2006 Annual Report

2006 ANNUAL REPORT
SEIDA
2006
Annual
Report
Your Resource For
Sites, Facilities, and Financing
LETTER FROM THE
CHAIRMAN
Larry Kernea
Murphy Power Board
Ripples and Reflections
of the
Southeast Industrial Development Association
SEIDA and its economic development efforts can be described like a
good day of fly-fishing on the banks of the Hiawassee River. If the
conditions are right, your tackle is well chosen and prepared, and you
hold your mouth just right, while continually casting your line, you increase your opportunities of hooking the big one and not letting it get
away. The same variables have to line up in order to create jobs, additional power load and for capital investment to occur throughout our
service area. That is why this simple analogy allows me to see a parallel of the SEIDA organization. It is a common body of water that flows
through three great states. The ripples that are created from each effort
made by this organization can be seen in all of the communities we
power distributors have an opportunity to serve. Moreover, I have to
say, they are continually casting that line.
The 2006 Annual Report is an excellent time for all of us to review and
reflect on the accomplishments, not only of this organization, but on
our own endeavors in the communities we choose to live, work and
play. I want to personally thank all of you who are so willing to invest
your time, your skills and abilities, and your financial resources to assure the future of the SEIDA organization. It has been my pleasure to
serve as the 2006 Chairman and I look forward to a great year in 2007.
I appreciate your support and partnership in our economic development undertakings. I hope you take the time to reflect on this past
year’s accomplishments and enjoy your community’s economic ripples.
SITES DEVELOPED
GE Distribution Center Picks Bradley County
The North Hiwassee River Industrial Park in Bradley County, located about an eighth of a mile
off I-75 between Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee, has long been a prime location for a
warehouse and distribution center. With the announcement of the lighting and lighting products project for
General Electric, the dream has become a reality. Work
has already begun on the construction of a 2,000,000
square foot state of the art warehousing and distribution
center at a capital investment of $30,000,000. Once the
distribution center is fully operational they will employ
200. This facility will manage over 50% of GE’s lighting products, providing service to such retail names as
Lowes, Target, and Wal-Mart, to name just a few. This
facility is expected to be in operation Spring of 2007.
GE Distribution Center Under Way
Ply Mart - Business Acquisition/ Expansion Offers New Job Opportunities To
Rural Northwest Georgia Community
Ply Mart, Inc. recently completed a transaction to join forces with John T Supply. Ply Mart’s
newest site location in Rock Spring, Georgia is in the Northwest Georgia Business and Industrial Park. The site will serve as the regional lumber distribution center. An estimated $650,000 rail
spur and sidetrack was recently established to accommodate the new business location. SEIDA,
Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Appalachian
Regional Commission are pleased to have played
an active role in the project. The project retained
20 existing jobs while creating 20 additional new
job opportunities.
Established in 1968 in Decatur, Georgia, Ply Mart
New Rail Spur serving Ply Mart, Inc.
has grown from a small paneling company to be
one of the top employers in Georgia, now employing over 900 people. Rock Spring will join
26 other locations in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Ply Mart is a full-service
building material dealer servicing professional homebuilders and contractors throughout the
Southeast.
FACILITIES OCCUPITED
Faus Group, Inc., locates In Gordon County, Georgia
Faus Group, Inc., an international manufacturer of premium laminate flooring programs, has acquired a
site in Gordon County to expand its manufacturing and distribution operations in the U.S. The expansion
is located on 78 acres of land adjacent to Interstate 75 in Calhoun.
The company will occupy the 400,000 – square foot building
known to many as the OMC facility. The property will house
280,000 square feet of manufacturing and 100,000 square feet of
shipping and receiving. The project will create an estimated 350
new jobs to the North Georgia region.
The Faus Group was founded in 1953 as an organization based out
of Gandia, Spain, and has since become one of the biggest names in
laminate flooring. Faus is a leader in design and technology innovation. Much of the success of the company is attributed to innovation, research and development, as well
as state-of-the-art machinery and equipment.
Shaw Industries, Inc. Comes Back To South Pittsburg
Shaw Industries has selected their former yarn plant in South Pittsburgh, Tennessee, to convert into a
manufacturing facility for hardwood flooring. The plant, which has been idle for about three years, is
being fitted to manufacture pre-finished, engineered hardwood flooring. Shaw is investing sufficient
capital to bring the new plant operations on line by early summer of 2007. The pre-finished engineered
category is the fastest-growing segment of the hardwood market, and Shaw is installing the latest innovations in hardwood manufacturing; their product line will feature technological differentiations that
will benefit retailers, installers, and consumers. Shaw expects, as a true manufacturer and distributor of
hardwood flooring, they are moving in the right direction at the right time to become a leader in this
product market. The plant will employ 90 people when it first opens, and potential expansion plans
could see the number rise to 200 employees.
