Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association
Industry Leader April 2017
Shown from left to right are: Matt Von Lunen, GNRC; Jessica Farlow, TN Central Economic Authority; Mark Farley, Upper Cumberland Dev. District; Dr. Murat Arik, MTSU; Kendrick Curtis, MTIDA; Robert Bibb, MTIDA; Harriet Cannon, USDA Rural Development; P.D. Mynat, Murfreesboro Electric Department; Dr. David Urban, Jennings A. Jones College of Business at MTSU; Chris Jones, Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation; Jerry Jolley, USDA-Cookeville; Joel Howard, USDA-Nashville; Jeff Hite, Nashville Chamber; and Dan Beasley, USDA. Not pictured: Mark Kimbell, Gallatin Dept. of Electricity, Susan Shuff, USDALawrenceburg and Faye McEwen, USDA-Lawrenceburg (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)
MTIDA along with a collaborative regional partnership of economic development organizations has received funding from USDA through a Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) to prepare a wage and benefit survey of industries in a 40-county region of middle Tennessee. The partnership includes: MTIDA, the Upper Cumberland Development District, the South Central Tennessee Development District, the Greater Nashville Regional Council, the Nashville Chamber of Commerce Partnership, The Highlands Economic Partnership, Tennessee Central Economic Authority, and numerous local economic development organizations and chambers of commerce. This regional initiative will support the communities in the mid-state by improving our understanding of the local wage and benefit structure and will be of help when recruiting companies to the region. It’s also valuable information for assisting existing industries to understand the local market as they seek to increase their employee base. The survey will be conducted by the Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU and the project will be led by Dr. Murat Arik. During March and April, community and regional staff have been preparing the list of industry contacts who will receive the survey which is expected to be sent to company contacts during the month of May. The survey will be available for completion during the early summer and MTSU will be preparing the results of the survey in late summer and early fall. Bob Bibb, MTIDA Executive Director stated, “This project is a massive undertaking and one that would not be possible without the partnership organizations joining with us. It is our goal to have this study become “The” Wage and Benefit Study that everyone will be able to utilize going forward and by working together as a region, no one community will be burdened with having to do this on their own. It is also our goal to continue this program with our partners every other year. I would like to give special thanks to USDA for their funding assistance and to MTSU for their expertise in gathering and compiling the data. Also, to all the communities in middle Tennessee, we thank you for your partnership in this project and look forward to the end results.” For specific questions or updates regarding this project or how industrial companies can be included, please contact the staff of MTIDA.
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myNEXUS Adding 260 Brentwood Jobs BRENTWOOD, TN (December) myNEXUS®, Inc. CEO McArthur VanOsdale announced that the health care information technology company will expand in Greater Middle Tennessee and create 260 new jobs. MyNEXUS, the leader in post-acute technology and home-based services, partners with insurer clients to reduce the risks and costs associated with home-based health care services, ensuring members get the right care at the right time. Founded in 2014, myNEXUS uses a proven clinical model to help members heal at
home and avoid common, costly readmissions to health care facilities.
another 15,000 to 20,000 square feet of space in the Maryland Farms area.
MyNEXUS’ expansion is driven by new contracts and expanding business with current clients. The company will invest $1 million to expand its footprint in Greater Middle Tennessee. By early next year, myNEXUS will manage 500,000 individual members.
As part of the expansion, myNEXUS will hire additional staff for the company’s corporate office, including IT support, clinical operations and quality control. The majority of hires will be administrative support staff that will manage service delivery to members across the country.
Currently, myNEXUS employs roughly 150 people in nearly 30,000 square feet of space at the Harpeth on the Green office complex at the Maryland Farms business park. Next year, the company plans to add
Local officials applauded myNEXUS for its expansion in Brentwood and Williamson County. Source: TN ECD
Spring Hill is the Answer for Call2Answer LKQ Chooses Alternative For Growth information technology hub at 655 Grassmere Park Drive in Nashville. LKQ also has office support employees working out of leased warehouse building space at 501 Mason Road in La Vergne. NASHVILLE, TN (January) Chicago-based LKQ Corporation announced that the automotive equipment and accessories distributer and marketer will expand its regional headquarters in Davidson County.
Locally, the company also has a Pick Your Part retail supply yard at 2030 Lucas Lane off West Trinity Lane in Nashville where consumers can pull and purchase car and truck parts. LKQ also has an operation at the La Vergne LKQ Corporation is a leading pro- warehouse at 501 Mason vider of alternative and specialty Road that sells car replacement parts. parts and accessories to repair and accessorize automobiles and LKQ plans to build a new approxiother vehicles. The company has mately 100,000-square foot buildoperations in North America, Eu- ing in Nashville to accommodate rope and Taiwan. LKQ offers a the company’s future growth. broad range of replacement sys- Once built, LKQ’s existing approxtems, components, equipment imately 400 Nashville employees and parts to repair and accesso- will move to the new facility, rize automobiles, trucks, recrea- where the company will create tional and performance vehicles. 150 new jobs over the next five years. Source: TN ECD LKQ has run out of space at its accounting, human resources and
SPRING HILL, TN (January) Call 2 Answer, LLC officials announced that the company will invest $800,000 for a new medical and urgent contact center that will create 250 jobs in Maury County. Call 2 Answer is a 24/7 medical and urgent contact provider that primarily serves the health care industry, but also other industries in need of urgent communication support services such as HVAC, refrigeration, legal and real estate. The company’s Spring Hill center will be located in the Northfield Workforce Development Training Center, the former headquarters for Saturn. Call 2 Answer will provide service for physicians, hospitals, and other health care entities as well as support for commercial industries throughout the U.S. Nashville will be an initial strategic market for Call 2 Answer’s support center. However, the company plans to also target markets
in major metropolitan areas as it expands service to clients nationwide. Local Maury County officials and the Tennessee Valley Authority praised Call 2 Answer for its decision to locate in Spring Hill. Call 2 Answer, LLC was founded by a group of local and national entrepreneurs who have world class experience in providing communication solutions to healthcare and other urgent response industries. Call 2 Answer focuses on creating processes unique to each individual client that assures prompt and effective delivery of urgent information. Source: TN ECD
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MTIDA and TVA Economic Development hosted their Annual Christmas Celebration on December 1st
Research and Advisory Firm to Create Approximately 120 Jobs
Forrester CEO George-Colony called Nashville one of the nation's fastest-growing local economies and most dynamic communities. (Photo: Forrester Research)
NASHVILLE, TN (January) Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester Research Inc. plans to invest $2.8 million here to open what will initially be a sales and support office. Other roles will be added later with the goal of making Nashville a strategic hub. Forrester Research, Inc. officials announced that the research and advisory firm will locate its newest office in Davidson County. Forrester will invest $2.8 million and create approximately 120 new jobs in Nashville over the next three years.
Forrester Research work with business and technology leaders to develop customer-obsessed strategies that drive growth. Forrester’s unique insights are grounded in annual surveys of more than 500,000 consumers and business leaders worldwide, rigorous and objective methodologies, and the shared wisdom of our most innovative clients. Through proprietary research, data, custom consulting, exclusive executive peer groups, and events, the Forrester experience is about a singular and powerful purpose: to challenge the thinking of our clients to help them lead change in their organizations. The company is one of the 50 Best Places to Work in the U.S., according to job and recruitment site Glassdoor’s 2017 rankings. With this expansion, Forrester will be growing its inside sales and support team using Nashville as a strategic hub. The office will serve the U.S. market. Source: TN ECD
Forrester is one of the most influential research and advisory firms in the world with 15 offices worldwide in North America, Europe and Asia.
Multinational Company Announces $10 Million Investment NASHVILLE, TN (January) AkzoNobel officials announced that the company is planning to hire additional staff and expand production at its Nashville facility. The paint, coatings and specialty chemicals manufacturer will invest more than $10 million over the next five years and create approximately 70 new manufacturing and professional services jobs in Davidson County. With AkzoNobel’s planned expansion in Nashville, the company will hire 40 professional service roles. The company will make significant investments to increase production capabilities, resulting in the creation of 30 new manufacturing positions.
Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, AkzoNobel is a leading paint, coatings and chemicals company with more than 46,000 employees worldwide and operations in 80 countries. In North America, the company employs nearly 5,000 people across 45 manufacturing and office locations. AkzoNobel has a proud heritage in Nashville. Since 1942, the company has served manufacturing and business operations from its location in South Nashville. AkzoNobel creates everyday essentials to make people’s lives more liveable and inspiring. AkzoNobel supplies essential ingredients, essential protection and es-
sential color to industries and consumers worldwide. Backed by a pioneering heritage, their innovative products and sustainable technologies are designed to meet the growing demands of our fast-changing planet, while making life easier. Their portfolio includes well-known brands such as Chemcraft, Sikkens, International, Interpon and Eka. Source: TN ECD
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Clay County Is A Magnet for V&F Transformer Corp. required to allow our best in class workforce meet the ever expanding demands of our growing customer base. We thank everyone involved and look forward to a long and successful future in Clay County.”
