Wilson County Trends winter 2023

Wilson County Trends

A Cumberland University Publication • Winter 2023

Dean’s Foreword Thank you for taking some time to review to the Winter 2023 issue of Wilson County Trends, a publication about business and economic activity in Wilson County, Tennessee.

Cumberland University’s Labry School of Science, Technology and Business is pleased to be a sponsor of this publication and hopes that readers will find it informative. Thank you for your interest in Wilson County Trends.

Chris Fuller Dean, LSSTB

Steve Shao WCT Editor

In This Issue Wilson County Trends contains business and economic data on the county and also provides news articles on local industry, businesses and special topics. In addition to WCT’s regular economic trends report, this issue includes articles on WC population growth from 2010 to 2020, an overview of WC’s public venue industry, and guest articles on the Farm Bureau Expo Center and The Mill at Lebanon.

Contents Dean’s Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 In This Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Recent Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Population Growth in WC . . 11 Public Venues in WC . . . . . . . 19 Farm Bureau Expo Center . . 26

The Mill at Lebanon . . . . . . . 31 The Last Word . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Figures & Tables . . . . . . . . . . . 36

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Cumberland University Founded in 1842, Cumberland University offers a variety of educational, athletic and social experiences to enhance the learning opportunities of the current student body. The university has an exceptional academic program steeped in the liberal arts, business, technology, nursing and many other fields. The University’s athletic teams regularly compete for conference and national championships. Cumberland University is located in Lebanon, Tennessee, 30 miles east of Nashville.

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certain industries and population groups more than others.

The Brookings Institute notes2 from late 2019 through the end of 2020 that while the hospitality and leisure industry, business/professional services, and services classified by NAICS as “other,” were hit fairly hard during the pandemic, other industries, such as information services, information technology and government withstood the harmful effects of the pandemic with less adverse effect. As shown in the following WC economic data, in comparison with many other parts of the country, Wilson County’s economy has weathered the pandemic storm better than most.

Number of Business Establishments

President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Paul Stumb Provost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. C. William McKee Dean, Labry School . . . . . . . . . Dr. Chris Fuller Wilson County Trends Editor Dr. Steve Shao

Recent Trends Using data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Tennessee Department of Revenue, below we present times series and cross-sectional graphs depicting economic business activity in Wilson County, Tennessee for years 2011 to 2021.

Pandemic Impacts In reviewing WC economic data1 for the past 5 years or so, it is important to keep in mind that the same period COVID pandemic impacts and subsequent federal regulatory changes affecting the U.S. economy would expectedly filter down to also affect the WC local economy. U.S. Department of Labor data showed, for example, significant job losses across the country from February 2020 to October 2021. It was also observed that the pandemic nationally affected 1

Growth in the number of business establishments in Wilson County has occurred at roughly the same annual rate as noted by the 10 year trendline for 20112021 shown in Figure R1. For the recent past 5 years, 2017 through 2021, the total number of business establishments in Wilson County grew 32%, from 2,510 to 3,304 respectively. This represents an average of 159 businesses added annually to the county economy.

In considering the WC business establishment data by NAICS industry sector3 (see Figure R4), we note several interesting county business trends. By position, the top 3 industry sectors with the highest number of establishments in WC for year 2017 were Retail Trade (NAICS 44-45), Professional & Technical Services (NAICS 54) and Construction (NAICS 23) at 399, 299, and 290 firms, respectively. Five years later in 2021, the top 3 WC industry sectors are led by Professional & Technical Services, then Retail Trade and Construction with 489, 445, and 381 firms, respectively. The flip in the top two industry sectors, from retail trade to professional/technical services, reflects a healthy shift in the WC economy, from one with a largely consumer-driven base to one with a higher skilled workforce and higher wage structure.

This shift to a county economy composed of a more technically trained workforce is supported by the fact that the top 3 industry sectors with the greatest num-

U.S. Dept of Labor data for year 2021 are based on preliminary estimates. https://www.brookings.edu/research/explaining-the-economic-impact-of-covid-19-core-industries-and-the-hispanic-workforce/ 3 The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.

Source: https://www.census.gov/naics/ 2

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Figure R1 Number of Business Establishments in Wilson County, TN, 2011-2021 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Figure R2 Number of Persons Employed by Private Business in Wilson County, TN, 2011-2021 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Figure R3 Average Weekly Wage for Persons Employed by Private Business in Wilson County, TN, 2011-2021 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

ber of WC-based firms added during 2017-2021 were Professional & Technical Services, Healthcare & Social Assistance (NAICS 62) and Construction at 190, 115, and 91 firms, respectively.

Which industry sectors are generally growing the most in terms of the number of business establishments? Figure R4 shows that growth within each industry sector is led by the Information category (NAICS 51), Professional & Technical Services, and Educational Services (NAICS 61), all with high double digit percentage increases of 84%, 64% and 52%, respectively. While these 3 sectors are increasing their visibility in WC, we note two other hi-growth sectors that are not far behind. Transportation & Warehousing (NAICS 48-49) and Healthcare & Social Assistance increased their firm numbers in WC with intra-sector growth rates of 49% and 47%, respectively.

Workforce Size Growth in the number of persons employed by private business in Wilson County has occurred at roughly the same annual employment growth rate though 4

with slight rate increases in years 2014, 2017 and 2020. See the 10 year trendline in Figure R2. For the past 5 years beginning 2017 through 2021, the number of persons employed by private business in Wilson County increased from 34,837 to 47,887 respectively. This represents an overall growth increase of 37%, or an average of 2,610 new workers added annually to the WC workforce.

In considering WC workers by NAICS industry sector (see Figure R5), we note several interesting workforce patterns. In 2017, the top 3 industry employers in WC were Retail Trade, Transportation & Warehousing and Accommodation & Food Services (NAICS 72) with 6148, 5057 and 4992 workers, respectively. By 2021, WC’s top 3 industry employers were Transportation & Warehousing, Retail Trade and Accommodation & Food Services with 13964, 6363 and 5208 workers, respectively. As a regional employer, there is no question of the continuing rapid growth and importance of supply chain businesses to the Wilson County economy. We note that WC’s Transportation & Warehousing sector increased its local workforce size by a phenomenal 176% over the

Additional discussion and detailed data on Wilson County’s supply chain industry are featured in the Spring 2019 issue of Wilson County Trends.

5 Location quotients (LQs) are computed as an industry’s share of a regional economy (for some economic statistic, such as employment or wage) divided by the industry’s share of the USA total for the same statistic. For example, a regional LQ=1.0 in the Service-providing industry would mean that the local region and the nation are equally specialized in the Service-providing industry; on the other hand, an LQ=2.1 in Leisure & Hospitality would mean that the local region has a comparatively higher concentration of businesses in the Leisure & Hospitality category than the nation overall.

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Figure R4 Number of Establishments in Wilson County, TN by NAICS Industry Sector, 2017 vs 2021 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Figure R5 Number of Persons Employed in Wilson County, TN by NAICS Industry Sector, 2017 vs 2021 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Figure R6 Average Weekly Wage in Wilson County, TN by NAICS Industry Sector, 2017 vs 2021 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Figure R7 Monthly Retail Sales in Wilson County, TN, 2021 Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue

Figure R8 Monthly Retail Sales by Category in Wilson County TN, 2021 Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue

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Figure R9 Monthly Retail Sales by Category in Wilson County TN, 2017-2021 Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue

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recent 5 year period4 . The importance of the supply chain industry as part of WC’s workforce is further evidenced by WC’s location quotient score5 for annual average employment which is an impressive 5.96.

In addition to WC’s employer strengths in the supply chain industries, healthy workforce growth rates are also noted in Professional & Technical Services and Other Services (NAICS 81) at 68% and 57%, respectively. By number of employees added during 2017-2021, the top 3 sectors were Transportation & Warehousing followed by Professional & Technical Services and Construction, with 8907, 1012 and 702 additional workers, respectively.

$1326 and $1117, respectively. In 2021, Management of companies & enterprises and Finance & insurance remained the top two wage groups at $2536 and $1763, representing 5 year growth rates of 11% and 33%, respectively. The third highest 2021 WC industry wage provider, however, changed over from Construction to Information. Pandemic social distancing restrictions would seem to be a factor here.

While we note a modest 10% change in the average weekly wages provided in WC’s Construction industry ($1,117 to $1,226), we note an industry high 89% five year wage increase in WC’s Information industry ($838 to $1,580).

Average Weekly Wage

Retail Sales

As noted by the 10 year trendline for 2011-2021, growth in the average private weekly wage in Wilson County has occurred at roughly the same annual rate though with a slight wage rate increase starting in year 2018. See Figure R3.

For the past 5 years beginning 2017 through 2021, across all NAICS industry categories, the average weekly wage of a person employed by private business in Wilson County grew slightly, increasing from $868 to $1054. This wage growth represents a nominal average weekly wage increase of 21% over the 5 year period. Given that $1 in 2017 would be worth $1.1055 in 2021 (a 10.55% increase), real wages in Wilson County increased about 10.45% (=21%-10.55%) from 2017 to 2021. During the 5 year period, all WC industry categories experienced double digital percentage nominal wage increases except for Real estate, rental & leasing services which grew at 8%.

By considering average weekly wage by NAICS industry sector (see Figure R6), we note several interesting WC wage trends. In 2017, the highest paying 3 industry sectors were Management of companies & enterprises (NAICS 55), Real estate, Finance & insurance (NAICS 52) and Construction, paying $2283,

According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue, 2021 total retail sales in Wilson County, TN was $3,103,691,623. Retail sales for 2021 represented a 5 year high, coming after a previous flat sales interval of annual sales of $2.7, 2.6, 2,5 and 2.5 billion, respectively. Monthly retail sales for 2021 are shown in Figure R7. Top 3 retail category sales totals were in Autos, Boats & Aircraft (25%), Food Stores (16%) and Building Materials (13%). Monthly retail sales by category for 2021 are shown in Figure R8.

From 2017-2021, including the pandemic period that created much disruption in the retail sector, we note that total annual sales of WC’s largest retail category Autos, Boats & Aircraft dropped steadily during this period until a 2021 sales increase of $ 597,419,680 was posted over previous year 2020.

Such auto sales declines in WC would seem to mirror national trends6 . With the exception of the Autos, Boats & Aircraft category, other retail sectors of WC’s economy endured the pandemic era reasonably well, some sectors even displaying moderate growth during the 2017-2021 period such as in Food Stores, General Merchandise and Building Materials. See Figure R9 for annual retail sales by Category in WC, 2017-2021.

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See for example, “Coronavirus crippled U.S. auto sales in 2020 but it could have been far worse” by Michael Wayland, December 23rd 2020, CNBC.com at https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/23/covid-19-crippled-us-auto-sales-in-2020-but-it-could-have-beenworse.html . The current semiconductor (computer chip) national shortage has also been a major constraining factor affecting the supply of new cars and boats available for sale. New auto manufactures can easily require 1000 semiconductors or more per vehicle.

See for example, “What Happened With the Semiconductor Chip Shortage—and How and When the Auto Industry Will Emerge” by Alisa Priddle, December 27th, 2021, MotorTrend, at https://www.motortrend.com/news/automotive-car-industry-semiconductorchip-shortage-reasons-solution/ .

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Population Growth in Wilson County, 2010-2020 Using data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, this article describes the population changes occurring in Wilson County TN in the decade between U.S. Decennial Census7 periods April 1, 2010 to April 1, 2020. With a land area of 570.87 square miles, Wilson County is the 19th largest county by geography out of Tennessee’s 95 counties. WC’s population density per square mile in 2010 was 199.7, which increased to 258.8 persons by 2020. Ranked 10th in the state by county population, Wilson County’s 2020 population base count was 147,737 persons8 .

WC’s 2020 census count represents a net increase of 33,744 persons, or 30%, over its previous 2010 census count of 113,993. WC’s 10 year growth rate, ranked 7th in the state, places Wilson County as one of Tennessee’s fastest growing counties. Tennessee’s state population increased by 8.9% in the same time period.

Home Construction in Wilson County, TN

Growth Factors Wilson County TN is a unique geography in several ways. Notably, its eastern and western boundaries contrast starkly with one another. WC’s rural eastern boundary is shared with the rural counties of Trousdale, Smith, DeKalb and Cannon Counties, ranked 87th, 66th, 65th, and 79th in county population size, respectively. WC’s urban western boundary is shared with the urban counties of Davidson, Rutherford and Sumner, ranked 2nd, 5th and 8th in county population size, respectively.

Additionally, Davidson’s county seat is the city of Nashville9 (also the state capital) with a 2020 census population of 689,447. Thus, in terms of population change in WC, one would expect notable shifts to be largely stimulated by WC’s urban western boundary with stabilizing influences coming from WC’s rural eastern boundary.

Besides WC’s proximity to its urban and rural county neighbors, two other key factors affecting WC population growth are the presence of major highway thoroughfares which pass through the middle of the county. First and foremost, intercoastal Interstate 40 fully bisects WC east/west. Second, Interstate 840 and its State Route 109 offshoot together bisect WC north/south. In the recent decade, this highway triad of I40, I840 and route 109, together have combined to create a very powerful and expanding economic engine and employment source of nationally and globally prominent supply chain companies and other industries for Wilson County.

7 Disclaimer – Wilson County Trends’ editor was employed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a non-response census enumerator for western Wilson County, TN during the 2020 U.S. Census.

8 The Wilson County, TN population estimates base count (as of April 1, 2021) was revised on July 1, 2021 to a population estimate of 151,917 persons. In this report, our analysis primarily uses the census base count. The Estimates Base is the population count or estimate used as the starting point in the estimates process, and which typically corresponds with the date of the latest decennial census. The April 1, 2020 Population Estimates base may reflects changes to the 2020 Census population from the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) and other geographic program revisions, the application of disclosure avoidance techniques, or the incorporation of alternate data sources. (source: U.S. Census Bureau) 9 Wilson County, TN is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Nashville MSA is the 35th largest metro area in the United States. Wilson County, TN’s close geographic proximity to metro Nashville/Davidson County provides a mutually beneficial and critical connection between urban and exurban area economies. In terms of regional economic development, the “Nashville Economic Market” is comprised of ten surrounding contiguous counties, including Wilson County. The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s economic development strategy identifies five target industries to drive the Nashville MSA economy. They are corporate services, health care management and information technology, advanced manufacturing, distribution & trade, and music & entertainment. Source: Nashville Regional Economic Development Guide, January 2022, Partnership 2030, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.