Benchmark Industries Planning an Expansion in Grundy County
Earlier this year, Jeff Hendrix and Robbie Dickerson started a new start-up manufacturing company,
known as Benchmark Industries. Benchmark produces custom consumable manufacturing components
for the tier 1 and OEM automotive companies in southeast U. S. in the former Millennium Building located in the Pelham Industrial Park owned by Grundy County.
They currently have CNC machines and welding centers for Tig, Mig and Stick. In order to better deliver their services, Benchmark is required to have an in house dimensional laboratory to support process
gage and attribute gage projects for the OEM, tier 1, and tier 2 automotive companies. This requirement
creates a need for an internal structure that meets these requirements. In addition, Benchmark must upgrade the machine shop area and the office front to improve their image and business function. In conjunction with these leasehold improvements to the current building, Benchmark plans on adding additional CNC machining centers and state of the art dimensional equipment totally over $750,000.
Grundy County has completed an ARC pre-application to assist Benchmark with the necessary facility
upgrades and install HVAC in the plant. This project will directly create 70 new skilled higher paying
jobs at an average of $39,000/year for Grundy County residents.
FACILITIES OCCUPIED
KISH Company, Inc. Acquires SPHERE ONE
The KISH Company, headquartered in Mentor, Ohio, is a leading supplier of industrial minerals, extenders, additives to the plastics, paint, rubber, adhesives and sealant industries. When KISH began looking
at expanding their manufacturing and distribution operations, they looked at Chattanooga and the possible purchase of Sphere One, an existing Chattanooga company.
Sphere One, Inc. had been in the lightweight extender business
for over 30 years and is an international and domestic provider of
lightweight spherical filler composite materials, including cenospheres and microspheres. As KISH began determining how to
incorporate the new acquisition into their business, they contacted
the EPB of Chattanooga; as electric power is a key element of
their process. KISH also wanted to find out what, if any, assistance might be available to help keep the operations in Chattanooga or relocate back to Ohio. Judy Burnett, Manager, Economic Development for EPB immediately went to work to bring
all the available resources to the table to see if the project could
Inside Sphere One Operations
be retained in Chattanooga. In June of 2006 KISH notified EPB
that they would be retaining the SPHERE ONE operations in Chattanooga and were ready to discuss
future steps. With KISH expanding the existing Chattanooga business, they would retain 18 jobs, add an
additional 25 jobs, and add an estimated $3,500,000 in new capital investment.
ETS Rubber Products Comes To Ducktown
ETS Rubber Products, a division of SouthNvest Holding, Inc., headquartered in Pell City, AL, is a new start-up rubber gasket manufacturer in
Ducktown, TN. ETS will produce rubber
gaskets used in electric transformers and
will supply their sister company T.C.I.
Sales, an electrical sales supplier in the
Southeastern United States. ETS has purchased an existing 20,000 SF building in
Ducktown that was previously used as a cut and sew plant and will employ up to 50 employees within the first year of operations.
ETS Ribbon Cutting
SBI, LLC Locates Expansion In The Pikeville Apparel Building
Short Bark Industries, LLC (SBI) is one cut-and-sew company that is still competitive in the U.S and
continues to operate in the southeast Region taking advantage of the skilled employees the region offers.
SBI, headquartered in Tellico Plains, has continued to manufacture men and women's clothing, as well as a line of camouflage
outer wear in spite of pressures from south of the border. With
their expansion into the former Pikeville Apparel Building in
Bledsoe County, they are now making seat covers for such companies as Peterbilt Motor Company. The project will create up to
75 new jobs within the first 6 months.
