Business Images Northeast Tennessee Valley Region 2012

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Boosting Bioscience Valley expands medical, pharma sector

Skill and Support

Companies drawn to local workforce, climate

High-Speed Growth Region attracts data centers

Sponsored by the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association | 2012

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(423) 586-4121

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Power

• 900 acres of industrial land available in

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

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

water

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

• Low cost, abundant supply with Class 3 ISO rating

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• Advanced Secondary Carbon Filtration System

• Educated workforce:

• TDEC “Approved” regional water supplier

– Walters State Community College

telecommunications

– Tennessee Technology Center in Morristown

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

• No state income tax on wages and salaries

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

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... where bright futures begin.

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Skill and Support

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Companies drawn to local workforce, climate

Medically Minded

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Valley attracts bioscience growth

High-Speed Growth

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Region evolves as data center destination

Vital Resources

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Nationally ranked health-care systems serve region

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Economic Profile

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Through the Lens

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On the Cover Along with other Valley hospitals, Abingdon, Va.-based Johnston Memorial Hospital offers cutting-edge cardiac care.

Photo by antony boshier

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Boosting Bioscience

Story by Melanie Hill Photography by Todd Bennett

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Medically Minded Valley attracts growth in number of colleges, companies dedicated to bioscence

nvestments in science and health care are forging a growing bioscience industry in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region, where opportunity awaits physicians, researchers, students and entrepreneurs.

Since opening four years ago in Harrogate, Tenn., Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine trains more than 600 students and plans to accommodate nearly 1,000 over the next few years.

The college provides residency training at 14 regional hospitals and anticipates a $114 million statewide economic impact once its first class graduates.

“What we’re really concentrating on is the development of community-based residency programs,” says Ray Stowers, M.D., vice president of health sciences and dean of LMUDCOM. “We really believe that over the next few years it’s going to have a huge impact on the retention rate of physicians in underserved areas.”

In nearby Abingdon, Va., King College is finalizing plans to develop a $15 million medical school. Envisioned to address a projected future shortage of physicians in Central Appalachia, the proposed King School of Medicine and Health Science Center is expected to open in 2014.

Part of Johnson City’s Med-Tech Corridor, East Tennessee State University offers 11 doctoral programs in the health sciences and recently combined its five medical colleges to create the Academic Health Sciences Center at ETSU – one of 110

Valley expands medical, pharma sector

Skill and Support

Companies drawn to local workforce, climate

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

A student conducts an experiment at East Tennessee State University’s Academic Health Sciences Center.

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High-Speed Growth Region attracts data centers

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N o r th e a s t T e n n esse e Valley Re gion 201 2 Edition , volum e 4 editorial project manager Emily McMackin Content Director Bill McMeekin Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Contributing writers John fuller, dan hieb, melanie hill, betsy williams Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Vikki Williams Graphic Designers Rachael Gerringer, Taylor nunley Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier color imaging technician alison hunter executive Integrated Media Manager Deshaun Goodrich Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./business Development Scott Templeton Senior V.P./Agribusiness Publishing kim holmberg V.P./business development clay perry V.P./external communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens V.P./travel publishing susan chappell V.P./Sales rhonda graham, herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Sales Support Coordinator Alex Marks Sales Support project manager sara quint system administrator Daniel cantrell Database Manager/IT Support Chandra Bradshaw Web Creative Director Allison Davis Web Content Manager John Hood Web project manager noy fongnaly Web Designer II richard stevens Web Development Lead Yamel Hall Web Developer I Nels noseworthy Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Creative Services Director Christina Carden Creative Technology Analyst Becca ary Audience Development Director Deanna Nelson new media assistant alyssa dicicco Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake 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 email at info@jnlcom.com.

For more information, contact: Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association 3211 North Roan St. • Johnson City, TN 37601 Phone: (423) 928-1203 • Fax: (423) 323-4016 netvaly.org

Visit Business Images Northeast Tennessee Valley Region online at businessclimate.com/ne-tennessee ©Copyright 2012 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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Almanac Language Lessons

Good for Business Looking for the best and most affordable place to start a business or grow a career? Look no further than the Tri-Cities Region. The Kingsport and the Bristol, TN-VA area was recently named as the “Eighth Best Place to Start Over”

by MSN Real Estate, thanks to low mortgage rates and promising job prospects from numerous employers, including Domtar Corporation, Eastman Chemical Co. and the Holston Army Ammunition Plant. Johnson City, Tenn., was also recognized by Forbes as one of the top 50 Best Small Places for Businesses and Careers, and Kiplinger ranked it as both the No. 1 small metro area and one of the top 10 most affordable metro areas in the U.S.

Speaking Chinese is a valuable skill in the modern global trading economy – so to give students in the region an economic and cultural edge, Greenville, Tenn., and Bristol, Tenn., city schools are offering lessons in Chinese languages through a partnership with the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis. This partnership brought two educators from China to the U.S. to teach Mandarin Chinese – the world’s third most commonly spoken language – to elementary and secondary school students in Greeneville and Bristol city schools. With its participation in the Confucius Institute program, Bristol became the 369th Confucius Classroom around the world, joining Greeneville as the only two East Tennessee school districts affiliated with the institute.

Promoting Literacy Encouraging children to read at an early age is the goal of the national nonprofit Imagination Library founded by country music star Dolly Parton, and two Northeast Tennessee Valley communities are at the forefront of that effort. Children who are members of chapter libraries in Washington County, Tenn., and Bristol, Va., receive one free book per month until they reach their fifth birthday. No fee is involved with the membership, and local chapters in the region currently have more than 1,600 members and counting.

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Charting Success Johnson City, Tenn.-based software development firm Xelex Digital LLC recently became one of 100 small businesses in America to earn the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s annual DREAM BIG Small Business Award. Xelex, maker of WebChartMD.com, is one of only five Tennessee businesses to receive this recognition for creating jobs and driving economic growth. WebChartMD.com is a web-based application that enables more than 5,000 users around the country to create and manage clinical information.

Since its launch in 2007, WebChartMD. com has more than doubled in size each year and promises to grow larger with the increased need to digitize health-care information.

Photo Courtesy of Justin Wiseman

Where Country Music Was Born Bristol, Tenn., launched country music to worldwide popularity when a series of recordings made there in 1927 drew international acclaim.

Those recordings, known as “the big bang of commercial country music,” is what prompted Congress to designate Bristol the birthplace of the genre more than a decade ago. The city’s annual fall Rhythm & Roots Reunion pays homage to its musical heritage, drawing thousands of spectators and more than 150 bands who perform downtown. The city hopes to highlight its history even more with the debut of the Bristol Cultural Heritage Center, which will offer space for live performances, lectures and films, and interactive displays tracing the evolution of country music. Sponsored by the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, the center is expected to open by 2013.

100 Years of Learning

Brewing Profits Looking for a good brew? Microbrewer Depot Street Brewery in Jonesborough, Tenn., has European-style beer to suit various tastes.

To satisfy the growing demand for its products, Depot Street recently struck a distribution deal with Cherokee Distributing Company to provide beers at several locations within the Tri-Cities and Knoxville areas.

Depot Street’s beers are on about 45 taps in the Tri-Cities and include brews like the Loose Caboose Lager, Express Amber Ale and Southbound Scottish Ale.

On October 2, 2011, East Tennessee State University celebrated its 100th year of educating students. The college opened in 1909 as East Tennessee State Normal School with just 29 students enrolled. The school was formally founded in 1911, and since then has increased its programs, facilities and staff, taking on university status in 1963 and adding the Quillen College of Medicine in 1978.

Today, ETSU enrolls more than 15,500 students and offers numerous graduate programs. b u s i n e ss c l i m a t e . c o m / n e - t e n n e ss e e

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Overview

Ten Reasons to do Business in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region 1. Workforce. The region has

charter and air freight service at Tri-Cities Airport.

2. Training. Site selection consultants

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

more than 300,000 employees with manufacturing backgrounds and a strong work ethic in right-to-work states. rank Tennessee’s FastTrack Job Training among the 10 best nationally in training and effectiveness.

and job creation; no sales tax on industrial machinery and equipment, raw materials or pollution-control equipment; and a pro-business attitude.

9. Technology Resources.

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

Authority utility companies offer reliable power and rates that are among the nation’s lowest.

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

4. Location and Transportation.

7. Developed Sites and Buildings.

3. Utility Costs. Tennessee Valley

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,

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

Coeburn 58A

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

For more information, contact: Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association 3211 North Roan St. Johnson City, TN 37601 Phone: 928-1203 www.netvaly.org

8. Cost of Doing Business. Costs are among the nation’s lowest, thanks to tax credits based on investment Norton

Lebanon

58A

Big Stone Gap Dizney Pennington23Gap 23 SCOTT

Virginia Tennessee

10. Diversified Economy.

North Carolina

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DuffieldDuffield Mendota Jonesville Jonesville Gate City Gate City LEE

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WASHINGTON Glade Spring Emory Abingdon Abingdon

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

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

To Asheville

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Business Climate

Magnet for Investment Northeast Tennessee Valley Region strengthens diverse economic base Story by Betsy Williams • Photography by Todd Bennett

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rom Ireland to Asia, companies ranging from automotive and flooring manufacturers to chemical and plastics suppliers are noticing the competitive advantages offered by the Northeast Tennessee Valley.

The result: hundreds of new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment for the 15-county region.

The area’s strategic location – equidistant from Orlando

and New York – plus top-notch transportation and communication infrastructure, a talented labor force, shovel-ready sites and low-cost alternatives all contribute to creating a region that is continuing to add new jobs.

Mullican Flooring heads home Mullican Flooring is moving plant operations from Asia back to Johnson City, Tenn., where it expects to create 164 jobs

over a three-year period.

“The Tri-Cities has an established workforce in the woodworking industry due to past furniture, flooring and finishing manufacturers who have operated plants in the area,” says Neil Poland, Mullican Flooring president. “The workforce here is, in general, of higher quality than most of the United States.”

The rising cost of raw materials in Asia, increased freight on raw materials to Asia and finished goods shipping back to the United States, as well as the ability to utilize automation to offset Asia's lower labor rate advantage, are all factors in the decision to relocate to Johnson City.

“Overall, we believe that certain products can be produced for equal to or less than the cost of producing in Asia,” Poland says.

Expansions and New Projects Morrill Motors also relocated jobs from Mexico back to Erwin, Tenn., while C&F Group plans to locate its first U.S. plant in Kingsport, Tenn. The global

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company intends to invest $12.5 million in the plant and create up to 450 new jobs.

Millions of dollars in investment and hundreds of new jobs are being created in Greene County, Tenn., through expansions at Jarden Zinc Products, LMR Plastics and Donaldson Company.

More projects are planned, including US Nitrogen, which is investing $220 million and creating 80 jobs.

"That investment is also generating a lot of secondary jobs,” says Tom Ferguson, president and CEO of the Greene County Partnership. “It’s been a very positive year for growth in Greene County. Six companies have expanded, creating another 450 jobs.”

DHL Industries is building a new manufacturing facility in Bristol, Tenn., expecting to add 75 jobs. Also in Bristol, Triad Packaging is investing $1 million to expand, creating 25 jobs.

The automotive industry continues to grow, with expansions at Meritor Inc. and Mahle Engine Components Inc. in Morristown, Tenn. Aerospace is also gaining ground with expansions at Alcoa's Howmet plant in Morristown.

Call centers are another hotbed for growth. Sprint Telecenters plans to consolidate its operations into a 48,000-square-foot facility in Bristol, Tenn., employing more than 600.

Call centers at Advanced Call Center Technologies in Johnson City and AT&T's Lebanon, Va., location have also been hiring, as well as the data center for Washington County, Va., distributor Food City.

Partnerships Key to Investment The valley's regional partnerships and visionary leadership have been key factors in job recruitment, says Jack Lawson, director of economic development for NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership in Blountville, Tenn.

"We work together and pool our resources to provide companies what they need to prosper,” Lawson says.

“Together, we also have the shopping, housing choice, health care, and cultural and recreation activities that consistently earn the area a top rating as one of the best places to work, live and retire.”

growing the automotive sector Sullivan County was recently named by Expansion Solutions magazine as one of the top five U.S. communities for recruiting and growing businesses in the automotive industry. Along with the region itself, the magazine recognized the work of NETWORKS-Sullivan County partnership, which has recruited several companies to the area, including European automotive parts manufacturer C&F Group, and DLH Industries, an Ohio-based plastics automotive parts supplier.

Unicoi County …

Strong Community, Sound Opportunities

Joint Economic Development of Unicoi County

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

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Skill and Support Companies discover right climate, workforce for growth in the Valley Story by Betsy Williams Photography by Todd Bennett

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bundant forests were the reason George Eastman, founder of Eastman Chemical, chose to expand his company in the Northeast Tennessee Valley in 1920. But the advantages that keep Fortune 500 companies and homegrown manufacturers investing in the region today include everything from a pro-business environment to a highly skilled workforce.

“This region offers a positive business climate for our company to operate in,” says Parker Smith, vice president and general manager of Worldwide Operations Support and Global Quality for Eastman Chemical Company, which was once a part of Eastman Kodak. “We are fortunate to be located in an area where local officials are willing to work with the company as partners, which has enabled Eastman and the local community to excel

together. The area also provides a skilled workforce, and strong secondary and higher education systems to educate and train future employees.”

Eastman employs approximately 6,500 workers and 2,500 contractors at its Kingsport, Tenn., facilities producing products people use every day – from the paint on cars to the screen on e-readers to the coating on aspirin. The company recently concluded its Project Reinvest – a five-year, $1.3 billion commitment to the Kingsport site.

Committed to Workforce Training Working with companies as partners is the mission of the workforce development program at Walters State Community College, in Morristown, Tenn.

The college recently partnered with Minco Inc., a worldwide supplier of fused silica used in

German manufacturer Katz Americas, the world’s market leader for the beer coaster, operates one of its two U.S. plants in Johnson City, Tenn.

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investment casting, to raise the skill of dozens of workers at the company’s Midway, Tenn., plant. Minco received a state award for its training efforts.

“Companies in our region know that a skilled, experienced workforce is one of the keys to success,” says Dr. Nancy Brown, dean of workforce development at Walters State.

Due to its proximity to other nuclear sites and available rail, Erwin, Tenn., continues to be an ideal location for Nuclear Fuel Services Inc., says Lauri Turpin, NFS communications director.

The company, which located in the region in 1957, is the sole supplier of manufactured nuclear fuel for the U.S. Navy’s fleet of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines.

“The benefits of a manufacturing business in Erwin include an excellent workforce and ongoing community support, as well as continued access to rail and interstate transport,” Turpin says.

Great for Growth German manufacturer Katz Americas, the world’s market leader for the beer coaster, operates one of its

two U.S. plants in Johnson City, Tenn. The company makes 97 percent of the nation’s customized coasters.

“Johnson City was chosen from a long list of places,” says Tammy L. Gorzka, director of sales.

“With East Tennessee being so close to major transportation routes that allow us to serve most of the U.S. population within a day or two, as well as its great workforce, it was a very easy decision.”

Other companies with a growing presence in the region include NCI Building Systems, which makes custom metal pieces from its Elizabethton, Tenn., factory used to erect landmarks nationwide and as far away as China and India, and Steel Fab, which builds industrial pressure vessels in Abingdon, Va., that are shipped worldwide for use in the air compressor industry.

Contour Industries, a Surgoinsville, Tenn., glass fabricator that supplies products to Whirlpool, General Electric and other home appliance giants, is another growing manufacturer in the region.

The company recently moved into a 60,000-squarefoot building designed to triple its production and expand its reach into residential, solar and automotive markets.

Katz Americas makes 97 percent of the nation’s customized coasters.

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Medically Minded Valley attracts growth in number of colleges, companies dedicated to bioscence 16

N o r t h e a s t T e n n e ss e e V a l l e y R e g i o n

Story by Melanie Hill Photography by Todd Bennett

I

nvestments in science and health care are forging a growing bioscience industry in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region, where opportunity awaits physicians, researchers, students and entrepreneurs.

Since opening four years ago in Harrogate, Tenn., Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine trains more than 600 students and plans to accommodate nearly 1,000 over the next few years.

The college provides residency training at 14 regional hospitals and anticipates a $114 million statewide economic impact once its first class graduates.

“What we’re really concentrating on is the development of community-based residency programs,” says Ray Stowers, M.D., vice president of health sciences and dean of LMUDCOM. “We really believe that over the next few years it’s going to have a huge impact on the retention rate of physicians in underserved areas.”

In nearby Abingdon, Va., King College is finalizing plans to develop a $15 million medical school. Envisioned to address a projected future shortage of physicians in Central Appalachia, the proposed King School of Medicine and Health Science Center is expected to open in 2014.

Part of Johnson City’s Med-Tech Corridor, East Tennessee State University offers 11 doctoral programs in the health sciences and recently combined its five medical colleges to create the Academic Health Sciences Center at ETSU – one of 110

A student conducts an experiment at East Tennessee State University’s Academic Health Sciences Center.

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ETSU’s James H. Quillen College of Medicine trains students to practice rural medicine.

designated academic health science centers in the country.

The new, interdisciplinary identity includes the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences, the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, the College of Nursing and the College of Public Health.

“Interdisciplinary education is a distinct advantage students enjoy when they choose ETSU for education in the health sciences,” says Dr. Wilsie Bishop, ETSU’s vice president for Health Affairs and University chief operating officer. “That interdisciplinary or interprofessional component is even more important for those who plan to pursue a career in

a rural setting, where working closely with health professionals from different disciplines is crucial to promoting better health.”

ETSU offers medical and pharmaceutical training at area hospitals including regional leaders Wellmont Health System and Mountain States Health Alliance. The school is also embarking on public-private ventures in hopes of growing the region’s promising bioscience industry.

Ripe for Innovation In 2011, pharmaceutical newcomer BioCorp joined ETSU’s Valleybrook campus,

a helping hand Medical technology and bioscience entrepreneurs in the region looking for help getting their operations up and running can turn to ETSU’s Innovation Lab for assistance. The fullservice incubator is part of Johnson City’s growing Med-Tech Corridor and provides office and lab space at reasonable rates.

For more details, visit www.etsuilab.org.

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P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f L i nc o l n M e m o r i a l Un i v e r s i t y

a 72,000-square-foot research and office complex in Washington County donated to the ETSU Foundation by Eastman Chemical Co. BioCorp CEO Eric Latham says the partnership is a perfect fit for the pharmaceutical startup, which plans to research and develop all-natural, over-thecounter medications, as well as treatments for breast cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and hypothyroidism.

“We’d been looking for a while to develop a partnership with ETSU’s pharmacy and medical schools,” Latham says. “Northeast Tennessee is unique in that it has so much infrastructure, talent and skill related to biomedical and pharmaceutical research and health care. We saw a real opportunity here for collaboration and innovation.”

BioCorp is among several pharmaceuticals setting up shop here. As part of plans to expand its U.S. presence as one of the world’s largest makers of generic drugs, Indian pharmaceutical manufacturer Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories recently assumed ownership of the Glaxo Smith Kline penicillin plant in Bristol, Tenn., which makes and packages oral penicillin products Amoxcil and Augmentin for its U.S. market. And in Johnson City, Crown Laboratories manufactures prescription and over-the-counter products under its signature brands, Blue Lizard and Del-Ray Dermatologicals.

