SEIDA Annual Report 2019

u ann

ort p e al r

We’re all working together, That’s the secret. seida.info

2019

Southeast Industrial Development Association (SEIDA) is a regional economic development agency that partners with Tennessee Valley Authority and TVA power distributors to provide economic development services in 22 counties across threee states: Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Page of Contents

Message from the Chairman

05

Board of Directors

05

Business and Industry Locations & Expansions

06

Regional Focus

10

Professional Development

14

Our Services

18

About US The Southeast Industrial Development Association (SEIDA), comprised of eleven local power distriutors and the Tennessee Valley Authority, works with strategic eceonomic development partners across a three-state region to attract and retain jobs that generate capital investments to create vibrant eceonomies.

SEIDA provides a coordinated approach to the delivery of a range of eceonomic development services to assit businesses with locations, expansions, and identification of financing opportunities, infrastructure development, and marketing and demographic research.

SEIDA provides a coordinated approach to the delivery of a range of eceonomic development services to assit businesses with locations, expansions, and identification of financing opportunities, infrastructure development, and marketing and demographic research.

“In 1989, SEIDA recognized that

Message from the Chairman

working together, across state and county lines, provides opportunity

The Southeast Industrial Development Association (SEIDA) celebrates its 30th year of service in north Georgia, southwestern North Carolina, and southeast Tennessee. In 1989, SEIDA recognized that working together, across state and county lines, provides opportunity not only for individual community success, but also for the success of an entire region.

Thirty years later in 2019, we are still working together to facilitate the creation of jobs, capital investment and additional power load throughout our 22-county service area.

not only for individual community success, but also for the success of an entire region.”

Our 2019 Annual Report highlights our region’s accomplishments including capital investments totaling approximately $965MM and the creation of over 1,960 jobs.

We strongly value the partnerships we have among our state, regional, and local economic development organizations and look forward to celebrating another 30 years of service and achievements throughout the SEIDA region.

Board of Directors Athens Utility Board Eric Newberry

Electric Power Board David Wade

Tri-State EMC Stacey Chastain, Vice Chairman

Blue Ridge Mountain EMC Jeremy Nelms Erik Brinke, Representative

Etowah Utilities Harold Masengil

Tennessee Valley Authority Scott Cooper

Chickamauga Utilities Michael Haney

Murphy Electric Power Board Larry Kernea

Cleveland Utilities Tim Henderson, Sec/Treas

North Georgia EMC Kathryn West Harriette Stokes, Representative

Dayton Electric Utilities Steve Clift

Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative Mike Partin, Chairman

5

Mike Partin, SVEC SEIDA Chairman

Business Locations & Expansions Two German Manufacturers Plans New Develoment in SEIDA Region Governor Bill Lee visited Southeast Tennessee in March to make two significant job announcements. Governor Lee joined Hubner Manufacturing Corporation officials to announce that the manufacturer will build a new production facility in Dunlap.

Hubner plans to invest nearly $10 million and create 66 jobs in Sequatchie County over the next five years.

In Dayton, Governor Lee announced that STULZ, a producer of precision HVAC equipment, will invest $2 million and create 250 jobs. This is the third largest announcement in Rhea County in two years, following the expansion of La-Z-Boy and Nokian Tyres.

people + investments are a powerful combination

Muller Expands into Marion County

Cleveland State Health Sciences Center & Convocation Cleveland State Community College held a groundbreaking

On November 13, 2019, Mueller announced its investment of $41 million and the creation of 325 jobs over the next five years at the 233,000 SF former WestRock facility located in Kimball, Tennessee.

ceremony on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 for their new stateof-the-art Health Sciences building. SEIDA in partnership with Cleveland Utilities made a match contribution towards the project as part of the SR² Community Assistance Grant Fund Program.

We are excited to be a part of the community’s efforts to provide a well-trained workforce and help to make the community ready for business opportunities.

McMinn Higher Education Center With more than seven years of collaboration among the Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Athens, Cleveland State Community College, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture’s Extension Services, Adult Education, McMinn County and Athens city governments, as well as local industry, the McMinn Higher Education Center will come to fruition. This is a $17.75 million project that is intended to consolidate different educational and career assistance efforts while providing local industry workforce training and offering two-year associate degrees in agriculture and other services. Adult Basic Education programs also will be housed in the facility.

CROY Engineering Open House & Ribbon Cutting

Nokian Tyres Grand Opening Ceremony On October 2, 2019, Nokian Tyres held a grand opening ceremony at its new facility in Dayton, Tennessee. The company plans to invest $360 million and create 400 jobs. It has plans to manufacture 4 million tires annually.

7

Jan thru Dec 2019 The SEIDA region continues to experience economic growth as a result of existing industry expansions and new capital investments.

Project Activity Working in partnership with TVA, local power distributors, and state and local community economic development partners, SEIDA assisted with the location of 6 new companies and the expansion of 2 existing companies throughout the region. This growth represents $965,400,000 in new capital investment, the creation of 1,966 new jobs and the retention of 750 jobs.

SEIDA staff actively participated with local and state economic development partners in the coordination of 6 industrial prospect site visits and responded to 33 requests for information.

10

Site Visits

33

RFIs/RFPs Request for Information/Request for Proposal

Our work Sequatchie County was selected to participate in the Select TN Property Evaluation Program. Tennessee Economic and Community Development (TNECD), through the assistance of Austin Consulting, developed a new service to assist communities with evaluating properties and advising counties on where investment may be most beneficial to help make sites more viable for industrial prospects. SEIDA assisted with the application process and the facilitation of the community visit.

Fast Track Infrastructure Development Program and Fast Track Economic Development Program grant applications were packaged and approved totaling $1,550,000 for infrastructure development and site improvements in conjunction with the following industrial projects: Triumph Sheets and Hubner.

Site Visits

We’re proud of this region Staff facilitated strategic planning, economic development presentations and information sessions for Cherokee County EDA in Murphy, North Carolina; Marion County, and McMinn County EDA in Tennessee. And attended several economic development conferences.

RFIs/RFPs

Cap Ex

SEIDA continues to work throughout the region to assist communities with positive economic development growth and initiatives.

Jobs

1,960

6

965MM

Jobs

Expansions/New Locations

Capital Ex.

9

Regional Focus Copper Basin Renaissance Program

Sequatchie County Forms IDB

In 2018 and 2019, citizens and local leaders across the copper basin communities of McCaysville, Copperhill, and Ducktown, came together to develop a shared vision for the future of this unique community. The Copper Basin Renaissance Strategic Vision and Plan (RSVP) was unveiled in June 2019. Additional information can be viewed by visiting www.copperbasinrsvp.com .

As part of Sequatchie County’s strategic plan for economic development, The Industrial Development Board (IDB) of the County of Sequatchie was created. At their first official meeting in December 2019, the newly formed board was presented a $25,000 check from Sequatchie County. The IDB will work to facilitate the growth of existing industries as well as the location of new industries to the community.

Pictured (L-R): Jeff Jones, Jakie Cooley, Pam Mooneyham, Rhonda Rheal Standing left to right: Andrew Johnson, Dale Bryant, Sequatchie County Executive Keith Cartwright and Jessica Austin

Sequatchie County Participates in

US EDA Visits Southeast Region

TNECD Property Evaluation Program On June 4, 2019, Sequatchie County hosted Austin Consulting and Tennessee Economic and Community Development (TNECD), on a tour of existing and potential industrial properties throughout the county. Austin Consulting assessed six site locations, giving feedback of initial findings for each site and advising community leaders where investment may be most beneficial to assist in their efforts to attract new economic development opportunities.

The U.S. EDA Atlanta Regional Office will have access to approximately $160 million to be awarded to competitive projects in communities adversely impacted by high winds and flooding resulting in a disaster declaration. Lucas Blankenship with U.S. EDA visited the Southeast Tennessee region on Monday, September 16th to learn of potential projects.

Marion Co Celebrates PreApprenticeship Program The partnership between Valmont Industries, local Marion County schools and Chattanooga State Community College will provide training to the initial cohort of high school students who signed up for the pre-apprenticeship program during National Apprenticeship Week. The eight students were hired by Valmont Industries to participate in the new work-based program and officially signed up on November 13, 2019.

11

Regional Focus Your regional source for sites, facilities and financing

Marion County Regional Institute for HIgher Education Phase II Complete Ribbon Cutting Ceremony A number of local and state elected officials, community leaders, construction company officials, and representatives from Chattanooga State Community College participated in the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the County Commission Building of the Marion County Regional Institute of Higher Education located in Kimball, Tennessee.

Marion County Mayor David Jackson celebrated the accomplishments of getting the facility built through a spirit of cooperation and bipartisanship. “When we work together, we get things done that we couldn’t do otherwise.”

Long-time County Commissioner Tommy Thompson was one local official honored during the open house and ribbon cutting ceremony. He now shares his namesake with the Tommy Thompson Welding Lab as the facility’s current tenant, Chattanooga State Community College.

SEIDA, SVEC and Valmont Celebrate On-Site Training Facility On October 4, 2019, the Southeast Industrial Development Association (SEIDA) in partnership with Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) was pleased to celebrate the opportunity to assist Valmont in the construction of their new on-site Training Facility.

In 2015, SEIDA created the SR² Community Assistance Program.

The purpose of the program is to provide matching funds to rural communities in the SEIDA region for enhancement of economic development opportunities. For the past few years, SEIDA has been able to assist communities in their efforts of industrial site readiness and more recently with workforce preparedness. Educational institutions and industries alike are aware of the overwhelming need for a skilled workforce. To meet the demand of their own workforce needs, Valmont has taken a proactive approach to training new and existing employees by constructing an on-site training facility. The Training Facility is a part of Valmont’s pre-apprenticeship program and skills enrichment opportunity.

The David Kirk Industrial Maintenance Lab at the new facility, honors the memory of former Marion County Mayor, David Kirk.

The facility plans to train the next generation of individuals in this fast growing market.

13 Community and Company Leaders and Students

Professional Development

SEIDA staff attended the following professional economic development training and workshops throughout the year: TDDA Annual Conference Georgia Logistics Summit Regional Forum 2019 Rural Development Conference TVA Econmic Development Forum TECD Spring & Fall Conferences TECD Day on the Hill TNECD Governor’s Conference

Local ED Professional Graduate Jonathon Connell, Regional Planner with the Southeast Tennessee Development District recently graduated from TVA’s Rural Leadership Institute. The Rural Leadership Institute, developed and sponsored by TVA Economic Development, provides professional leadership training to rural community economic development professionals in the TVA service area.

The institute is designed to help local participants more effectively lead volunteers, partner organizations, businesses, elected officials and citizens to ensure long-term success.

Tennessee Valley Rural Leadership Institute Tennessee Valley Rural Leadership Institute is focused on helping the region’s most distressed communities— defined as those with populations of less than 5,000 or that fall in the bottom 25% in terms of unemployment, per capita income or poverty rate—by teaching leaders in small towns and rural communities the skills and techniques they need to attract the businesses and industries not only to survive, but begin to thrive.

For more information on Rural Leadership Institute visit tva.gov/newsroom.

15

Professional Development SEIDA staff attended professional economic development training, workshops and planning sessions throughout the year.

TCED Strategic Planning Course

SETD Strategic Planning Retreat

ED Financing Tools Workshop

On July 24-25, SEIDA staff attended the Tennessee Certified Economic Development training course on Strategic Planning. The class was held in Chattanooga and had 32 participants. SEIDA Executive Director Beth Jones was a panelist on best practices for strategic planning in economic development.

The Southeast Tennessee Development District held a strategic planning retreat for its board members August 21-22 in Pigeon Forge, TN. Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) CEO and SEIDA Board Chairman, Mike Partin addressed the group regarding broadband in the Sequatchie Valley region.

SEIDA staff gave presentation on Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) programs in Tennessee.

On Novemner 20, SEIDA in partnership with McMInn County EDA hosted an economic development financing workshop where over 30 attendees had a dialogue with industry professionals who have used financing tools such as CDFI, New Markets Tax Credit, TIF and Opportunity Zones to stimulate the economy.

Southeast Industrial Development Association Staff Receieve Tennesssee Certified Economic Developer Status The UT CIS economic development team congratulated the tenth graduating class of the Tennessee Certified Economic Developer (TCED) Program on Wednesday, April 17. Candidates presented

read full story at seida.info/ news

their Capstone Project Presentations to their mentors and the UT CIS TCED team at the graduation ceremony in Nashville. These six new Tennessee Certified Economic Developers have worked hard and now have joined ranks of 55 other TCEcD professionals.

The TCED Capstone Project provides candidates the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained through TCED course work to address a substantial challenge or opportunity related to economic and community development. The project also gives candidates the opportunity to contribute to the knowledge-base of the profession while also contributing to their community or organization.

Pictured (L-R): Laura Todd, Shari Brown, Tommy Lee, Mary Carpenter, Stephanie Watkins and Jonathon Connell

17

Contact Us Southeast Industrial Development Association 423.424.4243

A Region On the Move seida.info P.O. Box 4757 Chattanooga, TN 37405