The New SBI Plant
PROJECTS FINANCED
Magnolia Manor
Assisted Living In McMinn County
For several years, Keith and Barbara Robinson had been thinking about moving back home to the Tennessee Valley and opening an assisted living facility. While working as a minister and a nurse in rural
Indiana, the Robinsons worked many years with the elderly and felt it was his life’s calling to serve the
aging population to the best of his ability. After many years of planning and much research, the Robinsons decided now was the time to move to Athens, Tennessee, and build and operate a new 26,000 SF,
40-bed assisted living and adult daycare facility to serve McMinn and surrounding counties. In the
spring of 2005, Keith met with Rick Platz of the Cleveland Small Business Development Center and
began working on refining his business plan. Keith had already spent several months working on the
plan when he paid a visit to Mr. Platz looking for help with some finishing touches and to get advice on
the local lending environment. After a couple of meetings, Rick called a meeting with Mr. Robinson
and Todd Byrum of Southeast Development to discuss financing options. It was decided the use of the
SBA 504 Loan Program would be most beneficial to the Robinsons allowing them to secure 80% financing of the fixed asset portion of the loan. By using this program, the Robinsons would be able to inject
working capital into the project from personal resources. Over the next several months, Mr. Robinson
was able to locate an attractive piece of property in McMinn County. He then began working with The
Bank of Athens, and Todd Byrum on putting together a loan package. The SBA Loan has since been
submitted and approved and the Robinsons are looking forward to building a much-needed, elderly care
facility in rural McMinn County. Staff will consist of six to eight people when the business opens in the
next few months.
Metalworking Solutions, LLC
Chattanooga’s Newest Metal Fabrication Business
When Bill Hewgley, Jr., retired from American Manufacturing, where he served the last seven years as
president and CEO, he knew it wouldn’t be long before he would get bored. Bill started toying with the
idea of starting his own metal fabrication business in Chattanooga, and once the decision was made to
move forward, it was full steam ahead. Bill, along with some family members and former co-workers,
began working on plans to start a state-of-the-art metal fabrication
business, Metalworking Solutions, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, that
would serve a niche market and have no equal as far as technology
and workforce. Plans were developed, a site was chosen, equipment was selected, and it was time to begin the process of securing
financing. Over the years, Bill had banked with several local institutions but decided to go to Jay Totton, of First Volunteer Bank, to
help him put the deal together. Jay had recently worked with
Southeast Development on a couple of different loan projects, so he
called Todd Byrum to see if the SBA 504 Loan might be a good fit
for Mr. Hewgley’s new company. Over the next few weeks, a loan
Bill Hewgley, President/CEO
structure was put together to allow Mr. Hewgley to obtain 85% financing of his equipment cost by partnering with the bank and the SBA. In a very short period of time,
Metalworking Solutions was purchasing equipment and moving into their new 40,000 SF location next
to Finley Stadium in downtown Chattanooga. The business is now open for business, and there are currently 10 employees on the payroll, with plans to add more as business grows.
PROJECTS FINANCED
Lear Corporation
Expands In Dayton, TN
Lear Corporation began operations in Dayton, TN, as a Tier 1 supplier to the automotive industry in the
Southeast, and has grown from 200 employees to over 470 employees today. The U.S. automotive business is in a state of change with many smaller Tier 1 and 2 companies going out of business and some
larger Tier 1 suppliers being challenged to stay competitive. With the changes in the market place, Lear
Corporation continued to make decisions necessary to stay competitive. Because the Dayton plant was
in competition with several of the other Lear
plants across the country, they needed to make
certain changes if they were to compete. With
the Dayton plant installing the necessary equipment that would allow them to keep all components manufactured in the Dayton plant, they
would become very competitive due to their
geographic location. The Dayton plant has
significant business to keep them profitable;
however, they were losing much of their profit
margin due to their limited manufacturing capabilities resulting from the ceiling heights in
their existing Dayton facility. For Lear to purchase and install the necessary equipment
needed to bring work back into the Dayton
plant, they needed to raise the roof.
Because the building is owned by the City of Dayton Industrial Development Board and the City of
Dayton, Lear requested their assistance in adding 15 feet to the ceiling height of one section of the roof.
The expansion project would cost approximately $770,000. Lear asked the industrial Board to incorporate this cost into their existing lease. The Industrial Board subsequently contacted SEIDA and TVA for
assistance in financing this project.
The requested expansion would
result in Lear continuing to operated and compete in its market,
allowing the company to retain its
current 470 employees and add an
additional 35 hourly and 3 salary
positions. Because of these factors, TVA and SLDC agreed to
provide the City of Dayton Industrial Board with the needed financing over 10-year term to complete
this project. As a result of the expansion, Lear will also add $2.3M
in additional capital equipment at
the Dayton, TN plant.
