SEIDA Annual Report 2016

Powered by Purpose 2016

CONNECT • POWER • RELIABILITY SEIDA. . . . Connecting Economic Development Partners With Powerful Resources Creating Reliable Services

The Southeast Industrial Development Association, comprised of eleven local power distributors and the Tennessee Valley Authority, works with strategic economic development partners across a three-state region to attract and retain jobs that generate capital investments to create vibrant economies. Over SEIDA’s 26 years of service in north Georgia, southwest North Carolina and southeast Tennessee, staff, power distributors and partners have collaborated to attract over 200 new and expand more than 300 existing companies.

The southeast region maintains its progress in obtaining significant capital investment into its communities and the creation of jobs for its citizens. Companies are locating within the SEIDA region because of opportunities available for training, access to a skilled workforce, great transportation networks and collaborative leadership with a vision.

Special Thanks to Our Retiring Board Members

Photo by: Allen Mincey, Cleveland Daily Banner

Harold DePriest, EPB (center)

Ken Webb, Cleveland Utilities (right)

We appreciate your dedication to the SEIDA region!

SERVICES AT A GLANCE Available Industrial Site & Building Database • Community Development • Demographic Research • Economic Development Training/Workshops • Identification of Financing Opportunities • Marketing • Project Management • Site Selection Coordination

Jasper Highlands, Marion County, TN Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Watkins

Table of Contents Letter from the Chairman and Board of Directors……………………………………………..………...4 Business and Industry Locations and Expansions………………………………………….…..……...6-7 Site Readiness………………………………………………..…………………………………….……………...….8-9 Entrepreneur Development…………………………………………………………………………….………...10 Regional Focus…………………………………………………………………………………………….….………...11

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Message from the Chairman Successful economic development happens beyond the local level. Businesses considering a new place to locate or expand, begin their site search at a broader level. Most often, decision makers see past the local community line and look at a particular region.

The Southeast Industrial Development Association recognized years ago that in order to be successful, we must work together and that the announcement of a new industrial company in one community offers benefit to the surrounding communities as well.

Mike Partin, SVEC

We are “Powered by Purpose� and that purpose is to connect our economic development partners with powerful resources, creating reliable services through out the region so that we all may experience success!

r Highlands, Marion County, TN

2016 Board of Directors

Courtesy of Stephanie Watkins

Athens Utilities Board Eric Newberry

Etowah Utilities John Goins

Blue Ridge Mountain EMC Jeremy Nelms Erik Brinke, Representative

Murphy Electric Power Board John Carringer Larry Kernea, Representative

Chickamauga Electric Michael Haney

North Georgia EMC Kathyrn West Harriette Stokes, Representative

Cleveland Utilities Ken Webb, Secretary/Treasurer Dayton Electric Utilities Steve Clift Electric Power Board (EPB) Harold DePriest (Retired August 2016) David Wade Diana Bullock, Representative

Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative Mike Partin, Chairman Tri-State EMC Stacy Chastain, Vice Chairman Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Steven Moore Scott Cooper, Regional Representative www.seida.info

Business and Industry Locations and Expansions Economic development is vitally important to communities throughout the region as they endeavor to develop climates where business and industry can grow and prosper creating new jobs and capital investment. Key to successful economic development is community development which includes quality growth planning, developing critical infrastructure, and creating places where talent will want to live, work and play.

Several existing industries within the SEIDA region announced plans for expansion while a few businesses announced their new home within our communities. Company announcements were as follows: Chattanooga Seating Coca-Cola Bottling Company Colonial Chemical E & E Manufacturing FieldTurf

Lodge Foundry Expansion in South Pittsburg, TN

Huber Engineered Floors Lodge Manufacturing Mohawk Polartec Precision Aerodynamics

Roper Corporation

Lodge Warehouse Expansion in New Hope, TN

Southern Fluidpower Tag Manufacturing TAG Plastics US Stove Company Vincit Group West Star Aviation

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Governor Bill Haslam at Precision Aerodynamics Announcement in Dunlap, TN

Industrial Recruitment and Expansions New Locations Capital Investment

3 $1,073,000,000

Jobs Created/Retained Existing Industry Expansions/Retention

2,988 16

Business & Industry Grants and Administration ED staff packaged and is administering the following industrial projects: 

City of Chattanooga Amazon EDA

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Jasper Materials

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Lodge Manufacturing ED Fast Track

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Storm Copper ED Fast Track

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TAG Plastics ARC & ED Fast Track

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USSC ED Fast Track Benchmark Tool & Machine, Inc., Pelham, TN

WACKER OPENS NEW PRODUCTION SITE After a construction period of just under five years, Wacker Polysilicon officially opened its new Charleston, Tennessee, production site, which is the company’s single largest investment, totaling about $2.5 billion.

Wacker Polysilicon is a global company that produces hyperpure polycrystalline silicon. Its product portfolio also includes pyrogenic silica, chlorosilanes and salt.

