52 sites have now been certified through the program
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development today announced four new Select Tennessee Certified Sites.
Launched in 2012, the Select Tennessee program helps communities prepare available industrial sites for private investment. The program sets rigorous standards to give companies detailed and reliable information during the site selection process.
Fifty-two sites across Tennessee have been certified. The four newest certified sites and their local sponsoring agencies include:
- Shipps Bend Industrial Site: Town of Centerville
- McKenzie Airport Industrial Park: McKenzie Industrial Development Board
- 75 Regional Commerce Park: McMinn County Economic Development Authority
- Washington County Industrial Park Parcel 31 – Pad Ready Site: Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership
“I’d like to congratulate the Tennessee communities that have secured these certified site designations,” TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe said. “The Select Tennessee Certified Sites program gives communities a step up in the process of recruiting new businesses, and getting to this point requires foresight and commitment from local communities. Businesses looking to expand or relocate their operations often eliminate less-prepared sites. Certification lets businesses know that their projects can proceed quickly and that these locations have all the amenities needed to be successful.”
To date, 11 companies have invested more than $1 billion in capital to construct facilities on certified sites, accounting for nearly 4,100 job commitments.
The Select Tennessee certification process ensures that each certified site meets high-quality standards. Qualifications for certification include having at least 20 acres of developable land for industrial operations, proper zoning to allow for ease of development, existing onsite utilities or a formal plan to extend utilities to the site, and truck-quality road access.
The Select Tennessee suite of programs ensures that Tennessee sites are primed for development, whether through marketing sites that are ready for prospective businesses or providing local communities guidance to achieve a higher level of preparedness.
TNECD has partnered with Austin Consulting to administer the certified sites program.
“Prospective industrial sites are scrutinized by companies at a depth never seen before,” Jonathan Gemmen, director of Austin Consulting, said. “In many cases, pre-vetted sites are the baseline for serious consideration. Because of the Select Tennessee Certified Sites program, Tennessee now has several dozen qualified sites across the state.”
Communities interested in participating in the program must begin the formal application process by sending their letter of intent to [email protected]. More information about the program can be found at http://www.tnecd.com/sites/certified-sites/apply-now/.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Team Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.
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