Raising the Roof on the Lear Expansion
2006 Industrial Recruitment And Marketing Highlights
Locations & Expansions By The Numbers
Working in partnership with TVA, local power distributors, state and local community economic development partners, SEIDA assisted with the location of 22 new companies and the expansion of 21 existing companies throughout the region. This growth represents $305,329,000 in new capital investment,
the creation of 2,888 new jobs and the retention of 804 jobs. SEIDA staff actively participated with local and state economic development partners in the coordination of 35 industrial prospect site visits.
Request For Information / Proposals
The site selection process for most business and industry is often a very complex and detailed decision
making process that begins with a “Request for Information/Proposal” (RFI/RFP). The RFI/RFP is often the first contact a community has with a potential company or their site consultant and is specific to
the needs of that project. Most of the time the community will never know who the company is, as the
project usually is labeled with an arbitrary name like Project Top Hat. Regardless of whether the company is looking for land or building, they always are
interested in getting the most current data on key characteristics of the local workforce, transportation system, utilities capacity, local and state incentives, etc.
During 2006, SEIDA responded on behalf of local
communities to six RFI/RFP’s and applied for consideration of TVA’s Mega Site Certification Program.
While no decision has been made on where these projects are going to be located, the RFI/RFP process has
been very beneficial in building the site information
and mapping data base allowing SEIDA to be ready for
the next prospect.
SEIDA Web Site
The staff continues to oversee the web site at www.seida.info. During the past FY, the site has experienced approximately 36,261 pages viewed—an increase of approximately 11,000 over last year. This is
an average of over 3,022 per month, with the highest single month occurring in March 2006 4,275. The
sites and facilities data base has had approximately 17,000 property hits. This is an average of about
1,400 inquiries per month. TVA data indicates viewers come from the United States and outside the
country with inquiries coming from 73 different countries. Our activity accounts for 36% of the total
activity measured by TVA. This viewing level is significant. Our region’s 215 listings are less than
10% of the total facility listings on the TVA database. This speaks to the desirability of our locations.
The staff will continue to update the sites throughout the region. Our data will continue to include aerial
photographs have been provided through the generous support of TVA.
2006 Industrial Recruitment And Marketing Highlights
“Southeast Resource Magazine”
Makes Its Debut
The first annual edition of “Southeast Resource Magazine” was
published, and distribution began, in March 2006. This publication provides SEIDA with a tool to help market the three-state region, providing information about a portion of all that the region
has to offer. In all, approximately 15,000 of the magazine were
distributed throughout the year. The second edition of the magazine is scheduled to be released on March 7, 2007. Our targeted
“Belly-Band” mailing list has been expand to 1,000 this year, up
from 500 last year, to target a larger group of businesses and industries, as well as target market specialist and consultants.
Corridor K
Wilbur Smith Associates was secured earlier this year by the Southeast Tennessee Development District
to complete an Economic Development & Transportation Plan for Corridor K,- the ChattanoogaAsheville Highway. The public involvement plan will be launched in early February, as the economic
development & transportation needs are considered for this important regional economic development
project.
Old Line Railroad
This fall approximately 7,100 people rode the Old Line Railroad to the
Bald Mountain Loop with Hiwassee River Rail Adventures. In 2007,
150 excursions to the Bald Mountain Loop, 20 trips to Copperhill, and
mid-week group trips are planned for March - November. Check with
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, www.tvrail.com., later this year
for booking information.
FastFacilities Sites And Buildings
In continuing to work with Area Development Site and Planning out of New York, SEIDA lists a total
of 21 business and industrial properties on www.FastFacilities.com website. For the 2006 calendar year,
there were a total of 748 recorded hits up from 421 in 2005. These hits generated numerous Requestsfor-Information on available properties throughout the region. The property listing has been updated,
and FastFacility continues to be a very effective marketing tool for SEIDA.
TOURISM
Economic development takes many shapes and forms in order to stimulate the local economy of the
communities in the southeast region. Not every community can bring the manufacturing plant or big
box distribution center to their area, but they can take advantage of the beauty, natural resources, and
heritage their region provides. In many of the rural communities of the Southeast Region, tourism is
often times the largest industry and the best way to help create jobs and investment for their people.
This past year “On The Glory Land Road” and “Music Trail” brochures were developed to take advantage of the regions heritage.
