News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Highlands Economic Partnership looks to help communities overcome hurdles in helping attract businesses to the region.
For Jackson County, HEP Vice President of Economic Development Steven Crooks said the biggest challenge is infrastructure.
“Historically, you see a lot of companies start their search with trying to be as close in proximity to an interstate highway as possible, and at minimum, very close to a divided four-lane highway,” Crooks said. “That’s always going to be a challenge for our rural communities within the state of Tennessee and definitely within our region.”
Crooks said using current assets to their advantage will help make Jackson County – and the region – a more marketable location for businesses.
“What we have a lot of is workforce programs that can be very attractive to companies,” Crooks said, “…and a team of existing businesses that are thriving and expanding and trying to figure out how to grow within their market share as well as overall employment.”
Crooks said aspects such as utilities, proximity, infrastructure, and telecommunication can play a factor into how a company chooses its next location.
“There’s a lot that goes into trying to identify the best site for a project,” Crooks said. “Their consultants are out there trying to eliminate any contender for any number of reasons. Sometimes the reason they’ll eliminate your site from contention is because there’s a site that’s closer to an interstate or a four-lane divided highway.”
According to HEP statistics, only three companies in Jackson County have over 30 employees while only one building site is listed for sale or lease within the county.
