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Corporate Office / Shared Services

The 15-county Knoxville region of East Tennessee has a strong corporate office sector with a rich and diverse talent pool, proximity to several universities and colleges including the University of Tennessee, advanced communications infrastructure and ready access to world-class technical expertise and technology transfer opportunities.

• 55,000 college and university students
• One day's drive from 70% of the U.S. population
• High bandwidth telecommunications infrastructure
• Competitive, pro-business environment
• Unmatched quality of life
• Customized training programs
• Major regional airport with over 120 flights daily  

Talent

• University of Tennessee's highly ranked College of Business on the flagship campus is located in Knoxville
• Fastest growing metro area in the State of Tennessee
• A large and growing student population from the University of Tennessee and a dozen other four and two-year colleges
• University of Tennessee's MBA program ranked 9^th among public schools (Forbes)
• An underemployed adult workforce in technical and professional positions
• Average wage 13% below the national average (BLS, May 2007)
• Competitive workers compensation rates
• Customized workforce training

Technology 

• Home of the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley 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 in the region, including affordable and competitive fiber-optics, ATM, DSL and cable
• Ready access to world-class technical expertise and technology transfer
• Home to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory with sixteen world-class user facilities

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 population within a day's drive
• Designated US Customs Port of Entry and a Foreign Trade Zone

Competitive Business Climate  

• Attractive state, local, and utility incentives for new job creation and capital investment
• Regional taxes ranking among the nation's lowest
• No state property tax
• Competitive corporate taxes
• Available targeted jobs tax credit
• Pro-business environment
• Favorable business tax climate consistently in the top 1/3 of U.S. states
• Electricity reliability at 99.999% for past 6 years
• Building costs 21% below the national average (RSMeans Construction Index 2008)
• Competitive lease rates
• Right to work state

Quality of life

• Cost of living 9% below national average (ACCRA  2^nd qtr 2008)
• No state personal income tax
• Tennessee ranked 3^rd best among states in overall personal tax burden  (Tax Foundation, 2007 )
• Housing costs 20% below national average
• Healthcare costs 9.7% below the national average
• Main campus of the University of Tennessee, 8 four-year colleges and 4 two-year colleges
• National award-winning school districts
• Spectacular natural beauty
• The Great Smoky Mountains, the nation's most visited national park
• Seven area lakes, three whitewater rafting rivers, and numerous golf courses
• Two symphonies, an opera company, 3 ballet companies and a fine arts museum
• Nationally acclaimed zoo
• World-class aquarium