Business Images Rutherford County, TN 2011

business

imagesrutherford.com ®

What’s Online

Tour Cannonsburgh Village and experience the history of Murfreesboro.

Rutherford county, tennessee

It’s Hip To Be on the Square Murfreesboro’s downtown thrives

Getting Even Healthier

Hospital expands again

Perfect Address for Business

Chamber debuts ‘green’ office

Sponsored by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce | 2011

business

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22 Workstyle Destination Rutherford

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County’s business climate heats up the economy

Getting Even Healthier

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Middle Tennessee Medical Center debuts new hospital campus

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Perfect Address for Business

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New chamber offices are big on green features

The Destination for Distribution

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Companies find La Vergne an ideal locale to move the goods

It’s Hip To Be on the Square

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Murfreesboro’s downtown thrives Table of Contents continued on page 5

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On the Cover Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce’s new building Photo by antony boshier

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Insight

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Overview

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Almanac

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Energy/Technology

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Transportation

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Health

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Education

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Economic Profile

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Through the Lens

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

Please recycle this magazine

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business

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Rutherfor d Co unty, Tennessee

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audience development director Lisa Battles Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editor Jill Wyatt Contributing writers Pam Coyle, Julianna Edmonds, Cary Estes, Bill Lewis, Betsy Williams Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Jessica Manner, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Vikki Williams Graphic Designer Rachael Gerringer Media Technology Analysts Chandra Bradshaw, Lance conzett, Michele Niccore, Marcus Snyder

Digital Edition

Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Web Content Manager John Hood Web project manager noy fongnaly Web Design Director Franco Scaramuzza Web account manager lauren eubank Web Designer II richard stevens

Getting Even Healthier

Web Developer I Yamel Hall Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan I.T. Director Yancey Bond I.T. support technician bryan foriest Regional Sales Manager Chris Sweeney

New $267M campus marks milestone for MTMC

Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Office Manager/Accounts Receivable Coordinator Shelly Miller

Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Antony Boshier

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he prognosis is positive at Middle Tennessee Medical Center, which opened a brand new hospital in late 2010 and has already embarked on another large construction project in 2011.

In October 2010, MTMC opened a sevenstory, $267 million hospital on Medical Center Parkway off Interstate 24 in Murfreesboro’s growing Gateway development. The Gateway development is a burgeoning 400-acre site that includes Class A office space, good proximity to major retail development and access to the city’s Stones River Greenway system.

The new 600,000-square-foot hospital is four times larger than what MTMC had been occupying on North Highland Avenue since it was founded in 1927.

“MTMC has been talking about building a new hospital since 1998,” says Gordon Ferguson, president and CEO of Middle Tennessee Medical Center. “We’ve been at our old facility for 83 years and had several additions, but it got to a point where we were running out of space.”

BIG, PRIVATE ROOMS Planning for the new hospital was meticulous and included several visits to medical centers across the country to gather the best ideas in design and function. The result is a number of high-tech and comfortable amenities that include 286 identical large, private patient rooms. The spacious rooms were created to provide separate areas for the patient, caregiver and family, with the family area outfitted with a sofa bed and a separate TV. “We are also using artwork from Tennessee artists, and it’s all nature scenes,” says Michael Bratton, MTMC vice president of Patient Care Services. “That’s important from a patient care standpoint, because nature scenes have been shown to decrease patient stress levels.”

Integrated Media Manager Brandy Maddox

FACTS & FIGURES Construction of Middle Tennessee Medical Center took 2.8 million man hours.

If one person had done the job, it would have taken 1,346 years to complete.

Sales Support Manager Cindy Hall color imaging technician alison hunter

Site preparation required moving nearly 31,000 tons of soil and rock, enough to cover a football field up to 210 feet high.

Chairman Greg Thurman

Construction took 2.3 million square feet of drywall, enough for 250 houses.

President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman

The hospital required 3.9 million linear feet of electrical wiring – enough to stretch all the way from Murfreesboro to Houston.

Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman

200 MORE STAFFERS The hospital was also built with sustainability in mind, and construction

Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner

Middle Tennessee Medical Center opened a $267 million hospital campus in Murfreesboro in fall 2010.

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Senior V.P./business Development Scott Templeton V.P./external communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Custom Publishing Kim holmberg V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens

Share with a friend Easily share an interesting article, stunning photo or advertisement of your business on Facebook, Twitter or via e-mail.

V.P./Sales Charles Fitzgibbon, Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Content Director/Travel Publications Susan Chappell Content Director/Business Publications Bill McMeekin Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan

HAVE A BLOG OR WEBSITE? Embed the digital magazine into your site to add compelling information about the successful businesses located here, what it’s like to work here and why it’s a great place to live.

DO MORE THAN JUST READ ABOUT IT Hear from decision-makers at leading companies, see video of the region’s success stories and find links to useful demographic information and information sources.

imagesrutherford.com

Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop

Business Images Rutherford County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.

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: Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce 3050 Medical Center Pkwy., Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Phone: (615) 893-6565 • Fax: (615) 890-7600 www.rutherfordchamber.org

Visit Business Images Rutherford County online at imagesrutherford.com ©Copyright 2011 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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The Association of Magazine Media Custom Publishing Council

Member Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce

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ONLINE

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Bu si ness I mages Ruther for d C oun ty

CONNECTIONS

An online resource at imagesrutherford.com

digital Magazine >> BuSInESS

imagesrutherford.com ®

What’s Online

Tour Cannonsburgh Village and experience the history of Murfreesboro.

RuTHERfORd COunTy, TEnnESSEE

It’s Hip To Be on the Square Murfreesboro’s downtown thrives

Getting Even Healthier

Hospital expands again

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

Perfect Address for Business

Chamber debuts ‘green’ office

SPOnSOREd By THE RuTHERfORd COunTy CHAMBER Of COMMERCE | 2011

Read the magazine on your computer, zoom in on articles and link to advertiser websites.

News and Notes >> Our editors give you the Inside Scoop on the latest development and trends in the community.

Workstyle A spotlight on the region’s innovative companies

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

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

Data Central >> A wealth of demographic and statistical information puts the community at your fingertips.

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

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

go online

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Overview

A Sustaining Success Story Rutherford County Sets the Pace for Growth and Investment Rutherford County continues to set the pace for growth in Tennessee.

The county’s 2010 population stood at more than 262,000 – a whopping 44 percent increase from 2000 – and it ranked No. 2 among Tennessee counties for its rate of growth.

With its vibrant and diverse economy, high-performance schools, a gamut of cultural and recreational options, and abundance of affordable housing choices, it’s easy to see why Rutherford County is thriving.

In a ranking by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, Rutherford County placed three cities in the top 20 for business friendliness: No. 6 La Vergne, No. 17 Smyrna and No. 20 Murfreesboro.

In Murfreesboro, the population has eclipsed 108,000, placing it at No. 12 on the fastest-growing U.S. cities list compiled by MSN.com.

Money magazine ranked Murfreesboro 20th in the most affordable homes category of its 2010 Best Places to Live list for the nation’s small cities.

Rutherford County remains a clear destination of choice for investment, expansion and corporate headquarters location. Household names with deep roots in the county include Nissan North America, Inc., Ingram Content Group, Verizon Wireless and State Farm. Nissan is investing $1.4 billion to manufacture its electric LEAF vehicle in Smyrna, and General Mills is investing $132 million at its Murfreesboro plant, where it will add 80 jobs to its nearly 900-person workforce.

Rutherford County is the geographic and population center of Tennessee. Three-quarters of the nation’s population is within a day’s drive. Interstate 24 cuts through the county, and access to I-65 and I-40 are just minutes away. Bolstering the county as a logistics hub are a collection of major industrial parks and hundreds of thousands of square

feet of warehouse/distribution space.

An engine of the county’s economic vitality is 26,000-student Middle Tennessee State University, the largest undergraduate campus in the state university system. MTSU celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2011.

The county, already a center of innovation in health care, welcomed the new $267 million campus of Middle Tennessee Medical Center in fall 2010 in Murfreesboro’s burgeoning Gateway complex.

But Rutherford County is not all business. The Avenue® Murfreesboro, Stones River Mall and Colonial Town

Park form a regional retail draw, and the county is home to dozens of attractions, plus entertainment, dining and nightlife options.

For more on the advantages of visiting, living, working and investing in Rutherford County, contact: Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce 3050 Medical Center Pkwy.

Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Phone: (615) 893-6565 Fax: (615) 890-7600 Toll-free: (800) 716-7560 E-mail: info@rutherfordchamber.org www.rutherfordchamber.org

Rutherford County

Nashville

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La Vergne

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Smyrna

RUTHERFORD 31

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Murfreesboro

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Eagleville

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41A 24

Shelbyville

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Almanac

A Family Feel On the Menu In the Swim of Things A popular spot for outdoor recreation in Murfreesboro is McKnight Park, home of the Sports*Com complex that includes a gymnasium, 1/16-mile track, aerobics area, fitness equipment, game room, meeting room, 25-yard indoor pool, 50-meter outdoor pool, and four sand volleyball courts.

The Sports*Com complex underwent a $3.6 million upgrade in June 2010, adding an outdoor water park with a large splash area for younger children, water slides, rope monkey bars, a variety of fountains and a water dumping bucket. The renovation also included a new rockclimbing wall and more space for basketball and volleyball.

The new water park is located at 2310 Memorial Boulevard, and admission is only $3.

Brothers Eric and Rob Fortney are so sure that downtown Murfreesboro is the perfect spot for a deli-style restaurant and bar that when a fire destroyed their business just weeks after it opened, the brothers didn’t hesitate and immediately began planning a re-opening to make the eatery bigger and better.

The revamped 3 Brothers Deli & Brewhouse re-opened in November 2010, with a full menu of signature handmade sandwiches and an extensive collection of more than 100 domestic and imported beers.

So, who is the third brother?

“It’s you, when you step into our bar,” says Rob Fortney.

“Welcome to the family – come in and be our brother.”

They Keep Good Records Middle Tennessee State University has been making history for 100 years, but it also is a keeper of history.

The Albert Gore Research Center at MTSU is a repository for manuscripts dedicated to preserving and making available for research primary source materials related to Tennessee history.

Through its public programming, educational activities, oral history program and exhibits, the center promotes active study of the political and public policy history of the region.

Central to the center’s collection are the papers of Albert Gore Sr., who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1939 to 1952 and in the U.S. Senate from 1953 to 1970. For more on the center, go to janus.mtsu.edu.

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Making Birthday Wishes Come True Candle Wishes Foundation is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Murfreesboro that fulfills birthday wishes and provides essential needs for underprivileged children.

The idea for Candle Wishes came in 2002 from Jenny Williams, then a 17-year-old Rutherford County high school student who saw that underprivileged children needed someone to celebrate their birthdays, and that people might want another avenue outside the Christmas holidays to express their generous spirit.

Candle Wishes distributes paper birthday candles that lists information needed to purchase gifts to donors willing to sponsor a child. The children with birthdays receive their gift bags at monthly birthday parties, where families enjoy food, cake and games.

Candle Wishes serves approximately 700 children annually in Rutherford County, Williamson County and Memphis.

Real World Experience For more than six decades, the DECA program – Distributive Education Clubs of America – has been helping high school and college students become emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management through chapters and national programming.

DECA helps students develop skills and competence for marketing careers, build self-esteem, experience leadership and practice community service.

The high school division is comprised of 5,000 schools across the U.S., including Blackman High School in Murfreesboro that has 200 members.

At Blackman High, the entrepreneurship and marketing classes run a store called Sketch it Up, which provides custom poster designs for students and teachers. The chapter also has a student-run coffee shop and bookstore, where profits are used as a fundraiser to send students to DECA’s state and national competitions. In 2010, at DECA’s national competition in Louisville, five Blackman teams placed in the top 20, including three in the top 10 and one that finished second.

The Blackman chapter also is involved in community projects, such as its work in spring 2011 with Candle Wishes Foundation to host birthday parties for underprivileged children in the area.

Have a Good Time Rutherford County is a community that embraces its festivals.

The annual day-long Main Street Festival in Eagleville takes place in June and includes craft booths, food, amusements, music, and a car and motorcycle show. Kick up your heels in July at Cannonsburgh Village for Uncle Dave Macon Days, named in honor of one of the first Grand Ole Opry superstars and a long-time resident of the area. The family-oriented event includes music, dance, heritage activities, juried arts and crafts, food, a historic photo exhibit and storytelling. In La Vergne, 2011 marks the 39th anniversary of Old Timer’s Day, which kicks off with a country ham breakfast and includes a variety of entertainment acts, food, parade and fireworks. The annual September Quilt Show in Smyrna takes place at the historic Sam Davis Home, and brings together a plethora of quilts – current, vintage and antique.

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Almanac

Sewn Into the Fabric of the Community The iconic Singer sewing machine has been part of the American industrial landscape since 1851, and the company can claim a number of firsts, including the world’s first zig-zag machine and first electronic machine.

Today, Singer Corp. maintains headquarters and distribution operations in La Vergne, and remains a major force in sewing machinery for uses such as home décor, clothing construction, embroidery and quilting.

Singer is part of SVP Worldwide, which designs, manufactures and sells household sewing machines and related products in more than 190 countries. Its other brands include Husqvarna, Viking and Pfaff.

For more on Singer, visit www.singerco.com.

Playing for Mr. J The Smyrna High School Bulldogs football team made it all the way to the state Class 6A championship game in 2010, which marks the third time in five years the team reached the title game.

It seems Bulldogs players had some additional inspiration for their 2010 season; Fred Johnson, the patriarch of a family with four generations of involvement in Smyrna High sports, and arguably the school’s biggest follower, passed away in spring 2010.

“Mr J,” who never missed a game for 37 consecutive years before falling ill in 2006, was laid to rest in the school’s purple and gold colors wearing a 2006 state championship ring.

Bulldogs players dedicated the 2010 season to him, and each player’s helmet carried an insignia with Johnson’s initials.

Switched On in Eagleville The Lamp Shop & Supply, a retail fixture in Eagleville, is a speciality store located on South Main Street that carries a large assortment of new, used, and vintage lamps and lighting. The shop also stocks replacement parts for old and new lamps, plain and hand-painted glass shades, and lamp chimneys.

For more information about The Lamp Shop, contact the owner, Rhonda James, at (615) 274-6274.

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Business Climate

Destination Rutherford County’s business climate heats up the economy

favorable tax structure

skilled workforce

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Story by Betsy Williams Photography by Antony Boshier

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hings just keep getting better in Rutherford County.

Whether it’s existing industry expansions or new business announcements, Rutherford County continues to attract major investments, resulting in significant job creation that is keeping the county’s unemployment rate well below the national average.

Rutherford County combines a favorable tax structure with aggressively customized incentive offerings, availability of a highly skilled workforce, and transportation and logistics infrastructure to create an ideal climate for new companies and existing businesses across a range of industries.

A $1.4 billion lithium-ion battery plant under construction in Smyrna will supply batteries for the LEAF, Nissan’s batteryoperated vehicle. Joining LEAF production, which begins in 2012, will be the Rogue, a sports utility vehicle that will begin production in 2013.

General Mills Expansion General Mills, which opened its Murfreesboro facility in 1979 to make frozen pizza, is in the midst of an 18-month, $132 million expansion that will create additional capacity for the company’s growing Yoplait yogurt business and add 80 new jobs to the almost 900-person payroll.

high rankings Murfreesboro’s population tops 108,000, up more than 58 percent since 2000. Murfreesboro placed No. 12 on the fastestgrowing U.S. cities list compiled by MSN.com.

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research ranked La Vergne (No. 6), Smyrna (No. 17) and Mufreesboro (No. 20) on its list of the most business-friendly Tennessee cities in 2010.

job creation strategic location

incentive offerings

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Equipment at ClaimTrust Inc., a software company that relocated its headquarters from Florida to Murfreesboro

“General Mills is thrilled to continue to grow in Murfreesboro, and we value our strong partnership with the local community,” says local plant manager Pat Murphy, adding that jobs accompanying the expansion will pay an average of $20-plus an hour.

NHK Seating of America, Inc. began construction in November 2010 on a new $54 million plant that is expected to employ up to 224 workers when all phases of production are implemented in 2015. Initial production at the Murfreesboro facility will be for the manufacture of automotive seat frames.

Rutherford County Health Care Is Healthy Sector Growth isn’t limited to the manufacturing sector, however.

Health care also plays a significant role in the county’s positive economic forecast, with a new office tower planned at the just-opened, $267 million Middle Tennessee Medical Center campus in Murfreesboro, and the location of ClaimTrust, Inc., a fastgrowing provider of revenue software for the hospital industry that moved

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its headquarters from South Florida to Murfreesboro in 2009.

“This area is the health-care capital, so it made geographical sense to be here,” says Joe Ferro, president and CEO of ClaimTrust. “We needed a highly skilled staff and we couldn’t find it in South Florida. I saw Murfreesboro as a strategic advantage, where we would pay competitive salaries and improve the quality of life for employees by keeping them here, rather than having them commute out of the county. We have found a highly skilled workforce here. The people are phenomenal.”

ClaimTrust merged with an Atlanta-based health-care IT firm in early 2011. The company’s 50-employee Murfreesboro operation will remain intact.

“I’m thrilled to be here,” Ferro says.

“The people in economic development and at the chamber have been wonderful, the financial institutions have been reasonable to work with and we were able to have our new building constructed in a reasonable amount of time. The overall quality of the workforce is outstanding.”

Rutherford County By the Numbers

262,604 2010 census population

44.3% Population change since 2000

$63,085 Average household income

137,470 Labor force

Calling On Smyrna VA service center helps revitalize a neighborhood A move by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs is generating more jobs for Smyrna, and helping to revitalize one of the town’s neighborhoods.

The VA has opened the Mid-South Consolidated Patient Account Center, or CPAC, in a 60,000-square-foot former Walmart store that underwent a $5 million renovation.

The center, which will employ between 300 and 400 people, is part of Veterans Affairs’ initiative to improve billing and collection activities at its 153 VA medical centers and 1,400 clinics. The

CPACs handle a variety of financial functions for the VA, including insurance verification, billing, utilization review and accounts receivable. Many of the jobs at the center pay between $40,000 and $50,000 annually.

The VA has signed a 20-year lease for the building where the center is housed. The facility, which had most recently been an expo center, is expected to jump-start expansion efforts at nearby commercial properties where space is available, and create additional spin-off employment.

Aiding in the site location was the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and its Destination Rutherford public-private economic development initiative. Smyrna won out over competing bids from several other communities.

Rutherford County is home to the Alvin C. York Campus of the VA’s Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, a 347-bed facility that provides medical, psychiatric and long-term care for veterans. The medical complex employs more than 1,500 people and is one of the county’s single largest employers.

LaVergne Tennessee City of Opportunity

• Ranked sixth in state for Business Friendly City • Prime distribution and manufacturing space readily available • Readily available skilled labor force • Rare opportunity for commercial development • Low city taxes, exceptional water and sewer rates • Fantastic location for interstate, air and railroad transportation • Grocery, clothing, food and other retail invited to plan ahead for Waldron Road corridor opening

La Vergne warmly welcomes new business and industry!

La Vergne City Hall Mayor Senna Mosley 5093 Murfreesboro Rd. (615) 793-6295 tel (615) 793-6025 fax La Vergne, TN 37086

www.LaVergneTN.gov

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Getting Even Healthier New $267M campus marks milestone for MTMC

Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Antony Boshier

T

he prognosis is positive at Middle Tennessee Medical Center, which opened a brand new hospital in late 2010 and has already embarked on another large construction project in 2011.

In October 2010, MTMC opened a sevenstory, $267 million hospital on Medical Center Parkway off Interstate 24 in Murfreesboro’s growing Gateway development. The Gateway development is a burgeoning 400-acre site that includes Class A office space, good proximity to major retail development and access to the city’s Stones River Greenway system.

The new 600,000-square-foot hospital is four times larger than what MTMC had been occupying on North Highland Avenue since it was founded in 1927.

“MTMC has been talking about building a new hospital since 1998,” says Gordon Ferguson, president and CEO of Middle Tennessee Medical Center. “We’ve been at our old facility for 83 years and had several additions, but it got to a point where we were running out of space.”

Big, Private Rooms Planning for the new hospital was meticulous and included several visits to medical centers across the country to gather the best ideas in design and function. The result is a number of high-tech and comfortable amenities that include 286 identical large, private patient rooms. The spacious rooms were created to provide separate areas for the patient, caregiver and family, with the family area outfitted with a sofa bed and a separate TV. “We are also using artwork from Tennessee artists, and it’s all nature scenes,” says Michael Bratton, MTMC vice president of Patient Care Services. “That’s important from a patient care standpoint, because nature scenes have been shown to decrease patient stress levels.”

facts & figures Construction of Middle Tennessee Medical Center took 2.8 million man hours.

If one person had done the job, it would have taken 1,346 years to complete.

Site preparation required moving nearly 31,000 tons of soil and rock, enough to cover a football field up to 210 feet high.

Construction took 2.3 million square feet of drywall, enough for 250 houses.

The hospital required 3.9 million linear feet of electrical wiring – enough to stretch all the way from Murfreesboro to Houston.

200 More Staffers The hospital was also built with sustainability in mind, and construction

Middle Tennessee Medical Center opened a $267 million hospital campus in Murfreesboro in fall 2010.

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waste was reduced by 30 percent when compared with similar projects. One of the green details is the hospital roof’s ability to reflect heat, so it takes less energy to cool the building.

Ferguson is also pleased that the new and larger hospital has allowed Middle Tennessee Medical Center to increase its staff.

“Being able to expand our staff by 200 nurses and clinicians is one thing we’re excited about,” he says. “Overall, the hospital is a much more quiet, efficient and healing environment.”

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Named for Elizabeth And now in 2011, MTMC is constructing a $24 million building on the Gateway campus that will eventually house its cancer center and other medical offices. The four-story structure is scheduled to open in late 2011 and will be able to accommodate 15 tenants.

The building will be called Seton Medical Office, named after Elizabeth Ann Seton who was the first U.S.-born canonized saint in the Roman Catholic Church.

“Our regional cancer center (currently at the Bell Street Center) will be occupying the first floor and will have two new linear accelerators,” Ferguson says.

Many Tenants Already Other tenants scheduled to move into the new 112,434-square-foot building in late 2011 include Murfreesboro Diagnostic Imaging, MidState Radiology, Saint Thomas Heart at MTMC, Tennessee Oncology, The Wellness Center at MTMC, The

Wound Care Center at MTMC and the MTMC Bariatric Center.

Today, Middle Tennessee Medical Center admits approximately 12,000 patients each year and oversees 81,000 outpatient procedures. In addition, there are 67,000 annual emergency room visits, 2,500 babies delivered and more than 7,500 surgeries.

Services at MTMC include cancer care, cardiac care, dermatology, diabetes, neurology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, plastic surgery and weight loss.

The lobby of the new Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro

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The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce’s new offices include a number of sustainability features.

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A Perfect Address for Business New chamber offices and visitors center highlight Rutherford County’s growth

Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Antony Boshier

T

he staff of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce is feeling right at home these days in their brand new headquarters building and visitors center on Medical Center Parkway.

In December 2010, the chamber moved from its old location on Memorial Boulevard in Murfreesboro to a $5 million building in the city’s fast-developing Gateway section. The showpiece structure was funded primarily by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation and the City of Murfreesboro and the Christy-Houston Foundation.

“Our 33,000-square-foot building

is three times the size of the previous offices, and is much needed because we outgrew the old facility due to the rapid growth of Rutherford County in recent years,” says Paul Latture, president of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. “The new building is now one of the focal points of the entire community.”

All Under One Roof The three-story facility is ideally located near the I-24 interchange and brings under one roof the chamber’s many interests. They include the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Economic Development Department, Business Education Partnership,

Leadership Rutherford, and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center operated by Middle Tennessee State University.

“The first floor has a visitors center with interactive touch-screen displays that will help visitors learn more about the history of the area, and about places where they can stay, eat and shop,” says Norman Brown, past chairman of the board for the chamber.

The second floor houses the Tennessee Small Business Development Center and the third floor features chamber offices, along with meeting and conference rooms.

“The first floor also has a nice gift imagesr u ther f or d . com

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shop with items from local artists and craftsmen, and books detailing the history of our community,” Brown says.

Easy to Find In addition to the increased space, the headquarters is within close proximity of Interstate 24.

“This location will allow us to serve many more people throughout Rutherford County and beyond,” Latture says. “Several people have already stopped by the new building and told us that they never knew where the chamber was located before.

Now, they know where we are.”

The building also features a number of green environmental features, such as geothermal heating and cooling and LED lighting in the parking lot, along with an electric vehicle charging station. The charging station is a collaboration between the chamber, Nissan North America, Inc. and Murfreesboro Electric Department.

“Installing wells for geothermal heating and cooling costs a little more on the front end, but our energy savings will offset the costs in the long term,” Brown says. “And with Nissan assembling its new LEAF electric car, the automaker advised us on how the charging station should look and function in our parking lot. We won’t have a lot of activity at first, but once Nissan begins producing the LEAF in a large way, the charging station will be used quite a bit.” new opportunities Murfreesboro City Manager Rob Lyons says having all the chamber offices and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center under one roof will provide new opportunities for Murfreesboro and Rutherford County businesses to network, train and grow the local economy.

“As for the building itself, it is owned by the City of Murfreesboro, and the city managed its design and construction,” Lyons says.

The chamber’s new 33,000-square-foot building includes a visitors center and state-of-the-art conference rooms.

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The Destination

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for Distribution Companies find La Vergne an ideal locale to move the goods

Story by Bill Lewis Photography by Antony Boshier

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a Vergne is already well known as the home of Interchange City, the highly visible industrial park at Interstate 24 and Waldron Road. With its record of recruiting logistics businesses, La Vergne could also be known as Distribution City.

“Our location makes it easy for manufacturers and warehousing and distribution businesses to move freight in and out of the city,” says La Vergne Mayor Senna Mosley.

The city is making the most of its location on the north side of Rutherford County, where it shares a border with Nashville. La Vergne is situated along the I-24 corridor, just minutes away from State Route 840, as well as the convergence of I-40 and I-65. Companies as diverse as international tire manufacturer Bridgestone, media publisher and distributor Ingram Content Group and United Stationers deemed the city the perfect location for their operations.

Rob Rains, general operations manager for United Stationers, sums up the advantages of the company’s La Vergne location this way: “It

for more info For more information about La Vergne, such as city maps, news and announcements, visit the city’s website at www.lavergne.org.

Ajax Turner, the Anheuser-Busch beer distributor, relocated its facility to La Vergne in 2010.

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From left: La Vergne Mayor Senna Mosley; United Stationers chose La Vergne in part because of its proximity to major interstates and availability of qualified workers.

has a reasonable cost for rent and an attractive selection of candidates to fill job openings when we have the need. And it has easy access to I-24 and 840, and fairly easy access to I-40 and I-65 as we move product west, north, south and east.”

Distribution Space Available La Vergne offers millions of square feet of warehouse space at industrial parks and logistics centers, including Interchange City, NDC Distribution & Logistics Center, Centre Pointe Industrial Park, Gould Distribution Center and Mid South Logistics Center, among others. They offer easy access to the highway network, and many sites even offer a bonus – good visibility from I-24.

“La Vergne and Rutherford County are consistently on the radar screen for new companies due to their strategic location along I-24, proximity to amenities and services, available buildings and diversity of labor,” says Holly Sears, vice president of economic development for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.

One of the newest corporate citizens in

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La Vergne is Ajax Turner. The Anheuser-Busch beer distributor decided to move to higher ground in La Vergne after its operations center in Nashville was inundated by flood waters in 2010. Ajax Turner chose the Centre Pointe Industrial Park at Waldron Road and I-24 for its new headquarters and distribution location.

“They saw what we have to offer, the opportunity to save money thanks in part to our low property taxes, while establishing the company in a great area with a great road network. We’re right outside of Nashville, which is the major distribution hub for the United States. You can get anywhere you’re going,” Mosley says.

Manufacturers and Corporate Headquarters La Vergne is synonymous with distribution, but the city is home to manufacturing companies and corporate headquarters operations as well, Sears says. They include Singer Sewing, Thompson Machinery and Quality Industries, a Peterbilt supplier that has responded to the changing economy by

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diversifying as a manufacturer of poles for solar panels.

Other businesses that have chosen La Vergne include trucking companies such as Pilot Freight Services and Armstrong Transfer; Meiko, a manufacturer of commercial dishwashers; Wolfe Industries, a metal fabrication company; Cinram, a unit of the world’s largest distributor of DVDs and multimedia products; AO Smith Corp., a distributor of electric motors; and Palm International, which manufactures nickel and rare earth chemicals.

All of these diverse businesses benefit from La Vergne’s prime location for distribution of products and materials, Mosley says.

“Whether it’s vehicle tires, paper products, manufactured goods, or food and beverages, everything we use in our homes and businesses has to be transported at some point,” she says.

“I can’t imagine a better location than La Vergne.”

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Energy/Technology

Green Is Good and Pays Back Rutherford County businesses embrace sustainable programs

Story by Pamela Coyle Photography by Antony Boshier

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s general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Murfreesboro, Sandra Miller knows that sustainable practices in a hotel with 168 rooms, conference facilities, a full restaurant and a busy catering business will save money. She also knows it’s what her customers want – and larger groups are starting to demand.

The hotel is among a growing number of Rutherford County businesses at the forefront of sustainable technology and innovation. The DoubleTree was the first certified green hotel in Murfreesboro, and one of only a few in Tennessee under a new state initiative.

Schneider Electric Co.’s North American headquarters in La Vergne obtained silver LEED certification, with sensors that dim lighting when areas are vacant, flooring made with recycled fiber, and water-conserving fixtures and pumps that will reduce usage by

up to 40 percent. The La Vergne facility is the second Schneider Electric building in the state to receive certification.

Likewise, the Gateway Village mixed-use development in Murfreesboro has incorporated multiple LEED components into its design.

Recycled and Reclaimed Both Gateway Village and Schneider Electric Co. provide bicycle racks and on-site showers to accommodate employees who bike or run to work or exercise during their breaks.

Gateway estimates its efforts will save 14 to 17 percent beyond LEED standards. Residents and commercial tenants have full-service recycling pickup, and all residential units contain recycled products or materials that have recycled content.

Gateway’s water system is also designed with conservation in mind – all irrigation for

get certified The Tennessee Hospitality Association awards lodging facilities with its Tennessee Green Hospitality certification after an on-site visit to ensure all minimum standards are in place. Once certified, facilities are encouraged to work with the Tennessee Hospitality Association’s efforts to increase awareness in the community, reduce waste, and promote natural resource conservation, efficiency measures and alternative energy deployment.

Source: www.tnhospitality.net

Recycling bins in the lobby of the DoubleTree by Hilton, the first certified green hotel in Murfreesboro

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Gateway Village is a mixed-use development that offers many LEED amenities to its residents and tenants.

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exterior landscaping uses reclaimed water, and the toilets use reclaimed water that the City of Murfreesboro provides. Permeable pavers filter rainwater into a system that uses aggregate stone to clean impurities, and Middle Tennessee State University students are using the Gateway project to collect and study data for potential implementation of similar projects elsewhere in Murfreesboro.

Green is good, and DoubleTree’s Miller wonders why more businesses don’t jump in.

“It is easier than you think,” she says.

Sustainable saves money and pleases customers, staff About 85 percent of DoubleTree’s corporate guests opt out of having their linens washed daily, and aggressive recycling has dropped the number of weekly trash pickups from three to two. The hotel already has

recycling containers in its hallways and smaller bins for each guest room are coming soon. Corporate guests kept asking about optional linen washing and recycling and one conversation hit home, Miller says.

“We had a long-term guest who said to me she didn’t think she would stay again if we didn’t recycle. It was kind of embarrassing.”

Miller says more improvements are on the way, such as green packages offered by the catering division for customers who want them, and one weekend hostess is working on a way to recycle glass, especially from the busy bar, since the hotel’s recycling vendor doesn’t accept glass. Also, the chef wants to start composting.

“The linen program saves us money in staff costs and water costs,” Miller adds. “Our staff is really excited about all the programs and [is] totally on board.”

to sum up

40% Schneider Electric Co.’s waterconserving fixtures and pumps will reduce usage by 40 percent.

14-17% Gateway Village estimates its efforts will contribute to a 14 to 17 percent energy savings beyond the LEED green building standard.

85% About 85 percent of DoubleTree’s corporate guests opt out of having their linens washed daily.

I-24 runs under State Route 840 just west of Murfreesboro.

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Transportation

That’s How They Roll Integrated transportation network keeps commerce moving

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or businesses that move people and freight by trains, planes, trucks and automobiles, Rutherford County holds all the advantages.

“One reason Rutherford County is such a great place to live and do business is that it is so easy to get here from anywhere in the country. And it’s so easy to get from here to anyplace else,” La Vergne Mayor Senna Mosley says.

Not only is Rutherford County the geographic center of Tennessee, it is within a day’s drive of 75 percent of the markets in the country. And getting to those markets is easy, due to the county’s well-developed transportation network, which is getting even better, thanks to a number of major road projects.

Transportation Advantages “When a business is considering moving here, a great selling point is our transportation network,” Mosley says.

Nashville International Airport is located within a 30-minute drive of Rutherford County’s population centers. Thirteen airlines offer direct flights and connections to destinations throughout the United States, Canada and beyond.

The Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport is the third-largest and busiest

general aviation airport in Tennessee.

The primary runway is long enough to handle a Boeing 747, and a second runway is capable of handling business jets. The airport is home to corporate aircraft, charter service and flight training, as well as individually owned aircraft.

Murfreesboro Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport whose largest tenant is the Aerospace Department of Middle Tennessee State University, and is home base for more than 100 light aircraft. The airport also operates Grace Heliport, which enables Middle Tennessee Medical Center to use helicopter ambulances to transport critical patients.

CSX, a leader in freight rail transportation, operates a main rail line serving Rutherford County.

Interstate 24 runs through Rutherford County, linking with I-59 and I-75 at Chattanooga, and with I-65 and I-40 in Nashville. State Route 840 bisects Rutherford County, connecting with I-40 east of Nashville at Lebanon and I-65 South at Franklin. By fall 2012, construction of SR 840 should be complete, linking with I-40 near Dickson.

“State Route 840’s completion will bring markets to the west even closer to Rutherford County, which is especially valuable for our trucking and distribution businesses,” Mosley says.

Projects Ease Congestion Orange construction zone barrels will be prominent on the county’s roads and highways throughout 2011 as planners move forward with projects intended to ease congestion and promote economic development.

New and continuing projects include: • Extending Veterans Parkway in Murfreesboro between State Route 96 and State Route 99 (New Salem Highway) • Extending Veterans Parkway from Barfield Road to Barfield Crescent Park • Extending Joe B. Jackson Parkway from South Church Street to I-24. The project represents a partnership between the county, City of Murfreesboro and the state Department of Transportation, which are sharing the cost.

• Reconfiguring Gresham Lane, Fortress Boulevard and Manson Pike in Murfreesboro • Widening Waldron Road in La Vergne at I-24 and U.S. 41. Mosley says the project will smooth traffic flow and attract new distribution businesses and retailers.

“Our investment in our transportation network sends a message. ‘You can live here, do business here and you can do your shopping here,’” Mosley says. imagesr u ther f or d . com

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Health

Picture of Health Rutherford County delivers high-quality medical care

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utherford County continues to be the picture of health, providing many medical options for its ever-increasing residential population. The local health-care scene is even garnering national accolades. In 2010, StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna was named

by Thomson Reuters to its list of Top 100 Hospitals in the United States.

This 101-bed facility has more than 300 staff physicians, providing services that include surgery, cardiology, orthopedics, obstetrics and neurology. StoneCrest is also nationally known for its Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, which provides a full range of services for preventing, diagnosing and treating the disease.

“Besides our many other services, we recently opened a Center for Sleep Medicine,” says Stephanie Bowen, director of marketing and public relations at StoneCrest. “The center provides a home-like atmosphere designed to make patients feel as comfortable as possible during sleep evaluation.”

Besides StoneCrest, other large medical facilities in Rutherford County include Middle Tennessee Medical Center, Murfreesboro Medical Center & SurgiCenter, and the Alvin C. York Campus of the Veterans Administration Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. Here is a brief background of all three:

Middle Tennessee Medical Center Middle Tennessee Medical Center is the largest hospital between Nashville and Chattanooga, and has a medical staff of more than 350 physicians. The hospital was founded in 1927 and opened a brand new $267 million medical campus in fall 2010, more than doubling its original size and increasing its bed occupancy to 286.

The MTMC campus is also home to Saint Thomas Heart, the Center for Breast Health and a regional Cancer Center.

Alvin C. York Campus The Alvin C. York Campus of the Veterans Administration Tennessee Valley Healthcare System provides medical, surgical and psychiatric services to area veterans and current armed services personnel.

Subspecialty care is also available on-site in areas such as dermatology, gastroenterology, hematology/ oncology, infectious diseases, neurology, rheumatology and sleep evaluation. The Alvin C. York campus has 347 hospital beds, including 245 long-term care beds.

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic & SurgiCenter Murfreesboro Medical Clinic has a staff of 450 that includes 60 physicians who see more than 30,000 patients per month. MMC’s SurgiCenter oversees 650 surgical cases monthly.

In 2008, MMC opened phase one of its new three-story office complex on Garrison Drive, and the building houses many services including a surgery center.

“We’re seeing quite a need in adult primary care,” says Joey Peay, Murfreesboro Medical Clinic’s chief executive officer. “Even as economic times have been rough, we have not seen a dramatic decrease in patients.

We’ve actually seen those numbers remain relatively stable.”

Healthy Living Besides top-flight medical facilities, Rutherford County promotes a healthy lifestyle for its residents through access to a number of wellness and recreational amenities, including the Murfreesboro Greenway System. The greenway includes 10 miles of asphalt trail open to walkers, joggers, runners, rollerbladers and bikers. A good portion of the greenway runs along the Stones River to accommodate canoes and kayaks as well.

Other outdoor destinations in Rutherford County include Lee Victory Recreation Park and Gregory Mills Park in Smyrna, Old Fort Park in Murfreesboro, Murfree Spring Wetlands, as well as public boat launches on J. Percy Priest Lake at Long Hunter State Park.

Clockwise from top: StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna; Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro; Nurses at work at MTMC

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Education

Heads of the Class Three top higher education sites serve area residents

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utherford County offers several options when it comes to the quality of higher education.

