Healthcare

Healthcare facilities

No matter the illness or injury, residents of the Knoxville-Oak Ridge region have access to advanced healthcare.  Resources include a research hospital, trauma center, children’s hospital and cancer center – all nationally recognized for their capabilities. 

In addition, medical research is underway at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and medical support services are readily available throughout the region, including medical billing, accounting, software and medical supplies.  Award-winning facilities include:

• Blount Memorial Hospital
• Covenant Health (with six hospitals in the region)
• East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
• Tennova Healthcare (with seven hospitals in the region)
• University of Tennessee Medical Center
• Thompson Cancer Survival Center
• Proton Therapy Center

With a population of over a half-million, the region employs more than 70,000 in the healthcare industry with a diversity of skills that support every aspect of healthcare.  This includes 292 doctors per capita and 54 dentists per capita.

Business Climate  
Pro-business environment - Favorable business tax climate consistently in the top 1/3 of U.S. states

• Attractive state, local, and utility incentives for new job creation and capital investment
• State taxes ranking among the nation's lowest 
  • No state property tax 
  • Competitive corporate taxes 
  • Available targeted jobs tax credit
• Competitive gas, water, and sewer rates   
  • Electricity generated by the Tennessee Valley Authority at rates 19% below the U.S. industrial average 
  • Electricity reliability at 99.999% since 2000
• Available Buildings and Sites
  • Building costs 19% below the national average (RSMeans Construction Index 2012) 
  • Competitive lease rates
• Right-to-work state

Talent 

• Flexible, growing workforce of 570,000 in 15-county region
• Workforce of 780,000 in 32 laborshed counties
• A large and growing student population from the University of Tennessee along with 12 other 4 and 2 year colleges in the region (reword)
• Average wage 19% below the national average (BLS 1Q 2011)
• An underemployed adult workforce in technical and professional positions
• Fastest growing metro area in the State of Tennessee
• Competitive workers compensation rates
• Customized workforce training
• Transferable skill sets
• Available part and full-time workers

Accessibility

• Major regional airport with more than 120 flights daily to 19 major U.S. destinations
• Located at the juncture of three major interstates I-40, I-75 and I-81
• 70% of the US market within a day's drive
• Robust telecommunications infrastructure

Technology

• Home of the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Technology Corridor
• State-of-the-art telecommunications capabilities comparable to the Silicon Valley and Research Triangle
• Advanced communications infrastructure that supports the Oak Ridge National Laboratory available to companies