Executive Insight

Industrial development plays a crucial role in the economic health of any community. However, finding the right location, installing the necessary infrastructure, securing funding, making wise investments with taxpayer money, and coordinating all these efforts to happen at the right time can be a daunting task. To gain the necessary knowledge and insight for making informed decisions, I applied for a grant to bring in experts in industrial development for their valuable advice.

White County, TN, along with Franklin and Lake counties, has been selected to participate in the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s (TNECD) Property Evaluation Program (PEP). This initiative aims to enhance the county’s industrial site inventory and attract future economic investments. White County was chosen due to its demonstrated need for industrial properties and its ability to assemble viable and marketable sites.

Last Tuesday, representatives from Austin Consulting, TNECD, TVA, UCDD, and City and County leadership visited and evaluated approximately ten potential industrial properties. This visit, built on the principles of the Select Tennessee Certified Site Program, involved a comprehensive assessment of the county’s industrial sites. The process began with a webinar on site selection, followed by an on-site visit, and a detailed evaluation of the strengths and needs of White County’s industrial site inventory. Essentially, it was a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis with guidance on site improvement needs and investment priorities.

White County’s participation in the PEP is a significant step towards enhancing industrial site opportunities. This plan is to benefit the community by preparing industrial properties for development and creating a pipeline of properties for future development.

The city, county, and their associated legislative bodies are committed to using this opportunity to attract new businesses and foster economic growth in Sparta and White County. The PEP’s guidance and recommendations will be instrumental in achieving these goals and ensuring the county remains competitive in industrial recruitment.