Middle Tennessee State University, Motlow State Community College’s Smyrna campus and the Tennessee Technology Center at Murfreesboro are three of those options, all of which supply the region’s employment base with skilled and knowledgeable graduates ready to meet the workforce needs of business and industry. The largest institution is MTSU, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2011 and remains a key component of Rutherford County’s continued economic success.

Middle Tennessee State University MTSU is the largest undergraduate university in Tennessee and offers 60 academic programs across a range of disciplines. The university also conducts a large number of research initiatives that support local business ventures.

“The fall 2010 semester saw us with a record enrollment of 26,400 students, so MTSU contributes to the local economy simply by providing graduates for the workforce,” says

David Penn, director of MTSU’s Business & Economic Research Center. “If you visit just about any employer in the Middle Tennessee area, you are going to find MTSU graduates.

In all, MTSU has about an $890 million economic impact each year on the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area.”

A recent addition to the university is Confucius Institute, which promotes understanding of the Chinese language and culture. The Institute creates opportunities for exchange and collaboration between communities in Tennessee and China.

“The opening of this Institute is yet another step toward demonstrating MTSU’s commitment to enhancing the international programs on our campus,” says MTSU President Sidney McPhee. “It speaks to our appreciation of other cultures.”

MTSU by the numbers 26,430

students (fall 2010)

930

full-time faculty members

60

degree programs

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university colleges

Motlow State Community College, Smyrna Campus Motlow State’s Smyrna campus has an enrollment of more than 2,000 students who can pursue associate degrees and certificates.

In 2006, Motlow moved into its current

More than 26,000 students are enrolled at MTSU, the largest undergraduate university in the state.

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facility off Sam Ridley Parkway, and construction is scheduled to begin in 2011 on a 35,000-square-foot classroom building.

“The Smyrna site is growing fast and [is] in the midst of a four-phase building project, getting ready to start phase two,” says Cheryl Hyland, campus director. “Our facilities and technology are top notch.”

Tennessee Technology Center at Murfreesboro The county’s workforce development needs are also served by the Tennessee Technology Center at Murfreesboro, which provides training for workers who need to learn new skills or upgrade skills they already have. TTC offers 15 full-time programs in subjects such as automotive technology, biomedical technology, business systems, computer information, cosmetology, dental assistant, drafting and CAD, machine trades, pharmacy technology and practical nursing.

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other higher education options Murfreesboro’s Daymar Institute offers students the opportunity to earn a certificate, diploma, associate or bachelor’s degree in nearly 20 academic programs. The University of Phoenix caters to working students, and offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs both online and at its Murfreesboro campus.

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From top: Motlow State Community College’s campus in Smyrna; Middle Tennessee State University’s Albert Gore Research Center

Middle Tennessee Christian School Training for Eternity Comprehensive • Grades PreK-12 • Middle school and varsity athletics • Fine arts program • College preparatory curriculum • Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Independent Schools, National Christian School Association and Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association

Christ-Centered • Christian faculty and staff • Integration of Biblical principles in all areas of school • Weekly chapel • Daily devotional and prayer

College Prep

Honor Roll, Please county public schools are among the best in the state Rutherford County has two public school systems that are at the top of the class in Tennessee.

Murfreesboro City Schools have an enrollment of more than 7,000 students from prekindergarten through sixth grade. The district ranks among the top in the state in ratio of professional personnel to pupils, and is 100 percent accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Rutherford County Schools, with an enrollment of 39,000 students at 45 schools, are also 100 percent accredited by SACS. In 2010, the district added the academic Central Magnet School for grades seven through 12. The school’s coursework includes advanced placement, biomedical and engineering tracks. Central Magnet joined the McFadden School of Excellence for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and Thurman Francis Arts Academy as magnet schools in the district.

• Advanced placement and college dual credit courses • $2.9 million in academic, athletic and leadership scholarships awarded to Class of 2010; a class of 48 students • Average ACT scores of the Class of 2010 is 24.1 • 58% of our fourth and fifth graders qualify for the Duke Talent in Progress (TIP) test • Standardized achievement test in grades K-8 average in the top 21% of the nation

Schedule Your Visit: (615) 893-0601 • www.mtcscougars.org

Consolidated Utility distriCt

Providing Service for Today • Building for the Future

Mission statement To provide safe drinking water for all residential, industrial and governmental agencies.

Consolidated Utility District is the largest water utility in Tennessee with over 1,300 miles of water line and over 47,000 accounts.

709 new salem Highway • Murfreesboro, tn 37129 (615) 893-7225 • www.cudrc.com

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Jeff Adkins

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Livability

It’s Hip To Be on the Square Murfreesboro’s downtown is a thriving center of arts, entertainment, retail Story by Betsy Williams • Photography by Antony Boshier

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un and festive. Charming and vibrant.

Those are words regularly used to describe Murfreesboro’s thriving downtown, with its eclectic mix of homegrown restaurants, imaginative shops and hot nightspots.

“What’s not to love about our downtown?” says Kathleen Herzog, a former downtown volunteer who is now director of the Main Street program. “It’s beautiful, with its redone sidewalks and streetlamps, hanging baskets in the spring, banners in the fall, Christmas decorations and great business mix. And it’s just hot!”

Farmers Market Opens In June Downtown’s farmers market, the Saturday Market, enters its second year in 2011, and Herzog is confident it will be even bigger and better than it was in 2010.

“It’s made downtown Murfreesboro a destination, and it is ridiculously successful,” she says.

From left: Maple Street in downtown Murfreesboro; Owner Judy Goldie assists a customer at Bella’s Boutique.

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Local farmers and craftspeople turn up by the dozens on Saturday mornings from June through September, luring hundreds of people to the square.

Herzog is hoping to extend the market into October.

“The merchants love it,” Herzog says. “It’s drawing people into their stores on a day when business typically was slow for the downtown.

They go to the market, then hang around and enjoy the atmosphere.”

One of those merchants is downtown activist and retailer Judy Goldie, owner of Trendy Pieces and Bella’s Boutique.

Goldie opened a consignment shop, Phase II, in another section of town more than 22 years ago. When downtown Murfreesboro started taking off, she decided her next investment would be in the heart of the community.

Three years ago, she located Trendy Pieces in the oldest building downtown, then opened Bella’s Boutique next door in 2010 after an extensive restoration.

Downtown Businesses Are Expanding At a time when most communities were suffering a downturn, Goldie and other merchants were expanding their businesses in 2010.

“Instead of hunkering down and waiting out the recession, three people opened additional downtown businesses, and we had three other businesses that moved from the suburbs to the square,” Herzog says. As a result, streetfront vacancies are rare.

