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High-Speed
Growth
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Brain Stormers
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Students,
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Colleges offer futuristic
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Sponsored by the Southeast Industrial Development Association | 2011

Sequatchie County

Michael Hudson Winston Pickett, Director

Sequatchie County Executive Sequatchie County
P.O. Box 595 Chamber of Commerce
Dunlap, TN 37327 P.O. Box 1653
seqexec@bledsoe.net sequatchie@bledsoe.net
(423) 949-3479 T (423) 949-7608 T
(423) 949-2579 F (423) 949-8052 F

Visit us at www.sequatchie.com
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southeast
201 1 E dition , volum e 6

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Web Content Manager John Hood High-Speed
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Web Account manager Lauren Eubank
Brain Stormers
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Web Developer I Yamel Hall Students,
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Lifestyle
Colleges offer futuristic
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I.T. Director Yancey Bond SpOnSOrEd BY tHE SOutHEaSt induStrial dEvElOpmEnt aSSOciatiOn | 2011

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Find out what it’s like to live here and what makes
Regional Sales Manager Chris Sweeney the community such a special place to be.
Senior Accountant Lisa Owens
Read the magazine on
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News and Notes >>
Chairman Greg Thurman
President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Our editors give you the
Executive Vice President Ray Langen
Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman
Inside Scoop on the latest
Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester development and trends in
Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner
Senior V.P./business Development Scott Templeton the community.
V.P./external communications Teree Caruthers
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V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester success
V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens
V.P./Sales Charles Fitzgibbon, Workstyle breeds success >>
Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky
A spotlight on the region’s innovative companies Meet the people who set the
Controller Chris Dudley
Content Director/Travel Publications pace for business innovation.
Susan Chappell
Content Director/Business Publications
Bill McMeekin Dig Deeper >>
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Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake links to local websites and
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resources to give you a big
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se r eso u r c e . c o m 1

 Workstyle
southeast
resource
High-Speed Growth
Lightning-fast broadband
10
boosts competitiveness.

Brain Stormers 12
Business Center helps
empower entrepreneurs.

Students, Start
Your Engines 18
Colleges offer futuristic
auto tech careers.

Insight
Overview 5
Business Almanac 6

8 Business Climate
Energy/ Technology 14
8

Transportation 16
Livability 22
Site Guide 26

12 16
On the Cover Chattanooga State Community College’s Automotive
Mechatronics program in Chattanooga, Tenn. Photo by Jeff Adkins

What’s Online 
Search for available office, retail or industrial property in
the SEIDA region or add a listing of your own to the free
online site selection guide at seresource.com. For more
in-depth listings, you can also browse a free searchable
database of properties at www.seida.info.

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on

18
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Please recycle this magazine

se r eso u r c e . c o m 3
 4 S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e
 Overview
A Region That Builds
On its Strengths
southeast industrial development association
promotes investment in three-state territory
Two of the most significant foreign
capital investments in the United
States are taking place in the
heart of the Southeast Industrial
Development Association’s service
territory, cementing the 22-county,
three-state region’s attractiveness
as a place for new investment
and jobs.
Playing off the region’s trained and
reliable workforce, available product
inventories and outstanding quality
of life, SEIDA has been a force in
attracting investment and jobs.
In 2008 alone, the association’s
efforts helped facilitate 10 locations,
16 expansions, $1.3 billion in new
capital investment and creation
of more than 5,900 jobs.
Those efforts were capped by
German company Wacker Chemie
AG’s plans for a $1 billion facility
in Bradley County, Tenn., to produce
hyperpure polycrystalline silicon,
a key component in photovoltaics
for solar energy and semiconductors
for the electronics industry.
Volkswagen is building a mammoth
$1 billion manufacturing complex
What’s Online 
Visit Mercier Apple Orchard, a family-owned, apple harvesting business in Blue Ridge, Ga.
in Chattanooga that is spurring
millions of dollars in additional
investment and will ultimately
create thousands of jobs.
SEIDA’s staff, board, power-
distributor members and partner
organizations collaborate and
cooperate to lure companies
to southeast Tennessee, north
Georgia and southwest North
Carolina, where spectacular
natural beauty, an array of cultural
and arts attractions, endless
recreational opportunities, and
high-caliber health-care and
higher education institutions
combine to make the region
a place to invest and thrive.
For more on the region’s
advantages, contact:
Southeast Industrial
Development Association
P.O. Box 4757
1000 Riverfront Pkwy.
Chattanooga, TN 37405-0757
(423) 424-4245
www.seida.info
se r eso u r c e . c o m 5
 Almanac
Riding the Rails
Before the diesel locomotive became
popular in the 20th century for its cost
and efficiency, steam engines ruled the
rails. Visitors to the Tennessee Valley
Railroad Museum in Chattanooga will
soon get a chance to take a nostalgic
excursion in a resurrected coal-powered
steam locomotive. The museum is
partnering with Norfolk Southern to
offer 21st Century Steam, a program
to educate visitors about the milestones
in rail history as well as the role of trains
in today’s economy – all while taking a
ride in a restored steam engine. Southern
Railway 630, built in 1904, will be the
first engine for passenger excursions.

Secrets of Rock City

Rock City has always been one of the region’s most famous tourist stops
for its ancient rock formations, gardens with more than 400 plant species
and breathtaking panoramic views that allow visitors to see the corners
Trio of Trails of seven states. In two of its caves, Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose
For history buffs eager to reconnect Village, sculptures of trolls and fairy-tale characters peek out from behind
with their heritage, southeast the rocks. The inspiration behind Fairyland Caverns was spotlighted in the
Tennessee, north Georgia and June/July 2010 issue of German Life magazine. The sculptures, according
southwestern North Carolina offer to the article, were the brainchild of Frieda Untermoehlen, wife of early
an abundance of trails that trace 20th-century Rock City investor and promoter Garnet Carter. Raised
cultural milestones of the region. on German fairy tales her immigrant father told her as a little girl,
To commemorate the 150th Untermoehlen was fascinated by the stories of the Brothers Grimm.
anniversary of the Civil War, the When her husband’s plan for a miniature golf course on the property fell
Southeast Tennessee Tourism through, she transformed the 700 acres into a rock garden and imported
Association developed a historic German statues of gnomes and fairy-tale characters to station at points
driving tour highlighting some of throughout the caves. Today, visitors who explore Fairyland Caverns step
the area’s lesser known Civil War into an enchanted world where scenes from their favorite storybook tales
landmarks. North Georgia offers unfold, and Untermoehlen’s vision lives on deep in the caves of Rock City.
a similar driving tour; The Blue and
Gray Trail Guide marks 60 Civil War
sites in the area. The Glory Land
Road, which runs through southeast
Tennessee, traces the religious
heritage of the region, with stops at
historic sites such as the Rhea County
Courthouse in Dayton, Tenn., where
the famous Scopes Monkey Trial took
place in 1925. The Cherokee Heritage
Trail plots historic points in former
tribal lands and winds through the
Appalachian towns of Murphy, N.C.,
and Calhoun, Ga.

6 S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e
 Ready for a Close-Up
Hollywood may be making a visit to Walker
County, Ga., if locals have their way. The
county was recently selected as one of
Georgia’s 16 Camera Ready Communities
in a list compiled by the Georgia Film,
Music and Digital Entertainment Office.
Created to encourage more productions
to shoot in the state and streamline the
process for providing access to film and
television crews, the Camera Ready
designation includes a liaison who acts
as a point person for interested production Standing the Test of Time
companies. In Walker County, that happens
With more than a century of business under its belt and
to be Randall Franks, a Ringgold city
customers who include U.S. presidents, movie stars and sports
councilman and actor, who played Officer
icons, it’s no surprise that Hardwick Clothes in Cleveland, Tenn.,
Randy Goode in the TV series In the Heat
is still thriving after 150 years of making custom apparel.
of the Night. Recently, a film crew traveled
The nation’s oldest privately owned clothing manufacturer’s
to Chickamauga to film scenes with Twilight
most popular product is its signature sport coats, which have
actor Robert Pattinson for the upcoming
appeared in everything from the World Series for Golf to movies.
movie Water for Elephants. During 2010,
A few other regional businesses that have recently celebrated
more than 348 productions shot in
milestones include Mayfield Dairy Farms in Athens, Tenn., which
Georgia, adding an economic impact
recently passed the century mark; Bea’s Restaurant, famous for
of about $1.33 billion.
its fried chicken and lazy Susan platters, and a local favorite for
60-plus years; and McKee Foods Corp., which has been making
Little Debbie snack cakes for more than half a century.

Turning Trash Into Treasure

What can you do with empty bottles? Create
elegant jewelry, according to Tara McRae
Kestner of Ringgold, Ga., who makes
earrings, pendants and platters
from recycled liquor and wine
bottles. Kestner started her
business, Baby Steps
to a Better Earth, after
melting down some
bottles out of curiosity and
discovering the potential
of using the colored glass
for pieces of jewelry.
Now, Kestner collects
used bottles from local
restaurants and hotels,
some of which also sell
her finished creations.

se r eso u r c e . c o m 7
 Business
Is Booming
SEIDA region continues rapid
pattern of economic growth
Knoxville
Nashville BLEDSOE
DS
RHEA
E MEIGS
M GS
S

Volkswagen, Amazon.com GRU N D Y

and Volkswagen suppliers
SE
EQUATCHI
A E MCMINN
at the Enterprise South
Industrial Park
127 27
24 75
HAMILTON
A LTON POLK
MA R IO N B R ADLEY
BRADLEY 64
74

24
24 Cha
Chatt
Chat
C hat
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attanooga
ttt oga
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Alstom Power
GEORGIA
D A DE
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FANNI N
59 75
75

W HITFIIIELD
Birmingham WALKER
MURRAY LG Hausys
America Inc.

CHATT OOG A
IVC U.S. Inc. GORDO N
G
ALABA

Atlanta
MA

8 S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e
 Story by Kevin Litwin
C
ompanies are coming, and more
are on the way.
2010 brought major business
gains and growth for the SEIDA
region, and 2011 looks just as optimistic.
The headliner continues to be
Volkswagen, as it constructs a $1 billion
assembly plant in Chattanooga that will
ultimately bring 2,000 jobs to the region.
“The ripple effect of VW’s assembly
facility will likely create an additional
9,000 indirect jobs, along with more
Amazon.com than $500 million in new personal
income for the region,” says Matt
Kisber, former commissioner of the
Tennessee Department of Economic
and Community Development.
Business Facilities magazine reports
Wacker Chemie AG
that the Volkswagen investment has
helped propel Tennessee to the
No. 1 ranking for U.S. Automotive
Manufacturing Strength, No. 2 for
Economic Growth Potential and No. 5
Asheville for Best Business Climate. In addition,
Enterprise South Industrial Park –
19
a $21 million supplier park adjacent
74
129 to Volkswagen’s plant – is expected
CHER O K E E to bring 9,500 more jobs to the area.
Sunny Days Ahead
CLAY Meanwhile, another company with
27
NORTH CAROLINA a $1 billion investment will also be
doing business in the SEIDA region.
TOW NS German-based Wacker Chemie AG will
19 be constructing a huge manufacturing
129
plant in Bradley County, Tenn.,
beginning this year, and will
produce polysilicon for solar panels.
U NION
N “We are in an excellent position to
market and showcase the assets of our
whole region,” says Kathy Johnson,
program director for SEIDA. “We have
a fabulous workforce, a lot of available
sites for facilities to move into, low-cost
reliable power and a great network of
wacker chemie AG: $1 billion invested; creating 500 jobs
Alstom Power: $300 million invested; adding 350 jobs
to 600 at an existing boiler repair business
IVC U.S. Inc.: $70 million invested; creating 115 jobs
LG Hausys America Inc.: $50 million invested; creating 80 jobs
Business relocations
and expansions in Volkswagen: $1 billion invested; creating up to 2,000 jobs
the SEIDA region amazon.com: $139 million invested; creating up to 1,400 jobs
and more than 2,000 jobs during peak season
regional partners, who have learned
how to focus on regional economic
development that benefits us all.”
Many Job Openings
The world’s largest online retailer,
Amazon.com, plans to invest $139
million to build two distribution
centers in Chattanooga and Bradley
County. Expected to be operating by the
2011 holiday season, the centers will
create up to 1,400 jobs over the next
three years and more than 2,000
positions during peak seasons.
Alstom has completed a $300
million expansion of its Chattanooga
turbine plant, which positions the
company to become a true leader
in the resurgence of nuclear power
production in America. Vinyl flooring
manufacturer IVC U.S. Inc. has
invested $70 million in a new plant
in Whitfield County, Ga., creating
115 jobs. And surface-top manufacturer
LG Hausys America Inc. has earmarked
$50 million to expand its operation
in Gordon County, Ga., creating
80 new jobs.
In addition, Whitfield County opened
an industrial park off of Interstate 75
near Carbondale, Ga., with hopes of
luring manufacturing, automotive,
chemicals, data center, plastics and
retail industries. Plans to construct an
aeronautic industrial park at Western
Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews,
N.C. are also in the works, while another
industrial park is underway near the
Blairsville Airport in Union County, Ga.
“New and existing industries find
the Southeast a good place to grow and
expand,” Johnson says. “This is where
community, economic and workforce
development is a priority.”
se r eso u r c e . c o m 9
 High-Speed
Growth
Fast broadband boosts
competitiveness,
quality of life

10 S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e
 Story by Bill Lewis • Photography by Jeff Adkins
I
n the race for the jobs of tomorrow and the highest
possible quality of life, communities in the SEIDA
region are taking the lead, thanks to their
commitment to ensuring businesses and households
have high-speed broadband Internet access.
“Broadband technology is the electricity of the 21st
century. Without it, it’s like reading by candlelight – you’d
be left behind,” says Nancy Cobb, executive director of the
OneGeorgia Authority, which is bringing fast Internet
service to underserved rural counties in north Georgia.
Chattanooga Wins the Race
Chattanooga, the largest city in the southeast Tennessee-
north Georgia region, made national headlines by introducing
its 1 Gigabit broadband service that is faster than Internet
service available anywhere else in the United States. The
service is more than 200 times faster than the current
average national download speed. It is provided to residents
and businesses throughout the city by EPB, the municipal
utility delivering power, communications and related
services, and the network runs on a smart grid.
“The overriding consideration is that this is a real
tool for economic development for our community,”
EPB President and CEO Harold DePriest says.
Broadband access will vastly improve north Georgia’s
quality of life, Cobb says. For example, schools can offer
classes never before possible, taught by teachers far away.
And doctors can consult with specialists in distant cities,
while simultaneously reviewing a patient’s high-definition
MRI scans or X-rays.
Employees at the Electric Power Board distribution complex in Chattanooga work on computers that encode digital information to be
sent across EPB’s new broadband network (left) and take calls from customers concerning their high-speed broadband service (above).
The Key to Growth
For communities such as Athens, Tenn., high-speed
broadband Internet access means the possibility of
attracting new business investment and jobs. The
Tennessee Valley Authority designated the southeast
Tennessee city as a prime location for developing the
region’s growing data center industry. Athens was one
of 12 communities in Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama
and Mississippi identified in a TVA survey.
Data centers are specifically designed to host
telecommunications, computer and data-storage systems for
Internet search-engine companies, enterprises that process
financial transactions and other high-tech businesses.
“Demand for data centers is growing, as increased use of
electronic commerce and information technologies requires
more data storage space,” says John Bradley, senior vice
president for TVA Economic Development. “There are
exceptional opportunities for regional growth potential
in this industry. These 12 sites in particular have the
resources, infrastructure and other qualities needed
to support strong data center development.”
Windstream, an S&P 500 communications and
technology company with operations in 29 states,
is partnering with the federal government to extend
high-speed broadband Internet connections to about
18,000 homes and 2,000 businesses in the hilly, rural areas
of northwest Georgia. The company received a $5.1 million
grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Windstream
will match it with $1.7 million of its own.
se r eso u r c e . c o m 11
 Engine for
Ingenuity
Entrepreneurs thrive at Chattanooga’s
Business Development Center
Story by Bill Lewis • Photography by Jeff Adkins
S
mall businesses are the engine driving the economy
of the Southeast Industrial Development Association
region, and the Chattanooga/Hamilton County
Business Development Center is one organization that
puts fuel in the tank.
The business incubator provides office space, services
and training programs that help entrepreneurs turn their
dreams into reality. Today, the facility serves as the
launching pad for 55 start-up businesses, which collectively
employ about 400 people. More than 500 successful
businesses have graduated over 22 years, says Kathyrn
Foster, director of the Business Development Center (BDC).
A Business-Friendly Culture
“More than 80 percent of the jobs in the next 10 years
will come from small entrepreneurs,” Foster says.
“Chattanooga has a culture that is collaborative and
business friendly. We are so fortunate to have that.”
Thanks to a $4.7 million grant, BDC will be able to offer
even more, including additional hands-on programs and
advice for both start-up businesses and existing companies.
In addition, the 125,000-square-foot space on Cherokee
Boulevard in Chattanooga is expected to be LEED
(Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design) certified
following its renovation. Not only will that make the
building more energy efficient, it will also reduce utility
bills for the start-up businesses that occupy it, Foster says.
“All of this adds up to what an incubator is supposed to
be,” says Adam Green, whose company, Green Real Estate
Partners, has space at the BDC.
The incubator’s growth is part of a small business focus
Adam Green, owner of Green Real Estate Partners, in the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Business Development Center
12 S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e
by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, says
Tom Edd Wilson, the chamber’s president and CEO.
Creating Long-Lasting Opportunities
“We have a particular focus on entrepreneurial activity
because growing companies from within have the strongest
potential to generate the most prosperity within the
community,” Wilson says. “Companies that start here are
more likely to stay here and become invested and engaged
in the betterment of our area.”
Chattanooga has attracted more than $3 billion in business
investment in past years despite the recession, he adds.
“As a result, there are tremendous opportunities for
small businesses to take advantage of the economic activity
our community is experiencing,” he says.
In addition to the Business Development Center,
Chattanooga offers excellent resources to support the
start-up and growth of small businesses, Wilson says,
including training on a range of issues related to business
start-up and growth, and programs to help entrepreneurs
network and market their companies.
Green, who moved from Tampa, Fla., to open his
company, which specializes in medical real estate, is
enthusiastic about his experience at the incubator, where
he can get everything from professional advice regarding
his business plan to color copies down the hall.
“I think what makes it work is that regardless if you
are making candy or doing what I do ... they start with
the notion that they are in business to help your business,”
Green says. “You have taken the plunge and the risk of
going into business, and they appreciate that.”
 se r eso u r c e . c o m 13
 Energy/Technology

Green Giants
More companies embrace sustainability

Story by Kevin Litwin

Photography by Jeff Adkins

V
olkswagen’s $1 billion plant will
begin production in 2011 and is
incorporating several energy-
saving features, such as utilizing
efficient electric motors and storm-
water recycling. Its paint shop will use
a dry filtration process instead of a
water-based system, and the automaker
is installing thousands of fluorescent
light tubes that are 20 percent more
efficient than standard lights.
“LEED is green, and green is part
of our image,” says Dieter Schleifer,
VW-Chattanooga manager of plant
infrastructure. “Our philosophy is
green city, green plant, green car.”
Let the Sun Shine
Germany-based Wacker Chemie AG
plans to construct a $1 billion plant
that will produce polysilicon, a key
ingredient in solar panels.
“Wacker Chemie is not a solar
panel company, but they make the
important ingredient,” says Gary
Davis, mayor of Bradley County,
Tenn., where the plant will be built.
“It’s a complicated plant with
many energy-efficient factors involved,”
Davis says. “The state of Tennessee is
pushing green energy these days –
solar in particular – so everyone
around here is glad to see this
project coming.”
Give It a Whirl
Bradley County will also be
home to a new environmentally
efficient building currently being
constructed by Whirlpool. The
appliance giant has enjoyed
Life Line Foods, which has a liquid dietary supplements factory in Pikeville, Tenn., a presence in the county for many
recently installed one of the largest solar electric systems in the state. generations, and is now constructing

