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Automotive 

The region has a strong automotive sector due to its location at the juncture of I-75, I-40 and I-81, skilled and experienced automotive workforce, access to automotive and advanced materials research, and a favorable business climate.

• Over 50 manufacturers and 12,500  employees producing assemblies and sub-assemblies from metal, plastic and textiles for the industry
• Over $510 million of investment and 2,800  jobs created in the region by automotive companies since 2004
• One hour drive on Interstate 75 from the recently announced $1 billion Volkswagen OEM
• Excellent selection of suitable buildings and sites  
• Within a one-day drive of the majority of  Eastern U.S. automotive OEMs and 70% of the US population
• Direct access to established transportation industry research programs and facilities                   

                                  Workforce                           Competitive Business Climate
                                  Accessibility                        Quality of Life
                                  Technology                         List of Major Automotive Suppliers in Region   

Workforce   

• Fastest growing metro area in the State of Tennessee
• Flexible, growing regional workforce of 550,000
• Manufacturing workforce of 56,000 at costs 8% below the U.S. average (TN Dept of Labor, June 2008)
• Tennessee  ranked as  the 5th largest auto producing state in U.S. (TN Department of Economic and Community Development, 2007)
• Home to University of Tennessee flagship campus,  with nationally acclaimed logistics and engineering programs
• Network of community colleges, technology centers, and careers centers to meet  local employers' training, screening and hiring needs
• Competitive workers compensation rates
• Customized workforce training
• Right to work state

Accessibility  

• Located at the juncture three major interstates, I-40, I-75, and I-81
• Region is within one-hour drive of newly announced Volkswagen plant and within 4 hours of several major auto and truck manufacturing plants
• Rail service by Norfolk Southern, CSX, and local short-line railroads
• Barge service on the Tennessee- Tombigbee Waterway System
• Regional airport offers more than 140 flights daily to 21 major U.S. destinations
• US Customs Port of Entry and Foreign Trade Zone designation
• Excellent access to an existing network of raw materials suppliers from steel to plastics to automotive electronics
• Within a day's drive of 70% of the US population

Technology

• Direct access to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) with 16 user facilities across multiple disciplines
• World's premier laboratory in advanced materials
• National Transportation Research Center (NTRC), which provides research for the transportation industry, is located in Knoxville 
• Automotive Research Alliance provides the automotive industry with access to research funding, to scientists, engineers and researchers, and to laboratories and equipment.
• Internationally recognized Center for Transportation Research (CTR) located on the University of Tennessee campus
• Collaborative research agreements available at ORNL and the University of Tennessee  

Competitive Business Climate  

• Attractive state, local, and utility incentives for new job creation and capital investment
• State taxes ranking among the nation's lowest
• No state property tax
• Competitive corporate taxes
• Available targeted jobs tax credit
• Pro-business environment
• Favorable business tax climate consistently in the top 1/3 of U.S. states
• Competitive gas, water, and sewer rates  
• Electricity generated by the Tennessee Valley Authority at rates 19% below the U.S. industrial average
• Electricity reliability at 99.999% for past 6 years
• Building costs 19% below the national average (RSMeans Construction Index 2010)
• Competitive lease rates
• Right to work state

Quality of life

• Cost of living 11% below national average (ACCRA 1Q 2010)
• No state personal income tax
• Tennessee ranked in the top 10 among states in overall personal tax burden (Retirement Living Information Center, Jan 2009)
• Housing costs 18% below national average (ACCRA 1Q 2010)
• Healthcare costs 10% below the national average (ACCRA 1Q 2010)
• Main campus of the University of Tennessee, 8 four-year colleges and 4 two-year colleges
• National award-winning school districts
• Spectacular natural beauty
• The Great Smoky Mountains, the nation's most visited national park
• Seven area lakes, three whitewater rafting rivers, and numerous golf courses
• Two symphonies, an opera company, 3 ballet companies and a fine arts museum
• Nationally acclaimed zoo
• World-class aquarium
  

Automotive Suppliers with 100+ Employees in ETEDA Region        

Automotive Firms - ETEDA Region         

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