of hours to chat.

Another Boys & Girls Club in Northeast Tennessee celebrated a milestone in 2008 when the one in Morristown observed its 50th birthday.

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business almanac

DAVY CROCKETT SLEPT HERE MOUNTAINS OF MEMORIES If you really want to know about Appalachia, head to college.

The Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City has a large collection of artifacts, photographs and historical documents. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The collections go back as early as the 1700s and proceed to the present, providing perspectives of people from all walks of Appalachian life.

The king of the wild frontier spent the first eight years of his life in Greene County, Tenn.

The Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park near Limestone features a replica of the log cabin where Crockett was born in 1786, along the Nolichucky River.

His birthplace actually consists of 105 partially wooded acres preserved as a historic site by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

A museum at the park showcases different aspects of Crockettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life as a hunter, politician, businessman and one of the legendary fighters killed defending the Alamo in 1836.

YES, WE DIG IT No bones about it. On second thought, there are many bones about it.

In 2000, a highway crew was moving earth for a road-widening project near Gray, Tenn., when workers innocently uncovered some fossils. Paleontologists were notified and have since found fossilized bones of a red panda, rhinos, a three-toed horse, saber-toothed cats, short-faced bears, tapirs and turtles.

The discoveries led to the establishment of the East Tennessee State University and General Shale Brick Natural History Museum.

It is located at the Gray Fossil Site just off Interstate 26.

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Industrial-

Strength Local leaders team up to promote the area’s advantages for business

A

ll for one, one for all – that would be an appropriate motto of the Northeast Tennessee Valley region.

Business and government leaders here represent multiple organizations, numerous cities, 15 counties, even three different states, but when it comes to economic development, they’ve teamed up for a unified approach that benefits everyone involved.

“The whole theory behind a regional organization is that you’re pulling people in,” says Alicia Summers, executive director of the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association, a 19-yearold coalition of power distributors within the Tennessee Valley Authority service area.

“It’s impressive that [the organization has] stayed together this long with the same vision: recruiting industry and putting people to work and getting capital investment into our region,” she says.

NETVRIDA’s advisory council, made up of developers, promotes the area’s assets to target industries, ranging from the automotive, plastics and chemical industries to high-tech data centers. In 2008, developers traveled to Germany

Assets

for Automechanika Frankfurt – the world’s leading automotive trade show – and networked with site-selection consultants in Atlanta and Dallas.

“Our goal is to establish personal relationships,” Summers says, “so that [consultants] will feel comfortable calling us up and asking us demographic numbers or workforce numbers or if we

Scorecard NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION

15 counties

3 states (portions)

1.2 million population (trade area)

300,000+ workforce

have a building that may meet their clients’ needs.”

EMPHASIS ON INFRASTRUCTURE Similarly, the Duffield, Va.-based LENOW ISCO Pla nni ng Distric t Commission, which covers the Virginia counties of Lee, Scott and Wise as well as the city of Norton, focuses on the electronics, education and energy sectors in its drive to recruit industry. The region’s attractions are many, and “number one is infrastructure,” says LENOWISCO Executive Director Glen “Skip” Skinner.

For example, a communications network on par with those found in major cities – featuring redundant fiber-optic cable – has attracted several data-center operations. Among them is Holston Medical Group’s $3 million Advanced Technology and Application Center in Duffield, the only certified Tier III electronic medical records storage facility in the United States. (Tier III is the highest designation of reliability as certified by the Uptime Institute.)

“Businesses can’t say they won’t come to Virginia because of a lack of bandwidth,” Skinner says.

Right: Economic development is occurring at a good clip in many parts of the region, especially the Tri-Cities.

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P H OTO B Y I A N C U R C I O

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IAN CURCIO

FORMULA FOR SUCCESS Furthermore, electricity rates throughout the tri-state region are about 25 percent below the national average, and in 2007 – for the eighth year in a row – TVA delivered power with 99.999 percent reliability. In addition, redundant power service ensures crucial industrial processes will not be interrupted.

Likewise, natural gas abounds, industrial chemicals and gases are at hand, and municipal water and sewer services are available to virtually all industrial sites in the region, NETVRIDA’s Summers notes.

Couple those advantages with an excellent location, comprehensive transportation network, skilled and eager workforce, low tax rates and incentive packages, and you have a formula for success, she adds.

And with the successful attraction of new industry has come retail growth, says Susan Reid, executive director of the First Tennessee Development District, an association of local governments that acts as a resource for community services and economic development.

Reid says retail sales have increased steadily in the Tri-Cities area (BristolJohnson City-Kingsport), as well as in some smaller communities such as Greeneville and Morristown.

– Carol Cowan

Alicia Summers says the region’s leaders are pursuing a uniform goal: recruiting industry and securing capital investment.

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business climate

Success Stories

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o, what prompted the head of a 40-year-old company with headquarters in California and a manufacturing plant in Michigan to move everything to Johnson City, Tenn.? The place and the people, says Alex Borla, founder and chief executive officer of Borla Performance Industries Inc. Borla Performance Industries manufactures high-tech, stainless-steel exhaust systems, emissions-control systems and mufflers for premier street, off-road and racing vehicles. The company purchased and moved into the 325,000-square-foot EPIC Technologies plant, hired about 200 workers and commenced full operations in late 2008.

“It was the quality of life and the quality of the people.”

“We did get incentives, and they were good,” Borla says, “but that’s not [the main reason] we chose this area. It was the quality of life and the quality of the people.”

Borla cites numerous automotive manufacturers in the southeastern United States and the proximity to the Bristol Motor Speedway as additional attractions.

In nearby Scott County, Va., 300-employee Tempur Production USA – a wholly owned subsidiary of Tempur-Pedic International Inc. – has been cranking out space-age mattresses

Executives find the region to be a fertile place to plant and grow a company

since it opened in 2001. Generous government incentives and the area’s strong manufacturing workforce figured highly in the Denmark-based company’s decision to establish its only U.S. factory in the town of Duffield.

“With the local workforce, everything we do here is a startto-finish process,” says Ken Mitchell, vice president and plant manager of Tempur Production USA, referring to the way ideas can move through development and into production.

Also in Duffield, Tempur Production USA in spring 2007 opened a $3.5 million research and development division, where employees focus on primary materials, textile development, new designs and testing, Mitchell says. “We have a large (new) testing facility where we put our mattresses through the ringer.”

Other expanding companies in the Northeast Tennessee Valley region include Seaman Corp. in Bristol, Tenn., and DTR Tennessee Inc. in Claiborne County and Greene County, Tenn.

Seaman Corp., which makes high-performance fabrics for industrial and recreational applications, plans to invest $7 million over the next three years to develop state-of-the-art products and equipment.

DTR Tennessee, which supplies anti-vibration and hose products to automotive-industry customers such as Toyota and Nissan, recently invested $10 million to expand its Claiborne County plant by 88,000 square feet. With this latest expansion, the company’s employment is expected to reach 1,500, and its total investment in the state will exceed $200 million.

– Carol Cowan

The availablity of incentives and a manufacturing workforce helped lure Tempur Production USA Inc. to Scott County, Va.

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Here,There,

Everywhere Scoreboard HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE

76 percent of U.S. population within a dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drive

3 interstate highways in the region (26, 40, 81), plus two others nearby (75, 77)

4 commercial airlines serving Tri-Cities Regional Airport

Flights from Tri-Cities Regional Airport go to Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis and Orlando.

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transportation

Central location and transportation options make travel here a breeze

G

etting there may be half the fun, but it’s also most of the challenge for manufacturers. Happily for those who’ve chosen to settle in the Northeast Tennessee Valley, it’s a challenge that’s easily met.

With three interstate corridors crisscrossing the area as well as other federal and state highways, rail lines and a regional airport, moving raw materials in and finished product out is simple. Indeed, location is a prime selling point throughout the region, and the strong transportation infrastructure is usually one of the first positives mentioned by local economic development professionals.

“We’re in a great location in that we’re between Interstates 81 and 26, and that’s how we promote ourselves,” says Betty Martin, director of business development for NETWORKSSullivan Partnership, the economic development organization for Bluff City, Bristol, Kingsport and Sullivan County, Tenn.

“And we’ve got between 60 and 70 transportation companies around here, so there’s no shortage of ways for people to get things moved.”

for more light industry and manufacturing, it’s no surprise that the railways are looking to expand their presence.

“We’re conducting a study to find a possible location for a new intermodal facility in Tennessee,” says Robby Klein, industrial development manager for Norfolk Southern’s Knoxville office. According to Klein, the eastern part of Tennessee is part of the railway’s Crescent Corridor project, which has as its initial goal the removal of 1 million truckloads of freight from interstate highways – and the placement of them on the rails.

“We’re studying ways to improve the rail route along that corridor through Tennessee, increasing its capacity and trying to get rid of some of the restraints we currently have,” he says. “We’re also very excited about the opportunity to serve the new Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, and we’re going to compete aggressively for that business.”

– Joe Morris

FROM ROADWAYS TO RAILWAYS Railways round out the triad of convenient transportation options in, around and through the valley. CSX Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp. serve the region, connecting it to ports that include Charleston, S.C., and Norfolk, Va. And given the area’s strong business growth and the bright outlook

N O R T H E A S T T E N N E S S E E VA L L E Y

BRIAN MCCORD

THE DISTRIBUTION CONNECTION A major coup for NETWORKS – one that will benefit the entire region – was landing an $8 million, 90,000-square-foot FedEx Ground distribution center in the Gateway Commons Park near the intersection of I-81 and I-26. That facility will anchor NETWORKS’ other development efforts. To that end, it’s snapping up large parcels near air and ground transportation hubs in a bid to prepare for the future.

“We’ve got several hundred acres under our NETWORKS’ responsibility,” Martin says. “We’ve got property by the airport, property in the cities, so we’ve covered all our bases as far as potential development (is concerned). The Bristol property is a rail site, and the airport site is well positioned for whatever comes along.”

Property adjacent to Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Blountville, Tenn., is made that much more attractive by the availability of more than two dozen commercial flights per day.

The airport has eight hangars ranging from 8,000 square feet to 28,000 square feet of storage space, plus a 13,000-squarefoot cargo facility. Designated a Foreign Trade Zone, the airport also offers full customs services.

CSX and Norfolk Southern provide access to Atlantic ports.

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Ancient Hills, W

Modern

Skills Preparing tomorrow’s workforce is today’s priority in the region

ith foresight, insight and unprecedented cooperation, educators, government officials, and leaders in business and industry are working to ensure economic vitality in the Northeast Tennessee Valley region for years to come.

The initiatives now under way were spurred by erosion of the historic manufacturing base here as some jobs moved overseas. Many of the remaining jobs demanded additional training or retraining of workers.

Addressing the issues head-on has resulted in new facilities and learning opportunities for companies as well as for residents.

EMPHASIS ON TRAINING Eastman Chemical Co. has a large presence in Kingsport, Tenn., both literally and figuratively. The firm was founded in 1920 by George Eastman to provide chemicals for his Eastman Kodak photography company. The chemical company split from Kodak in 1994 and now manufactures chemicals, fibers and plastics. It employs about 7,000 people in its headquarters city.

Eastman has long realized the importance of keeping pace with changing needs. “[In 2007], Eastman announced Project Reinvest, in which the firm will invest $1.3 billion in capital expansion in Kingsport,” says Karen Rowell, director of the Tennessee Operations Support Services Division. The project will include upgrades and retrofitting existing operations. The state of Tennessee has stepped in to lend a hand with funding, including $1 million for Northeast State Technical Community College in Blountville, which provides Eastman employee training as part of the Regional Center for Applied Technology in Kingsport.

The technology center, opened to students in 2002, is part of the downtown

Eastman Chemical Co., which has its headquarters in Kingsport, Tenn., emphasizes up-to-date training.

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workforce development

CUSTOMIZED COURSES In addition to the programs being offered or on the horizon in Kingsport, community colleges and technology centers elsewhere are ramping up their workforce training for everything from computer programming to welding.

For example, at Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, Va., which serves students in Lee, Scott and several other Virginia counties, the Center for Workforce Development customizes courses for business and industry.

MECC also offers dual enrollment, permitting high school students to get college credit while fulfilling the requirements for high school diplomas.

“I believe … we’re motivating some students who might not otherwise do dual enrollment to discover they can do college-level work,” says Dr. Terrance Suarez, president.

At the Tennessee Technology Center in Elizabethton, Director Jerry Patton says his school can respond quickly to a call for help.

“If we have a request from business and industry to provide some kind of specialized training to help them meet their particular needs,” Patton says, “we’re able to create those programs within a very short period of time.”

– Anne Gillem

N O R T H E A S T T E N N E S S E E VA L L E Y

Collaboration Is Key EDUCATOR WORKS WITH OTHER LEADERS TO PREPARE A POOL OF QUALIFIED WORKERS William W. Locke has been president of Northeast State Technica l Community College in Blountville, Tenn., for 13 years and has been involved with workforce development for a quarter century.

Northeast State is collaborating with government, business and industry leaders to help ensure the area has a prepared workforce for the present and future. About 5,300 students are enrolled at the college.

Dr. Locke took time out from his busy schedule to answer questions about workforce development.

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Kingsport Academic Village, which includes the Kingsport Center for Higher Education, the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing and the Regional Center for Health Professions.

The health center houses Northeast State’s health and nursing programs and was built with funds from the city of Kingsport; it opened in August 2008.

The other two centers are scheduled to open by fall 2009. (See story, page 18.)

“What we see happening is that manufacturing has gotten a black eye,” Rowell says. “People think there aren’t jobs in manufacturing left. There are jobs, but they are high-skill jobs. So the education requirements are greater. …

We have an opportunity [at the manufacturing center] to show people what it’s like to work in an advanced manufacturing environment.”

Q

How do you see Northeast State’s role in workforce development?

A

We feel that our college’s main major goal is to prepare a qualified workforce. The goal is to do two things – allow existing businesses and industries here to expand, and to aid in the recruitment of new businesses and industries.

Q

How do you accomplish that goal?

A

We don’t talk about all this so much as an educational environment here at the college; we talk about it as a workforce-prep environment, because that’s the one thing that people looking to expand a business or to locate somewhere want to know: “Do you have a qualified workforce? Can you get me one?” So all of our educational programs are focused on developing a qualified workforce, which we talk about in economic development terms.

Q

What are recent successes you can point to?

A

The Regional Center for Applied Technology, or RCAT, (which

Dr. William W. Locke leads Northeast State Technical Community College.

opened to students in 2002 and is part of Northeast State), is part of a huge endeavor going on in Kingsport, with three new buildings coming on line.

We have RCAT, the Regional Center for Health Professions, which just opened [in August 2008], and we’re going to have a Center for Higher Education and a Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing. It’s a big endeavor – no one in Tennessee is doing anything like it. We’re excited about it.

Q

How have officials in your area been able to work together to achieve your goal?

A

We’ve had this goal since 1999.

What has made the difference for us is the thought that the one thing we needed to do to expand our economy was to make sure we could tell people that we had a qualified workforce. …

We wanted to maintain and enhance our standard of living and quality of life. And the only way you do that is through economic growth.

– Anne Gillem

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Building Opportunities Academic institutions cooperate to expand studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; choices

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education

T

he Northeast Tennessee Valley’s array of educational options includes 11 colleges and universities. But what’s more impressive than their sheer number is the institutions’ sense of cooperation, as they often work together to meet the students’ everchanging needs.

East Tennessee State University in Johnson City is the region’s largest academic community. As one of six universities governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents, ETSU boasts 125 degree programs and serves nearly 14,000 students.

“Our programs of study encompass a good mix of offerings,” says Dr. Paul E. Stanton Jr., university president since 1997. “And we are the only Board of

Regents institution that has, as part of its mission, a focus on health sciences.”

Stanton says the university also is a leader in distance/online education, conducting a wide variety of online courses and a growing number of online degree programs.

“About 46 percent of our students are 25 years or older,” Stanton adds. “The challenges for these students are different than for the typical residential student. Flexibility is key in terms of reaching out to adults and helping them continue their education.”

CONSORTIUM CREATES NEW CENTER That call for flexibility and convenience echoes throughout the region,

says Kingsport Mayor Dennis Phillips, who sees the forthcoming Kingsport Center for Higher Education as a prime solution. Scheduled to open in August 2009, the 54,000-square-foot center will accommodate about 800 students with two 60-seat lecture halls, other classrooms, laboratory space, a media center and a 220-seat auditorium.

The $12.9 million project represents a consortium of Northeast State Technical Community College, King College, Lincoln Memorial University, Carson-Newman College and the University of Tennessee. Tusculum College and Milligan College also have expressed interest in joining.

Nearby Northeast State will operate the center, providing students their first

Northeast State Technical Community College (left) and East Tennessee State University (above) are among the 11 colleges and universities in the Northeast Tennessee Valley. Others are Carson-Newman College, King College, Lincoln Memorial University, Milligan College, Tusculum College and Walters State Community College; and, in Virginia, Emory & Henry College, Virginia Highlands Community College and Virginia Intermont College. There are also two Tennessee Technology Centers in the region.

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education The Kingsport Center for Higher Education is being built downtown.

IAN CURCIO

two years of core courses, Phillips says.

Students then will have the opportunity to pursue a four-year degree in the same building by taking courses from participating universities.

“We know that having a welleducated workforce is important not only for our quality of life but also in terms of economic development. Our goal is to make education available to everyone,” the mayor says, noting that students living in his city or elsewhere in Sullivan County may receive two years of free tuition at Northeast State.

Dr. Patty Kraft, associate provost at Carson-Newman College, says response to the new education center has been extremely positive. “There’s a real sense of excitement,” she says. “CarsonNewman is all about reaching out to students who may not otherwise be able to pursue a degree, so this is a new way of doing that. All of the schools have been working very well together. I think we recognize how important this is for both students and the communities in which we live.”

ENTITIES FORM ACADEMIC VILLAGE Kingsport City Manager John Campbell agrees, adding that the city already is reaping the benefits of the aptly named Kingsport Academic Village, which incorporates the Kingsport Center for Higher Education; the Regional Center for Health Professions, which opened in August 2008; the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing, which broke ground in August 2008; and the Regional Center for Applied Technology, which opened in 2002.

“We’re seeing a real renaissance in the downtown, with several new restaurants and an incredible amount of interest in loft development,” Campbell says. “It’s an exciting time for students, businesses and the entire community.”

– Amy Stumpfl

N O R T H E A S T T E N N E S S E E VA L L E Y

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Production

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manufacturing

Line

Prowess Manufacturers bring thousands of jobs to the Northeast Tennessee Valley

T

he manufacturing sector in the Northeast Tennessee Valley is strong and getting stronger, with hundreds of companies collectively employing about 70,000 workers. And if you want evidence, look no farther than Blountville, Tenn., home of the region’s commercial airport, Tri-Cities.

Blountville also is home of Leclerc Foods Inc., which moved its U.S. headquarters, manufacturing facility, and research and development operations to Blountville’s Northeast Tennessee Business Park from Pennsylvania in 2008.

“It’s a $38 to $40 million investment for them initially, and they plan to build a distribution center on an adjacent 14 acres of land,” says Richard Venable, chief executive officer of NETWORKS-Sullivan Partnership, an economic development organization in Sullivan County.

“They make all types of snack foods, including private labels for department stores such as Target, and they have a good number of national contracts.”

A 105-year-old company based in Quebec City, Canada, Leclerc began producing granola bars – including peanut-free varieties – at the new factory

in fall 2008. The company plans to add cookies to its product line in early 2009.

Leclerc executives chose Sullivan County because of its central location and because they had formed good relationships with economic developers in the area.

“They made a very quick decision that Northeast Tennessee and our workforce met their needs,” Venable says.

The company prides itself in adopting cutting-edge technology. “Their entire process is computerized, and they run a dark warehouse for storing and picking out the product,” Venable says. “They could turn off the lights – and the robots wouldn’t even know it.”

Elsewhere in Sullivan County, Edwards & Associates Inc. refurbishes helicopters and assembles new aircraft.

“We have two companies in Piney Flats,” says Carolyn Ferrell, vice president of administration for Edwards & Associates. “The other is Aeronautical Accessories Inc. Edwards & Associates services, sells and refurbishes helicopters, and Aeronautical Accessories manufactures the parts we use.”

John Deere Power Products has been making lawn mowers in Greeneville, Tenn., for two decades.

With plant expansions, production is now more than 300,000 units annually. P H OTO B Y TO D D B E N N E T T

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More Insight I

A SAMPLING OF OTHER PRODUCTS FROM THE NORTHEAST TENNESSEE VALLEY A.O. Smith Corp., Johnson City, Tenn.

– water heaters Berkline/Benchcraft LLC, Morristown, Tenn.

– upholstery Foliot Furniture Inc., Greeneville, Tenn. – furniture for college dormitories and motels Sam Dong Co., Rogersville, Tenn.

– specialty magnet wire products U.S. Fence Inc., Bulls Gap, Tenn. – PVC and wood fencing Vifan USA Inc., Morristown, Tenn.

– polypropylene film for food packaging

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Greeneville Light & Power System

110 North College St. Greeneville, TN 37743 (423) 636-6200 Your Local Public Power System Serving Greeneville and Greene County Since 1945

RUNNING LIKE A DEERE Greeneville and surrounding Greene County, Tenn., is another manufacturing powerhouse, boasting more than 90 industrial employers.

At its Greeneville plant, John Deere Power Products Inc. manufactures seven models of riding lawnmowers – more than 300,000 annually – and a variety of attachments and baggers. The company employs between 500 and 1,000 people locally, depending upon the season and customer demand.

“We celebrated our 20th anniversary here in September (2008), so this is a great time for us,” says Dave Smith, factory manager. “We started here producing walk-behind mowers in a 50,000-square-foot facility. Over the years, we’ve transitioned into making riding lawn (mower) equipment and grown to more than 300,000 square feet.”

The company appreciates Greeneville for its central location, hard-working residents, and low tax base and cost of living. “There’s a very competent workforce here. Our employees come to work with a can-do attitude,” Smith says. “The tax base and cost of living in this region are attractive, and it’s a wonderful lifestyle. When I sit on my front porch, I look at mountains.”

In 2008, John Deere Power Products celebrated 10 million hours – nearly six years – of continuous production without a lost-time accident.

“We have an intense focus on workplace organization, and teamwork is in everything we do,” Smith says. “We watch out for each other. The spirit of this facility is, ‘I’ve got your back.’ We preach it and live it.”

– Jessica Mozo

Sometimes winning a race is not about beating

the other runners.

It’s about honoring survivors and those who’ve lost the battle. It’s about raising funds for research, education, screening and treatment. The Komen Race for the ®

Cure is about support, not competition. ®

IAN CURCIO

Join us at komen.org or 1.800 I’M AWARE .

This space provided as a public service. ©2004, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

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Leclerc Foods Inc. relocated its U.S. headquarters, manufacturing and R&D to this Blountville, Tenn., location.