“We like to think we’ll play a part in establishing the bioscience industry in Northeast Tennessee,” says Latham, who was Valleybrook’s first tenant. “From an operations standpoint, there’s a lot to offer.”

Clockwise from top: Lab work at ETSU’s College of Pharmacy; Training at Lincoln Memorial University’s DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine; R & D work at pharmaceutical start-up BioCorp.

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

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

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

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

www.sleepinn.com/hotel/tn288

Energy/Technology

High-Speed Growth Blazing fast Internet makes the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region a data center destination Story by Dan Hieb

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hat makes the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region a hot spot for new technology companies? Just ask Mike Browder. The CEO of Bristol Tennessee Essential Services can get a 1-gigabit Internet connection — at his boat slip.

“If you run a data center here, and you have someone who lives in our area, they can have gigabit access to their computer from anywhere in our service area,” Browder says. Even on a boat.

And if you’re going to need constant access to your data, you might as well have the option of hanging out at the marina instead of being anchored to your desk.

Trailblazing Technology BTES started building its own fiber-optic network in the late 1990s and began offering Internet service in 2005. At first, the top speed was 20 megabits per second, which soon grew to 100 and now 1 Gb/s.

It’s not alone. Bristol Virginia Utilities also offers 1-gigabit Internet, as does Morristown Utility Systems.

The area’s infrastructure is so robust that when the Tennessee Valley Authority hired Deloitte Consulting to find 12 ideal sites for data centers in the TVA’s seven-state region, three of the sites identified were in the Northeast Tennessee Valley region. TVA pre-qualified data center locations planned in Bristol, Tenn.; Morristown, Tenn.; and Duffield, Va. That’s a big turnaround from 10 years ago, when high-speed Internet access was a rare commodity in the area.

“We were seeing our children go off to college and earn a computer science degree, then go off somewhere else to get a job,” Browder says.

“We looked at it as a way to help keep our young people here and expand our economic development opportunities.”

Morristown Utility Systems CEO Jody Wigington says providing the access has been critical.

Before it built its fiber-optic network, “55 percent of commercial businesses indicated in a scientific

Staying connected Valley internet providers offer residents fast access Residential high-speed Internet is also available in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region, allowing residents to enjoy fast, easy Web access from the comfort of home.

Bristol Tennessee Essential Services keeps customers connected with a Fiber-To-The-User connection, which means the provider’s fiber optic system runs directly to the residence,

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while Bristol Virginia Utilities offers OptiNet that requires no modems or routers and is ideal for households where several computers and devices are connected to the Internet simultaneously.

Morristown Utility Systems offers FiberNet, allowing customers to enjoy video, Internet and telephone services, and provides multiple levels of standard Internet bandwidth.

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

Since locating its Tier III commercial data center in the Northeast Tennessee Valley, Duffield, Va.-based OnePartner has benefited from the region’s fast Internet, cheap power and geographical advantages.

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Bristol Virginia Utilities

survey that current bandwidths were inadequate to support their operations,” he says. Now, “it has attracted several businesses to town.”

The data centers have also been a boon for local schools. Sullivan County Schools and Bristol City Schools, for instance, use the networks to share files and enhance distance learning opportunities.

Local Data Center Sets a Milestone The Northeast Tennessee Valley Region is an ideal data center spot for many reasons, says Tom Deaderick, director of OnePartner LLC, a local Tier III commercial data center. The high-speed network is just part of the picture, he says.

Duffield, where his data center is based, allows him to take advantage of fast Internet and cheap TVA power, while also avoiding the geographical pitfalls other data centers are vulnerable to, such as being in a floodplain, a natural disaster-prone

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area or a location where man-made disaster is likely to strike such as a major flight path or a heavily populated area.

The data center is owned by the Holston Medical Group in Kingsport, Tenn., which wanted an off-site data center and realized that the community was underserved.

The data center has earned bragging rights for avoiding any service outages for more than 1,200 days and counting. It achieved that by having redundancies for each of its major systems, which helped it earn Tier III recognition from New York-based Uptime Institute.

“We’ve had some huge players in the server and hosting space look at the area and do some site reviews, and I think we’ll land some of those before long,” Deaderick says. “We want people to realize what a great place this is for data centers.”

Plugging In Smart Grid, Solar energy efforts build in region Enhanced Systems Consulting, based in Johnson City, Tenn., hopes to save the Tennessee Valley Authority $4.8 billion.

The company is using Bristol Tennessee Essential Services’ fiber-optic network to monitor energy use in more than 1,200 homes — particularly the energy used by water heaters. Some BTES customers have essentially given up control of the on/off switch — allowing the utility to do most of the water heating in the middle of the night, during off-peak hours when power is cheapest. Water temperature is monitored to ensure that hot showers are still available.

During off-peak hours, the extra demand is actually beneficial to the electrical system, Enhanced Systems Consulting President Matthew Bolton says. His company is partnering with East Tennessee State University on the smart-grid research.

“By doing this, we can decrease the total demand on the BTES system … by about 15 percent,” he says.

It means lower bills for residents and fewer power plants for TVA. And it’s just one of several clean energy projects going on in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region.

In Newland, N.C. in Avery County, O2 Energies converted a Christmas tree farm into a solar power plant that will supply power to Mountain Electric Cooperative.

And at Walters State Community College, a clean energy program that started in spring 2011 gives students hands-on experience with wind turbines and solar panel installation.

Assistant professor Andrew Aarons says the goal is for students to “take the two-year program and have enough hard skills to go out and get a job or start their own company.”

Companies and schools around

the region are working to be big players in Tennessee’s green economy, which the Business & Economic Research Center at Middle Tennessee State University projects will bring 10,000 green jobs and $5.5 billion investment to the state by 2014.

“It’s only going to grow,” Aarons says.

– Dan Hieb

Need Infrastructure?

Hawkins County can cover that!

The 550-acre Phipps Bend Industrial District is ready and waiting for your industry. All of your industrial needs are in place including: • A 70,870-square-foot spec building ready for occupancy • Rail connection spur to Norfolk-Southern line • Utility infrastructure including electricity, gas, water and sewer • Tennessee Technology Center located on site • Skilled workforce • Located adjacent to four-lane U.S. Hwy. 11W • Close proximity to four major interstate highways • Diverse mixture of existing industry • Located within one day’s drive of 75% of major U.S. markets • Tri-Cities Regional Airport 30 miles away

107 E. Main St., Suite 221 • Rogersville, TN 37857 (423) 272-7668 • (423) 921-2410 Cell • (423) 272-0200 Fax Email: hawk4112@bellsouth.net • www.hawkinstnindustrial.com

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Transportation

Point of Access Region offers ideal infrastructure for distribution, logistics Story by John Fuller

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ith its convenient road, rail and air connections and central location along three major interstates, the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region offers an ideal distribution point for companies serving major U.S. markets. More than 75 percent of the nation’s population is less than a day’s drive away, and two of the nation’s major railroads, CSX and Norfolk Southern, cross the region with direct connections to U.S. ports in Charleston, S.C. and Norfolk, Va.

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Valley Draws Distributors, Logistics Firms With Interstates 40, 26 and 81 crossing the region, and I-77 and I-75 just an hour away, more than 55 general commodity motor carriers are located in the area, as well as a growing number of distribution and logistics companies. Wal-Mart operates a major distribution center in Greene County, Tenn., sending goods to 92 stores in a multistate area. The 1.2 million-square-foot facility employs more than 900 workers.

“We are in an excellent location and have a great labor force,” says

Ted Rideout, general manager of the Wal-Mart Distribution Center.

“This has been a win-win for the company and the community ever since it opened in 1997.”

Home Shopping Network and FedEx have distribution centers in Sullivan County, Tenn., and M. Block & Sons, which distributes consumer goods to retailers, recently opened a 500,000-squarefoot center in Jefferson City, Tenn., creating 100 new jobs.

The region is home to two major transportation-related companies, both based in Greeneville, Tenn.: Landair and Forward Air Corporation.

Forward Air contracts with the air cargo industry, providing time-definite ground transportation services through a network of terminals located at or near major airports in 85 cities across the United States and Canada.

Landair provides truckload, dedicated and contract trucking services, as well as warehousing, inventory and warehouse management, and supply-chain solutions to customers principally in the eastern part of the country.

Founded three decades ago

Railways crossing the Valley offer direct connections to East Coast ports. b u s i n e ss c l i m a t e . c o m / n e - t e n n e ss e e

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by local entrepreneur Scott Niswonger, Landair has grown to encompass its own fleet of more than 450 trucks and has more than 910 employees, including contract workers.

“Northeast Tennessee and Greeneville is where we chose to work and live, and we have certainly enjoyed it here,” Niswonger says.

“This is a hassle-free place to work, and we have loyal employees with a great work ethic.”

Expansions at Tri-Cities Regional, Other Airports Regional airports throughout the valley also add to its logistics appeal, and several are undergoing expansions to serve a growing population. Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) was recently awarded nearly $10 million to complete a full, parallel taxiway that will

increase efficiency on the south side of the airfield for commercial and general aviation aircraft.

The extension will open up direct airfield access to an additional 140 acres of airport property for aviation-related industrial development. Work on the taxiway extension is expected to begin in spring 2012, with completion in fall 2013.

Ideally located just off of I-81 and situated between the Valley’s three major metro areas of Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol, Tenn., the airport offers nonstop service to Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando and the Tampa area, and is currently served by US Airways, Delta and Allegiant Air. Covering more than 1,225 acres, the airport includes a modern terminal building, a full-service, fixed base operation, corporate

hangars and an air cargo logistics center with adjacent acreage available for development. It also administers a foreign trade zone and is home to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port.

“We continually work to provide the best available facilities and services for the community,” says Patrick Wilson, Tri-Cities Regional Airport executive director. “We recognize that a vibrant airport is an important asset for the region’s economic growth and stability.”

Moore-Murrell Airport in Morristown, Tenn., recently opened a new terminal named in honor of Evelyn Bryan “Mama Bird” Johnson, who has managed the airport for more than 50 years and also holds the title for the most flight hours ever logged in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Passengers board a flight at Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Blountville, Tenn.

Have you met Jeff?

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

Jefferson county, Tennessee is: Accessible:

HARdwoRking:

• Ideal location along Interstates 40 & 81 and four U.S. highways

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

• 40 minutes from Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport

• Home to Carson Newman College and a short drive from the University of Tennessee, two community colleges, and a regional technology center

• Norfolk Southern Rail Access ReliAble:

AvAilAble:

• TVA-generated safe and efficient electrical service

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

• Advanced and redundant telecommunications infrastructure

• Professional, experienced staff ready to discuss your business needs

• Plentiful supply of water and wastewater resources

To learn more, visit us online at: www.selectjefferson.com

Jefferson county chamber of commerce (865) 397-9642

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Health

Vital Resources Nationally ranked health-care systems serve the region Story by Melanie Hill

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rom cardiac care to oncology, two major health systems are bringing world-class health care to the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region.

Nationally recognized for their quality and expertise, hospitals in both systems are continually enhancing their technology, services and facilities to provide residents with the most advanced care.

Based in Johnson City, Tenn., the locally owned and managed Mountain States Health Alliance serves families in 29 counties with 13 hospitals, $1 billion in net revenue, 400 physicians and more than 9,000 team members. Two of its hospitals, Franklin Woods Community Hospital in Johnson City, Tenn., and Indian Path Medical Center in Kingsport, Tenn., were recently recognized as top performers on key measures for heart attacks, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care and children’s asthma.

Community Hospital received the 2011 Rural Health Quality Award from the National Rural Health Association.

The system also operates Johnson City’s Niswonger Children’s Hospital, an affiliate of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and recently opened a new medical campus for Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Va. In 2012, MSHA will open a new facility for Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion, Va. “We’re making a substantial investment in the region because we believe in it,” says Ed Herbert, vice president of communications and marketing at MSHA. “We owe our growth to cost effectiveness, our people and our technology, but in the end it all goes back to our mission of bringing loving care to health care.”

Excellence in cardiac care Long recognized for its commitment to cardiac care, MSHA achieved gold status from the American Heart Association and serves as a national benchmark for heart surgery outcomes.

Interventional services are offered at Indian Path Medical Center and Johnston Memorial Hospital.

U.S. News & World Report named Indian Path a high performer in the 2011 Best Hospital rankings, along with Johnson City, Tenn., Medical Center, which was recognized for its cardiology and heart surgery.

MSHA also operates the HeartCoach, the region’s only mobile cardiovascular screening unit.

In Mountain City, Tenn., Johnson County

Innovative specialty care Another leading health-care provider in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia, Wellmont Health System includes eight hospitals, outpatient facilities, the Wellmont CVA Heart Institute and two major trauma centers. In 2011, Wellmont’s Holston Valley Medical Center was named a Thomson Reuters Top 50 Heart Hospital and, along with Bristol Regional Medical Center, recognized as a top-ranked Heart Bypass Program by Consumer Reports. The centers are two of only six in Tennessee accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

“Our focus on the entire person, body, mind and spirit, as well as our excellent physicians and

Clockwise from top: Kingsport-based Indian Path Medical Center is known for its cardiac care; Holston Valley Medical Center, also in Kingsport, is a Thomson Reuters Top 50 Heart Hospital; Erwin, TN-based Unicoi County Memorial Hospital offers top-notch rural care.

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Preventing and Fighting Pneumonia The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently recognized Johnson City Medical Center as one of six hospitals in the nation to receive the Outstanding Leadership Award in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia.

The award is given to organizations that reach their infection prevention targets for 25 months or more. The ventilator-associated pneumonia rate at JCMC is now a tenth of what it was in 2005, and one-third of what is typically found in hospitals of similar size and patient population.

JCMC officials credit the award to a collaborative approach among nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, infection prevention teams, physical and occupational therapists, and pharmacy staff.

treatment team, helps set Wellmont oncology services apart,” says Sue Lindenbusch, Wellmont Health System’s vice president of oncology.

Comprehensive oncology services include an active research program, a genetic counselor and clinic to test those at high risk for cancer, as well as dedicated navigators for breast, lung and gastrointestinal cancers. Navigators work as liaisons between patients and their physicians, providing one-on-one support and guidance throughout the cancer experience.

In 2011, Wellmont’s Kingsport Hematology and Oncology moved to a new location on West Stone Drive, providing a warmer healing environment –

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literally. Heated infusion chairs increase comfort for patients, who also appreciate easier access, spacious accommodations and a cancer resource center for patients and family members. Similar upgrades have been made at Wellmont’s Bristol Regional Medical Center and the Southwest Virginia Cancer Center in Norton, Va. With the addition of Blue Ridge Medical Specialists in 2012, Wellmont now boasts the largest group of medical oncologists in the region.

The system recently announced plans to expand its cardiology services into Washington County, Tenn., and open a new urgent care and physician office in Abingdon, Va.

Well Treated Valley’s rural residents have many hospital options Residents in more rural areas of the Northeast Tennessee Valley have no trouble finding quality health care close to home, thanks to community hospitals that offer a mix of primary and specialty services.

Lakeway Regional Hospital in Morristown, Tenn., for example, has 134 beds for primary and specialty care, and specializes in hip and knee replacements.

The medical center recently opened The Joint Academy, a 17-bay day surgery facility that allows more patients to have joint replacement surgery.

“We spent a lot of time and planning for the opening of The Joint Academy,” says Priscilla Mills, Lakeway Regional CEO. “Patients can now benefit from our specialized treatment approaches that greatly enhance the recovery process.”

Laughlin Memorial Hospital in Greeneville, Tenn., has 140 beds and services that include cardiopulmonary, emergency, pharmacy, radiology and surgical. The hospital now includes Laughlin Center for Women’s Health, which has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of

Radiology. Construction is under way on a $12.5 million expansion project.

“The Breast Imaging Center of Excellence has only been granted to just over 7 percent of the more than 8,600 certified breast centers in the U.S.,” says Jesse Taylor, Laughlin’s director of radiology.

Centers of Excellence Another top medical facility in Northeast Tennessee is the Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System, which offers six Centers of Excellence for lung and vascular, maternity, joint and spine, cancer, surgery, and emergency and critical care. The hospital also just completed a $1 million renovation of its Women’s Center.

And in Erwin, Tenn., Unicoi County Memorial Hospital offers emergency, medical/surgical, intensive care, home health, laboratory, pharmacy, radiology, rehabilitation, respiratory and sleep lab services. The hospital recently received a gold seal of accreditation for its mammography services and is nationally accredited

by The Joint Commission.

– Kevin Litwin

Hancock County TENNESSEE

… a great place to LIVE and WORK. www.hancockcounty.com

180,000 square feet available now

Education

Setting the Bar Kingsport’s nationally recognized education collaborative boosts jobs, skills Story by John Fuller • Photography by Todd Bennett

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ompany downsizings and departures put the city of Kingsport, Tenn., on the brink of economic disaster a decade ago, but an ambitious, collaborative education program has sparked a dramatic turnaround in the community.

Through its Academic Village and Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing, Kingsport is being cited by national economic experts as a shining example of how a community can pull together to improve itself.

Anticipating the loss of hundreds of baby-boomer employees annually due to retirement, Kingsport manufacturers, such as Eastman

Chemical Company and Domtar Corporation, have thrown their support behind the program because they need a good pipeline of well-trained employees to fill that job-skill gap.

“We came to realize that we needed to diversify our industry here, and we needed to help our existing industries become successful,” says Jeff Fleming, Kingsport’s assistant manager for development.

Training for High-Tech Jobs A concerted effort to match job training and skills with the needs of the local corporate community was undertaken

through a partnership between the city of Kingsport, the state of Tennessee, Eastman, Domtar and Northeast State Community College. Since its opening in 2009, RCAM has worked closely with industry professionals to provide training for high-tech manufacturing jobs.

The center is housed in a 26,000-square-foot facility designed specifically for advanced manufacturing training.

Knowledgeable instructors, plus state-of-the-art training simulation equipment like its virtual welder, provide graduates with needed skills to become well-trained workers at local

Entrepreneurial Accelerator Coming to ETSU Entrepreneurs in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region will soon have a new place to launch startups. The state of Tennessee recently awarded East Tennessee State University a $250,000 grant to establish a Regional Entrepreneurial Accelerator that will assist area entrepreneurs with starting businesses

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and creating jobs. The accelerator program is part of an INCITE initiative backed by Gov. Bill Haslam to drive statewide growth in the creation of knowledge-based jobs. Besides ETSU, eight other accelerator grants were issued, one in each of the state’s nine Jobs4TN Jobs Base Camp regions.

The Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing in Kingsport, Tenn.

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Instructor Randal Elam leads an electrical technology class at the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing, which partners with local industries to train skilled workers.

manufacturers. Domtar, which provided the land for RCAM, has already benefited from the apprenticeship program.

“We graduated our first class of five apprentices from the Domtar Paper Mill,” says Charles Floyd, Domtar’s mill manager and vice president. “As journeymen, they now earn 60 percent more in terms of their take-home pay, and they have the skills and the knowledge that we need to efficiently maintain and operate the complex precision equipment in the mill.

“Facilities like RCAM that have the equipment and technology to help us drive training are vital for us to compete in the global economy,” Floyd adds.

Jeff Frazier, RCAM’s director of training and development, is confident that the RCAM concept will spread.

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“As we incubate the idea of technology training, we can provide students with the right tools to succeed,” Frazier says.

“If we can show them that manufacturing careers are not only exciting, but rewarding, then we’ve added an intrinsic value to their lives that might not otherwise be there.”

Results, Recognition Coming to Kingsport For Kingsport, the results of these concerted community efforts are already paying big dividends. Comparing 1990 to 2010, the city’s population increased by 30 percent, and the median family income went up $20,000 a year. During that same period, more than 12,000 net new jobs were created. The poverty rate in the city has markedly declined, and the number of

bachelor’s and associate’s degrees has increased.

Harvard University’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance presented its 2009 American Government Award to the Kingsport higher education initiative, which includes RCAM. Kingsport also received the prestigious Gold Award for Municipal Excellence from the National League of Cities. In addition to RCAM, Kingsport’s Academic Village includes the Regional Center for Health Professions, the Regional Center for Applied Technology, the Kingsport Higher Education Center and the Pal Barger School of Automotive Technology.

“Collectively, as a community, we all are doing the things that we need to do to be sustainable for the long term,” Fleming says.

Standing the Test Northeast Tennessee Valley colleges earn accolades, launch expansion plans More than a dozen colleges and universities in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region supply employers with skilled, educated workers.

Many of those higher-education institutions are earning national accolades, including East Tennessee State University; its business school is listed among the nation’s best by the 2012 Princeton Review.

“Besides our business school, we earn high marks in technology, the arts, education and nursing, and even have a medical school and pharmacy school on campus,” says Joe Smith, ETSU director of media relations. “The university offers more than 100 courses of study and several doctorate degrees.”

where good, high-paying jobs are becoming abundant, and Walters State wants to be on board,” says Nancy Brown, WSCC dean of workforce development.

Northeast State Community College is adding an auto body service technology program to its degrees and is expanding into Johnson City, Tenn., and Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton

is undergoing a $16 million renovation to enhance various training areas.

Other top colleges in the region include Carson-Newman, Greenville-Greene County Center for Technology, Lincoln Memorial University, Virginia Highlands Community College and Virginia Intermont College.

– Kevin Litwin

More Accolades Emory & Henry College is ranked among the top liberal arts colleges

by U.S. News & World Report and Washington Monthly, and King College was named among the Best Regional Universities by U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review.

Milligan College in Tennessee was ranked No. 9 among the Best Regional Colleges in the South and No. 3 in the Great Schools, Great Prices subcategory

by U.S. News & World Report, while Tusculum College is listed in the Templeton Foundation’s Guide to Character Building Colleges.

Training for Top Industries Community colleges in the region are continuously adding programs to train students for the Valley’s fastest growing industries.

Walters State Community College unveiled a $20 million expansion plan for its Greeneville, Tenn., campus and invested more than $1 million to establish an advanced clean energy technology program.

“Green/clean energy is a sector

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Livability

Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County, Va. is known for its 850-foot-long tunnel, which the 18th century politician William Jennings Bryan called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” S ta ff P h o t o

Adventure Awaits Outdoor escapes easy to find in Northeast Tennessee Valley Story by Kevin Litwin

S

et in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region is rich in history, culture and outdoor adventures that range from a wealth of hiking trails to skiing, rafting, fly fishing and other recreational escapes.

Whitewater rafting opportunities abound throughout eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, and more than 40 public and private courses make the Tri-Cities area among the best in the country for golf.

Fly-fishing fans have access to an extensive system of lakes operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, plus numerous freshwater streams that give the

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region more great fishing spots. Cave enthusiasts can explore caverns in Bristol and Linville, N.C., and skiing and snowboarding fun is available at places like Beech Mountain, N.C., and Sugar Mountain, N.C. “We also have tubing, ice skating and snowshoeing, plus we offer ski lift rides in the summertime from July 4 through Labor Day for people to view the scenery below,” says Kim Jochl, Sugar Mountain Resort marketing director. “Also, our website has a live, streaming webcam at both the summit and base of our mountain, so people can see real-time weather and activities.”

Taking the Trails Top trails in the Northeast Tennessee Valley include the Virginia Creeper Trail, which weaves for 35 miles through the backwoods of southwestern Virginia from Abingdon to the North Carolina state

A snowboarder hits the slopes at Beech Mountain Resort in Beech Mountain, N.C.

S ta ff P h o t o

Park It Here Park lovers can visit Natural Tunnel State Park in Virginia, called the Eighth Wonder of the World by William Jennings Bryan because of its 850-foot-long tunnel with a train track winding through it. In Claiborne County, Tenn., Cumberland Gap National Historical Park has caves and waterfalls and encompasses the 650,000-acre Cherokee National Forest.

Hikers can venture down hundreds of miles of trails at Great Smoky Mountains National Park or trek up Grandfather Mountain in Avery County, N.C. – the highest peak in the Blue Ridge range and home to a 228-foot Mile High Swinging Bridge. The 3,500 acres at Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport, Tenn., offers everything from nature walks to crosscountry skiing.

line. In Greene County, Tenn., its trail system features a 6.4-mile Chimney Rocks-Paint Mountain Loop, which provides views of the Nolichucky River. Other trails that pass through the region include the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, the Appalachian Trail and the Iron Mountain Trail.

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Scenic Drives For those who enjoy scenic routes and interactive driving tours, the 300-mile Crooked Road Musical Heritage Trail stretches from the Kentucky state line into Virginia and takes motorists past musical landmarks like the Ralph Stanley Museum and the Carter Family Fold. For history buffs, the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail, blazed by the legendary frontiersman, runs from Kingsport through Virginia’s Cumberland Gap. An East Tennessee Crossing, designated as a National Scenic Byway by the U.S. Department of Transportation, follows U.S. 25E and passes through the original Cherokee Warriors Path and Thunder Road of moonshining lore. Additional trails passing through the Northeast Tennessee Valley include the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, Sunny Side Country Trail in Tennessee and the famed Blue Ridge Parkway.

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A hiker treks across a train tressel on the Virginia Creeper Trail which spans 35 miles from Abingdon, Va., to the North Carolina state line.

Historic Hideaways Small towns throughout the region offer distinctive attractions With its rich historical roots and a cultural heritage that ranges from music to motorsports, the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region is full of small communities worth visiting for a day trip or a weekend getaway.

In Bristol, visitors can stand in the middle of town with one foot in Tennessee and the other in Virginia. The Tennessee side is home to the Paramount Center for the Arts, as well as the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Museum and an extensive live music scene. Nearby, the Bristol Motor Speedway, nicknamed “the world’s fastest half-mile oval,” hosts NASCAR races.

Tennessee’s oldest town, Jonesborough, is filled with historic sites from the 18th-century and is home to the International Storytelling Center, which hosts the annual National Storytelling Festival.