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Population Demographics The 2020 U.S. Census provides the following summary demographics on residents of Wilson County, TN. By age, 5.8% of WC residents are under the age of 5 years; 23.3% are under 18 years; 16% are 65 years or older. By gender, 50.5% are female. By race, 87.4% are white alone; 7.8% are black alone.

There are 8,996 veterans that reside in WC. By information technology, 94.1% of WC households have a computer with 86.6% also having a broadband Internet subscription. By education, 92% of WC residents aged 25 years or older have a high school diploma or higher; in the same age group, 34.8% possess a bachelor’s degree or higher. By transportation, for WC residents aged 16 years or higher, the mean travel time to work was 30.4 minutes. The 2020 median household income in WC is $78,962.

Population Growth by Census Tract To gain a better understanding of the population changes taking place within Wilson County, we examine the ten-year intra-county population shifts that have taken place within WC census tracts10 , 2010 to 2020.

Due to significant post-2010 population increases in WC, especially in the Lebanon and Mt. Juliet city areas, we note that the 21 census tracts used in Wilson County’s 2010 census (see Map 1) were expanded to 28 tracts for use in the 2020 federal census (see Maps 3A and 3B). To maintain comparable population size within each census tract, WC’s five 2010 census tracts, located along its neighboring urban counties of Davidson and Sumner, were split, or subdivided, and renumbered as twelve new census tracts in the 2020 census, thereby creating 28 WC tracts that were used in the 2020 U.S. Census. Table 1 gives a complete list of the 2010 and 2020 census tracts and tract splits, as well as the population counts and percent changes occurring within each tract. The ten year percentage population changes

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shown in the last column of Table 1 are also shown geographically in Map 2.

Except for WC tract 303.05 located just south of Hendersonville, which lost a net of 120 persons, all other 2010 WC census tracts experienced population increases to year 2020. Notably, 13 of WC’s 21 census tract populations grew by double digit percentages. As shown in Map 1 and Table 1, fast growing western WC 2010 census tracts 303.07 and 309.01, both bordering Davidson County, were subdivided into 6 tracts for use in the 2020 U.S. census.

Of the other three subdivided 2010 census tracts, we note that northern WC tracts 301.01 and 302.04 border Sumner County. Located directly to the east of tracts 303.07 and 309.01, census tract 309.03 experienced a county high population growth rate of 74%. Tract 309.03 is located in an especially interesting residential and commercial corridor, not only bordering I-40 and Rutherford County, but also encompassing an expanded I-840/Route 109 along its eastern side.

Visually shown in Map 2, with the exception of WC’s northwestern boundary along the Cumberland River, 2010-2020 double digit percent population growth occurred on WC’s entire eastern side, starting at an imaginary vertical line passing through the middle of Lebanon city. Going east from the line, we observe mostly single digit percent population growth occurring to WC’s rural-side eastern boundaries.

WC Census Tract Demographics Table 2 reports and compares 2020 population demographics among individual WC census tracts as well as with the county and state overall. At the table bottom, we see that the median age of Wilson County residents is slightly higher than for all of Tennessee residents (40.2 vs 38.8) though the percentage of seniors (65 years and older) in WC is slightly less (15.6% vs. 16.4%). Confirming Wilson County’s reputation as a fairly affluent county, we observe that

10 U.S. census tracts are small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county, uniquely numbered in each county with a numeric code. Census tracts generally average about 4,000 inhabitants. The boundaries of each designated tract encompass a desired minimum population of 1,200 and a maximum population of 8,000. Constitutionally mandated U.S. population census counts within all census tract regions occur every ten years. While census tracts in stable population areas are usually re-used each decade, census tracts may be split or merged, depending on population change, to stay within the desired size range. As census tracts are designed to be relatively permanent over time, any changes are documented so data can be compared from decade to decade. Census tracts with more than 8,000 people are split into 2 or more tracts and are given an extension to their existing numeric code, Census tracts with less than 1,200 people are merged with a neighboring tract and are given a new numeric code. (source: U.S. Census Bureau)

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Scenes from the Wilson County Fair

the overall median household income of WC residents ($78,962) is 44% higher than for Tennessee residents ($54,833). Financial wellbeing of the county is supported by WC’s comparatively higher percentage of college graduates (34.8% vs 28.2%) and higher employment rate (63.2% vs 57.9%).

Not surprisingly, WC’s key demographics are not uniform across the county. Reviewing population demographics by individual census tracts yield some interesting tract similarities and differences. In regard to age, we note that the median age of the 7,775 persons residing in WC tract 305 is 29.1 years, representing the youngest tract residence in Wilson County. Tract 305 is located in the northern area of Lebanon city, north/south between Hartmann Drive and West Baddour Parkway and east/west between Carver Lane and Lover’s Lane. The median age of the 5,638 persons residing in tract 309.07 is the oldest resident tract in WC at 56.5 years. Not surprisingly, a county high 35.6% of all residents in tract 309.07 were aged 65 years and older. Tract 309.07 is located directly to the south of I-40, north of Central Pike and east of Ligon Road. Tracts 303.08 and 303.10 had the lowest percentage of senior residents in WC with only 7.5% and 9.4%, respectively. Both tracts lie just west of Mt. Juliet and directly along WC’s western boundary with Davidson County.

Taking all 2020 census tracts together, younger

residents (40 years and less) of WC are concentrated in all tracts that are part of Lebanon city and also along WC’s west urban boundary near I-40 to the western side of Mt. Juliet. Most of WC north of I-40 overwhelmingly exhibits low percentages of residents aged 65 years and older (15% and less) save for a contiguous 3-tract “senior residence strip” consisting of tracts 301.05, 302.02 and 309.07, with significant senior resident percentages of 25.5, 44.0 and 35.6, respectively. We further note that the median age of eastern Mt. Juliet (tracts 303.11 and 303.07) residents is more senior (48.1 and 56.5 years, respectively) than for the county overall.

In regard to household income, WC residents living in tract 303.10 earned a county high household median income of $111,978. At the other end of the income spectrum, WC residents in tract 307 earned a county low of $34,789. Tract 307 is bordered east/west by Peyton Road and West Baddour Parkway and north/south by Rome Pike and I-40. Higher household median incomes ($90,000 and up) in WC are located mainly in tracts along Route 109/I-840 and going westward to WC’s west urban boundaries.

Lower median household incomes in WC ($80,000 and less) are located in tracts bordered by State Route 231 and going eastward to WC’s eastern rural boundary.

In regard to employment, the percentage of em-

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Table 1 - Wilson Co TN Population Changes, 2010-2020 by U.S. Census Tract Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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Table 2 - Wilson Co TN 2020 Census Tract Demographics Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, columns 2-4 from the Bureau’s 2020 Decennial Census; columns 5-7 from the Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-year Estimates

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ployed WC residents was highest in tract 303.08 at 76.6%. The lowest employment rate was 41.8% in tract 309.07 which is not too surprising in recalling that tract 309.07 also had the highest median age and percentage of senior residents. WC employment rates (65% and higher) are fairly uniform across the county, including tracts located in both urban and rural areas. The relatively high employment rates in rural tracts 309.07 and 310 (68.5% and 68.0%, respectively) likely include some significant commute activity to places of employment.

In regard to higher education, a county high 54.1% of the WC residents of tract 303.08 held bach-

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elor’s college degrees and higher whereas a county low of 14.2% of tract 305 residents held 4 year college degrees and higher. Overall, we observe that WC residents possessing the highest percentage of bachelor’s degrees and higher (45% and higher) live in tracts close to WC’s urban east boundaries with Davidson and Sumner Counties. WC residents possessing the lowest percentage of bachelor’s degrees and higher (40% and lower) live in tracts primarily located in the eastern and northeastern rural portions of WC, as well as almost all tracts located south of I-40.

Business programs in the Labry School Cumberland University’s Labry School of Science, Technology, and Business offers an Associate of Arts in Business; a Bachelor of Business Administration with majors in accounting, business administration, health care administration, management, marketing, project management, and supply chain management; a Master of Business Administration (MBA); a Master of Science in Information Technology Management; and a Master of Science in Engineering Management. The business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). See www.cumberland.edu for more details.

Requests for WCT Issues Requests for paper copies of current and past WCT issues should be directed to the email address wilsoncountytrends@cumberland.edu and include a mailing address, organization, and contact person.

Digital copies of WCT issues may be downloaded or read online by going to Cumberland University’s web site www.cumberland.edu (click on “Academics” and then click on the Labry School entry under “CU Schools” to find the WCT publication list). WCT issues can also be accessed directly by following the link https://www.cumberland.edu/labry-school-of-science-technology-business/wilson-countytrends-publications/.

Available Issues: Winter 2023 Issue - Wilson County (WC) economic data and trend graphs; feature article on WC public venues; WC public venue industry who’s who; feature article on WC population growth; guest articles on the Farm Bureau Exposition Center and the Mill at Lebanon.

Fall 2021 issue - Wilson County economic data and trend graphs; feature article on WC’s healthcare industry; WC healthcare industry who’s who; guest article on Vanderbilt WC Hospital; guest article on telehealth trends.

Spring 2020 Issue - Wilson County economic data and trend graphs; feature article on WC’s information technology industry; WC IT industry who’s who; feature article on broadband Internet in WC; guest article on online marketing strategies.

Spring 2019 Issue - Wilson County economic data and trend graphs; feature article on WC’s supply chain (SC) industry; WC SC industry who’s who; guest article on tax reform.

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Map 1 - 2010 WC Census Tracts Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Map 2 - Percentage Change in WC Census Tract Populations, 2010-2020 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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Map 3A - 2020 WC Census Tracts (North Section) source: U.S. Census Bureau

Map 3B - 2020 WC Census Tracts (South Section) source: U.S. Census Bureau

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Public Venues in Wilson County Introduction

Every vibrant and healthy regional economy requires an adequate supply of public venues to support local economic and community development. While the term public venue can be variously defined, in this report our focus is mainly on public venues or spaces which are used for hosting in-door public/private meetings and events. Examples of public venues include convention centers, dedicated event venues, public commons areas of hospitality service providers such as hotels or restaurants, and the public meeting areas of recreational, entertainment, or municipal organizations. This article examines the types of for-lease, for-rent, or pro bono public venue spaces available in Wilson County11 .

Public venues offer various benefits to local businesses and residents. Fee-based public venues are important revenue-generators for the local economy, offering multi-purpose spaces to host internal corporate meetings, customer expos, and other business events. Public venues can support the needs of local communities and families by offering locations for school events, family activities, weddings, graduations, youth development and recreation, community forums, local voting, as well as for many other desirable community activities. Public venues that host events with large numbers of non-local attendees, such as convention centers, can contribute significantly to the local tax base as well as provide job opportunities to local residents12 . Overall, public venues can help to create a positive public image to outsiders, attracting to the area new businesses, new residents, and tax-paying tourist visitors.

Public Venues in Wilson County Wilson County is home to a variety of very scenic, spacious, and versatile public venues that support community and/or business get-togethers of various types. Due to its somewhat unique geography and location, the supply and demand for public venues in WC is more pronounced than in many municipalities.

The demand for public venues is growing, in part due to WC’s increasing population size as well as the increasing number of corporations which reside and operate in the county. Adding to the potential demand are the large number of neighboring Nashville area corporations and organizations located just out-

11 There are three articles on WC public venues in this issue of Wilson County Trends. The current article provides a general overview and listing of public venues in Wilson County. The second public venue article describes and tells the story of the publicowned Farm Bureau Expo Center, WC’s largest convention facility. The third public venue article describes and tells the story of the private-owned and historic Mill at Lebanon, a re-purposed public venue and retail center.

12 “New research by the Events Industry Council (EIC) has confirmed that face-to-face meetings and events deliver substantial benefits to the U.S. economy by not only contributing $446 billion in GDP and $104 billion of federal, state and local taxes, but by supporting 5.9 million jobs. During 2016, 1.9 million meetings were attended by 251 million delegates, enabling the U.S. meetings sector to support more direct jobs than the telecommunications and oil and gas industries. Of those 251 million delegates, six million came from outside the U.S. spending $38 billion. Whilst that only represents two percent of overall meeting attendees, their spend relates to eleven percent of meetings-related spending. The EIC research estimates the impact of face-to-face meetings as an additional $1.60 – or 160 percent – in benefits for the U.S. economy.” Source: https://www.fcmtravel.com/enus/resources/insights/why-meetings-and-events-are-crucial-us-economy

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Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Meeting Rooms

side of WC’s western boundary, who may prefer at times a less urban, less costly, and more open physical setting for select business meetings or events.

Mt. Juliet Public Library

Mt Juliet Chamber of Commerce Meeting Room Conversely, the supply of public venues in WC is fairly high due in part to decisions of existing organizations to add on public venues as a complementary service to their primary service offerings (e.g., hotel conference rooms), as well as the decisions of many small business entrepreneurs (and some large corporate owners) to locate and build scenic dedicated event venues on WC’s agricultural lands and alongside its lakes, rivers, and historic areas. The active support of public policy makers in Wilson County government and the urban areas of Lebanon and Mt Juliet have also proven to be an important factor favorably affecting the growth of WC’s public venue industry.

Table 3 provides a partial list of Who’s Who in Wilson County’s public venue industry. WC public venues include: a convention hall, many hotelbased meeting facilities, an agricultural center, public libraries, a chamber of commerce, a university, dedicated event venues, as well as a state park lodge/meeting complex. Below are descriptions of some of the public venue spaces in Wilson County.

Ward Agricultural Center Complex Leveraging Wilson County’s urban-rural geography and proximity to Nashville, the Ward Agricultural Center, located in Lebanon, TN, provides the county with a large versatile public venue anchor complex capable of hosting very large to small scale public events while preserving the rural charm of the surrounding area. This municipally-owned 260-acre property encompasses three flexible-use destinations: the Agri-

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cultural Complex, the Wilson County Exposition Center (see separate article), and Fiddlers Grove Historic Village. Together, these properties host over 1 million visitors annually. Well known across Tennessee, the Ward Agricultural Center is also home to the nationally acclaimed Wilson Country Fair, the largest county fair in Tennessee13 which set a fair attendance record in 2022. The 2021 relocation of the Tennessee State Fair to Wilson County has resulted in a mutually beneficial economic partnership between Wilson County and the State of Tennessee in terms of added convention facility support for the Ward Agricultural Complex. https://wilsoncountyfairgrounds.com/

The Mill at Lebanon The Mill at Lebanon, formerly known as Lebanon Woolen Mills, are historic industrial buildings located in Lebanon, Tennessee. Built in 1909 by Dr Howard K. Edgerton as a manufacturer of textile products, the facility closed down in 1998. Designed by Francis B. Warfield & Associates in the Colonial Revival architectural style, the Mill at Lebanon is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the years which followed its closing, the Mill transitioned from a manufacturing complex to a mixed use retail, office space and public venue facility. See the separate article on the Mill at Lebanon which follows. https://www.themillatlebanon.com/

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Venue 142 at the Arcade Located on historic Lebanon Square, Venue 142, is located inside a large early twentieth century building complex known as the Arcade. In 2016, a top-to-bottom renovation was completed of the 113 year old facility, focusing on the preservation of the building’s historical red brick architectural detail. Venue 142 is currently a multi-use public area inside the Arcade that seats up to 120 people. https://www.venue142.com/

The Estate at Cherokee Dock The Estate at Cherokee Dock is a scenic event space and wedding venue located along Route 109 in Wilson County. Originally built in 1960, a large southern colonial style mansion sits at the center of a 15 acre property. It is most widely recognized as the former home of award-winning artist, actor, and author Reba McEntire. In 2017, Cherokee Dock opened its doors as a repurposed event venue. https://www.cherokeedock.com/

The Estate at Cherokee Dock, Lebanon TN

Capitol Theater

Edgerton Hall, The Mill at Lebanon 13

Located close to historic Lebanon Town Square, the original Capitol Theater was built in 1949 as a conventional movie theater and has since been renovated and repurposed into an elegant multi-purpose community center offering a variety of public venue services for private and public events, live theatre and

The Wilson County Fair merged in 2021 to become the co-host public venue for the Tennessee State Fair.

For more information, see https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/wilson/2021/08/13/tennessee-state-wilson-countyfair-attendees-merger/5539219001/ and https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/2022-wilson-county-tennessee-state-fair-reachesrecord-breaking-attendance/ .

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Cumberland University

The Arcade at Lebanon Square (Exterior, Interior)

music entertainment, movie viewings, and other activities. http://capitoltheatretn.com/

Hampton Inn at Lebanon Capital Theater

Scenic Nature Public Venues Hotel Public Venues There are numerous hotels and motels located alongside the major highway thoroughfares which pass through Wilson County (I40, I840 and Route 109).

As many large businesses are also located along these same highway areas, many hotels/motels in WC also offer formal meeting spaces and services for business events. Some of these hospitality meeting spaces are fairly large. Mt. Juliet’s Hilton Tru, for example, can accommodate up to 400 people.

Popular for weddings, as well as for corporate retreats and special business events, many dedicated event venues are located in attractive open farmland and lakeside nature settings, especially in the eastern half of Wilson County. While most are privately owned, some public owned public meeting venues also exist in the county. Cedars of Lebanon State Park, for example, offers picturesque parkbased lodges that are designed to host both formal and informal public/private events of various kinds.

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The Ward Agricultural Center and the Jimmy Floyd Family Center are also publicly owned local venues.

Among privately owned scenic public venues in Wilson County are Everlasting Pond, Iriswoods, Legacy Farms, Terian Farms Event Center, Tucker’s Gap Event Center, Wild Turkey Ranch, and others.

Wild Turkey Ranch Reception Room

Cedars of Lebanon State Park Assembly Hall

Everlasting Pond, Watertown

Tucker’s Gap Event Center, Lebanon

Legacy Farms, Lebanon

Iriswoods, Mt. Juliet Terian Farms

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Cumberland University

Cumberland University One of Wilson County’s oldest and unique institutions, which has long served as a community oriented public venue, is Cumberland University located in Lebanon, TN. CU has hosted a variety of groups and public events on its 44 acre, 70+ building, campus throughout its 180 year history, many events of which are notably historic in nature14 .

CU serves Wilson County by making its meeting spaces available to a wide variety of civic and business groups, for events ranging from community forums, distinguished speaker series, election political debates, youth development and sports camps, charity fundraising events, private business events, corporate training, economic development, and more.

Venue availability and event scheduling at Cumberland University are based in part on the University academic calendar. Fees versus pro bono arrangements vary based on event type, cost and sponsors. Besides numerous classroom and small conference meeting areas that vary in size from 20 to 60 seats, popular requested large group meeting/event spaces on CU’s main campus include: historic Memorial Hall’s Baird Chapel, Labry Hall Tiered Classroom, Heydel Fine Arts Center and Alumni Hall. https://www.cumberland.edu/

Tiered Classroom in Labry Hall

Heydel Fine Arts Center

Baird Chapel in Memorial Hall 14

Alumni Hall Auditorium

See, for example, “The World War II Years at Cumberland”, https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=198993

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Table 3: Who’s Who in Wilson County TN’s Public Venues Name Farm Bureau Expo Center James E. Ward Agricultural Ctr Cumberland University* Tuckers Gap Event Center The Mill at Lebanon Legacy Farms Estate Cherokee Dock Hilton Tru Cedars of Lebanon Park Lodge The Wild Turkey Ranch Iriswoods Courtyard Billy Goat Retreat The Everlasting Pond Terian Farms Event Center The Arcade/ Venue 142 Capitol Theater Holiday Inn Express Mt Juliet Public Library Comfort Suites Ramada Residence Inn Lebanon Wilson Co Chamber Holiday Inn Express Jimmy Floyd Center Mt Juliet Chamber of Commerce Hampton Inn & Suites Days Inn Hampton Inn & Suites Cedar Valley Inn Fairfield Inn Quality Inn & Suites Comfort Suites Sleep Inn & Suites Watertown Public Library * CU Baird Chapel in Memorial Hall * CU Labry Tiered Classroom * CU Heydel Fine Arts Center * CU Alumni Hall Auditorium

Size (SqFt) 79000 13500 13433 13000 12500 8000 4412 4400 4350 3500 3200 3195 2500 2400 2400 2083 1829 1635 1610 1568 1500 1500 1400 1296 1200 1200 1040 960 936 840 798 770 576 450 300 2714 2232 2312 6175

Seat Max 7000 1200 920 300 1000 350 300 400 325 125 150 280 90 200 200 120 450 50 100 165 100 165 64 80 80 40 100 75 70 40 60 81 61 50 20 200 140 230 350

Locale Leb Leb Leb Leb Leb Leb Leb MJ Leb Leb MJ MJ Leb Wtn Leb Leb Leb Leb MJ Leb Leb MJ Leb MJ Leb MJ MJ Leb Leb Leb Leb MJ MJ Leb Wtn Leb Leb Leb Leb

Type Convention Hall Agricultural Ctr University Event Venue Event Venue Event Venue Event Venue Hotel State Park Event Venue Event Venue Hotel Event Venue Event Venue Event Venue Event Venue Theater Stage Hotel Public Library Hotel Hotel Hotel Chamber Hotel Health Fitness Ctr Chamber Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel Public Library University University University University

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Guest Article: Farm Bureau Expo Center

Phillip Lacey is media & marketing manager for the Farm Bureau Expo Center. Originally from Chincoteague, VA, he received a B.S.C. and an M.F.A from the University of Miami in Coral Gables Florida. He is also a freelance writer/ filmmaker and adjunct film professor for Volunteer State Community College. A 2019 alumni member of Leadership Wilson, Phillip served on the board for the Wilson County Help Center and has produced video programming for Fiddler’s Grove, Habitat for Humanity, and the Lebanon Senior Center. Phillip and his wife moved to Wilson County in 2013. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, playing tennis, and reading.

