East Tennessee Economic Development Agency

Regional Advantages

Business Clusters   |   Automotive   |   Marine Manufacturing   |   Corporate Office/Shared Services   |   Alternative Energy   |   Food Processing   

Distribution

The East Tennessee region provides an exceptional location for distribution and warehousing with an excellent transportation infrastructure, a growing and trainable workforce, a pro-business climate and favorable operating costs.

  • Within a day's drive of 70% of U.S. markets
  • Three interstate highways connect in the region, I-40, I-75 & I-81
  • Served by CSX and Norfolk Southern Railroads
  • Barge service on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway System
  • Regional  airport  with an up- to- date Cargo Freight Complex

Workforce   

  • Fastest growing metro area in the State of Tennessee
  • Flexible, growing regional workforce of 550,000, 56,000 in manufacturing, with labor costs 8% below the U.S. average  (TN Dept of Labor, June 2008)
  • University of Tennessee's supply chain management and logistics program ranked 8th in the nation
  • Network of community colleges, technology centers, and careers centers to meet  local employers' training, screening and hiring needs
  • Competitive Workers Compensation rates
  • Customized workforce training
  • Right to work state

Accessibility  

  • Within a day's drive of 70% of the US population
  • Located at the juncture three major interstates, I-40, I-75, and I-81
  • Rail service by Norfolk Southern, CSX, and local short-line railroads
  • Barge service on the Tennessee- Tombigbee Waterway System
  • Regional airport offers more than 140 flights daily to 22 major U.S. destinations
  • US Customs Port of Entry and Foreign Trade Zone designation

Competitive Business Climate  

  • 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
  • Pro-business environment
  • Favorable business tax climate consistently in the top 1/3 of U.S. states
  • 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% for past 6 years
  • Building costs 19% below the national average (RSMeans Construction Index 2010)
  • Competitive lease rates
  • Right to work state

Quality of life

  • Cost of living 10% below national average (ACCRA 3rd Q 2009)
  • No state personal income tax
  • Tennessee ranked in the top 10 best among states in overall personal tax burden  (Retirement Living Information Center, Jan 2009)
  • Housing costs 21% below national average (ACCRA 3rd Q 2009)
  • Healthcare costs 10% below the national average (ACCRA 3Q 2009)
  • 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
  • 3rd Best Place in the U.S. to Live and Boat (Boating Life Magazine, 2007)

 

Distribution      
Company Total Employees Products County
Home Shopping Network 2,006 Jewelry Knox
I J Corporation 483 Wholesale groceries Blount
Con-Agra 466 Food Products Cocke
Anderson News 412 Publications Knox
HT Hackney 386 Wholesale groceries Roane
U.S. Food Service 315 Wholesale groceries Blount
Sysco 300 Wholesale groceries Knox
Food Lion 250 Wholesale groceries Anderson
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals 195 Wholesale Pharmaceuticals Monroe
American Honda 165 Automotive Parts Loudon
CVS Distribution 156 Pharmaceuticals Loudon
Advance Auto Parts 120 Automotive Parts Anderson
Total Logistics Controls 88 Wholesale groceries Monroe
Frito-Lay Inc. 75 Snacks Knox
Delta Apparel 60 Clothing Anderson
Lowe's  38 Distribution-retail products Monroe

Knoxville Oak Ridge Innovation Valley

Simply select Add to PDF at the top of each page. When finished, click Create PDF below.

Optimized for Acrobat Reader 7+

(click a page to remove it)


PDF Filename: