Southeast Resource 2011

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north georgia southeast tennessee southwest north carolina

High-Speed Growth

Lightning-fast broadband boosts competitiveness

Brain Stormers

Business Center helps empower entrepreneurs

Students, Start Your Engines

Colleges offer futuristic auto tech careers

What’s Online  Find office, retail and industrial property in our free site selection guide at seresource.com.

Sponsored by the Southeast Industrial Development Association | 2011

Sequatchie County

Michael Hudson Sequatchie County Executive P.O. Box 595 Dunlap, TN 37327 seqexec@bledsoe.net (423) 949-3479 T (423) 949-2579 F

Winston Pickett, Director Sequatchie County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 1653 sequatchie@bledsoe.net (423) 949-7608 T (423) 949-8052 F

Visit us at www.sequatchie.com

southeast resource 201 1 E dition , volum e 6 Project Manager Emily McMackin Audience Development Director Lisa Battles Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editor Jill Wyatt

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CONNECTIONS

An online resource at seresource.com

Contributing writers Pamela Coyle, Bill Lewis, Joe Morris Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Jessica Manner, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Vikki Williams

digital Magazine >>

Graphic Designer Rachael GerrinGer Media Technology Analysts Chandra Bradshaw, Lance conzett, Michele Niccore, Marcus Snyder

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Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto

nOrtH GEOrGia SOutHEaSt tEnnESSEE SOutHWESt nOrtH carOlina

Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Web Content Manager John Hood

High-Speed Growth

Web project manager noy fongnaly

Lightning-fast broadband boosts competitiveness

Web Account manager Lauren Eubank

Brain Stormers

Web Design Director Franco Scaramuzza

Business Center helps empower entrepreneurs

Web Designer II richard stevens 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

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

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

Students, Start Your Engines

Colleges offer futuristic auto tech careers

What’s Online Find office, retail and industrial property in our free site selection guide at seresource.com.

SpOnSOrEd BY tHE SOutHEaSt induStrial dEvElOpmEnt aSSOciatiOn | 2011

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

Sales Support Manager Cindy Hall color imaging technician alison hunter

News and Notes >>

Chairman Greg Thurman

Our editors give you the

President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen

Inside Scoop on the latest

Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman

development and trends in

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

the community.

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 V.P./Sales Charles Fitzgibbon, Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley

Workstyle A spotlight on the region’s innovative companies

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

Content Director/Travel Publications Susan Chappell Content Director/Business Publications Bill McMeekin

Dig Deeper >>

Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris

Plug into the community with

Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan

links to local websites and

Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop

resources to give you a big picture of the region.

Data Central >>

Southeast Resource is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Southeast Industrial Development Association.

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

A wealth of demographic and statistical information puts the community at

For more information, contact: Southeast Industrial Development Association 1000 Riverfront Parkway • Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 Phone: (423) 266-5781 • Fax: (423) 267-7705 www.seida.info

Visit Southeast Resource online at seresource.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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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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Workstyle

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High-Speed Growth

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Lightning-fast broadband boosts competitiveness.

Brain Stormers

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Business Center helps empower entrepreneurs.

Students, Start Your Engines

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Colleges offer futuristic auto tech careers.

Insight

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Overview

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Business Almanac

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Business Climate

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Energy/ Technology

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Transportation

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Livability

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Site Guide

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16 On the Cover Chattanooga State Community College’s Automotive Mechatronics program in Chattanooga, Tenn. Photo by Jeff Adkins

What’s Online Search for available office, retail or industrial property in the SEIDA region or add a listing of your own to the free online site selection guide at seresource.com. For more in-depth listings, you can also browse a free searchable database of properties at www.seida.info.

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

Please recycle this magazine

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Overview

A Region That Builds On its Strengths southeast industrial development association promotes investment in three-state territory Two of the most significant foreign capital investments in the United States are taking place in the heart of the Southeast Industrial Development Association’s service territory, cementing the 22-county, three-state region’s attractiveness as a place for new investment and jobs.

Playing off the region’s trained and reliable workforce, available product inventories and outstanding quality of life, SEIDA has been a force in attracting investment and jobs.

In 2008 alone, the association’s efforts helped facilitate 10 locations, 16 expansions, $1.3 billion in new capital investment and creation of more than 5,900 jobs.

Those efforts were capped by German company Wacker Chemie AG’s plans for a $1 billion facility in Bradley County, Tenn., to produce hyperpure polycrystalline silicon, a key component in photovoltaics for solar energy and semiconductors for the electronics industry.

Volkswagen is building a mammoth $1 billion manufacturing complex

in Chattanooga that is spurring millions of dollars in additional investment and will ultimately create thousands of jobs.

SEIDA’s staff, board, powerdistributor members and partner organizations collaborate and cooperate to lure companies to southeast Tennessee, north Georgia and southwest North Carolina, where spectacular natural beauty, an array of cultural and arts attractions, endless recreational opportunities, and high-caliber health-care and higher education institutions combine to make the region a place to invest and thrive.

For more on the region’s advantages, contact: Southeast Industrial Development Association P.O. Box 4757 1000 Riverfront Pkwy.

Chattanooga, TN 37405-0757 (423) 424-4245 www.seida.info

What’s Online Visit Mercier Apple Orchard, a family-owned, apple harvesting business in Blue Ridge, Ga.

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Almanac Riding the Rails Before the diesel locomotive became popular in the 20th century for its cost and efficiency, steam engines ruled the rails. Visitors to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga will soon get a chance to take a nostalgic excursion in a resurrected coal-powered steam locomotive. The museum is partnering with Norfolk Southern to offer 21st Century Steam, a program to educate visitors about the milestones in rail history as well as the role of trains in today’s economy – all while taking a ride in a restored steam engine. Southern Railway 630, built in 1904, will be the first engine for passenger excursions.

Secrets of Rock City Trio of Trails For history buffs eager to reconnect with their heritage, southeast Tennessee, north Georgia and southwestern North Carolina offer an abundance of trails that trace cultural milestones of the region.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association developed a historic driving tour highlighting some of the area’s lesser known Civil War landmarks. North Georgia offers a similar driving tour; The Blue and Gray Trail Guide marks 60 Civil War sites in the area. The Glory Land Road, which runs through southeast Tennessee, traces the religious heritage of the region, with stops at historic sites such as the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tenn., where the famous Scopes Monkey Trial took place in 1925. The Cherokee Heritage Trail plots historic points in former tribal lands and winds through the Appalachian towns of Murphy, N.C., and Calhoun, Ga.

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Rock City has always been one of the region’s most famous tourist stops for its ancient rock formations, gardens with more than 400 plant species and breathtaking panoramic views that allow visitors to see the corners of seven states. In two of its caves, Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village, sculptures of trolls and fairy-tale characters peek out from behind the rocks. The inspiration behind Fairyland Caverns was spotlighted in the June/July 2010 issue of German Life magazine. The sculptures, according to the article, were the brainchild of Frieda Untermoehlen, wife of early 20th-century Rock City investor and promoter Garnet Carter. Raised on German fairy tales her immigrant father told her as a little girl, Untermoehlen was fascinated by the stories of the Brothers Grimm.

When her husband’s plan for a miniature golf course on the property fell through, she transformed the 700 acres into a rock garden and imported German statues of gnomes and fairy-tale characters to station at points throughout the caves. Today, visitors who explore Fairyland Caverns step into an enchanted world where scenes from their favorite storybook tales unfold, and Untermoehlen’s vision lives on deep in the caves of Rock City.

Ready for a Close-Up Hollywood may be making a visit to Walker County, Ga., if locals have their way. The county was recently selected as one of Georgia’s 16 Camera Ready Communities in a list compiled by the Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office.

Created to encourage more productions to shoot in the state and streamline the process for providing access to film and television crews, the Camera Ready designation includes a liaison who acts as a point person for interested production companies. In Walker County, that happens to be Randall Franks, a Ringgold city councilman and actor, who played Officer Randy Goode in the TV series In the Heat of the Night. Recently, a film crew traveled to Chickamauga to film scenes with Twilight actor Robert Pattinson for the upcoming movie Water for Elephants. During 2010, more than 348 productions shot in Georgia, adding an economic impact of about $1.33 billion.

Standing the Test of Time With more than a century of business under its belt and customers who include U.S. presidents, movie stars and sports icons, it’s no surprise that Hardwick Clothes in Cleveland, Tenn., is still thriving after 150 years of making custom apparel.

The nation’s oldest privately owned clothing manufacturer’s most popular product is its signature sport coats, which have appeared in everything from the World Series for Golf to movies.

A few other regional businesses that have recently celebrated milestones include Mayfield Dairy Farms in Athens, Tenn., which recently passed the century mark; Bea’s Restaurant, famous for its fried chicken and lazy Susan platters, and a local favorite for 60-plus years; and McKee Foods Corp., which has been making Little Debbie snack cakes for more than half a century.

Turning Trash Into Treasure What can you do with empty bottles? Create elegant jewelry, according to Tara McRae Kestner of Ringgold, Ga., who makes earrings, pendants and platters from recycled liquor and wine bottles. Kestner started her business, Baby Steps to a Better Earth, after melting down some bottles out of curiosity and discovering the potential of using the colored glass for pieces of jewelry.

Now, Kestner collects used bottles from local restaurants and hotels, some of which also sell her finished creations.

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SEIDA region continues rapid pattern of economic growth

Knoxville Nashville Volkswagen, Amazon.com and Volkswagen suppliers at the Enterprise South Industrial Park

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ompanies are coming, and more are on the way.

2010 brought major business gains and growth for the SEIDA region, and 2011 looks just as optimistic.

The headliner continues to be Volkswagen, as it constructs a $1 billion assembly plant in Chattanooga that will ultimately bring 2,000 jobs to the region.

“The ripple effect of VW’s assembly facility will likely create an additional 9,000 indirect jobs, along with more than $500 million in new personal income for the region,” says Matt Kisber, former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Business Facilities magazine reports that the Volkswagen investment has helped propel Tennessee to the No. 1 ranking for U.S. Automotive Manufacturing Strength, No. 2 for Economic Growth Potential and No. 5 for Best Business Climate. In addition, Enterprise South Industrial Park – a $21 million supplier park adjacent to Volkswagen’s plant – is expected to bring 9,500 more jobs to the area.

Sunny Days Ahead Meanwhile, another company with a $1 billion investment will also be doing business in the SEIDA region.

German-based Wacker Chemie AG will be constructing a huge manufacturing plant in Bradley County, Tenn., beginning this year, and will produce polysilicon for solar panels.

“We are in an excellent position to market and showcase the assets of our whole region,” says Kathy Johnson, program director for SEIDA. “We have a fabulous workforce, a lot of available sites for facilities to move into, low-cost reliable power and a great network of

regional partners, who have learned how to focus on regional economic development that benefits us all.”

Many Job Openings The world’s largest online retailer, Amazon.com, plans to invest $139 million to build two distribution centers in Chattanooga and Bradley County. Expected to be operating by the 2011 holiday season, the centers will create up to 1,400 jobs over the next three years and more than 2,000 positions during peak seasons.

Alstom has completed a $300 million expansion of its Chattanooga turbine plant, which positions the company to become a true leader in the resurgence of nuclear power production in America. Vinyl flooring manufacturer IVC U.S. Inc. has invested $70 million in a new plant in Whitfield County, Ga., creating 115 jobs. And surface-top manufacturer LG Hausys America Inc. has earmarked $50 million to expand its operation in Gordon County, Ga., creating 80 new jobs.

In addition, Whitfield County opened an industrial park off of Interstate 75 near Carbondale, Ga., with hopes of luring manufacturing, automotive, chemicals, data center, plastics and retail industries. Plans to construct an aeronautic industrial park at Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews, N.C. are also in the works, while another industrial park is underway near the Blairsville Airport in Union County, Ga. “New and existing industries find the Southeast a good place to grow and expand,” Johnson says. “This is where community, economic and workforce development is a priority.”

wacker chemie AG: $1 billion invested; creating 500 jobs Alstom Power: $300 million invested; adding 350 jobs

Business relocations and expansions in the SEIDA region

to 600 at an existing boiler repair business IVC U.S. Inc.: $70 million invested; creating 115 jobs LG Hausys America Inc.: $50 million invested; creating 80 jobs Volkswagen: $1 billion invested; creating up to 2,000 jobs amazon.com: $139 million invested; creating up to 1,400 jobs and more than 2,000 jobs during peak season se r eso u r c e . c o m

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High-Speed Growth Fast broadband boosts competitiveness, quality of life 10

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Story by Bill Lewis • Photography by Jeff Adkins

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n the race for the jobs of tomorrow and the highest possible quality of life, communities in the SEIDA region are taking the lead, thanks to their commitment to ensuring businesses and households have high-speed broadband Internet access.

“Broadband technology is the electricity of the 21st century. Without it, it’s like reading by candlelight – you’d be left behind,” says Nancy Cobb, executive director of the OneGeorgia Authority, which is bringing fast Internet service to underserved rural counties in north Georgia.

Chattanooga Wins the Race Chattanooga, the largest city in the southeast Tennesseenorth Georgia region, made national headlines by introducing its 1 Gigabit broadband service that is faster than Internet service available anywhere else in the United States. The service is more than 200 times faster than the current average national download speed. It is provided to residents and businesses throughout the city by EPB, the municipal utility delivering power, communications and related services, and the network runs on a smart grid.

“The overriding consideration is that this is a real tool for economic development for our community,” EPB President and CEO Harold DePriest says.

Broadband access will vastly improve north Georgia’s quality of life, Cobb says. For example, schools can offer classes never before possible, taught by teachers far away.

And doctors can consult with specialists in distant cities, while simultaneously reviewing a patient’s high-definition MRI scans or X-rays.

The Key to Growth For communities such as Athens, Tenn., high-speed broadband Internet access means the possibility of attracting new business investment and jobs. The Tennessee Valley Authority designated the southeast Tennessee city as a prime location for developing the region’s growing data center industry. Athens was one of 12 communities in Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama and Mississippi identified in a TVA survey.

Data centers are specifically designed to host telecommunications, computer and data-storage systems for Internet search-engine companies, enterprises that process financial transactions and other high-tech businesses.

“Demand for data centers is growing, as increased use of electronic commerce and information technologies requires more data storage space,” says John Bradley, senior vice president for TVA Economic Development. “There are exceptional opportunities for regional growth potential in this industry. These 12 sites in particular have the resources, infrastructure and other qualities needed to support strong data center development.”

Windstream, an S&P 500 communications and technology company with operations in 29 states, is partnering with the federal government to extend high-speed broadband Internet connections to about 18,000 homes and 2,000 businesses in the hilly, rural areas of northwest Georgia. The company received a $5.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Windstream will match it with $1.7 million of its own.

Employees at the Electric Power Board distribution complex in Chattanooga work on computers that encode digital information to be sent across EPB’s new broadband network (left) and take calls from customers concerning their high-speed broadband service (above).

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Engine for Ingenuity Entrepreneurs thrive at Chattanooga’s Business Development Center Story by Bill Lewis • Photography by Jeff Adkins

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mall businesses are the engine driving the economy of the Southeast Industrial Development Association region, and the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Business Development Center is one organization that puts fuel in the tank.

The business incubator provides office space, services and training programs that help entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality. Today, the facility serves as the launching pad for 55 start-up businesses, which collectively employ about 400 people. More than 500 successful businesses have graduated over 22 years, says Kathyrn Foster, director of the Business Development Center (BDC).

A Business-Friendly Culture “More than 80 percent of the jobs in the next 10 years will come from small entrepreneurs,” Foster says.

“Chattanooga has a culture that is collaborative and business friendly. We are so fortunate to have that.”

Thanks to a $4.7 million grant, BDC will be able to offer even more, including additional hands-on programs and advice for both start-up businesses and existing companies.

In addition, the 125,000-square-foot space on Cherokee Boulevard in Chattanooga is expected to be LEED (Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design) certified following its renovation. Not only will that make the building more energy efficient, it will also reduce utility bills for the start-up businesses that occupy it, Foster says.

“All of this adds up to what an incubator is supposed to be,” says Adam Green, whose company, Green Real Estate Partners, has space at the BDC. The incubator’s growth is part of a small business focus

by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, says Tom Edd Wilson, the chamber’s president and CEO. Creating Long-Lasting Opportunities “We have a particular focus on entrepreneurial activity because growing companies from within have the strongest potential to generate the most prosperity within the community,” Wilson says. “Companies that start here are more likely to stay here and become invested and engaged in the betterment of our area.”

Chattanooga has attracted more than $3 billion in business investment in past years despite the recession, he adds.

“As a result, there are tremendous opportunities for small businesses to take advantage of the economic activity our community is experiencing,” he says.

In addition to the Business Development Center, Chattanooga offers excellent resources to support the start-up and growth of small businesses, Wilson says, including training on a range of issues related to business start-up and growth, and programs to help entrepreneurs network and market their companies.

Green, who moved from Tampa, Fla., to open his company, which specializes in medical real estate, is enthusiastic about his experience at the incubator, where he can get everything from professional advice regarding his business plan to color copies down the hall.

“I think what makes it work is that regardless if you are making candy or doing what I do ... they start with the notion that they are in business to help your business,” Green says. “You have taken the plunge and the risk of going into business, and they appreciate that.”

Adam Green, owner of Green Real Estate Partners, in the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Business Development Center

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Energy/Technology

Green Giants More companies embrace sustainability Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Jeff Adkins

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olkswagen’s $1 billion plant will begin production in 2011 and is incorporating several energysaving features, such as utilizing efficient electric motors and stormwater recycling. Its paint shop will use a dry filtration process instead of a water-based system, and the automaker is installing thousands of fluorescent light tubes that are 20 percent more efficient than standard lights.

“LEED is green, and green is part of our image,” says Dieter Schleifer, VW-Chattanooga manager of plant infrastructure. “Our philosophy is green city, green plant, green car.”

Let the Sun Shine Germany-based Wacker Chemie AG plans to construct a $1 billion plant that will produce polysilicon, a key ingredient in solar panels.

“Wacker Chemie is not a solar panel company, but they make the important ingredient,” says Gary Davis, mayor of Bradley County, Tenn., where the plant will be built.

“It’s a complicated plant with many energy-efficient factors involved,” Davis says. “The state of Tennessee is pushing green energy these days – solar in particular – so everyone around here is glad to see this project coming.”

Life Line Foods, which has a liquid dietary supplements factory in Pikeville, Tenn., recently installed one of the largest solar electric systems in the state.

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Give It a Whirl Bradley County will also be home to a new environmentally efficient building currently being constructed by Whirlpool. The appliance giant has enjoyed a presence in the county for many generations, and is now constructing

an additional $20 million facility.

“The building will be 1 million square feet, including a 400,000-square-foot distribution center,” Davis says.

“Company officials are saying they want the new building to be LEED certified, and are even having contractors recycle up to 75 percent of their construction waste.”

Other Energetic Plans Farther south near Dalton, Ga., carpet companies such as Shaw Industries, Mohawk Industries and Beaulieu of America are finding ways to reduce energy and water use, and are diverting carpeting from landfills through recycling and reuse. And at Signal Wind Energy, the Chattanoogabased wind energy company is shifting its focus from designing and building wind-related projects

to solar and biomass endeavors.

At Life Line Foods, which has a liquid dietary supplements factory in Pikeville, Tenn., the company installed one of the largest solar electric systems in the state to promote its focus on healthy living. Meanwhile, power plant turbine manufacturer Alstom opened a $300 million sustainable plant in Chattanooga, in hopes of becoming a major player in the resurgence of nuclear power in America.

“Amazon.com has also announced the construction this year of two 1 million-square-foot facilities in Tennessee in Bradley County and Hamilton County, and those buildings will also feature energy-saving and sustainability aspects,” Davis says.

“The SEIDA region is quickly earning a reputation for energy and technology, which is good news for everyone.”

Chattanooga Tests Fuel Cell Power From sustainable infrastructure to alternative energy sources, the SEIDA region is getting greener. This spring, Chattanooga’s Electric Power Board installed a 100-watt fuel cell box to power 30,000 square feet of its headquarters. With its high efficiency and low emissions, the box, dubbed the “Bloom Box” after its Sunnyvale, Calif., manufacturer Bloom Energy, offers cleaner energy generation. Much of the research and testing for the device, which is also used by corporate giants like FedEx and Google, was conducted by the SimCenter at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Other sustainability developments in the region’s future include energy efficient upgrades for infrastructure in southeast Tennessee and north Georgia, and charging stations in Chattanooga for Nissan’s first electric car.