14 S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e
 an additional $20 million facility.
“The building will be 1 million square
feet, including a 400,000-square-foot
distribution center,” Davis says.
“Company officials are saying they
want the new building to be LEED
certified, and are even having
contractors recycle up to 75 percent
of their construction waste.”
Other Energetic Plans
Farther south near Dalton, Ga.,
carpet companies such as Shaw
Industries, Mohawk Industries and
Beaulieu of America are finding ways
to reduce energy and water use, and
are diverting carpeting from landfills
through recycling and reuse. And at
Signal Wind Energy, the Chattanooga-
based wind energy company is
shifting its focus from designing
and building wind-related projects
to solar and biomass endeavors.
At Life Line Foods, which has a liquid
dietary supplements factory in Pikeville,
Tenn., the company installed one of
the largest solar electric systems in the
state to promote its focus on healthy
living. Meanwhile, power plant
turbine manufacturer Alstom opened
a $300 million sustainable plant in
Chattanooga, in hopes of becoming
a major player in the resurgence of
nuclear power in America.
“Amazon.com has also announced
the construction this year of two
1 million-square-foot facilities in
Tennessee in Bradley County and
Hamilton County, and those buildings
will also feature energy-saving and
sustainability aspects,” Davis says.
“The SEIDA region is quickly earning a
reputation for energy and technology,
which is good news for everyone.”
Chattanooga Tests
Fuel Cell Power
From sustainable infrastructure to
alternative energy sources, the SEIDA
region is getting greener. This spring,
Chattanooga’s Electric Power Board
installed a 100-watt fuel cell box
to power 30,000 square feet of its
headquarters. With its high efficiency
and low emissions, the box, dubbed the
“Bloom Box” after its Sunnyvale, Calif.,
manufacturer Bloom Energy, offers
cleaner energy generation. Much of
the research and testing for the device,
which is also used by corporate giants
like FedEx and Google, was conducted
by the SimCenter at the University of
Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Other sustainability developments in the
region’s future include energy efficient
upgrades for infrastructure in southeast
Tennessee and north Georgia, and
charging stations in Chattanooga
for Nissan’s first electric car.
se r eso u r c e . c o m 15
 Transportation
Road to Prosperity
Study explores options for improved east-west access
Story by Pamela Coyle • Photography by Jeff Adkins
W
ith Volkswagen, Wacker Chemie AG and other
global businesses locating in southeast Tennessee
and the surrounding counties, transportation is
becoming a key asset in the SEIDA region, especially for
businesses that use Atlantic ports. Plans for a reliable
east-west route through eastern Tennessee and Western
Carolina are being revived to provide greater access
for regional companies, suppliers and employees.
Five months of rockslides along a dangerous stretch
of U.S. 64, known as “the 15-mph curve,” made the road
impassable between November 2009 and April 2010,
creating detours of up to two hours for those using
the route. The slides brought new urgency to plans
for upgrading what is called Corridor K.
State transportation officials are in the midst of a
detailed Environmental Impact Survey to evaluate 10
options for improving Corridor K with price tags ranging
from $200 million to $1 billion or more. The process, which
must meet federal rules to qualify for funding, is lengthy –
Traffic moves along U.S. 64, also called Corridor K, which runs through parts of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.
The route is known for winding roads and rockslides, and is being studied for improvements to increase accessibility to the region.
16 S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e
the report won’t be out until 2013 but the next phase,
due out spring 2011, will narrow the options.
Better Access to boost Business, Tourism
The goal is opening up the area to boost economic
development and tourism.
“We’ve got a process and to get this thing right we have to
work through it,” says Chester Sutherland, Corridor K project
manager for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
The two-lane road now accommodates both commercial
trucks and people wanting access to the region’s recreational
offerings, which include whitewater rafting.
“It is substandard, goes through the Ocoee Gorge and
can’t handle the traffic volume,” says Wesley Hughen,
TDOT’s regional assistant manager for the area.
The 2010 slides did allow crews to shore up outside
shoulders and improve the pass, now called the “25-mph”
curve, and a second severe curve was widened, too. The
two projects cost about $3 million. A $10.2 million project
 INFRASTRUCTURE
ASSETS
Major airports:
Lovell Field, Chattanooga;
Huntsville International
Airport (1.5 hours);
Nashville International
Airport (2 hours);
Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International
Airport (2 hours)
Major highways:
Interstates 24, 75, 59;
quick connections to
Interstates 65, 40, 81, 20, 85
Rail:
CSX Transportation;
Norfolk Southern Corp.
Water:
Tennessee River with
to widen a 2.6-mile section of U.S. 64 in Polk as having a big role in their ability to compete. Center South Riverport/
County, east of U.S. 411 and west of the Ocoee “One of the things we found was the added Industrial Park and Port
River, is scheduled to wrap up in May 2011. transportation costs and time element are a of Nick A Jack; also access
burden to a much broader segment of three states via the Tennessee-
new corridor could create jobs Tombigbee Waterway
than just the communities along the corridor,” to the Port of Mobile
This narrow route has a wide impact. says Melissa Ziegler, director of community
SOURCE: Southeast
Indeed, Corridor K access involves 23 counties and economic development services at Wilbur Industrial Development
and at least three states. A more reliable Smith Associates, an engineering consulting Association
east-west corridor would open up a supplier firm that produced the study.
network, stimulate job creation and shorten As part of the impact study, Wilbur Smith
drive times. surveyed regional businesses and found many
A 2008 economic impact survey estimated the that said uncertain transportation access,
completion of Corridor K could create 7,000 cost and reliability meant within four or five
regional jobs in targeted industries and related years they’ll have to decide whether to stay
services over a five-year period. More than 80 in the region or relocate, Ziegler says.
percent of the businesses that participated in “It has profound impacts from the
the study cited transportation, particularly transportation side and the economic
access to ports and other intermodal facilities, development side,” she adds.

Fast Track to Growth

Proposed High-Speed Rail Route Across North Georgia Offers Quicker Access Between Cities
With its access to major
interstates, airports, railways
and waterways, north Georgia
offers a well-connected transportation
system that’s about to get even more
advanced. The region could be the
next stop in a proposed high-speed
rail network across the country.
With billions of dollars in federal
funding available for high-speed
passenger rail lines, officials are
revisiting plans to establish a
high-speed route from Atlanta to
Chattanooga that would follow I-75
and possibly include stops in the
Chattanooga and Dalton areas. The
Georgia Department of Transportation
is conducting a $21 million
environmental study to determine
the feasibility of the plan. Meanwhile,
the city of Dalton is doing its own
$15,000 study to identify the best
site for a station along the I-75 corridor
and outline the infrastructure needed
to operate it.
The network would consist
of either steel-wheeled rail or
maglev – magnetic levitation –
trains, both of which can travel as
fast as 180 mph. The proposed line
would also connect the Chattanooga
Metropolitan Airport and downtown
area to the Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport.
Not only would it give residents in
rural areas access to urban centers,
it could also help lure international
companies to the area by providing
them with faster connections to
major airports.
Public meetings are being
conducted on the project, and a
draft of the environmental study,
which will review implications of
building the rail network as well as
preliminary costs, is expected to be
completed this year. Officials hope
to have a plan for approval by the
U.S. Department of Transportation
by mid-2012.
– Emily McMackin

se r eso u r c e . c o m 17
 What’s Online 
For more information about education
in the region, visit seresource.com.