“On The Glory Land Road” received national attention and media coverage. The online Trail and the
printed guide promote the unique religious heritage assets of the region including the Scopes Trial,
Fields of the Wood, and the Children’s Holocaust Museum. Interpretive signs are being created for
many of the sites on the Trail. The Trail is being marketed to religious group travel and religious meeting planners. The Trail was recognized by the U.S. Economic Development Administration as a Finalist
for an Excellence in Economic Development award.
Also released during the year was “Music Trail” Blues to Bluegrass as a fulfillment piece to further enhance the web trail. The guide features more than 30 annual events that highlight the traditional music
of our region. The www.southeasttennessee.com marketing website was updated in a more user friendly
format that highlights the themed heritage Trails that have been developed.
EXPANSIONS IN OUR REGIONS
McKee Foods Corporation
Expands Collegedale Plant
McKee Foods Corporation, best known for its line of Little Debbie snack cakes, is expanding their plant
in Collegedale, TN, a move that will create up to 350 new jobs and an increased capital investment approximating $135 million.
The expansion will house production lines to increase capacity and provide
for new products. McKee Foods’ officials said they could have built the
expansion in another state where we already have a similar operation but
they chose Collegedale for several reasons including the strong labor market, the central location to the market they want to serve, and the fact that
the Chattanooga area has been a great place to do business ever since their
first bakery was opened in Chattanooga in 1934.
Since founder O.D. McKee opened a bakery in Chattanooga in 1934,
McKee Foods has grown from a three-person bakery to a group of companies employing over 6,300 people in three states. McKee Foods is America’s leading snack cake brand in unit sales with more than 3,100 employees in the Chattanooga area and
annual sales of more than $1 billion. Besides their line of Little Debbie brand snack cakes they also produce Sunbelt brand snacks and cereals; Heartland brand granola cereals, pie crusts and snack bars; and
Blinks, a blend of chips and cereal billed as "breakfast in a bag." For nearly 75 years, McKee Foods has
been an integral part of Tennessee’s economic fiber. Based on their continued success, we envision another 75 years of strong economic contribution to the region.
Nissin Brake Expands Facility In
Rock Spring, Georgia
Nissin Brake Georgia proudly announced a 50,000 square foot expansion to their existing 54,000 square
foot facility. The company will be adding a new manufacturing process of aluminum castings that will
compliment the 5 existing assembly lines. The company’s 13 million dollar expansion will create 70
new jobs for region. The project required a lot of the local government, state and regional partnerships,
as well as the assistance of SEDIA, TVA and North Georgia EMC. The NGEMC placed a key role in
the company expansion. We applaud this company and the success regional partnerships bring to our
economies.
Nissin Brake Ground Breaking Ceremony
WORKFORCE
The workforce development system continues to provide funds and to improve the financial situations of
local businesses as well as provide workplace training to significant numbers of trainees through the Onthe-Job (OJT) and Incumbent Worker training programs. In 2006 business services representatives
negotiated 24 new OJT contracts with area businesses and continued to service 27 contracts carried over
from the previous year. OJT training commitments were made to 28 companies to train 195 new employees resulting in $305,138.47 in salary reimbursements to companies to help offset the expense of
new hires.
This is the second year that the state has provided up to $200,000 to each local workforce area to administer Incumbent Worker grants to businesses that need to provide short-term training to existing employees to avert a layoff or improve their ability to compete in the global market. Demand for Incumbent
Worker training dollars far exceeds the supply, and our allocated funds were quickly programmed. Staff
made the state aware of additional pressing needs with both United Knitting in Cleveland and Alstom
Power in Chattanooga; the state generously responded with additional reserve funds. Details on the Incumbent Worker program are shown below:
Company
Master Foods
CIGNA
Johnson Controls
La-Z-Boy
Mills Products
United Knitting
Alstom Power
County
Bradley
Hamilton
McMinn
Rhea
McMinn
Bradley
Hamilton
TOTAL
Amount
$50,000
$50,000
$2,218
$50,000
$47,782
$30,000
$32,680
$262,680
# Trained
23
62
4
796
33
107
28
1,053
Reason
Improve Competitiveness
Improve Competitiveness
Layoff Aversion
Improve Competitiveness
Improve Competitiveness
Layoff Aversion
Improve Competitiveness
Meeting the needs of existing business and industry continues to be a major focus of the regions economic development programs.
Tri-State Regional Workforce Alliance
The Tri-State Regional Workforce Alliance, a coalition of partners representing an array of economic and workforce development entities in 26 counties located in Southeast Tennessee, Northwest
Georgia, and Northeast Alabama, continues to gain momentum and look for opportunities to collaborate
on a regional basis to identify and train the available workforce.
The Executive Committees of the local workforce boards from SE Tennessee and NW Georgia along
with representatives from NE Alabama, met jointly in Calhoun, GA., and in November resulted in the
execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between the three states. In November joint presentations were made during the annual Georgia Workforce Conference in Athens, GA., as well as the annual
Alabama Workforce Conference in Birmingham.
These collaborative efforts are expected to improve the future competitiveness of the region in successfully obtaining Federal funds for workforce development and attracting new investment to the region by
demonstrating that a well trained and productive workforce is available in the three-state region.
SE WOMENS BUSINESS CENTER
The Southeast Women’s Business Center had a blockbuster year
during 2006. For the fourth consecutive year, the SEWBC exceeded the
goals for counseling and training set by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The programmatic highlights for the Center included the successful integration of Intermediate QuickBooks classes into the Basic
QuickBooks offerings, with both classes running at near-capacity levels.
In addition; Breakfast Education & Networking Workshops and the Women in Business Forums presented topics such as Collecting Accounts Receivables, E-Commerce and Website Development, Virtual
Assistance, and Small Business Taxes.
The lending highlight of the year again focuses on the SBA’s Community Express Loan Program. This program was expanded to include loans ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 in unsecured working capital, targeting new as well as existing businesses. While maintaining its current partnership with
Innovative Bank of Oakland, California, the SEWBC was able to secure a second lending partner with
Superior Financial Group of Walnut Creek, California. This expansion has created the capability of providing more workshops on this loan program throughout our region for 2007. Workshops have been
held in the Chattanooga, Bledsoe, Cumberland, Meigs, Putnam, and Rhea Counties in Tennessee, and
Catoosa, Dade, and Walker Counties in Georgia. The SEWBC was successful in assisting 33 businesses
in 13 counties with $432,500 in Community Express Loans approved in 2006.
The Center also provided workshops on Small Business Matters at the Grundy County Small
Business College and the Tennessee Economic Mini-Summit for Women, Better Business Plans for the
Tennessee Entrepreneurship Conference and the keynote address for Sisters in Business First Annual
Business Women’s Empowerment Luncheon, Mini-Tradeshow & Youth Fundraiser.
“Linens To Go” Gets Introduced To The Resources Of The SEWBC
Nelda Parrish, Owner
A great example of the way clients learn of the SEWBC and its services is
in the case of Nelda Parrish, owner of Linens to Go in Chickamauga, Georgia. Nelda was introduced to the SEWBC through the Walker County
Chamber of Commerce and the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority during the planning of several programs the SEWBC held in conjunction with those organizations at the Walker County Civic Center. Linens to Go opened in January 2006 in the Downtown Chickamauga Business
District. Linens to Go, provides table linens, skirting and accessories for all
occasions. Ms. Parrish started her business with an initial capital investment of only $10,000.
Director Of SEWBC Receives Award
Sandi Brock, Director of the SEWBC, was presented the first-ever
“Lightkeeper Award” at the 2006 Nautilus Awards Luncheon for the
Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. This award is given to the person who has demonstrated significant contributions to the issues affecting
women and/or girls through grassroots efforts, while successfully operating his/her organization or company.
The Lightkeeper Award
SEIDA Board
SEIDA ANNUAL BOARD RETREAT
BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN
ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP
CORPORATION
YOUNG HARRIS, GEORGIA
JOE SATTERFIELD
CHICKAMAUGA ELECTRIC
SYSTEM
CHICKAMAUGA, GEORGIA
JOHN CULPEPPER
CLEVELAND UTILITIES
CLEVELAND ,TENNESSEE
DENNIS DANIEL
DAYTON ELECTRIC
DEPARTMENT
DAYTON, TENNESSEE
FRANK WELCH
ELECTRIC POWER BOARD
CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE
HAROLD DEPRIEST
ETOWAH UTILITIES
ETOWAH, TENNESSEE
BOB LAMBERT
MURPHY POWER BOARD
MURPHY, NORTH CAROLINA
JOHN CARRINGER
LARRY KERNEA
NORTH GEORGIA ELECTRIC
MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
DALTON, GEORGIA
RON HUTCHINS
SEQUATCHIE VALLEY
ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
SOUTH PITSBURG,
TENNESSEE
BOB MATHENY
TRI-STATE ELECTRIC
MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
McCAYSVILLE, GEORGIA
DAVID FALLS
TENNESSEE VALLEY
AUTHORITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
HEIDI SMITH
The 2007 SEIDA Board Strategic Planning Retreat took place on
December 3rd&4th at Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris,
Georgia. The warm and inviting atmosphere of beautifully decorated Christmas trees and a coffee and hot chocolate smorgasbord set
the stage. The SEIDA Board and staff settled in to plan for an aggressive and ambitious new work plan. The retreat was kicked off
with a comprehensive look at economic development. The theme of
the retreat centered around “Sites, Facilities and Financing in the
SEIDA region”. The thrust of the presentation emphasized the diverse economic development activities occurring in the various areas
throughout the region. The agency reported a strong economic impact during the past year. New and expanding companies invested
$305 million dollars and created 3,557 new jobs in the SEIDA region during the 2006 fiscal year. After welcoming Athens Utilities
as an associate member to the Southeast Industrial Development Association, effective January 1, 2007, the respective power distributors shared updates and opportunities. Accomplishments ranged
from the facilitation of several traditional industrial manufacturing
locations and expansions, distribution to heritage tourism, recreation,
residential and related infrastructure.
The SEIDA board and staff enjoyed a wonderful fireside dinner with
our economic development partners and guests. Following dinner,
Executive Director, Beth Jones shared a pictorial display of the
SEIDA region and economic development activity. Initiatives and
issues for the coming year were discussed. Sixteen priorities were
set for 2007 they include: emphasis on technology and information;
a new and expanded website for the SEIDA organization; Tri-State
Workforce Alliance; sites and facilities database, facilitation of industrial locations and/or expansions; training for ED professionals;
commercial and small
business support; secondary housing development; retirement
community initiative;
non-traditional forms of
economic development;
multi-cultural and heritage tourism; and I-75
marketing collaboration
with ETIDA and TVA.
This annual report is dedicated to our local power distributors, local
governments, TVA and each of our economic development partners
throughout the region that afford us the privilege of working with
them side by side each and every day as part of an economic development team to create capital investment, jobs and electrical power
load. We thank you for allowing us to play some small part in these
…stories of success!
Advantage West North Carolina, Catoosa County Chamber, Catoosa County Development Authority, Chatsworth/
Murray Co. Chamber, Chattanooga Area Chamber, Chattanooga State, Chattooga Chamber, Cherokee Co. Chamber, Cherokee County EDA, Clay Co. Chamber, Clay County Grants Coordinator, Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of
Commerce, Cleveland State, Dalton/Whitfield Co. Chamber, Dayton Chamber of Commerce, Development Authority
of Union Co., Etowah Chamber, Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, Fannin County Economic Development,
Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia E. M. C., Georgia Institute of Technology, Gordon Co.
Chamber, Grundy Co. Chamber of Commerce, Marion Co. Partnership for Economic Development, Marion County
Chamber, McMinn County EDA, Northwestern Technical College, NW GA Joint Development Authority, Pikeville/
Bledsoe Chamber, Polk County Chamber of Commerce, Rhea Co. Economic Dev. & Tourism, Sequatchie County
Chamber, Spring City Chamber, Tennessee Overhill, Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development, Tennessee Tech, Towns County Chamber, Walker County Chamber
SEIDA STAFF HERE TO SERVE YOU
Beth Jones, Executive Director
423-424-4241
[email protected]
Phyllis Casavant, Deputy Director
423-424-4251
[email protected]
Todd Byrum, Director Economic Development
423-424-4243
[email protected]
Mike Stitt, Asst. Director Economic Development
423-424-4242
[email protected]
Kathy Johnson, Project Manager/Business Dev. Specialist
423-424-4245
[email protected]
Sandi Brock, Director SEWBC
423-424-4246
[email protected]
Mike Bourne, Business Development Specialist
423-424-4298
[email protected]
Mark Kirby, WIA
423-424-4249
[email protected]
Johnny Harrington, WIA
423-424-4299
[email protected]
Liz Howard, Administrative Assistant
423-424-4247
[email protected]
Faye Robinson, Executive Assistant
423-424-4240
[email protected]
SOUTHEAST INDUSTRIAL
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
Three States One Source
To obtain additional copies of this report, please contact:
Southeast Industrial Development Association
P.O. Box 4757
535 Chestnut Street
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37405-0757
423.266.5781 telephone
423.267.7705 facsimile
www.seida.info