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Transportation

Road to Prosperity Study explores options for improved east-west access Story by Pamela Coyle • Photography by Jeff Adkins

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ith Volkswagen, Wacker Chemie AG and other global businesses locating in southeast Tennessee and the surrounding counties, transportation is becoming a key asset in the SEIDA region, especially for businesses that use Atlantic ports. Plans for a reliable east-west route through eastern Tennessee and Western Carolina are being revived to provide greater access for regional companies, suppliers and employees.

Five months of rockslides along a dangerous stretch of U.S. 64, known as “the 15-mph curve,” made the road impassable between November 2009 and April 2010, creating detours of up to two hours for those using the route. The slides brought new urgency to plans for upgrading what is called Corridor K. State transportation officials are in the midst of a detailed Environmental Impact Survey to evaluate 10 options for improving Corridor K with price tags ranging from $200 million to $1 billion or more. The process, which must meet federal rules to qualify for funding, is lengthy –

the report won’t be out until 2013 but the next phase, due out spring 2011, will narrow the options.

Better Access to boost Business, Tourism The goal is opening up the area to boost economic development and tourism.

“We’ve got a process and to get this thing right we have to work through it,” says Chester Sutherland, Corridor K project manager for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

The two-lane road now accommodates both commercial trucks and people wanting access to the region’s recreational offerings, which include whitewater rafting.

“It is substandard, goes through the Ocoee Gorge and can’t handle the traffic volume,” says Wesley Hughen, TDOT’s regional assistant manager for the area.

The 2010 slides did allow crews to shore up outside shoulders and improve the pass, now called the “25-mph” curve, and a second severe curve was widened, too. The two projects cost about $3 million. A $10.2 million project

Traffic moves along U.S. 64, also called Corridor K, which runs through parts of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

The route is known for winding roads and rockslides, and is being studied for improvements to increase accessibility to the region.

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INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS Major airports: Lovell Field, Chattanooga; Huntsville International Airport (1.5 hours); Nashville International Airport (2 hours); Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (2 hours) Major highways: Interstates 24, 75, 59; quick connections to Interstates 65, 40, 81, 20, 85 Rail: CSX Transportation; Norfolk Southern Corp.

to widen a 2.6-mile section of U.S. 64 in Polk County, east of U.S. 411 and west of the Ocoee River, is scheduled to wrap up in May 2011. new corridor could create jobs This narrow route has a wide impact.

Indeed, Corridor K access involves 23 counties and at least three states. A more reliable east-west corridor would open up a supplier network, stimulate job creation and shorten drive times.

A 2008 economic impact survey estimated the completion of Corridor K could create 7,000 regional jobs in targeted industries and related services over a five-year period. More than 80 percent of the businesses that participated in the study cited transportation, particularly access to ports and other intermodal facilities,

as having a big role in their ability to compete.

“One of the things we found was the added transportation costs and time element are a burden to a much broader segment of three states than just the communities along the corridor,” says Melissa Ziegler, director of community and economic development services at Wilbur Smith Associates, an engineering consulting firm that produced the study.

As part of the impact study, Wilbur Smith surveyed regional businesses and found many that said uncertain transportation access, cost and reliability meant within four or five years they’ll have to decide whether to stay in the region or relocate, Ziegler says.

“It has profound impacts from the transportation side and the economic development side,” she adds.

Water: Tennessee River with Center South Riverport/ Industrial Park and Port of Nick A Jack; also access via the TennesseeTombigbee Waterway to the Port of Mobile SOURCE: Southeast Industrial Development Association

Fast Track to Growth Proposed High-Speed Rail Route Across North Georgia Offers Quicker Access Between Cities With its access to major interstates, airports, railways and waterways, north Georgia offers a well-connected transportation system that’s about to get even more advanced. The region could be the next stop in a proposed high-speed rail network across the country.

With billions of dollars in federal funding available for high-speed passenger rail lines, officials are revisiting plans to establish a high-speed route from Atlanta to Chattanooga that would follow I-75 and possibly include stops in the Chattanooga and Dalton areas. The Georgia Department of Transportation

is conducting a $21 million environmental study to determine the feasibility of the plan. Meanwhile, the city of Dalton is doing its own $15,000 study to identify the best site for a station along the I-75 corridor and outline the infrastructure needed to operate it.

The network would consist of either steel-wheeled rail or maglev – magnetic levitation – trains, both of which can travel as fast as 180 mph. The proposed line would also connect the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport and downtown area to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Not only would it give residents in rural areas access to urban centers, it could also help lure international companies to the area by providing them with faster connections to major airports.

Public meetings are being conducted on the project, and a draft of the environmental study, which will review implications of building the rail network as well as preliminary costs, is expected to be completed this year. Officials hope to have a plan for approval by the U.S. Department of Transportation by mid-2012.

– Emily McMackin se r eso u r c e . c o m

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What’s Online  For more information about education in the region, visit seresource.com.

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Education

Students, Start Your Engines Automotive students in the region sharpen their skills

Story by Jessica Walker

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classroom, thanks to a partnership with Volkswagen.

“When the students signed on to the program, Volkswagen made a commitment to them,” says Dr. Jim Barrott, vice president of technology at CSCC. “If they graduate, Volkswagen will make them permanent employees.

Volkswagen also pays them for onthe-job training at the Volkswagen Assembly plant, and finances a portion of their tuition.”

The three-year Automotive Mechatronics program, which began in fall 2010, will enroll 20 students annually.

Students in the Automotive Systems Technology program at Tri-County Community College in Murphy, N.C., are learning to work on energy-efficient vehicles, an enhancement made possible by a sizable grant from the Southwestern Commission Region A. “With the technology being brought in, our automotive department didn’t

P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f C h at t S tat e M a r k e t i n g D e pa r t m e n t

n southeast Tennessee, north Georgia and western North Carolina, automotive students are learning a variety of skills that will not only benefit them as they move forward in their careers, but will benefit their communities as well as the workforce.

At Chattanooga State Community College, students in the Automotive Mechatronics program are offered opportunities that go beyond the

Chattanooga State Community College’s Automotive Mechatronics students are given permanent jobs by Volkswagen upon graduation.

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Nashville

BLEDSOE

RHE A

Cleveland State Community College

MEIGS

GR U N D Y M CM I N N

SE QUAT C HIE 24

Tri-County Community College

PO LK

HAMILT ON

C H E R O K EE

BR A D L EY

Chattanooga State Community College

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Georgia Northwestern Technical College

Asheville

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MAR ION

CL AY

Chattanooga Cha a oga og

TENNESSEE

NORTH CAROLINA OL

GEORGIA

CATOOSA ATT

DADE A

T OW NS

FA N N IN

59

75

UN ION WHITFIEL I D

Birmingham

M U R RAY

WALKER

C HATT OOGA

MA

ALABA

Knoxville

Community and Technical Colleges

have the equipment necessary to service and work on the newer types of cars,” says Paul Worley, director for economic and workforce development at TCCC. “We wanted to integrate green technology and figure out a way we could train both existing automotive technicians and the ones coming through to work on this technology.”

According to Worley, students will be prepared to work on a variety of auto­ mobiles after completing the program.

“This program gives our students some added value,” Worley says.

“Our graduates will understand how to work on more than just one thing, and will have experience working on hybrid cars and diesel vehicles.”

Learning by working on the latest Kia Sorentos, Automotive Technology students at Georgia Northwestern

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North Georgia Technical College G OR DO N

Atlanta

Certified “Work Ready” Communities

Technical College’s Floyd County campus are staying ahead of the curve.

The 2011 Sorentos, donated to the school by the nearby Kia automotive assembly and manufacturing plant, enables students to experience new technology.

“Students can see the technology that has not yet reached this program,” says Bill Bentley, assistant dean of industrial technology at GNTC’s Floyd campus. “It’s given us a look into the future, and allowed us to work on things that we just don’t see coming in on a normal basis.”

Also striving to enhance the region’s workforce, Al Hutchison spearheaded Georgia Work Ready programs in Chattooga, Walker, Dade and Catoosa counties.

Hutchison, associate vice president

Communities working toward “Work Ready” Certification

of economic development at GNTC’s Walker County campus, is passionate about the programs that are designed to help the state’s job seekers find employment.

“In today’s economy, people have to have credentials or be graduates from a degree program,” Hutchison says.

“We give those people who have fallen through the cracks a second chance.”

Georgia Work Ready allows individuals to earn Work Ready Certificates, credentials that can help assure employers that they are qualified for a particular job. The certificates are obtained by successfully completing a no-cost assessment at a Work Ready Center, located at various technical colleges across Georgia.

“We’re trying to help people better themselves,” Hutchison says.

Lessons in Entrepreneurship Project gives Dade County Middle School students real-world skills, opportunities Students at Dade County Middle School used to throw homework they got back from teachers into the trash; now they display their work for industry partners who critique and bid on their inventions. Each spring, the middle school gym becomes a marketplace, and students use their entrepreneurship skills to pitch prototypes and compete for prizes. The program, known as Project Synergy, encourages innovation among students by teaching them to develop products, create business plans, apply for patents and market their creations.

“The difference in performance from students when they realize they have an audience besides their teacher is amazing,” says language arts teacher Matt Jelley, who co-founded the program. “When they are just doing work to throw away, they’re not as motivated. If they have an audience outside the classroom, it gives them a reason to aspire to excellence.”

Project Synergy started four years ago with Jelley and another teacher who wanted to raise the rigor in their classrooms and help students see the real-world application of their lessons. The project started with a curriculum, but both teachers soon realized the need to involve the community.

“We wanted to create a synergy between business, government and the community, and give these stakeholders the opportunity to get into our schools, work with students and help connect what is going on inside of school to the world outside.”

Past projects and partners include: • Working with Volkswagen to

develop innovative ways to

market and design a car.

• Working with TVA, Home Depot and Habitat for Humanity to develop and market energy-efficient buildings for subdivisions.

Not only does the project teach students how to present themselves in a professional setting, the “kids are seeing why they need to be planning ahead for jobs they want in the future – and how those jobs

can impact growth in the community,” Jelley says.

The program trains students to be better employees and business leaders in the future, says Debbie Tinker, executive director of the Dade County Chamber of Commerce, a Project Synergy partner.

“It’s helping us grow a community of creative entrepreneurs,” Tinker says.

– Emily McMackin

• Partnering with civic groups to determine business needs, find investors and launch ventures to fill those niches.