If you take I-40 East through Wilson County and get off at exit 239-B, in no time you will come upon the James E. Ward Agricultural Center and the Farm Bureau Expo Center (FBEC) that reside just past the complexes’ main gate. For many attendees, the FBEC has become the iconic center point of the Wilson County/ Tennessee State fair which has utilized the FBEC’s 79,000 square foot, multi-use event space for a myriad of displays and activities since its opening in November 2016.

right?” is a question often echoed by locals when speaking to members of the Expo staff. While the County/State Fair may well be the first event that comes to mind for many Wilson County residents, the County/State Fair represents only one of the one hundred and sixty-five events that have taken place or are planned for 2022. This number exceeds the expectations of those who still cling to the “community center” roots once envisioned as the FBEC’s main function and speaks well to the “adoption” of the FBEC as a genuine venue for events originating across the state and around the country. Gayle Hellemn is FEBC’s Director of Marketing and Events.

FBEC’s Size and Components

FBEC Main Exhibit Hall Front Entrance “You guys don’t do much outside of the fair,

The Farm Bureau Expo Center consists of three distinctly different spaces. The main exhibit hall (MEH) is over 45,000 Sq. Ft of open concrete flooring with a ceiling that peaks at a height just over fifty feet.

The MEH has one available partition that can separate the space into two 22,500 sq. ft halves. With a loading dock as well as a street level roll up door, the MEH can handle nearly any type of vehicle that someone would want to either unload or have on display. In stark contrast to the MEH’s wide open and industrial accouterments the 7,000 carpeted square

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footage of South Hall (SH) is a perfect complement with its refined and finished décor. Two 3,200 sq. ft event spaces, or four 1,600 sq. ft rooms, are available with six air wall partitions if you require concurrent multiple meeting spaces within the same convention styled hall.

FBEC Main Exhibit Hall West (1500 seat row arrangement) The strikingly painted floor of the 7,000 sq. ft main corridor completes the trio of spaces within the building and serves as more than just a passageway connecting SH to the MEH. The main corridor itself is a picturesque entrance that welcomes all visitors to this unique venue while often serving as a showcase for vendors and food kiosks. For many Tennessee event planners as well as planners across the nation, the Farm Bureau Expo Center is one of the most economic and friendly venues in the country accounting for 279 rental days for which the facility was booked in 2022.

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A Secret in Plain Sight About sixty-six percent of the Expo’s 2022 events were private events. The majority of the public or national events in 2022, e.g., Anime/comics, Car shows, Exotic Pets, Dance/Talent competitions, Wrestling/Grappling, Sewing/Quilt, Scrapbooking, etc., catered to specific interest groups.

In 2022, the FBEC will be working with one hundred and ten different event planners who are responsible for organizing the one hundred and sixty-five separate events15 being held in at least one of the spaces within the main building. Events in 2022 will take up 279 of the year’s 365 days leaving only 86 days for any type of maintenance, expansion, or remodeling, not to mention time off for the staff of six, that work to maintain the facility.

Businesses in Wilson County and surrounding areas utilize the FBEC for their off-site meetings, training, and customer appreciation events. An objective for the coming year is to increase local business usage of FBEC facilities in terms of rental days and the amount of square footage rented. In 2022, Wilson County events accounted for 33 percent of the event total, but only eleven percent of the total space rented. Compare those numbers to FBEC’s 2022 National event clientele which accounted for 18 percent of the event total but were responsible for 41 percent of the year’s total rented space. The local community has yet to embrace the full potential that the FBEC has to offer in terms of locational convenience and better pricing than nearby Nashville city public venues.

Hidden Impact

FBEC South Hall A&B (table arrangement) 15

While it would be nice for the FBEC to host larger locally sponsored events, currently it is the national events with their over three-day average event lengths that really serve and financially impact Wilson County. The average support team member will typically require a room for a minimum of four nights as well as at least two meals for their five days of event setup, the event itself, and then tear down after the event closes. When the size of national event support teams reach double digits, the economic impact of these event-based workers on or hotels, restaurants, and gas stations in Wilson County becomes

”Event” is defined here to refer to an activity by an outside entity, renting space and requiring supervision by at least one expo employees.

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FBEC Main Exhibit Hall West - table (left) vs exhibitor (right) arrangements

significant. When you begin adding the large number of participants, guests and attendees of these shows often coming from other states, seeking at least a single night’s accommodation, one hundred and one days of national events account for a sizable cumulative local economic impact.

The FBEC has another direct impact with local businesses through its preferred partner program which grants exclusive rights to participants to provide food and beverage services for FBEC hosted events. Open enrollment is held annually in November providing local business the opportunity to be added or to drop out of the program for the upcoming year. The FBEC publishes a listing of all partners on their website as well as including them in the event handbook that is given to every event planner with the understanding that these are the only businesses, they are allowed to use during their event at the FBEC. While this program has been a success, during November’s open enrollment, the FBEC is looking forward to welcoming additional providers to take advantage of this partnership for 2023 and beyond.

2022 Statistical Breakdown March and April 2022 were the busiest months with 18 events each while January and November were the least busy with only 9 separate events each. In 2022 the longest period of consecutive event days for staff to date was forty-four straight days of occupancy.

The longest period of consecutive days without an event was fourteen days encompassing the previous Christmas and New Year holidays, representing 16%

of our total dark days for the year. See Figure G1.

54 events originated from Wilson County for 78 days. WC events rented 1,666,288 Sq Ft. of event space averaging 21,362 Sq Ft. per day and 30,857 Sq Ft. per event. The length of each county event averaged 1.4 days per event. 80 events originated in Tennessee, outside of Wilson County, for 147 days.

Tennessee events rented 7,323,168 Sq Ft. of event space averaging 49,817 Sq Ft. per day and 91,539 Sq Ft. per event. The length of each event averaged out to 1.83 days per event. 31 events originated outside of Tennessee for 101 rental days. National events rented 6,186,308 Sq Ft. of event space averaging 61,250 square feet per day and 199,558 Sq Ft. per event. Each event averaged out to 3.3 days per event. See Figure G2.

Larger event scales require more FBEC resources.

90% of the National events rented the entire Main Exhibit Hall or the entire building while 17% of Wilson County events and 31% of Tennessee events rented the same amount of space. 75% of Wilson County events rent either ¼, ½ or all of South Hall.

66% of the events held in the Farm Bureau Expo Center are private events. 46% of our events took place concurrently with other events being held.

Future Plans As the false specter of distance and inconvenience melts away, the FBEC has found itself in the unique position of signing multiyear contracts for hosting some of Nashville’s premium events formerly held in the heart of music city. The FBEC’s policy of a fair single price structure versus the “a la carte” of

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Figure G1 - FBEC Number of Events & Dark Days by Month (2022)

Figure G2 - FBEC Number of Event Days & Square Footage Rented (2022)

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Table 4: Busiest months based on days with zero occupancy outside of staffing (Dark) Month August October April June January December

Events 10 13 18 15 9 12

Dark 0 3 4 6 10 14

metro venues has become a refreshing selling point for many of Nashville’s planners. Combine this nononsense pricing policy with free parking and even the staunchest traditional organizations are viewing the FBEC as a serious contender for their event dollars.

While FBEC’s 2022 success doesn’t guarantee future success, the overwhelming positive feedback from those who have utilized the facilities provides hope for a bright future. For a venue that will be celebrating its sixth birthday in November 2022, the FBEC has established itself as a destination for a multitude of local and national events. Currently there are Eighty-eight events returning or are booked for 2023 with fifty-five events booked in 2024 and over forty for 2025.

Several touring national events are on a waiting list in hopes that a three- or four-day weekend be-

Month February March May July September November

Events 16 18 17 12 10 9

Dark 2 4 5 9 12 17

comes open with enough time for them to adjust their touring schedules and ad Lebanon/Nashville on their calendar. Marketing efforts are being focused on business-to-business opportunities with a hope that local leaders and organizations can take advantage of the home-grown resources adorning the east side of Wilson County.

Statements from event planners such as “We have had the pleasure of working with Farm Bureau Expo Center for several years and their customer service is above and beyond any other venue we have dealt with. We have never been treated as if we were just another dollar to them. Their entire staff is excellent to work with.“ Illustrates the quality of the customer service and the facility as a whole. It is a testament to the hard work of the staff that is rewarded by events returning year after year. We hope to see you soon at the Expo.

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Guest Article: The Mill at Lebanon Curtis A Gibbs, Jr. is owner of The Mill at Lebanon, now a mixed-use facility and public venue. Curtis attended GMI Engineering & Management Institute (1975) and Harvard Business School (1994) becoming a General Motors Executive. Curtis and his family moved to Tennessee when he was charged with the 1990 launch of the Saturn Plant in Spring Hill TN. Upon leaving GM he became the Senior VP of Indian Motorcycle Company. Curtis has always been interested in historic properties doing his first restoration in 1975. Included among his many past restoration projects are a 1920’s auto dealership, the Commons in Spring Hill TN, the Artisan Campus in Franklin TN and since 2005, the Mill at Lebanon.

“The story of the Lebanon Woolen Mills is the story of a woolen thread. A thread that has entwined itself into the hearts and lives of thousands of persons; one that has bound the people of Lebanon together through prosperity and depression, through gladness and sorrow.”

–Excerpt from the 50th Anniversary Yearbook 1958 The Mill at Lebanon was originally constructed in 1908 by the newly formed Lebanon Woolen Mills and is located in downtown Lebanon, Tennessee on approximately 15 acres. It presents itself as a venue with much history and charm. The original owners of the Lebanon Woolen Mills chose the current loca-

tion to take advantage of the newly constructed Tennessee and Chattanooga railroad which ran through downtown Lebanon. The main purpose of the mill was to produce blankets from wool which continued until 1953 when acrylic fiber replaced the natural wool. It is now adjacent to the Music City Star rail

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station and is bordered on the South and the West

by Sinking Creek. Tennessee Central railroad tracks and North Maple Street border The Mill on the east and south with residential lots adjacent on the north.

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31st,1908 and Dr. Edgerton was elected president.

An initial $60,000 capital investment was raised locally with an additional $40,000 in stock sold in 1910. The Lebanon Woolen Mills purchased the initial land to build the factory in 1909 and immediately proceeded to construct the earliest portion of the factory. Throughout the years, additional adjacent parcels were acquired. Further additions to the building continued until 1972. In the early days of operation, local farmers brought their sheep onto The Mill grounds to have them sheared. The Mill shipped its first blankets in January 1910. All forty employees lived in District 10, Ward 4, on streets adjoining The Mill, most likely in company housing.

Wartime Service

The Mill’s Double Grand Staircase

Start Up While hoping to profit personally from the enterprise, The Mill founder Dr, Howard K. Edgerton, Sr. also saw The Mill as a place of regular employment for the people of Lebanon16 . By using locally produced wool, he created a marketplace for farmers in the area. Wilson County TN, in fact, held the largest number of sheep of any county in Tennessee in 1910.

The sheep population remained steady into the mid20th century.

Dr. Edgerton incorporated Lebanon Woolen Mills in 1908 with the help of capital from local businessmen, The Mill had its first meeting on December

In 1912, Dr. Edgerton was no longer physically able to run the operation and his brother John Edgerton became president. He remained president until 1938 when Howard, Sr.’s son Howard K Edgerton, Jr. became president. It was also in 1938 that a sales office was established in New York City. In 1941, the New York City sales office secured a contract with the United States government to produce blankets for the U.S. Armed Services. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the federal government fenced off the facility2 and brought in guards to ensure an uninterrupted supply of blankets. All employees were fingerprinted and given security badges.

By 1943, production escalated to 450,000 blankets per year. At the war’s end, The Mill received the prestigious Army Navy E award for quality from President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

A new office was constructed on the Lebanon site in 1947, which we now refer to as The Suites. As a major customer of The Mill, American businessman and entrepreneur James Cash (JC) Penney attended and was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony. In 1950, Elmer Hahn became president.

The management and employees of the Lebanon Woolen Mills were a very close knit group. Each workday was started with a prayer. Religious services were conducted each Sunday at The Mill until 1950 when the practice was disbanded to encourage em-

16 Edgerton family members were very prominent in the Lebanon/Nashville region. In addition to Dr. Edgerton’s distinguished service to the Lebanon community and local economy, his brother John Emmett Edgerton attended prep school and his first year of college at Cumberland University. John later went to Vanderbilt University where he was captain of the university’s 1901 football team. As an industrialist of national prominence, John also served as president of the National Association of Manufacturers from 1921 to 1931.

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ployees to join and support area congregations. Civic involvement in the community was highly encouraged by management, and male employees were members of all civic clubs in Lebanon.

Busy 1950s 1953 saw acrylic fiber evolving, and the Lebanon Woolen Mills was one of the first textile mills to convert from wool to acrylic fiber production. The transition was relatively easy as the existing production equipment was adapted. Throughout the transition from wool to acrylic, Mill employees were often consulted by other mills as they converted their operations. In 1959, employment at The Mill reached 400 workers, producing 1,500,000 blankets per year.

Changes in Ownership 1963 was a transitional year for the Lebanon Woolen Mills with the death of Howard K Edgerton, Jr3. At that time, a group of the top five managers collectively purchased controlling interest in the operation.