Tennessee’s second oldest town, Greeneville, features a birthplace replica and the burial place of 17th U.S. president Andrew Johnson. Davy Crockett was also born nearby, and a replica of his birthplace is open for tours.

One of the first towns to become an Appalachian Trail Community, Erwin, Tenn., is the setting for the annual Unicoi County Apple Festival. Drawing an average of 100,000 attendees each year, the fall festival is one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 events.

Known for its performing and visual arts, Abingdon, Va., founded in 1778, is home to the Barter Theatre – the second oldest drama venue in the country.

“If you’re really into the arts, Abingdon has many offerings,” says Kevin Costello, town of Abingdon director of tourism.

“We also have interesting sites like the William King Museum, Star Museum, Holston Mountain Artisans and the Martha Washington Hotel and Spa. And our attractions are conveniently located off Interstate 81 at exits 14, 17 and 19.”

– Kevin Litwin

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Gallery

A walk through Roan Mountain State Park’s Rhododendron Gardens Photo by Antony Boshier

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A stop at Virginia’s Bristol Railroad Station Staff Photo

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Gallery

A tour through Bush’s Beans Visitor Center in Chestnut Hill, Tenn.

Photo by Todd Bennett

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A sunrise over South Fork Holston River in Bristol, Tenn.

Staff Photo

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visit our

advertisers Bristol Tennessee Essential Services www.btes.net Bristol Virginia Utilities www.accessbristolva.com Carter County Tomorrow www.cartercountytomorrow.com City of Kingsport www.kingsportTN.gov Eastman Chemical Company www.eastman.com Greene County Partnership www.greenecountypartnership.com Hancock County www.hancockcounty.com Holston Electric/Hawkins County www.hawkinstnindustrial.com Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce www.selectjefferson.com Johnson City Power Board www.jcpb.com Joint Economic Development of Unicoi County Erwin Utilities www.unicoiedb.com Morristown Utility Systems www.musfiber.net Mountain States Health Alliance www.msha.com Networks-Sullivan Partnership www.networkstn.com Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association www.netvaly.org Scott County Economic Development Authority www.scottcountyva.org Sleep Inn & Suites www.sleepinn.com/hotel/tn259 Washington County Tennessee Economic Development Council www.thewcedc.com

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economic profile Business snapshot

Population (2010) Region 773,867

Tennessee

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

Virginia

Lee County Scott County Washington County

57,424 32,213 68,831 6,819 56,833 62,544 51,407 18,244 156,823 18,313 122,979

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

Hamblen County Jefferson County Johnson County Sullivan County Unicoi County Washington County

Virginia

Leisure & Hospitality, 11%

Lee County Scott County Washington County

Professional & Business Services, 9%

$39,807 $38,239 $29,949 $39,957 $34,387 $40,267 $31,352 $34,250 $41,256

Information, 4.1%

North Carolina

Median Household Income

Source: http://quickfacts.census.gov

Avery County

$34,918

17,797

Major Population Centers (2010) Johnson City, TN Kingsport, TN Bristol, TN Bristol, VA

Major industry sectors

Financial Activities, 4.8% 25,587 23,177 54,876

North Carolina Avery County

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

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

63,152 48,205 26,702 17,690

Region $34,819

Tennessee

Carter County Claiborne County Greene County Hancock County Hawkins County

$31,173 $31,353 $36,867 $23,125 $35,392

What’s Online For more demographic, statistical and community information on the Northeast Tennessee Valley Region, go to businessclimate.com/ne-tennessee and click on Demographics.

This section is sponsored by

Scott County, Virginia … We’re a Natural for Business Crooked Road Tech Center

• Finished or unfinished space available

• Virginia designated enterprise zone

• Fiber and power redundancy

• Premier tech savvy workforce available

• Close proximity to Tier III Certified Data Center (OnePartner)

• Close proximity to community colleges and universities

• Publicly owned first-class facility

• 22 miles to Interstate 26

• TVA power through Powell Valley Electric Cooperative

• One mile to four-lane Hwy. 58 • Labor force of more than 266,000

Scott County EDA • 180 W. Jackson St. • Gate City, VA 24251 • (276) 386-2525 • www.scottcountyva.org

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Through the Lens

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

From Our Photo Blog: Northeast Tennessee Valley Region If it weren’t for the table perched atop the brick and stone oven, I would have never noticed Scratch. It was my last day in Johnson City, Tenn., and it would take another year to get back, but the wait was worth it. At Scratch Brick Oven, you can get your pizza three ways: Trust, Limited Trust or Make Your Own. With Trust, the pizza maker chooses an eclectic mix of toppings, from sausage to mandarin oranges. Limited Trust eliminates what you don’t want, and Make Your Own is just that. A word of advice: Don’t order a whole pizza by yourself – or you’ll be eating it out of your hotel’s mini fridge for the next several days.

Posted by Todd bennett

More Online

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

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N o r t h e a s t T e n n e ss e e V a l l e y R e g i o n

Ad Index

C2 Bristol Tennessee Essential Services

5 Bristol Virginia Utilities

39 Carter County Tomorrow

C3 City of Kingsport

C3 Eastman Chemical Company

37 Greene County Partnership

33 Hancock County

1 Morristown Utility Systems

18 Mountain States Health Alliance

8 Networks-Sullivan Partnership

C4 Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association

25 Holston Electric/ Hawkins County

47 Scott County Economic Development Authority

21 Sleep Inn & Suites

29 Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce

2 Johnson City Power Board

11 Joint Economic Development of Unicoi County Erwin Utilities

46 Washington County Tennessee Economic Development Council

An Entrepreneurial Approach to Workforce Development Beginning with free tuition for all graduates years ago, the City of Kingsport continues its leadership role today with an entrepreneurial approach to workforce development.

More than $20 million in local funding has been put to work developing the Kingsport Academic Village, powered by public and private universities alike.

Kingsport Center for Higher Education

Highlighted by the Kingsport Center for Higher Education, the Academic Village features the Regional Center for Health Professions, the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing, offering industry specific and degree-driven programming in the industrial arts, as well as the Pal Barger Center for Automotive Programs.

Why don’t you call today to find out why Kingsport is the best place to partner and grow your business?

For more information, please contact Assistant City Manager for Development Jeff Fleming at (423) 229-9381 or visit us online at www.KingsportTN.gov.

Regional Center for Health Professions

Pal Barger Regional Center for Automotive Professions

Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing

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Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association 3211 N. Roan St. Johnson City, TN 37601

Phone: 423-928-1203 www.netvaly.org