CELINA, TN (January) V&F Transformer Corporation announced that it is investing $1.4 million to expand and upgrade its Celina facility. The company will create approximately 50 new jobs during the next five years. V&F Transformer’s business focus is manufacturing customdesigned transformers and reactive magnetic components. The company’s Celina plant has grown from five employees when it first began operations in 2012 to 37. V&F Transformer’s Clay County facility designs, develops and produces magnetic components used in natural gas power plants, data processing plants and a variety of other high-tech power related applications.
Along with its new hiring plans, V&F will expand its medium voltage transformer offerings from the Celina Facility, which will create new growth opportunities. V&F Transformer supplies magnetic and transformer components to many Fortune 500 companies such as General Electric, Toshiba, Mitsubishi and others. The Clay County facility serves customers throughout the Southeast, Midwest and Eastern United States. As of 2015, V&F operates 2 domestic facilities and 1 international facility with engineering support being driven by the design engineers at the Bartlett headquarters and supporting staff in both Shenzhen, China and Celina, Tennessee. Each of V&F’s three facilities play a pivotal role in V&F’s value proposition and provide V&F the ability to satisfy a wide variety of size and volume requirements for our various customers. Source: TN ECD
“V&F Transformer is proud to make Celina, Tennessee our home for the long term,” V&F Transformer President of Operations Dean Foderaro Jr. said. “The state and Team Tennessee have been great partners in helping V&F develop the infrastructure
SmileDirect Puts A Smile On Nashville’s Economic Growth NASHVILLE, TN (February) Direct-toconsumer orthodontics startup SmileDirectClub announced plans to add more than 400 jobs locally over the next five years to both its Bank of America Plaza headquarters and its manufacturing and distribution center in Antioch. The orthodontics company will invest $4.5 million. The company will add office and customer service personnel in its new downtown Nashville headquarters at 414 Union Street. SmileDirectClub will also create jobs at a new manufacturing and distribution center in Antioch.
Founded in 2014, Nashville-based SmileDirectClub is a leader in teledentistry. The company uses cloud-based technology to connect patients with a network of statelicensed dental professionals who provide ongoing, remote orthodontic treatment. SmileDirectClub works with an orthodontic lab to custommake a series of clear plastic aligners that gradually shift patients’ teeth into the desired position without inoffice visits. Source: TN ECD
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$250 Million Washing Machine Plant to Employ 600 CLARKSVILLE, TN (February) LG Electronics Inc. officials announced the company will build a new home appliance manufacturing facility in Clarksville. The global manufacturer, with headquarters in South Korea, is a leader in appliances, electronics and mobile devices. LG will invest $250 million in the facility, creating at least 600 new jobs in Montgomery County. The Clarksville facility will be LG’s first washing machine manufacturing operation in the United States. With the announcement that LG Electronics is coming to Corporate Business Park North the local industrial park is now book-ended by South Korean companies.
To the south along International Boulevard near I-24 Exit 8, Hankook Tire is also preparing to begin manufacturing in an $800 million facility and with 1,000 jobs by the end of this year. Local business recruiters including Mike Evans, executive director of the Industrial Development Board, and Cal Wray, executive director of the Economic Development Council, see this as the beginning of a business relationship with South Korea that will yield limitless benefit. “LG is proud to make further investments in America, to create jobs and to bring stateof-the-art home appliance production technology to the great state of Tennessee,” said Dan Song, president of the LG Home Appliance and Air Solutions Company. “Over the past six years, LG studied eight states for the location of this facility. Tennessee is the clear choice for LG’s latest major investment
in America, due to the state’s excellent business climate, quality workforce and central location for distribution to our U.S. customers.” LG’s new Tennessee facility is expected to be the world’s most advanced production plant for washing machines. Construction on the 829,000-square-foot facility will begin later this year. Starting in 2019, the factory will initially produce front- and topload washing machines. Longer term, the 310-acre site offers the potential to expand for production of other home appliances. LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $48 billion global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, mobile phones, home appliances, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and solar energy solutions in the United States, all under LG's “Life’s Good” marketing theme. Source: TN ECD
Artist rendering of LG Layout (Photo: contribut-
Site Development Grants
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(March) Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced that 18 communities and local organizations will receive $6.2 million in Site Development Grants.
The newest round of grants awarded in the Middle Tennessee area include:
The Site Development Grant program, part of the larger Rural Economic Opportunity Act passed in 2016, helps communities prepare industrial sites for businesses.
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The grants assist communities in finalizing infrastructure and site improvements for Select Tennessee Certified Sites and sites that will go through the site certification process. The projects prepare the sites for new business operations and jobs. In total, 33 communities have been awarded Site Development Grants with 15 communities receiving the grants in 2016.
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Fayetteville-Lincoln County Runway Centre - $109,000 – Extension of approximately 4,060 linear feet of waterline Franklin County Moon Property $209,300 – Completion of a geophysical survey
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Gallatin Industrial Center - $95,975 – Clearing of approximately nine acres of trees
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Manchester Industrial Park - $137,453 – Extension of approximately 1150 linear feet of waterlines, relocation of electric utility lines, and drainage improvements
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Mountain View Industrial Park $445,500– Clearing, grubbing and grading of an approximately 600,000 square foot site
Tennessee Central Economic Authority PowerCom Industrial Center -$122,500 – Extension of approximately 2,400 linear feet of sewer line
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Tullahoma Airport Business Park $280,000 – Clearing of approximately 26 acres of wooded area and drainage improvements The Site Development Grant is part of the suite of Select Tennessee programs and works in conjunction with the Site Certification program. An advisory committee of staff from TNECD, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture selected the 18 sites from a pool of 28 applications. The application process was competitive with grants awarded based on benefit to the community, economic impact, leveraged resources, and ability to implement a successful project. Source: TN ECD
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Orchids Brings the Essentials to Brentwood BRENTWOOD, TN (March) Orchids Paper, a leading manufacturer of paper towels, bath tissue, and paper napkins, providing a range of products, including AFH (Away from Home), branded, and private label, in retail and commercial markets announced that it is establishing its headquarters in Brentwood, creating up to 25 jobs in Davidson County. Orchids Paper’s new headquarters is at 201 Summit View Drive, located off Interstate 65 near Old Hickory Boulevard, where it has recently
renovated approximately 6,700 square feet of office space. Orchids Paper currently operates paper mill and converting facilities in Oklahoma and South Carolina. Orchids Paper’s brand products include Orchids Supreme, Clean Scents, Tackle, Virtue, Colortex and others. Orchids also produces many private-label tissue products. Source: TN ECD
SAIC Bringing 300 Tech Jobs to Cookeville COOKEVILLE, TN (April) Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) officials announced that the company will establish a Technology Integration Gateway™ in Cookeville. The new facility is expected to create 300 new jobs over the next five years. The Technology Integration Gateway will create a wide range of technology jobs, including roles in information technology (IT) services, computer programming, engineering and software development. The Gateway will also provide cloud, cyber security and data science expertise.
Headquartered in McLean, Va., SAIC is a premier technology integrator in the technical, engineering, intelligence and IT sectors. SAIC employs more than 15,000 people worldwide. Expected to open this summer, the Technology Integration Gateway will serve federal defense and civilian agencies, state and local governments, as well as commercial businesses. SAIC is exploring partnership opportunities with Tennessee Tech to identify and provide high-tech training to prospective IT employees. Source: TN ECD
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ECD Announced Four New Select Tennessee Certified Sites. The Select Tennessee program was launched in 2012 to help Tennessee communities prepare available industrial sites for investment and expansion. The program sets rigorous standards to give companies reliable information during the site selection process. To date, 48 sites have been certified. The four newest sites and their local sponsoring agencies include: Mountain View Industrial Park North and South Sites: Industrial Development Board of McMinnville-Warren County
Runway Centre Industrial Park: Fayetteville Lincoln County Industrial Development Board Eastbridge Business Park Lots 4, 5 & 6: The Development Corporation of Knox County The Select Tennessee program has certified 48 sites. These sites have landed 10 projects, which accounts for over 3,900 committed new jobs and over $1 billion of capital investment. To view sites go to: http://www.tnecd.com/sites/certified-sites/
Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association 2016-2017 Executive Committee PRESIDENT R. Wes Kelley, Executive Director Columbia Power & Water Systems VICE PRESIDENT Chris Jones, President Middle TN Electric Mem. Corporation SECRETARY/TREASURER Mark Kimbell, General Manager Gallatin Department of Electricity MEMBERS Darrell Gillespie, General Manager Dickson Electric System
Industrial Development Board of McMinnville-Warren County
Jim Coode, General Manager Cumberland Electric Mem. Corporation Keith Carnahan, CEO Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative Steven Moore, Manager Lending & Incentives Tennessee Valley Authority
Industrial Development Board of McMinnville-Warren County
The MTIDA Industry Leader is published by the Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association 2108 Westwood Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212 Phone: 615.269.5233 Fax: 615.269.5184 Email: mtida@mtida.org Website: www.mtida.org Executive Director: Robert T. Bibb Asst. Executive Director: Kendrick J. Curtis Executive Assistant: Dawn E. Olson
Fayetteville– Lincoln County Industrial Development Board