They were Elmer Hahn, Henry Counts, Charles Baird, Leonard Ballard, and Graydon Robinson. During this period, production centered on the manufacture of electric blankets, stadium robes, baby blankets, and throws. Our major customers at the time were JC Penney and Sears.

The Mill ownership changed hands again in the mid-1960s when stock was transferred to a younger group of 10 managers. Majority stakeholders in the company included Sam Swindle, H. Dean Grier, Doris Garrett, Bobby Joe Morris, and Jimmy Crawford while Brian Miller, Kenneth Taylor, Jerry Beatty, and Ronald Wooden held minority interest. During these ownership transitions, the company assumed debt for the first time and interest payments contributed significantly to the first annual loss in 1979.

Due to the unprofitable situation, bonuses were not given, and disgruntled employees began a unionization effort with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. Although this effort was unsuccessful, the company eventually became unionized in 1984. Transition of the Lebanon Woolen Mills continued until 1982 when Henry Hancock, a businessman from New York, purchased the company and continued to accelerate the accumulation of debt.

Hancock’s actions did little to improve profitability and employee satisfaction.

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In 1984 Spencer Hayes of Brentwood, TN along with a group of seven investors purchased The Mill, invested $4 million in new machinery, and successfully achieved profitability. The name was changed to Tennessee Woolen Mills and by 1988, sales reached $10 million. In 1988, product distributions occurred through private labels, 10% through Macy’s, JC Penney, and Land’s End catalog sales and 40% through such mass merchandisers as Walmart and Kmart.

The remaining 20% of production was institutional.

Shut Down In 1993, sales reached $12 million with workforce size at 270 people. Also in 1993, a final company ownership transfer occurred when Pillowtex purchased the operation, and the company name was officially changed to Tennessee Woolen Mills, a division of Pillowtex Corporation. Pillowtex then consolidated its operations and its Lebanon facility eliminated due to structural and geographic changes in the textile industry. The Mill was shuttered in 1998.

Following is an internal memo written by Trudy Lehew that was distributed on January 21st, 1998 just as The Mill was closing.

TENNESSEE WOOLEN MILLS Interoffice Memorandum A Letter From This Building Called “Tennessee Woolen Mills” Good-bye my friends. I’ll miss you all so. They’re closing my doors and soon you must go. I’ll remember the times we’ve shared together, we’ve seen blue skies and some stormy weather. You’ve patched me up to keep me alive, but against corporate greed, I could not survive. Like other small factories I’ve seen my best days. To the rest of the world I’ll just fade in a haze. I am a slumbering giant with no voice to speak, only squeaking doors and a roof that leaks. But if I could speak, oh the things I would say, like “don’t close my doors” and “don’t send them away”. So now I tell you don’t cry for me, who knows what tomorrow may be. My halls will forever echo your laughter. Your fond memories will linger here everafter. GOOD-BYE DEAR FRIENDS

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Rebirth and Renewal

The Atrium

After being idle for a few years, the Mill was purchased by an out of state investor who sold off most of the equipment and began an adaptive reuse effort.

In 2005 The Mill changed hands again. The current owner of the property continues the goal of adapting the complex into a mixed-use, retail, restaurant, residential, office project called The Mill at Lebanon while preserving as much of the historic fabric as possible. The Mill at Lebanon was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. It is today a venue with much character and an imposing feel.

The Mill at Lebanon continues its redevelopment phase as an adaptive reuse project, and is currently entering into its second phase of redevelopment. There are a number of full time tenants as well as over 100 events that take place throughout the year. Since 2007, The Mill’s events business has grown, There are currently 4 main public venue event spaces.

The Atrium is a one of a kind event space consisting of 8,064 square feet on two levels with a dramatic double staircase that is often used for ceremonies.

The Atrium can accommodate 450 people and is quite popular for weddings, ceremonies, and other social and corporate events. It is in the most historically preserved building on site and includes original brick walls, old growth structural columns, and steel factory windows.

Edgerton Hall Edgerton Hall is The Mill’s largest event space, named after the original owner, with 13000 square feet of space, a stage, built-in-bar, loading dock, and kitchen. It is one of the more modern spaces and lends itself to a variety of decorating options. It can handle up to 1500 people, and has hosted a number of concerts which have included Alison Krause, Gretchen Wilson, Garth Brooks, and a number of other well known performers. It is the perfect space for corporate meetings, trade shows, and large parties.

The Atrium, set for a Las Vegas Event

The Loft The Loft is the second floor area of the Atrium and compliments any event with the soft warm glow of hundred year old natural cedar. The Loft can accommodate up to 300 people. It is often used in its own right. It is 6700 sq ft of hardwood flooring accommodating smaller events with a more intimate feel.

The Marketplace

Edgerton Hall, set for community event

The smallest and newest space, 2400 square feet, is called “The Marketplace” accommodating up to one hundred guests for a party, rehearsal dinner, smaller weddings, and ceremonies, and is often used for corporate break-out rooms and meetings.

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The Loft, arranged for a reception

The Suites In addition, The Suites Building, 3900 square feet, has been recently renovated and provides beautiful bridal suites and separate groomsman suites. It also

accommodates corporate breakout spaces in a separate area within the building. This is perhaps the most luxurious bridal and groomsmen suites in the middle Tennessee area.

Appreciation and Thanks are expressed to CU faculty and staff, as well as other individuals and organizations for their general support and for materials used in this report. In particular, we would like to thank the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development and the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

The Last Word A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out. The Genie says, ‘I’ll give each of you just one wish.’ ‘Me first!

Me first!’ says the admin clerk. ‘I want to be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.’ Puff! She’s gone. ‘Me next! Me next!’ says the sales rep. ‘I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.’ Puff! He’s gone. ‘OK, you’re up,’ the Genie says to the manager. The manager says, ‘I want those two back in the office after lunch.’

Moral of the story: Always let your boss have the first say.

Wilson County Trends A Cumberland University Publication from the Labry School of Science, Technology, and Business 1 Cumberland Square Lebanon TN, 37087

List of Figures and Tables Recent Trend Graphs Figure R1 - Number of Business Establishments in Wilson County, TN, 2011-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Figure R2 - Number of Persons Employed by Private Business in Wilson County, TN, 2011-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Figure R3 - Average Weekly Wage for Persons Employed by Private Business in Wilson County, TN, 2011-2021 . . . . . . 4 Figure R4 - Number of Establishments in Wilson County, TN by NAICS Industry Sector, 2017 vs 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Figure R5 - Number of Persons Employed in Wilson County, TN by NAICS Industry Sector, 2017 vs 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Figure R6 - Average Weekly Wage in Wilson County, TN by NAICS Industry Sector, 2017 vs 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Figure R7 - Monthly Retail Sales in Wilson County, TN, 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Figure R8 - Monthly Retail Sales by Category in Wilson County TN, 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Figure R9 - Monthly Retail Sales by Category in Wilson County TN, 2017-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Guest Article Graphs Figure G1 - FBEC Number of Events & Dark Days by Month (2022) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Figure G2 - FBEC Number of Event Days & Square Footage Rented (2022) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Tables Table 1 - Wilson Co TN Population Changes, 2010-2020 by U.S. Census Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Table 2 - Wilson Co TN 2020 Census Tract Demographics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Table 3 - Who’s Who in Wilson County TN’s Public Venues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25