Tenn. Regions Partner for Economic Development
Published Apr 07, 2005
Regional partnerships teaming communities, government and the private sector are building as Gov. Phil Bredesen’s Jobs Cabinet approach to economic development catches on across the state.
Some communities, such as the Knoxville-Oak Ridge area, have had models of this approach in place for several years. What began as Tennessee’s Resource Valley in 1988 has since become the East Tennessee Economic Development Agency, a marketing arm that works in conjunction with the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership, the Oak Ridge Economic Partnership and a 16-county area.
“Gov. Bredesen is right on track in getting the various groups to work together for the benefit of us all,” says Allen Neel, ETEDA president and CEO. “Through our joint efforts, we have raised $12 million through the JobsNow! campaign for economic development purposes.”
Neel says the spirit of cooperation is impressive to the business community – and a big reason for the group’s success.
“Instead of writing three checks, our private-sector partners only have to write one,” he says. “Companies and site consultants have really found our approach to be effective, and it has resulted in strong support from both the public and private sector.”
Rural communities are also discovering the power of partnerships. Last March, five counties in the upper Cumberland Plateau began pooling their resources to promote business retention and expansion efforts. Clay, Fentress, Morgan, Overton and Pickett Counties officially kicked off the formation of the High Cumberland Regional Economic Development Council to address common regional issues and opportunities in the area.
“We felt like we needed to band together because as primarily small, rural communities, we knew we had to work a little harder to build momentum,” says Scott Sandman, executive director of the Fentress County Chamber of Commerce and chairman of HCREDC.
Sandman adds that the group’s main focus is supporting existing industry to retain jobs.
HCREDC also became the first regional group to sign on to use the Synchronist Business Information System program, a partnership between the state Department of Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Valley Authority designed to facilitate the gathering of company-specific data to support existing industry.
Business and government leaders in the Tri-Cities area also understand that the boundaries of city and county, or even state lines no longer make sense for global businesses. The Tri-Cities Economic Development Alliance, a public-private marketing effort, was formed earlier this year to enhance job creation and increase average incomes in the upper East Tennessee and southwest Virginia areas.
“We must attract new industries, new jobs, new money and new talent into our region,” says J. Brian Ferguson, chairman and CEO of Eastman Chemical Co. and president of the Tri-Cities Economic Development Alliance. “The best way I know to do that – based on the successes of other regions of the country – is by aggressively marketing the region by drawing attention to its many advantages for business.”
Story by K. Dawn Rutledge Jones
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