The Bradley County plant officially opened April 18 (Photo: Contributed– Nooga.com)

www.seida.info

Site Readiness Grundy County Property Evaluation Program (PEP) Site Visit Tennessee Economic and Community Development (TNECD), through the assistance of Austin Consulting, developed a new service to assist communities with evaluating

properties under consideration for development. Built on the principals and foundation of the Select Tennessee Site Certification program and incorporating Austin Consulting's experience in corporate site location work, the Select Tennessee Property Evaluation program (PEP) has been developed to assist communities by providing professional advice about the value and the potential for new investment in various industrial properties. - See more at: http://www.tnecd.com/sites/certifiedsites/select-tennessee-property-evaluation-program In the Spring of 2016, Grundy County submitted their letter of intent to participate in the PEP. The

Southeast Industrial Development Association (SEIDA) staff assisted the community with the application process and coordinated a site visit, which was held on October 19, 2016. TNECD and Austin Consulting toured four available industrial properties, the Pelham Industrial Park, the Grundy County Industrial Park, the former Mighty Equipment Building and the Tracy City/Monteagle Industrial Park. Utility providers met on-site at each location to share with the group the current and future availability of services. The group also met with and toured

Austin Consulting & SVEC

operations of three existing industries in Grundy County. At the close of their visit, Austin Consulting held an economic development listening session to share with the community leaders some of their findings and recommendations. A full report is expected to be available within 90 days of the visit for the community’s use in their future Pelham Industrial Park Grundy County, Tennessee

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SR² Community Assistance Grants The SEIDA Region Ready (SR²) Community Assistance program was created to provide matching funds for rural communities to enhance their economic development opportunities. Bledsoe, McMinn and Rhea Counties were among the communities to receive funding this past year for projects that included environmental reports, geotechnical surveys, and prospect development. The grant program has provided matching funds totaling $63,818 since is inception in 2015.

Bledsoe County SR²

L to R: Stephanie Watkins, SEIDA; Mike Partin, SVEC; Gregg Ridley, Bledsoe County; Beth Jones, SEIDA

Rhea Economic & Tourism Council SR²

L to R: Stephanie Watkins, SEIDA; Dennis Tumlin, RETC; Penny Hicks, RETC; Steve Clift, Dayton Utilities

Industrial Sites Aerial Imagery SEIDA partnered with the Southeast Tennessee Development District (SETDD) to obtain aerial imagery of available industrial sites and buildings throughout the region. The images and videos have been used to promote these properties to prospective companies who were looking to locate within our communities.

Calhoun Commerce Center Gordon County, Georgia

Walker County Industrial Park LaFayette, Georgia

www.seida.info

Entrepreneur Development Building Entrepreneurs in Rural Communities: Workshop to help entrepreneurs and small businesses with special guest Commissioner Randy Boyd, TNECD The Southeast Industrial Development Association in conjunction with Sequatchie County and neighboring Bledsoe & Marion Counties, offered the opportunity for entrepreneurs and small businesses to learn about business resources by hosting a Small Business & Entrepreneur Resource Market during Sequatchie County-Dunlap Chamber of Commerce’s breakfast held on March 3.

Sequatchie County-Dunlap Chamber was congratulated by Commissioner Randy Boyd, TNECD, on their success as the number one community for the Tennessee Achieves Mentor Challenge. The community had 22 mentors step-up to participate in the State’s Tennessee Promise Initiative.

Attendees heard from local entrepreneur Sue Ann Lockhart on her personal story and

success as the owner of the Cookie Jar Café restaurant. Commissioner Boyd shared with the group his own experience as a successful small business owner and included current economic development strategies for the State of Tennessee. Everyone enjoyed networking opportunities among the products and services provided by Federal, State, Regional and Local resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs in the east Tennessee region.

Sequatchie County-Dunlap Chamber of Commerce Membership Breakfast

Ms. Sue Ann Lockhart, owner of Cookie Jar Café - Dunlap/

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L to R: Stephanie Watkins, SEIDA; Mike Partin, SVEC CEO; Commissioner Randy Boyd, TNECD; Beth Jones, SETDD/SEIDA

Sequatchie County, TN

Regional Conferences and Sponsorships SEIDA sponsored the Southern Economic Development Council’s Meet the Consultants Event held in Atlanta, Georgia , hosted an economic development training session for local elected leaders and sponsored tourism development such as the Cherokee County Fair in North Carolina. Staff attended regional conferences such as TVA’s

Economic Development Forum, TEDC Fall Conference and TN ECD Governor’s Conference.

Meet the Consultants Event, Atlanta, GA L to R: Scott Cooper, TVA ED; Sarah Williams, SEIDA;

Aaron Patton, Clay County , NC ED graduated from TVA’s Rural Leadership Program

Stephanie Watkins, SEIDA; Christie Arp, Fannin County ED; Paul Worley, TCCC; Aaron Patton, Clay County ED; Mitch Griggs, Union County EDA

Economic Development Training

Greater Chattanooga Economic Partnership The Greater Chattanooga Economic Partnership (GCEP) is a public-private, regional economic development partnership representing a 16-county region in Northeast Alabama, Northwest Georgia and Southeast Tennessee. GCEP is an outgrowth of the Thrive 2055 regional planning effort and is managed through the Chattanooga Chamber Foundation in partnership with local economic development organizations throughout the region including SEIDA. www.seida.info

Southeast Industrial development Association Your Regional Source for Sites, Facilities and Financing

To obtain additional copies of this report, please contact: Southeast Industrial Development Association 1000 Riverfront Parkway Post Office Box 4757 Chattanooga, TN 37405-0757 423.266.5781 • www.sedev.org