14:25 pm IDB spotlights positive economic news for county
Thursday morning’s meeting of the Carter County Industrial Development Board showcased several projects that could provide a significant boost to the local economy.
Photo by Jason Mullins - Following his report to the IDB members Thursday, County Attorney Keith Bowers commented on the positive economic outlook for Elizabethton and Carter County. “I’m very proud of the things the county, the city and Carter County Tomorrow have accomplished,” Bowers said. “There are a lot of good things happening and the community needs to hear about them.”
Carter County Tomorrow President Tom Anderson updated the IDB members on a handful of projects for 2012. Among those projects was the recently announced expansion of the Snap-On Tools facility in Elizabethton.
Photo by Jason Mullins - Carter County’s Industrial Development Board received an update on several economic development projects Thursday morning. Carter County Tomorrow President Tom Anderson reported the 23,000-square-foot expansion project at the Snap-On Tools Elizabethton facility was the product of cooperation between the company and government officials. He said once Snap-On’s corporate office approved the project, state and local officials were able to “fast-track” permits, grant applications and incentive packages.
Last Monday, Snap-On Tools Plant Manager Jon Carley officially announced the Elizabethton facility has received final approval from their corporate office to proceed with the expansion plan. The project, which is slated to break ground later this month, will lead to a new employee cafeteria and additional floor space for their die-shop that supports casting operations at the plant.
When Snap-On’s corporate offices advised the local facility managers and the industrial development board that the project was approved, Anderson said preparations “went into hyper-mode, which usually doesn’t happen.” He commented work which usually takes about six weeks to complete, was completed in a week.
Anderson said county, city and state officials placed the permit and application processes on a fast-track for completion. He noted a stormwater permit was completed within a day and the state also agreed to place grants for training and an incentive package on a fast-track for approval. Anderson said the cooperation of state and local officials was instrumental in finalizing the deal.
While Snap-On has not stated how many new jobs will be created by the expansion project, Anderson said he expects the company to release those numbers after they have finished their quarterly earnings report for the fourth quarter of 2011. “This is a multi-million dollar expansion over the next three years, which bodes very well for us,” said Anderson.
In addition to the earnings report, Anderson also mentioned an online report on national companies who are currently hiring. He said the report ranks Snap-On Tools in ninth place. Other companies listed in the report included AT&T, Chrysler and Terminix.
Anderson noted that Project Red Energy is also continuing to gain momentum following a recent meeting between project investors and community leaders from Upper East Tennessee. He said the purpose of the meeting was to expand feed-stock agreements. “They have their financing and the capitalization of the project is lined up. The only thing they’re waiting for are feed stock agreements from the local governments,” said Anderson.
Project Red Energy will utilize technology that can covert carbon-based products, including used tires, into synthetic diesel. Anderson stated the project principals want to collect as “many tires as they can possibly get. We have contacted another group out of Chicago who wants to set up a tire reclamation setup here. They have connections between Knoxville and Roanoke, (Va.) for tires.”
Once the “magic tonnage number” has been reached, Anderson said the investors will be able to release the capital for the project. He added that even though the project is being pursued by other communities in the United States, “they are not looking at anywhere else right now.”
Government leaders from Carter County and the City of Elizabethton are also continuing their efforts to expand the area’s retail base. Anderson said the industrial development board will be working with TVA to create a retail development plan for the city and county. A major aspect of the retail plan will determine if the county can support a major destination retailer, such as a Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s. Anderson has commented on several occasions that before one of these companies will invest resources, the community must meet certain criteria, including per-capita income.
The plan will also include existing retailers. A meeting will be held next month with the retailers already operating in Elizabethton and Carter County. Anderson noted the meeting will assist these businesses in their efforts to better understand their markets and learn strategies for reaching a larger customer base.
The existing retailer workshop has been scheduled for Tuesday, Mar. 13 at 7:30 a.m. in the Tennessee Technology Center’s general purpose room.
Carter County Attorney Keith Bowers said he is excited about the potential for job creation and economic expansion in 2012. “In government, there’s a lot of conflict and there’s a lot of times when we disagree on things and we don’t work together. But we’ve got to stop and smell the roses when we accomplish things like this. We don’t take time to be excited about the good things enough. I’m very proud of the things the county, the city and Carter County Tomorrow have accomplished. There are a lot of good things happening and the community needs to hear about them,” said Bowers.
Anderson shared Bowers’ sentiments on the prospects for economic development in Carter County. “I think we’re going to have some good things happen in our community this year,” he said.
Connect
Comments