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manufacturing

Vat’s Up? TURNING WASTE COOKING OIL INTO BIODIESEL FUEL, THAT’S WHAT Some companies in the Northeast Tennessee Valley region are turning the energy crisis into an economic opportunity.

Nu-Energie LLC, with headquarters in Blountville in Sullivan County, Tenn., produces biodiesel fuel from used cooking oil. In 2008, Nu-Energie secured an agreement to collect 5 million gallons of used cooking oil from 20,000 restaurants annually, which constitutes 5 percent of the used cooking oil in the nation.

Hawkins County native Brian Hullette founded the company in early 2007, and as of September 2008 it had 13 employees.

“I felt this was the right way to help get our country back on track so we can stop relying on foreign oil,” Hullette says. “A lot has happened in the short time since the company began.”

Indeed, Nu-Energie recently built a 12,500-square-foot facility in Hawkins County’s Phipps Bend Industrial Park that will allow the company to expand its annual processing capacity in the future to 15 million gallons. Furthermore, the company plans to add 10 facilities elsewhere in the southeastern United States.

“We’ll be offering turnkey facilities to people wanting to start up a biodiesel company,” Hullette says.

Similarly, from a 45,000-square-foot plant in the Hickory Flats Industrial Park in Lee County, Va., Synergy Biofuels LLC planned to begin producing biodiesel from waste cooking oil by the end of 2008.

“We will offer a free service to restaurants by collecting their waste cooking oil for free,

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and we’ll turn that oil into biodiesel and sell it to fuel distributors, power generators and whoever wants to purchase it in bulk quantities,” says Ankit Patel, founder and chief executive officer. “We hope to give back to the local community by allowing farmers and individuals to come fill up in our parking lot once

or twice a week.”

As of September 2008, Synergy Biofuels had six employees.

Initially, the company plans to produce about 3 million gallons of biodiesel a year, eventually ramping up to about 8 million gallons annually.

– Jessica Mozo

Northeast Tennessee

... where bright futures begin.

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

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Doctors,

Pharmacists East Tennessee State University leads the emergence of a health-care hub

W

More

hen it comes to expecting and providing quality health care, “no” just isn’t in the vocabulary of Northeast Tennessee Valley residents.

In the 1970s, a shortage of rural physicians prompted a push for a public medical school at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. Despite a bruising political battle, proponents prevailed, and in August 1978 the first class entered what is now named the James H. Quillen College of Medicine.

Fast-forward about three decades, when a shortage of pharmacists was the impetus for ETSU’s Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, which admitted its first students in January 2007. The pharmacy school is unique in the country – the only privately funded college within a state institution.

“The community raised more than $5 million in donations and pledges in 58 days,” Pharmacy Dean Larry Calhoun says.

“To date, we’ve had well over a 1,000 people and corporations donate money to the college. They realize the impact that the College of Medicine has had on this region, and they see a similar impact long-term that the College of Pharmacy will have.”

Studies indicate that the college, which has 220 students and 30 faculty members, eventually will bring $30 million annually to the local economy.

Calhoun says the region’s hospitals and pharmacies are training grounds for students. “They all realize that the pharmacist shortage is not only acute, but it’s going to be a long time before we actually meet the needs of the United States, especially in rural communities.”

The same is true for other health professions, and ETSU spokesman Joseph E. Smith says the College of Medicine has been “a revolutionary force,” swelling the numbers of physicians in the region.

About 240 medical students are enrolled at any one time, and they fan out across Southern Appalachia to learn with health-care professionals on the job while improving contem-

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and

porary medical care.

Community “preceptors” are physicians who aren’t faculty members yet accept students into their practices. Also, because ETSU doesn’t have a medical center of its own, area hospitals fill that void.

“The hospitals, particularly, have been vital to our success.

They have welcomed us with open arms,” Smith says.

Medicine and pharmacy fall under ETSU’s Division of Health Sciences, as do the colleges of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences, Public Health and Nursing.

FORGING COMMUNITY TIES Also training nurses in the region is King College in Bristol, Tenn., which offers a bachelor of science in nursing, a bachelor’s degree tailored to registered nurses and three options for a master’s degree – nurse educator, clinical nurse specialist or administrator.

In the administration specialty, students may elect to attend one extra semester in summer and receive a dual degree in nursing and business administration. The clinical nurse specialist is “the only program in the region that is an advanced-practice nursing degree that actually keeps nurses at the bedside,” says Carolyn Robinson, dean.

King College nursing students attend classes at several sites in the region. “One of our missions is to go where they are and to provide opportunities to enrich their academic achievement while maintaining their ties within their community,” Associate Dean Jane Castle says.

An example is King College instruction at the new Regional Center for Health Professions in downtown Kingsport, Tenn., where several institutions have joined forces to offer health-related studies at a central location.

(See story, page 18.)

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald

N O R T H E A S T T E N N E S S E E VA L L E Y

health

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IAN CURCIO

Colleegee of Clilni n ca c l andd RReehabilitaatiive Heal a thh Sci cien e ce ce s

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health

A Common Objective MOUNTAIN STATES, WELLMONT NETWORKS OFFER QUALITY CARE Thanks to two respected health networks, Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System, the Northeast Tennessee Valley benefits from high-quality medical facilities across the region.

Founded in 1998 when Johnson City Medical Center purchased six other medical facilities, Mountain States today has 14 hospitals in

Tennessee and Virginia, with the 443-bed JCMC as its centerpiece.

Calling medical treatment for children “the heart of health care,” Dennis Vonderfecht, Mountain States president and chief executive officer, says the alliance’s $36 million Niswonger Children’s Hospital should open in March 2009 on the JCMC campus. A

testament to the region’s support, the construction project received $20 million in private donations.

At Wellmont Health System, which has 14 hospitals in Tennessee and Virginia, the new emergency department at Bristol Regional Medical Center is “absolutely state of the art,” says Brad Lifford, media relations coordinator.

Lifford says emergencypatient volumes have grown “exponentially,” prompting the $13 million construction and renovation project that was finished in June 2008.

Under way at Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport is Project Platinum, a $100 million expansion and overhaul that includes a new patient tower, emergency and same-day surgery expansions, additional intensive-care beds, and technology upgrades.

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald

“For over 63 years we have been energizing the future of Carter County and the tradition of excellence continues today!”

IAN CURCIO

Elizabethton Electric {ääÊ >ÌV iÀÊ °ÊUÊ â>LiÌ Ì ]Ê/ ÊÎÇÈ{Î ­{ÓήÊx{Ó ££ää www.eesonline.org

Dennis L. Vonderfecht presides over the 14-hospital network of Mountain States Health Alliance.

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Problem Solvers PHARMACEUTICAL FIRMS INNOVATE The future of Crown Laboratories is so bright, it just might need to lather on some of its signature product, Blue Lizard Australian Suncream.

Crown is a shining example of manufacturers of prescription and over-the-counter products that are finding the Northeast Tennessee Valley an ideal locale.

“There’s no question that, as a distribution center, this is probably as good as it gets,” says Crown Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bedard, who consolidated all operations into one Johnson City, Tenn., facility in 2000.

Bedard says his company has more than 40 employees and likely will grow – in part because the nonpartisan Environmental Working Group in July 2008 ranked Blue Lizard as the top sunscreen for safety and performance. “We’re looking at further expansion, further growth in our brand, and continuing to build a pharmaceutical manufacturing presence as well.”

Under the Crown umbrella are two divisions, Blue Lizard and Del-Ray Dermatologicals, offering therapeutic shampoos, moisturizers, cleansers and prescription steroid lotions.

With an emphasis on neuroscience, hospital and acutecare products, King Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the region’s giant in the industry.

Headquartered in Bristol, Tenn., and with manufacturing facilities there and in four other cities, King makes products to treat such conditions as chronic pain, hypothyroidism and insomnia.

Founded in 1994, King employs about 2,000 people and reported 2007 revenue of about $2.1 billion.

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald

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questions

answers

©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

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The Eyes

Have It Lush hills of this beautiful region contain great venues for recreational and cultural pursuits

L

iving it up is easy in the Northeast Tennessee Valley, and the region continues to show up often on national livability lists.

For example, Walk! Magazine named Kingsport, Tenn., the 2008 Best City for Walkers, thanks to the city’s nine-mile Greenbelt as well as more than 25 miles of walking trails in Bays Mountain Park. Meanwhile, Golf Digest magazine ranked the Tri-Cities area of Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol as the second-best place in the United States to live and golf.

“Golfing around the entire Northeast Tennessee Valley is pretty incredible,” says Tommy Olterman, who works for the Tennessee Valley Authority and has been an avid golfer since 1980. “In southwest Virginia, I especially enjoy Deerfield Golf Course in Damascus. Some of my favorite courses in northeast Tennessee are Dandridge Golf & Country Club, Cattails at Meadowview in Kingsport and Clinchview Golf & Country Club in Bean Station. There are more than 40 beautiful public and private courses in this part of the country.”

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FROM SKIING TO NASCAR WATCHING The region that encompasses northeast Tennessee, southwest Virginia and northwest North Carolina also draws rave reviews for its temperate, four-season climate. Typical scenery here includes green landscapes, hilly terrain and shimmering waterways.

“There is hiking, with mountains all around us, and the whitewater rafting and snow skiing opportunities are excellent,” says Alicia Summers, executive director of the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association. “Meanwhile, Bristol Motor Speedway is the world’s fastest half-mile racetrack and is packed with 160,000 of our closest friends whenever NASCAR arrives here every March and August.”

The area also boasts several lakes for boating and numerous freshwater streams that are ideal for trout fishing.

“This region has been rated one of the premier spots for fishing in the United States by Fly Fisherman magazine,”

N O R T H E A S T T E N N E S S E E VA L L E Y

SEE VIDEO ONLINE Visit Kingsport’s parks at imagesnetnvalley.com.

Summers says. “And, of course, having the Great Smoky Mountains gracing our area makes the Northeast Tennessee Valley an incredible place to visit.”

PROMOTING MUSICAL HERITAGE The performing arts also are well represented in the region, with ballet companies, symphonies, unusual museums and theater groups. Examples of premier arts venues include the Paramount Center for the Arts on the Tennessee side of State Street in Bristol, the castle-like Rose Center in Morristown, Tenn., and the nationally recognized Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Va. And now, a 24,000-square-foot Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center is being developed in Bristol, Va., with a scheduled opening in 2011.

“We are an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and will ultimately become a destination for visitors to learn about mountain music that originated in the local hills of Appalachia,” says Bill Hartley, executive director of the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance and board member for the Crooked Road Heritage Trail.

PHOTOS BY IAN CURCIO

livability

The trail is a roadway that stretches from the VirginiaKentucky state line and goes 230 miles into Virginia. “Motorists can visit eight major music-related venues through 10 counties, and this can truly become an economic development tool that ties together the region’s musical heritage,” Hartley says.

“Stops include Carter Family Country, the Ralph Stanley Museum, Blue Ridge Music Center, the Galax Fiddlers Convention, Floyd Country Store and the Tennessee Blue Ridge Institute.

“And once the Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center opens, it will be added as a Crooked Road Heritage Trail destination,” he says.

Back at the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association, Summers says the entire region can boast numerous big-city amenities, but on a smaller scale.

“Many people from the northern U.S. who retired to Florida are now moving halfway back to live in the valley,” she says.

“A lot of developers are interested in this region, and plenty of nice homes are being built. It is really exciting and interesting around here these days.”

– Kevin Litwin

More than 25 miles of trails – some offering lake views – draw hiking and biking enthusiasts to Kingsport’s Bays Mountain Park.

The 3,500-acre nature preserve also features exhibits with deer, wolves, bobcats, raccoons, otters, snakes, turtles and hawks.

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Festive About

Festivals Celebrations are year-round magnets in the Northeast Tennessee Valley

F

ans of fun, rejoice.

Feel free to dust off your kilt and head to Elizabethton, Tenn., for the Sycamore Shoals Celtic Festival. And be sure to wear your clogging shoes when attending the Clinch Mountain MusicFest in Scott County, Va. The Northeast Tennessee Valley region has dozens of festivals each year, with just about every month covered. Springtime events include the Iris Festival in Greeneville, Tenn., while summertime attractions include the Appalachian Fair in Gray, Tenn., each August. In the fall, there is the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tenn., and wintertime attractions include A Candlelight Christmas in Piney Flats, Tenn., as well as Speedway in Lights from November to January in Bristol, Tenn.

“In Northeast Tennessee, events are our specialty,” says Claudia Moody, chief executive officer of the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association. “Live music performances are abundant at festivals, some of which include the nation’s finest Americana, old-time, country, bluegrass and gospel

music. After all, this is a land where country music was born and where mountain music thrives.”

One of the biggest annual attractions, Fun Fest, takes place in Kingsport, Tenn., over nine days. Activities include a Tour de Possum Creek bike ride, an 8K run, concerts, a film festival, arts show, block parties and a Mardi Gras parade.

“We actually schedule 100 events,” says coordinator Lucy Fleming. Fun Fest draws about 180,000 people annually.

Also in Tennessee, the Independence Day Celebration at Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park in Limestone extends to a second day. And the Rhythm & Roots Reunion is held on a weekend each September on both sides of the TennesseeVirginia state line in Bristol.

Other annual events of note include, in Tennessee, the Blue Plum Festival in Johnson City, the Unicoi County Apple Festival in Erwin and Heritage Days in Rogersville; and, in Virginia, the Mountain Treasures Festival in Dungannon, Nickelsville Days and Duffield Daze.

– Kevin Litwin

The nine-day Fun Fest draws about 180,000 people to Kingsport, Tenn., each year for concerts and many other kinds of events.

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Two Towns, Two Andrews HISTORIC TOWNS OF JONESBOROUGH AND GREENEVILLE HAVE BEEN HOME TO PRESIDENTS JACKSON AND JOHNSON Andrew Jackson practiced law as a young man in Jonesborough, Tenn., during the late 1780s. Andrew Johnson moved to nearby Greeneville in 1826 to work as a tailor.

Both eventual U.S. presidents are honored in their respective towns, especially since both Jonesborough and Greeneville enjoy showcasing history.

“Andrew Jackson, the nation’s seventh president, actually stayed for an extended period at the Chester Inn on Main Street during his law-practicing days, and that inn still exists today,” says Melissa Cloyd, marketing and advertising manager for the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center/Department of Tourism.

“In fact, the bottom floor of the old inn was transformed into the Jonesborough Museum in the fall of 2008. That is very exciting for the 5,000 residents who live here.”

Jonesborough is the oldest town in Tennessee, having been founded in 1779. Today, it is a

magnet for tourists attracted to its architecture, quaint shops and restaurants.

“If you are a history buff, Jonesborough is a must-visit place,” Cloyd says. “We publish a Jonesborough strolling-tour brochure that describes an amazing 40 sites here that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. All are within easy walking distance of one other.”

As for Greeneville, it is Tennessee’s next-oldest town, established in 1783. As vice president, Johnson ascended to the presidency following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

The nation’s 17th president, he subsequently was impeached – and acquitted – and after

leaving the White House in 1869 went home to Greeneville.

Johnson later returned to Washington to serve in the U.S. Senate, but his longtime home and burial place are in Greeneville.

In addition, the President Andrew Johnson Museum is on the campus of Tusculum College in Greeneville.

“I know that Greeneville promotes its interesting history, and so do we,” Cloyd says.

“Truly, it is history that brings most people to our community each year.”

– Kevin Litwin

SEE VIDEO ONLINE Visit downtown Jonesborough at imagesnetnvalley.com.

Ranked in the Top 10 Metros of Best Places for Business and Careers in the Country – Forbes Magazine, May 2006 and 2007

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 Jonesborough, founded in 1779, is the oldest town in Tennessee.

N O R T H E A S T T E N N E S S E E VA L L E Y

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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ECONOMIC PROFILE BUSINESS CLIMATE

TRANSPORTATION Centered around the Tennessee/Virginia Tri-Cities metropolitan area of Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City, the Northeast Tennessee Valley region offers convenient access to Interstate 81, I-40 and I-26 as well as nearby I-75 and I-77.

Fifty-five interstate trucking companies serve the region, providing access to more than 70 percent of the U.S. population within one dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s truck delivery.

Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Blountville, Tenn., is a fullservice facility for passenger and cargo traffic.

Strong training and workforce development programs that produce skilled, educated workers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; combined with low utility costs and low tax rates â&#x20AC;&#x201C; make the Northeast Tennessee Valley region an attractive location for doing business.

Claiborne County Chamber of Commerce 3222 Highway 25-E, Suite 1 Tazewell, TN 37879 (423) 626-4149 or (800) 332-8164 www.claibornecounty.com

Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 9 825 W. First North St. Morristown, TN 37815 (423) 586-6382 www.morristownchamber.com

GREENE COUNTY Population 65,945 Greene County Partnership 115 Academy St. Greeneville, TN 37743 (423) 638-4111, www.greene countypartnership.com

HAMBLEN COUNTY Population 61,026

HANCOCK COUNTY Population 6,713 Sneedville/Hancock Community Partners & Hancock County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 277 Sneedville, TN 37869 (423) 733-4466 www.hancockcountytn.com

Freight also moves in and out of the region via CSX and Norfolk Southern rail lines.

TENNESSEE CARTER COUNTY Population 59,157 Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 190 500 Veterans Memorial Parkway Elizabethton, TN 37644 (423) 547-3851 or (423) 547-3859 www.elizabethtonchamber.com

CLAIBORNE COUNTY Population 31,347

SCOTT COUNTY, VIRGINIA â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a Natural â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?

For Your Next Business Location

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economic profile HAWKINS COUNTY Population 56,850 Hawkins County Industrial Development Board 403 E. Main St. Rogersville, TN 37857 (423) 272-7668 www.hawkinscounty.org

JEFFERSON COUNTY Population 49,372 Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 890, Dandridge, TN 37725 (865) 397-9642 www.jefferson-tn-chamber.org

JOHNSON COUNTY Population 18,043 Town of Mountain City 210 S. Church St. Mountain City, TN 37683 www.mountaincityonline.com

SULLIVAN COUNTY Population 153,239 Bristol Chamber of Commerce 20 Volunteer Parkway Bristol, TN 37620

(423) 989-4850 www.bristolchamber.org Kingsport Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 1403 151 Main St. Kingsport, TN 37662 (423) 392-8800 www.kingsportchamber.org

UNICOI COUNTY Population 17,663 Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 713 100 S. Main Ave. Erwin, TN 37650 (423) 743-3000 www.unicoicounty.org

WASHINGTON COUNTY Population 114,316 The Chamber of Commerce serving Johnson City-JonesboroughWashington County 603 E. Market St. Johnson City, TN 37601 (423) 461-8000 www.johnsoncitytnchamber.com

visit our

advertisers Bristol Chamber of Commerce www.bristolchamber.org Bristol Tennessee Essential Services www.btes.net Bristol Virginia Utilities www.bvub.com Eastman Chemical Company www.eastman.com Economic Development Board www.jcedb.org Elizabethton Electric Department www.cityofelizabethton.org Erwin Utilities www.erwinutilities.com First Tennessee Bank www.firsttennessee.com Goins Rash Cain Inc. www.grcinc.com Greeneville Light & Power System www.glps.net Holston Electric/Hawkins County www.holstenelectric.com J.A. Street & Associates www.jastreet.com

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NORTH CAROLINA AVERY COUNTY Population: 17,674 Avery County Chamber of Commerce 4501 Tynecastle Highway Unit 2 Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828) 898-5605 or (800) 972-2183 www.averycounty.com

VIRGINIA LEE COUNTY Population, 23,787 Lee County Industrial Development Authority P.O. Box 912 Jonesville, VA 24263 (276) 346-7766 www.leecountyida.com

SCOTT COUNTY Population 22,882 Scott County Economic Development Authority 180 W. Jackson St. Gate City, VA 24251 (276) 386-2525 www.scottcountyva.org

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Johnson City Power Board www.jcpb.com King College www.king.edu Morristown Utility Systems www.musfiber.net NETWORKS-Sullivan Partnership www.networkstn.com Northeast State Technical Community College www.northeaststate.edu Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association www.netvaly.org Scott County Economic Development Authority www.scottcountyva.org Sleep Inn – Inn & Suites www.sleepinn.com/hotel/tn288 TCI Group – Jerry Petzoldt Agency www.tcigroup.com Tri-Cities Regional Airport www.triflight.com

Population 51,984 Washington County Chamber of Commerce 179 E. Main St. Abingdon, VA 24210 (276) 628-8141 www.washingtonvachamber.org Note: Population figures are 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimates

FOR MORE INFORMATION Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association 2425 Highway 75 Building 102 Northeast State Technical Community College P.O. Box 1022 Tri-Cities Regional Airport Blountville, TN 37617 Phone: (423) 323-1203 Fax: (423) 323-4016 www.netvaly.org

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Ad Index 3 5 B R I S TO L C H A M B E R O F CO M M E RC E 4 B R I S TO L T E N N E S S E E E S S E NTIA L S E RV I C E S 2 9 B R I S TO L V I RG I N I A U TI LITI E S 8 EASTMAN C H E M I C A L CO M PA N Y 3 3 ECO N O M I C D E V E LO P M E N T B OA R D

2 GOINS RASH CAIN INC .

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2 5 J O H N S O N C IT Y P OW E R B OA R D 3 4 K I N G CO L L EG E

2 8 E L IZ A B E T H TO N E L EC T R I C D E PA RT M E N T

1 2 M O R R I S TOW N U TI LIT Y SYS T E M S

3 ERWI N U TI LITI E S C 2 FI R S T T E N N E S S E E BA N K

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Ad Index (cont’d) 2 0 N O RT H E A S T S TAT E T EC H N I C A L CO M M U N IT Y CO L L EG E C 4 N O RT H E A S T T E N N E S S E E VA L L E Y R EG I O N A L INDUSTRIAL D E V E LO P M E N T A S S O C I ATI O N 3 5 S COT T CO U N T Y ECO N O M I C D E V E LO P M E N T AU T H O R IT Y C 3 S L EEP I N N – I N N & S U ITE S 3 4 TC I G RO U P – J E R RY P E T ZO L DT AG E N C Y 2 1 T R I - C ITI E S R EG I O N A L A I R P O RT

questions answers

©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r. o r g

The Sleep Inn & Suites速 hotel in Kingsport is conveniently located off Interstate 81, just one mile from the Tri-Cities Regional Airport.

This Kingsport, Tennessee hotel is minutes from area points of interest like the Fort Henry Mall, East Tennessee State University and Bays Mountain Park. The Bristol Motor Speedway is also nearby.

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

Full-service amenities and features include: t Free airport shuttle service t Free continental breakfast t Free wireless high-speed Internet access t Free USA Today t Free local calls 200 Hospitality Place Kingsport, TN 37663 (423) 279-1811 www.sleepinn.com/hotel/tn288