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Livability

Beauty and Adventure Region’s rustic scenery, natural resources attract artists and adventurers

Story by Kevin Litwin

B

ronze sculptures created by north Georgia artist Carl McCleskey grace places like Cypress Gardens, the Audubon Nature Institute, Toledo Zoo and a championship golf course designed by pro-golfer Greg Norman. Beer magnate August Busch III has also purchased a couple of McCleskey’s bronze masterpieces.

McCleskey and his wife, Betsy Scott, are renowned sculptors and owners of Wildlife Bronze LLC in Cloudland, Ga. The couple admits they get much of their artistic wildlife inspiration from

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S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e

the beautiful setting where they live.

“We enjoy the outdoors and rural areas, and I do get much of my inspiration from Lookout Mountain and the surrounding scenic settings,” says McCleskey, who started bronze sculpting as a hobby in 1990 and now can’t keep up with all the job requests he receives.

Some of his sculptures are of people, but most depict wild animals.

“I made two life-size lions for the Toledo Zoo, then word really got out, and I’ve been busy ever since,” he says.

“I get calls from all over the country

for sculpture projects, and I love doing my work in Cloudland. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Many other sculptors, wood carvers, artists and glassblowers also find inspiration in the climate, rustic scenery and abundant natural resources of southeast Tennessee, northern Georgia and western North Carolina.

“Inspiration around here comes to me spontaneously, and is one reason I carry a sketchbook with me everywhere I go,” says Atteka Abdou, a well-known environmental artist who lives and works in Summerville, Ga.

S ta ff P h o t o p h o t o b y J e ff A d k i n s

Catering to Cavers But you don’t have to be an accomplished sculptor or artist to appreciate this beautiful part of the Southeast. Outdoor enthusiasts as well as tourists interested in Appalachian culture are drawn to the region.

Cultural festivals are staged each year to celebrate the distinctiveness of the small communities throughout the area and their qualities of life.

For adventurers, Lafayette in Walker County, Ga., boasts two of the world’s biggest and deepest free-falling pit caves, and they attract thousands

Left: Artists Carl McCleskey and Betsy Scott draw inspiration from the region when creating stunning bronze sculptures at Wildlife Bronze LLC in Cloudland, Ga. Above: The climate, scenery and natural resources throughout southeast Tennessee, north Georgia and western North Carolina attract an eclectic mix of nature lovers, outdoor buffs and artists.

of spelunkers each year. That interest in local cave exploration inspired resident Steve Hudson to establish Pigeon Mountain Industries, which manufactures rappelling gear that includes state-of-the-art life safety ropes that are sold around the world.

Rapidly Exciting Another adventure destination in the region is the Ocoee River, which continues to be a major tourism draw for anyone who likes whitewater rafting and kayaking. The river in east Tennessee is so dynamic and

stellar that it hosted the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Whitewater Competition.

Carlo and Julie Smith started Adventures Unlimited 18 years ago in the Ocoee to provide guided whitewater river rafting opportunities and family fun in the rural outdoors.

Their 31 acres of property offer an ideal vacation setting.

“Our philosophy is simple – provide guests with the best outdoor adventures possible,” Carlo Smith says. “This philosophy is shared by all our staff, and it shows in our attitude. We truly love what we do.” se r eso u r c e . c o m

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Tennessee Career Center at Chattanooga Eastgate Town Center 5600 Brainerd Rd., Suite A-5 Chattanooga, TN 37411 (423) 894-5354

• • • • • • • •

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S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e

Job Listings Job Search Tools Skills Upgrade Assistance Skills Credentials Post Job Openings Employee Recruitment Hiring Incentives Job Profiling/Assessments

Tennessee Career Center at Athens 410 Congress Pkwy.

Athens, TN 37303 (423) 745-2028 www.secareercenter.org

National Career Readiness Certificate For job seekers: The key to a better future For employers: Guaranteeing quality job applicants This project funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development. Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. TDD/TTY TN Relay 711.

Trail Mix Livability is an important factor for industries locating in the SEIDA region. Just ask the people at Alstom.

As part of its $300 million expansion plans in Chattanooga, the company that manufactures turbines for nuclear power plants has requested that the city extend an existing Tennessee Riverwalk to the factory’s site. Alstom leaders hope that the greenway will not only encourage employees to exercise, but also help land the company a top LEED (Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design) status.

“We are aiming for the highest environmental standards – a Gold LEED certification,” says Guy Chardon, Alstom senior vice president for thermal products.

A 1-mile Riverwalk extension began in January and is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2011.

The new section along the Tennessee River downtown will be the largest since a 6-mile tract opened in 2000.

J e ff A d k i n s

Chattanooga’s trails, parks impress industries

70 Miles and Counting

For mountain bikers, Rippon says more than 70 miles of trails have either been constructed or are being planned within 10 miles of Chattanooga.

Connect. Grow. Prosper.

In Northwest Georgia

Mountain Biking Bliss Meanwhile, a 2,800-acre nature park next to the new Volkswagen plant helped convince company leaders to locate in Chattanooga.

Enterprise South Nature Park includes hiking trails as well as new mountain biking trails, which Volkswagen contributed $10,000 to help build. The park will soon feature nearly 10 miles of mountain bike trails.

“For the overall mountain biking and hiking experience, Chattanooga is excellent – it’s a large community surrounded by rural areas,” says Erik Rippon with the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association.

“There are numerous trails for cycling, hiking or walking.”

Enterprise South Nature Park in Chattanooga, Tenn.

“The Chattanooga region is lucky to have openness and different contours of land,” he says. “There are also future plans to begin extending trails into residential areas.”

– Kevin Litwin

When you partner with North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation and the communities of Northwest Georgia.

www.ngemc.com

North Georgia EMC P.O. Box 1407 Dalton, GA 30722-1407 (706) 259-9441

www.seida.info

Energy Solutions Technical Services Economic Development Business Retention

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Site Guide They’ve Got the Spaces, Places The Southeast Industrial Development Association service region includes a number of industrial/ warehouse properties and raw acreage available for development. Below is just a small sample. For a searchable database of properties, go to www.seida.info and click on the Site and Building Search tab.

Dura Automotive Building Pikeville, TN County: Bledsoe Size: 139,380 square feet, 16 acres

Bradley County Industrial Park Cleveland, TN County: Bradley Size: 10 to 40 acres

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so u t he a s t r eso u r c e

Catoosa County Industrial Park Ringgold, GA County: Catoosa Size: 50 acres

Trion Industrial Park Trion, GA County: Chattooga Size: 133 acres

Coats American Building Andrews, NC County: Cherokee Size: 253,400 square feet 73.83 acres

751 Tusquitee Street - Cactus Game Design Hayesville, NC County: Clay Size: 28,000 square feet

Fannin County Industrial Park McCaysville, GA County: Fannin Size: 5 to 11.5 acres

Sage Ralston Building Calhoun, GA County: Gordon Size: 110,000 square feet, 6 acres

se

Pelham Industrial Park Monteagle, TN County: Grundy Size: 5 to 63 acres

North Etowah Industrial Park Etowah, TN County: McMinn Size: 10 to 600 acres

Dayton Industrial Park Dayton, TN County: Rhea Size: 15 to 28 acres

Nickajack Industrial Site & Port New Hope, TN County: Marion Size: 5 to 900 acres

365 Eton Industrial Drive Browning Manufacturing Eton, GA County: Murray Size: 177,000 square feet

Sequachee Valley Industrial Park Dunlap, TN County: Sequatchie Size: 57.9 acres

Athens McMinn Interstate Industrial Park Athens, TN County: McMinn Size: 5 to 350 acres

Copper Basin Industrial Park Ducktown, TN County: Polk Size: 5 to 60 acres

Blairsville Airport Regional Industrial Park Blairsville, GA County: Union Size: 5 to 85 acres

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Northwest Georgia Business & Industrial Park Rock Spring, GA County: Walker Size: 38 acres

1301 C & L Drive Shaw Building Dalton, GA County: Whitfield Size: 225,000 square feet

What’s Online  Search for available office, retail or industrial property in the SEIDA region or add a listing of your own to the free online site selection guide at seresource.com. For more in-depth listings, you can also browse a free searchable database of properties at www.seida.info.

visit our

advertisers Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce www.chattanoogacando.com

Georgia Northwestern Technical College www.gntc.edu

Sequatchie County/City of Dunlap www.sequatchie.com

Chattanooga State Technical Community College www.chattanoogastate.edu

McMinn County EDA www.mcminncoeda.org

Staybridge Suites www.stayinchattanooga.com

Cleveland Bradley County www.clevelandchamber.com

Meigs County www.meigscountytnchamber.org

Tennessee Career Centers www.secareercenter.org

Cleveland State Community College www.clevelandstatecc.edu

North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation www.ngemc.com

Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority www.daltonwhitfieldeconomicdevelopment.com

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Rhea County Economic & Tourism Council www.rheacountyetc.com

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Ad Index

15 Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce

5 Chattanooga State Technical Community College

24 McMinn County EDA

4 Meigs County

25 North Georgia Electric

Membership Corporation

2 Cleveland Bradley County

21 Cleveland State Community College

& Tourism Council

4 Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority

29 Georgia Northwestern Technical College

29 Rhea County Economic

C2 Sequatchie County/

City of Dunlap

C4 Staybridge Suites

24 Tennessee Career Centers

Hamilton Place – Chattanooga 7015 Shallowford Rd. • Chattanooga, TN 37421 (423) 826-2700 Tel • (423) 826-2799 Fax Studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom/ two-bath suites Fully equipped kitchen Dedicated living and office areas

BUSINESS AMENITIES Valet laundry service 24-hour business center

Free high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi

Computer work stations with free high-speed Internet

Free local calls

Laser printing and facsimile

Oversized desk with ergonomic chair Direct phone number with voice mail Iron and ironing board Hair dryer HOTEL SERVICES Complimentary daily deluxe hot breakfast buffet

• RECREATION

24-hour fitness center

Evening Sundowner Reception (Tue./Wed./Thu.)

Access to the Rush Fitness Center

Daily housekeeping service

Guest library with books and games

BridgeMart ® 24-hour convenience store

Outdoor courtyard with grills

Complimentary laundry facilities

Indoor pool

Pets welcome (fees apply)

Hot tub

(800) 238-8000 • www.stayinchattanooga.com