Food Processing

Food Processing Companies

The East Tennessee region provides an exceptional location with easy access for the food processing and distribution industry.  The infrastructure is strong with a plentiful supply of municipal water, pre-treatment plants, reliable electricity, competitive pricing for electricity and natural gas, available buildings and favorable operating costs. 

Additional advantages include a growing and trainable workforce, pro-business climate, and proximity to major markets.

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
  • Abundant water supply
  • Gas by East Tennessee Natural Gas
• Available Buildings and Sites
  • Building costs 19% below the national average (RSMeans Construction Index 2012) 
  • Competitive lease rates
• Right-to-work state

Workforce

• Flexible, growing workforce of 570,000 in 15-county region
• Workforce of 780,000 in 32 laborshed counties
• Manufacturing workforce of 45,000 at costs 8% below the U.S. average
• More than 5,000 engineers
• Customized workforce training
• Transferable skill sets
• Competitive workers compensation rates
• FastTrack Job Training Assistance Program with training to quickly provide skilled workers

Accessibility 

• Located at juncture of three major interstates: I-40, I-75, and I-81
• 70% of the US market within a day's drive
• Regional airport offers more than 120 flights daily to 19 major U.S. destinations
• Excellent access to existing network of raw materials suppliers
• Rail service by Norfolk Southern, CSX, and local short-line railroads
• US Customs Port of Entry and Foreign Trade Zone designation

Technology

• Home of the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Technology Corridor
• Access to technology research at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the world's premier laboratory in advanced materials
• 16 user facilities across multiple disciplines

Resources

• Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Tennessee Knoxville
• Food Safety Center of Excellence, University of Tennessee Knoxville
• Center for Agriculture and Food Security and Preparedness
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory