Knox County Mayor

Knox County Mayor’s Vision and Economic Development Plans

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs has a specific focus for strengthening Knox County’s role in the global economy. Committed to ensuring opportunities for everyone to thrive in an engaged and vibrant community, he emphasizes jobs, education, and recreation.

In Knox County, only about 40 percent of children are reading on grade level—per the state literacy standards—by the third grade. This means most students can read the words on the page, but they can’t synthesize the information enough to fully comprehend what they’ve read. Students who read on grade level, and can meet state literacy competencies, are more likely to graduate high school. High school graduates are more likely to seek continuing education in the form of post-secondary education.

Further, it is important we teach our students that a college degree isn’t the only way to success. Because skilled tradesmen and women are leaving the workforce faster than young, qualified individuals can be trained to replace them, it is vitally important to promote career and technical education pathways in our schools. Because of the trade partnerships being formed in this community, students seeking a certification will likely get one. Only with a diverse, educated, and/or skilled workforce, can Knox County meet the employment needs of the businesses already operating in our community and attract new ones.

With an abundance of flat land and ready access to water ways and interstate systems, Knox County is an appealing location to build a business. With active and abundant outdoor tourism opportunities, proximity to the splendor of the Smoky Mountains, and a community focus on and commitment to building a strong workforce, Knox County has incredible assets that can positively impact any industry or business. One significant way to impact business and build a more functional and efficient

community is to continue improving infrastructure as Knox County grows. An improved infrastructure will help safeguard a planned growth and simplify commutes for our residents. By working together with efficient, effective government, Knox County will continue to thrive; continue to be the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

Economic Goals

Many of the programs and projects initiated by Mayor Jacobs’ office are done with the goal of strengthening Knox County’s role in the global economy. Two ways to achieve this are to improve infrastructure and create a more business friendly environment. World-class assets like Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee are in Knox County’s backyard and our region boasts partnerships no other region can. It is important to support the work of businesses already here, but we must do that while continuing to demonstrate that Knox County has the workforce to meet the needs of any company—small or large. One of those needs is ensuring that people can easily commute from their homes to their jobs and back again. Construction on the east-west connector from Kingston Pike at Lovell Road to I-75 at Callahan Drive has begun. This corridor will improve commuter experience and increase the capacity of Schaad Road as new development in that area continues to rise. This $45 million project has been 20-years in the making. Knox County absolutely has what it needs to get and keep companies here, but it’s also important to show those companies what it is about this community that will make it easy for them to get and keep their employees here. Knox County already boasts an incredible array of outdoor tourism assets. With the creation of the new, first of its kind 44-mile Water Trail located in Beaver Creek and the construction of five new dog parks—thanks to the Boyd Family Foundation—Knox County continues to be a destination for riding, walking, hiking, paddling, fetching, and so much more. There is something for everyone in the family. With great public schools and partnerships with private and home school collectives, Knox County is making incredible strides in student literacy. The Read City USA initiative promotes literacy in this community in its own way—with the hope of ensuring that every child, regardless of socioeconomic background, learns to read early and well. The work being done every day to instill a love of reading and learning to all who reside here helps students understand the importance of reading, and literacy. Without a doubt, Knox County is well on its way to becoming the best-read community in America. Each of these elements is what attracts businesses to this community, makes it a wonderful place for their employees to live and raise a family, and will continue to help Knox County grow in the global marketplace.