18 S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e
 Education
Students,
Start Your Engines
Automotive students in the region sharpen their skills
Story by Jessica Walker
I
n southeast Tennessee,
north Georgia and western
North Carolina, automotive
students are learning a variety of
skills that will not only benefit them
as they move forward in their careers,
but will benefit their communities
as well as the workforce.
At Chattanooga State Community
College, students in the Automotive
Mechatronics program are offered
opportunities that go beyond the
Chattanooga State Community College’s Automotive Mechatronics students are given permanent jobs by Volkswagen upon graduation.
classroom, thanks to a partnership
with Volkswagen.
“When the students signed on
to the program, Volkswagen made
a commitment to them,” says Dr. Jim
Barrott, vice president of technology at
CSCC. “If they graduate, Volkswagen
will make them permanent employees.
Volkswagen also pays them for on-
the-job training at the Volkswagen
Assembly plant, and finances
a portion of their tuition.”
The three-year Automotive
Mechatronics program, which began in
fall 2010, will enroll 20 students annually.
Students in the Automotive Systems
Technology program at Tri-County
Community College in Murphy, N.C.,
are learning to work on energy-efficient
vehicles, an enhancement made possible
by a sizable grant from the Southwestern
Commission Region A.
“With the technology being brought
in, our automotive department didn’t
P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f C h at t S tat e M a r k e t i n g D e pa r t m e n t
se r eso u r c e . c o m 19
 Knoxville
Nashville BLEDSOE
RHE A
MEIGS
Cleveland State
Community College
GR U N D Y
M CM I N N Tri-County
SE QUAT C HIE Community Asheville
College
24 75
MAR ION
HAMILT ON PO LK
C H E R O K EE
BR A D L EY

CL AY
Chattanooga State 24 Chattanooga
Cha
a oga
og TENNESSEE NORTH CAROLINA
OL
Community College
GEORGIA
CATOOSA
ATT T OW NS
DADE
A
FA N N IN
Georgia 59 75
Northwestern
Technical College UN ION
WHITFIEL
I D
Birmingham M U R RAY
WALKER
North Georgia
Technical College
C HATT OOGA
G OR DO N
ALABA

Atlanta
MA

Community and Certified “Work Communities working toward

Technical Colleges Ready” Communities “Work Ready” Certification

have the equipment necessary to
service and work on the newer types
of cars,” says Paul Worley, director for
economic and workforce development
at TCCC. “We wanted to integrate green
technology and figure out a way we
could train both existing automotive
technicians and the ones coming
through to work on this technology.”
According to Worley, students will
be prepared to work on a variety of auto­
mobiles after completing the program.
“This program gives our students
some added value,” Worley says.
“Our graduates will understand how
to work on more than just one thing,
and will have experience working on
hybrid cars and diesel vehicles.”
Learning by working on the latest
Kia Sorentos, Automotive Technology
students at Georgia Northwestern
Technical College’s Floyd County
campus are staying ahead of the curve.
The 2011 Sorentos, donated to the
school by the nearby Kia automotive
assembly and manufacturing plant,
enables students to experience
new technology.
“Students can see the technology
that has not yet reached this
program,” says Bill Bentley, assistant
dean of industrial technology at
GNTC’s Floyd campus. “It’s given us
a look into the future, and allowed us
to work on things that we just don’t
see coming in on a normal basis.”
Also striving to enhance the
region’s workforce, Al Hutchison
spearheaded Georgia Work Ready
programs in Chattooga, Walker,
Dade and Catoosa counties.
Hutchison, associate vice president
of economic development at GNTC’s
Walker County campus, is passionate
about the programs that are designed
to help the state’s job seekers
find employment.
“In today’s economy, people have to
have credentials or be graduates from
a degree program,” Hutchison says.
“We give those people who have fallen
through the cracks a second chance.”
Georgia Work Ready allows
individuals to earn Work Ready
Certificates, credentials that can
help assure employers that they are
qualified for a particular job. The
certificates are obtained by successfully
completing a no-cost assessment at a
Work Ready Center, located at various
technical colleges across Georgia.
“We’re trying to help people better
themselves,” Hutchison says.

20 S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e
 Lessons in Entrepreneurship
Project gives Dade County Middle School students real-world skills, opportunities
Students at Dade County Middle • Working with TVA, Home Depot can impact growth in the community,”
School used to throw homework and Habitat for Humanity Jelley says.
they got back from teachers into the to develop and market The program trains students to
trash; now they display their work energy-efficient buildings be better employees and business
for industry partners who critique for subdivisions. leaders in the future, says Debbie
and bid on their inventions. Each Not only does the project teach Tinker, executive director of the
spring, the middle school gym students how to present themselves Dade County Chamber of Commerce,
becomes a marketplace, and in a professional setting, the “kids a Project Synergy partner.
students use their entrepreneurship are seeing why they need to be “It’s helping us grow a community
skills to pitch prototypes and planning ahead for jobs they want of creative entrepreneurs,”
compete for prizes. The program, in the future – and how those jobs Tinker says. – Emily McMackin
known as Project Synergy,
encourages innovation among
students by teaching them to
develop products, create business
plans, apply for patents and market
their creations.
“The difference in performance
from students when they realize
they have an audience besides their
teacher is amazing,” says language
arts teacher Matt Jelley, who
co-founded the program. “When
they are just doing work to throw
away, they’re not as motivated. If
they have an audience outside the
classroom, it gives them a reason
to aspire to excellence.”
Project Synergy started four
years ago with Jelley and another
teacher who wanted to raise the
rigor in their classrooms and
help students see the real-world
application of their lessons. The
project started with a curriculum,
but both teachers soon realized
the need to involve the community.
“We wanted to create a synergy
between business, government and
the community, and give these
stakeholders the opportunity to
get into our schools, work with
students and help connect what
is going on inside of school to
the world outside.”
Past projects and partners
include:
• Working with Volkswagen to
develop innovative ways to
market and design a car.
• Partnering with civic groups
to determine business needs,
find investors and launch
ventures to fill those niches.

se r eso u r c e . c o m 21
 Livability
Beauty and Adventure
Region’s rustic scenery, natural resources
attract artists and adventurers
Story by Kevin Litwin
B
ronze sculptures created
by north Georgia artist Carl
McCleskey grace places like
Cypress Gardens, the Audubon
Nature Institute, Toledo Zoo and
a championship golf course designed
by pro-golfer Greg Norman. Beer
magnate August Busch III has also
purchased a couple of McCleskey’s
bronze masterpieces.
McCleskey and his wife, Betsy Scott,
are renowned sculptors and owners of
Wildlife Bronze LLC in Cloudland, Ga.
The couple admits they get much of
their artistic wildlife inspiration from
22 S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e
the beautiful setting where they live.
“We enjoy the outdoors and rural
areas, and I do get much of my
inspiration from Lookout Mountain
and the surrounding scenic settings,”
says McCleskey, who started bronze
sculpting as a hobby in 1990 and now
can’t keep up with all the job requests
he receives.
Some of his sculptures are of
people, but most depict wild animals.
“I made two life-size lions for the
Toledo Zoo, then word really got out,
and I’ve been busy ever since,” he says.
“I get calls from all over the country
for sculpture projects, and I love doing
my work in Cloudland. I wouldn’t
want to be anywhere else.”
Many other sculptors, wood carvers,
artists and glassblowers also find
inspiration in the climate, rustic scenery
and abundant natural resources
of southeast Tennessee, northern
Georgia and western North Carolina.
“Inspiration around here comes to
me spontaneously, and is one reason
I carry a sketchbook with me everywhere
I go,” says Atteka Abdou, a well-known
environmental artist who lives and
works in Summerville, Ga.
 S ta ff P h o t o

Left: Artists Carl McCleskey and Betsy Scott draw inspiration from the region when
creating stunning bronze sculptures at Wildlife Bronze LLC in Cloudland, Ga. Above: The
climate, scenery and natural resources throughout southeast Tennessee, north Georgia and
western North Carolina attract an eclectic mix of nature lovers, outdoor buffs and artists.
p h o t o b y J e ff A d k i n s

Catering to Cavers of spelunkers each year. That interest stellar that it hosted the 1996 Atlanta
But you don’t have to be an in local cave exploration inspired Olympic Whitewater Competition.
accomplished sculptor or artist to resident Steve Hudson to establish Carlo and Julie Smith started
appreciate this beautiful part of the Pigeon Mountain Industries, which Adventures Unlimited 18 years
Southeast. Outdoor enthusiasts as well manufactures rappelling gear that ago in the Ocoee to provide guided
as tourists interested in Appalachian includes state-of-the-art life safety whitewater river rafting opportunities
culture are drawn to the region. ropes that are sold around the world. and family fun in the rural outdoors.
Cultural festivals are staged each year Their 31 acres of property offer an
to celebrate the distinctiveness of the Rapidly Exciting ideal vacation setting.
small communities throughout the Another adventure destination in “Our philosophy is simple –
area and their qualities of life. the region is the Ocoee River, which provide guests with the best outdoor
For adventurers, Lafayette in Walker continues to be a major tourism draw adventures possible,” Carlo Smith
County, Ga., boasts two of the world’s for anyone who likes whitewater says. “This philosophy is shared
biggest and deepest free-falling pit rafting and kayaking. The river in by all our staff, and it shows in our
caves, and they attract thousands east Tennessee is so dynamic and attitude. We truly love what we do.”

se r eso u r c e . c o m 23
 Tennessee Career Center
at Chattanooga
Eastgate Town Center
5600 Brainerd Rd., Suite A-5
Chattanooga, TN 37411
(423) 894-5354
Tennessee Career Center
at Athens
410 Congress Pkwy.
Athens, TN 37303
(423) 745-2028
www.secareercenter.org

• Job Listings
• Job Search Tools
• Skills Upgrade Assistance
• Skills Credentials
• Post Job Openings
• Employee Recruitment National Career Readiness Certificate
For job seekers: The key to a better future
• Hiring Incentives For employers: Guaranteeing quality job applicants
This project funded under an agreement with the Tennessee
• Job Profiling/Assessments Department of Labor & Workforce Development. Equal Opportunity
Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon
request to individuals with disabilities. TDD/TTY TN Relay 711.

24 S o u t he a s t Reso u r c e
 Trail Mix
Chattanooga’s trails,
parks impress industries
Livability is an important factor
for industries locating in the
SEIDA region. Just ask the
people at Alstom.
As part of its $300 million
expansion plans in Chattanooga,
the company that manufactures
turbines for nuclear power plants
has requested that the city extend
an existing Tennessee Riverwalk
to the factory’s site. Alstom
leaders hope that the greenway
will not only encourage employees
J e ff A d k i n s

to exercise, but also help land the

company a top LEED (Leadership
of Energy and Environmental
Design) status. 70 Miles and Counting “The Chattanooga region is lucky
“We are aiming for the highest For mountain bikers, Rippon says to have openness and different
environmental standards – a Gold more than 70 miles of trails have contours of land,” he says. “There are
LEED certification,” says Guy either been constructed or are also future plans to begin extending
Chardon, Alstom senior vice being planned within 10 miles trails into residential areas.”
president for thermal products. of Chattanooga. – Kevin Litwin
A 1-mile Riverwalk extension
began in January and is scheduled
to be finished by the end of 2011.
The new section along the
Tennessee River downtown
will be the largest since a
Connect. Grow. Prosper.
6-mile tract opened in 2000. In Northwest Georgia
Mountain Biking Bliss When you partner with
Meanwhile, a 2,800-acre nature
park next to the new Volkswagen North Georgia Electric
plant helped convince company Membership Corporation
leaders to locate in Chattanooga.
Enterprise South Nature Park and the communities of
includes hiking trails as well as Northwest Georgia.
new mountain biking trails, which
Volkswagen contributed $10,000
to help build. The park will soon
feature nearly 10 miles of
mountain bike trails.
“For the overall mountain biking
and hiking experience, Chattanooga
is excellent – it’s a large community
surrounded by rural areas,” says www.ngemc.com www.seida.info
Erik Rippon with the Southern
Off-Road Bicycle Association.
“There are numerous trails for Energy Solutions
cycling, hiking or walking.” North Georgia EMC Technical Services
P.O. Box 1407
Dalton, GA 30722-1407 Economic Development
Enterprise South Nature Park
in Chattanooga, Tenn. (706) 259-9441 Business Retention

se r eso u r c e . c o m 25
 Site Guide

They’ve Got the

Spaces, Places
The Southeast Industrial
Development Association
service region includes
a number of industrial/ Catoosa County Industrial Park 751 Tusquitee Street - Cactus Game Design
warehouse properties and Ringgold, GA Hayesville, NC
raw acreage available for County: Catoosa County: Clay
development. Below is just a Size: 50 acres Size: 28,000 square feet
small sample. For a searchable
database of properties, go to
www.seida.info and click on the
Site and Building Search tab.

Fannin County Industrial Park

McCaysville, GA
Trion Industrial Park County: Fannin
Trion, GA Size: 5 to 11.5 acres
County: Chattooga
Dura Automotive Building Size: 133 acres
Pikeville, TN
County: Bledsoe
Size: 139,380 square feet, 16 acres

Coats American Building Sage Ralston Building

Andrews, NC Calhoun, GA
County: Cherokee County: Gordon
Bradley County Industrial Park Size: 253,400 square feet Size: 110,000 square feet, 6 acres
Cleveland, TN 73.83 acres
County: Bradley
Size: 10 to 40 acres

26 so u t he a s t r eso u r c e se
 Pelham Industrial Park North Etowah Industrial Park Dayton Industrial Park
Monteagle, TN Etowah, TN Dayton, TN
County: Grundy County: McMinn County: Rhea
Size: 5 to 63 acres Size: 10 to 600 acres Size: 15 to 28 acres

Nickajack Industrial Site & Port 365 Eton Industrial Drive
New Hope, TN Browning Manufacturing
County: Marion Eton, GA
Size: 5 to 900 acres County: Murray
Size: 177,000 square feet
Sequachee Valley Industrial Park
Dunlap, TN
County: Sequatchie
Size: 57.9 acres

Athens McMinn Interstate Industrial Park Copper Basin Industrial Park Blairsville Airport
Athens, TN Ducktown, TN Regional Industrial Park
County: McMinn County: Polk Blairsville, GA
Size: 5 to 350 acres Size: 5 to 60 acres County: Union
Size: 5 to 85 acres

se r eso u r c e . c o m 27
 Northwest Georgia
Business & Industrial Park
Rock Spring, GA
County: Walker
Size: 38 acres

1301 C & L Drive

Shaw Building
Dalton, GA
County: Whitfield
Size: 225,000 square feet
What’s Online 
Search for available office, retail or industrial property in the SEIDA
region or add a listing of your own to the free online site selection guide
at seresource.com. For more in-depth listings, you can also browse a free
searchable database of properties at www.seida.info.

visit our
advertisers
Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Georgia Northwestern Technical College Sequatchie County/City of Dunlap
www.chattanoogacando.com www.gntc.edu www.sequatchie.com
Chattanooga State Technical Community College McMinn County EDA Staybridge Suites
www.chattanoogastate.edu www.mcminncoeda.org www.stayinchattanooga.com
Cleveland Bradley County Meigs County Tennessee Career Centers
www.clevelandchamber.com www.meigscountytnchamber.org www.secareercenter.org
Cleveland State Community College North Georgia Electric
www.clevelandstatecc.edu Membership Corporation
www.ngemc.com
Dalton-Whitfield County
Joint Development Authority Rhea County Economic & Tourism Council
www.daltonwhitfieldeconomicdevelopment.com www.rheacountyetc.com

28 so u t he a s t r eso u r c e
 se r eso u r c e . c o m 29
 Ad Index
15 Chattanooga Area 24 McMinn County EDA
Chamber of Commerce

4 Meigs County
5 Chattanooga State
Technical
Community College 25 North Georgia Electric
Membership Corporation

2 Cleveland Bradley County

29 Rhea County Economic
21 Cleveland State & Tourism Council
Community College

4 Dalton-Whitfield
County Joint
Development Authority
C2 Sequatchie County/
City of Dunlap
C4 Staybridge Suites

29 Georgia Northwestern
Technical College 24 Tennessee Career Centers
 Hamilton Place – Chattanooga
7015 Shallowford Rd. • Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 826-2700 Tel • (423) 826-2799 Fax

Studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom/ BUSINESS AMENITIES

two-bath suites
Valet laundry service
Fully equipped kitchen
24-hour business center
Dedicated living and office areas
Computer work stations with
Free high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi free high-speed Internet
Free local calls Laser printing and facsimile

•
Oversized desk with ergonomic chair
Direct phone number with voice mail
Iron and ironing board
Hair dryer
HOTEL SERVICES RECREATION
Complimentary daily deluxe hot breakfast buffet 24-hour fitness center
Evening Sundowner Reception (Tue./Wed./Thu.) Access to the Rush Fitness Center
Daily housekeeping service Guest library with books and games
BridgeMart ® 24-hour convenience store Outdoor courtyard with grills
Complimentary laundry facilities Indoor pool
Pets welcome (fees apply) Hot tub

(800) 238-8000 • www.stayinchattanooga.com