Activities such as May’s JazzFest, June’s Taste of Rutherford, fall’s Evening on Maple and a variety of Christmas events not only help the merchants, but they are helping to create a 24-hour downtown. Restaurants and nightspots such as Maple Street Grill, Uncorked and Liquid Smoke are drawing people to the square after regular business hours. Maple Street’s owners opened Uncorked, a lounge upstairs from their restaurant, and are ardent supporters of Murfreesboro’s vibrant live music scene.

“We want to be a 24-hour square,” Herzog says. “To do that, we need people living downtown. We are working with property owners and local government to make that happen, with lofts in the second and third floors of our buildings available for living.”

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Drinks from Uncorked, a lounge upstairs from Maple Street Grill in downtown

Work, Play and Relax rutherford county Visitors enjoy business and pleasure With its historic, cultural and recreational attractions, as well as its proximity to Nashville, Rutherford County is a popular destination for tourists.

History buffs find plenty to do here, since Rutherford County is home to sites such as the Stones River National Battlefield, the location of one of the Civil War’s most gruesome battles.

Those more interested in the local art scene may enjoy catching a live performance at one of the area’s many venues, including The Center for the Arts in Murfreesboro, MTSU’s Tucker Theatre, the Murfreesboro Little Theatre and the Lamplighter’s Theatre in Smyrna.

Outdoor enthusiasts can play a round of golf at courses such as the Cedar Crest Golf Club, and also explore the Murfreesboro Greenway System on the Stones River, Lytle Creek and Gateway trails.

All of these attractions can quickly fill a schedule. Luckily, Rutherford County also provides plenty of places for some rest and relaxation – for example, the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel & Conference Center. This hotel features 283 spacious guest rooms, as well as more than 43,000 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate groups of up to 3,000.

At 28,800 square feet, the Grand Ballroom is the hotel’s largest meeting room. Junior ballrooms and boardrooms are available for smaller groups, while theater seating is an option for large functions.

Embassy Suites Murfreesboro also provides a variety of conveniences, such as an on-site store offering necessities and a complimentary breakfast area.

For more about Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel & Conference Center, visit the website at www. murfreesboro.embassysuites.com.

– Jessica Walker

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visit our

advertisers Ascend Federal Credit Union www.ascendfcu.org Black Box Network Services www.blackboxvss.com City of La Vergne www.lavergnetn.gov City of Murfreesboro www.murfreesborotn.gov Consolidated Utility District www.cudrc.com Doubletree Hotel Murfreesboro www.murfreesboro.doubletree.com General Mills Inc. www.generalmills.com Guaranty Trust www.guarantytrust.com Middle Tennessee Christian School www.mtcscougars.org Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation www.mtemc.com Middle Tennessee Medical Center www.mtmc.org Motlow State Community College www.mscc.edu Murfreesboro Electric Department www.murfreesboroelectric.com Murfreesboro Medical Clinic www.mmclinic.com Murfreesboro Water & Sewer Department www.murfreesborotn.gov/ default.aspx?ekmenu=42&id=3724 Neel-Schaffer www.neel-schaffer.com Smyrna-Rutherford County Airport Authority www.smyrnaairport.com State Farm Agency – Bud Morris www.budmorris.biz Tennessee Small Business Development Center www.tsbdc.org The Avenue Murfreesboro www.shoptheavenue.com The Imaging Center of Murfreesboro www.insighthealth.com The UPS Store www.theupsstorelocal.com/2467 The Webb School www.thewebbschool.com Tri-Star Title & Escrow www.tristartitleandescrow.com Wilson Bank & Trust www.wilsonbank.com

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economic profile Business snapshot

Major industry sectors (Percentage of total workforce)

Due to steady economic growth for more than a decade, the climate for business in Rutherford County is one of the best in the nation. Excellent location, low tax structure and competitive wages make Rutherford County a top location for corporate headquarters, manufacturing and distribution.

(Percentage of total workforce) Accommodation and food services, 9.8% Admin., support, waste mgmt., remediation, 8.4% Education services, 9.5 % Health care and social assistance, 11.7% Manufacturing, 17.7% Retail trade, 12.1% Transportation and warehousing, 4.5% Wholesale trade, 4.5%

Major Employers

Cost of Living Comparison Murfreesboro and Smyrna Composite, 88.5 Grocery items, 94.7 Housing, 78.5 Utilities, 80.1 Transportation, 92.0 Health care, 94.9 Misc. goods and services, 95.6 (U.S. Average=100) Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, Third Quarter 2010

Rutherford County Government: 5,537 Nissan North America, Inc: 3,400 Middle Tennessee State University: 2,151 State Farm Insurance Operations Ctr.: 1,708 V.A. Medical Center: 1,563

Major Population Centers (2010 census) Murfreesboro: 108,755 Smyrna: 39,974 La Vergne: 32,588

Rutherford County Population

Ingram Content Group: 1,324

2010 census: 262,604

Middle Tennessee Medical Center: 1,300

2000 census: 182,023

Asurion: 1,200

Median age: 33

Verizon Wireless: 1,068

Households: 97,772

City of Murfreesboro: 960

Income

Percent change: 44%

Housing Market Median home value: $153,348

Average household income: $63,085 Per capita income: $23,724

Total housing units: 97,772

Labor Force

2009: $4.49 billion 2008: $5.24 billion 2007: $4.48 billion 2006: $3.31 billion

Civilian labor force: 133,638 (2010 Annual Average) 2000-2010 growth: 19% Unemployment rate: 8.9% (2010 Annual Average)

Retail Sales

2005: $2.93 billion Source: www.rutherfordchamber. org/economic-development/

This section is sponsored by

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Through the Lens

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

From Our Photo Blog: Rutherford County Middle Tennessee State University has a nationally acclaimed aerospace department and a world-class flight school. Being an alumnus of MTSU, I was excited to get this assignment.

When I got to the Murfreesboro Airport, the location of the flight school, I met with Paul Mosey, the chief flight instructor. He showed me around the simulators and the new aircraft on the ramp. It was a great opportunity to shoot a great program and connect with my educational roots.

Posted by antony boshier

Customer satisfaction is our number one goal.

201 E. Main St., Ste. 300 Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 425-3350 Fax: (615) 425-3351 E-mail: smorgan@tristartitleandescrow.com www.tristartitleandescrow.com

Sheri Morgan Owner/Partner

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For over 30 years, our success has been built upon our employees’ commitment to producing brands that consumers trust and value.

We’re proud to be in Rutherford County.

www.generalmills.com

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