September 18, 2008

Governor Bredesen Announces
Trade Mission to Germany

 
Governor Bredesen speaking at the 55th Annual Governor's Conference, where he announced an ECD-led trade mission to Germany to take place in October.

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen announced this week a delegation of Tennessee government, community and business leaders will travel to Germany in October to meet with officials of Volkswagen AG and the automaker's supplier community. The governor announced the trip during his keynote address at the 55th annual Governor's Conference for Economic and Community Development at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

"Our message to Volkswagen suppliers is simple: Tennessee is ready to offer the same world-class business climate to the automaker's partner companies as well," Governor Bredesen said. "I'm convinced we'll find a receptive audience for our message."

 

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development will be the state's lead agency for the trade mission and will invite representatives from Tennessee communities located within a defined radius of the Enterprise South megasite. The initial meetings with suppliers will focus on Tier 1 and Tier 2 companies based in Europe. Regional industrial development associations from across Tennessee will also be invited to participate in the trade mission to represent communities who cannot send a delegate. A list of trade mission participants is still being finalized. The trade mission will run October 22-28.

The announcement was one of many important moments at this year's Governor's Conference. The gathering drew more than 800 people to learn and network around issues relating to economic development. Governor Bredesen keynoted his luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 16 and FORTUNE Managing Editor Andy Serwer addressed the conference via live Internet feed during the Commissioner's Luncheon on Monday, Sept. 15. Other notable events included a presentation on 3D community mapping by a representative of GoogleEarth, a question and answer forum with ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber and numerous informational sessions by nationally known site selectors and business consultants.


Clean Energy Summit Coming to Knoxville

 


Aisin Celebrates Expansion Grand Opening

 
ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber, right, joins Clinton Mayor Wimp Shoopman (second from right) and Aisin officials to celebrate the auto parts maker's expansion.

East Tennessee auto parts maker Aisin Automotive Casting is settling into a new home. The Clinton facility now rings in at 500,000 square feet, thanks to a 240,000-square-foot expansion of their existing building.

Along with doubling in physical size, the company will be growing its 450-person workforce by roughly 150 employees as the facility becomes fully operational.

The engine plant will now produce the new 4C engine for the Toyota Camry.

"To be able to support them means a lot of employment, the economy, and just gives a better quality of life for the citizens of Clinton, Tenn.," Clinton Mayor Wimp Shoopman said.

Tennessee Quick Facts

Jackson County is known as the 'Switzerland of the Cumberlands.' There is much rolling land between sharply incised stream valleys. The county, named in honor of Andrew Jackson, is the second-oldest of the 23 counties named for Jackson in the United States.

Source:
Tennessee Encyclopedia

Schedule Alert

Friday, Sept. 19
Franklin, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend a meeting of the Governor's Task Force on Energy Policy at the Nissan North America Headquarters at 9 a.m.

Monday, Sept. 22
Nashville, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce - Nashville Leadership Exchange at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center at 8:15 a.m.

Franklin, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend the Rural Development State Meeting at 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 23
Nashville, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend the Comptroller's Senior Management Retreat at Ellington Agricultural Center at 8 a.m.

Franklin, Tenn.
Commissioner Kisber will attend the Verizon Wireless Regional Headquarters Grand Opening at 2:30 p.m.  

To request ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber to speak or attend an event, please contact Jennifer Alward at (615) 253-1852 or jennifer.alward@state.tn.us

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New Small Business Counseling opportunities and meetings with entrepreneurship specialists are on the BERO calendar. Check out the ECD Upcoming Events Web page for details.

Community Development

Three-Star and Main Street

Communities Receive Certification

Governor Phil Bredesen joined Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber in certifying more than 90 Three-Star Communities and 22 Tennessee Main Street programs September 16 at a recognition ceremony during the Governor's Conference in Nashville.

Tennessee Main Street and Three-Star programs must receive annual certification from the governor by achieving strategic economic goals. The Main Street program in Savannah was certified for the first time this year, joining 2,200 other programs nationwide that receive accreditation from the National Main Street Program.

Governor Bredesen's five-year asset-based economic development strategic plan is the cornerstone of the Tennessee Three-Star and Main Street programs.

The Tennessee Main Street program focuses on downtown revitalization and historic preservation as a step toward business development and greater livability. Tennessee's Three-Star program helps urban and rural communities develop strategic economic and community development plans that meet the needs and challenges of an ever-changing economic environment. Both programs help communities preserve existing employment, create new employment opportunities, improve family income and develop a strong leadership base for economic development.

Communities seeking certification as a Three-Star community must reach a variety of benchmarks in organizational, community, business, education and work force development categories.

Communities participating in the Tennessee Main Street program must meet several requirements before becoming certified, including broad-based community support for the program, a comprehensive work plan, a sufficient operating budget and adequate staff and volunteers to support the program.

To learn more about both programs, visit ECD's Web site at www.tnecd.gov.

 

Recent News

Associated Press: "VW welcomes Nissan workers who take buyout'

Nissan employees taking buyout offers of up to $125,000 to leave their jobs in Smyrna and Decherd have an invitation to apply with the South's automaking newcomer, Volkswagen.

A Nissan North America Inc. spokesman reported a "good response" to the company's employee buyout offer that was expiring Friday, but declined to say how many employees are taking the money.

"Employees have a three-week period during which they can rescind their decision, as was the case with the program last year," spokesman Steve Parrett said. "We will have more information when the collection and confirmation process is completed."

While automakers are struggling with a tight economy and a changing marketplace, Nissan employees may find that skills honed with Japan's third-largest auto maker are in demand with Europe's largest.



Memphis Business Journal: "Tennessee ranked 19th in gross product in 2007"

Tennessee ranked 19th in the nation for state gross product at $243 billion last year, according to newly collected numbers from the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation.

Arkansas came in 34th with $95 billion. Mississippi ranked 36th on the list with $88 billion last year.

California remained the highest grossing state in the land with $1.8 trillion in 2007. The Golden State was followed closely by Texas at $1.4 trillion, New York with $1.1 trillion, Florida with $734 billion and Illinois with $609 billion.

Smaller and less-populated states rounded out the bottom of the list. Vermont ranked 51st with $24 billion. Above it was North Dakota with $27 billion, Wyoming with $31 billion, South Dakota with $33 billion and Montana with $34 billion.

Total U.S. GDP for 2007 was $13.7 trillion in 2007, up from $13.1 trillion in 2006.

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