North Carolina Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee
Transcription
North Carolina Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee
North Carolina Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee For four issues of Southern Business & Development, we are having some fun. It’s the “Best of Economic Development in the American South,” and each issue, beginning with Spring 2015, features three to five Southern states. You can use the results as a unique aid in your search for a suitable site for your business in the American South. Southern Southern Business Business & Development & Development | SPRING | FALL 2015 | 55 SOUTHERN SOUTHERN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ROUNDTABLE EC ON OMIC DE V OP S OUTHER EL N ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ROUNDTABLE UN L E R Southern Economic Development Roundtable O MENT SEDR DTAB We continue with our series of the “Best of Economic Development in the American South.” Since the spring 2015 issue, we have featured the best of economic development in three to five Southern states. You can use the results as a unique aid in your search for a suitable site for your business in the American South. meaning not all of the categories are the same from state to state. The top three vote recipients for each category are recognized and listed in alphabetical order. In the case of a tie, a fourth “winner” is listed. The winners are then followed by other items that received votes. Therefore, the first listed under each category is no “better” than the third or fourth listed. We polled the members of the Southern Economic Development Roundtable to come up with the best of 30 economic development categories in each Southern state. SEDR is a group of economic developers, educators, economists, site consultants and CEOs in the South that meet once a year in January at WaterColor in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. The meeting is an opportunity for 50 of the South’s best economic development minds to discuss issues relative to economic development in the American South. A group photo of the 2015 SEDR class is published on this page. This issue features the best of economic development in North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee. Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri were featured in the summer issue and Alabama, Arkansas and Florida were featured in the spring issue. The results of the best of economic development in Texas, Virginia and West Virginia will be published in the next issue (March). You can access those state profiles by going to SB-D.com. There are 30 categories for each Southern state, and states will have some categories that pertain specifically to them, We think you will enjoy reading the results of the “Best of Economic Development in the American South.” Again, this unique forum can help guide you and your business to a profitable place in the South, the fourth largest economy in the world. NORTH CAROLINA B e s t 1. North Carolina’s Best Economic Development Assets Competitive energy costs Location Research Triangle Park Transportation infrastructure Also receiving votes: Duke Energy’s economic development team; Higher education institutions; Highway network; North Carolina Economic Development Partnership; Skilled workforce. o f E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t 2. The North Carolina Economy’s Most Important Employers Bank of America Duke Energy SAS Institute Wells Fargo Also receiving votes: Duke University Medical Center; Food Lion; GSK; Harris Teeter; Lowe’s Home Improvement; University of North Carolina Health Care; Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. 56 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development i n 3. North Carolina’s Most Important New Employers Apple Facebook MetLife Sealed Air Also receiving votes: North State Aviation; Sturm, Ruger & Co.; Tryon Resort. CONTINUED NORTH CAROLINA 8. Best Metro Aerospace Locations in North Carolina Charlotte Greensboro Monroe Winston-Salem Also receiving votes: Asheville; Durham; Raleigh. The Research Triangle Park, located near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, is one of the largest research parks in the world. It is the winner in many categories, including Best Economic Development Assets. 9. Best Small Market Aerospace Locations in North Carolina Global Transpark - Kinston Goldsboro Monroe/Union County New Bern Also receiving votes: Asheboro; Clemmons; Cleveland Co.; Elizabeth City; Gastonia; Fayetteville; High Point; Reidsville; Rocky Mount; Statesville. Asheville is known for its vibrant arts scene and historic architecture, including the 19th-century Biltmore estate. The city was a winner in a number of categories for its attributes in business and quality of life. 4. North Carolina’s Most Admired Companies Quintiles SAS Institute VF Corporation Wells Fargo Also receiving votes: BB&T; Duke Energy; Hanesbrands; Novant; The Biltmore Company. 5. North Carolina’s Most Admired Manufacturers Caterpillar General Electric Hanesbrands Nucor Also receiving votes: Cisco; Freightliner; Honda Jet; Reynolds American. 6. North Carolina’s Most Admired Service Companies Cisco IBM LabCorp Red Hat Also receiving votes: BB&T; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina; Bank of America; Duke Energy; Fidelity; Google; NetApp. 7. The Best of R&D in North Carolina LabCorp North Carolina Research Center Research Triangle Park Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine Also receiving votes: Argos Therapeutics; Bayer Crop Science; Manufacturing Solutions Center; Red Hat; RTI International. 58 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development 10. Best Tier One Auto Supplier Sites in North Carolina Brunswick County Gaston County I-85 Corridor Park - Davidson County Iredell County Kingsboro Site - Edgecombe County Also receiving votes: Asheville; Cabarrus Co.; Charlotte; Cleveland Co.; Concord; Durham; Gaston Co.; Henderson Co.; Liberty; Rocky Mount; Rowan County; Siler City. 11. North Carolina’s Best Community Colleges for Workforce Training Catawba Valley Community College - Hickory Central Piedmont Community College - Charlotte Forsyth Technical Community College - Winston-Salem Wake Technical Community College - Raleigh Also receiving votes: Cape Fear Community College; Coastal Carolina Community College; Lenoir Community College; Nash Community College; Rowan-Cabarrus Community College; Wilson Community College. NORTH CAROLINA 12. Best Engineering/Architecture Firms in North Carolina ECS O’Brien Atkins S&ME Walter Robbs Also receiving votes: CRB; Little and Associates. 13. North Carolina’s Best Economic Development Law Firms Nexsen Pruet Parker Poe Womble Carlyle Also receiving votes: McGuire Greensboro-Randolph County Megasite - Liberty Kingsboro Megasite - Edgecombe County Also receiving votes: Chatham Co; Moncure Megasite - Chatham Co. 18. Best Small Town Industrial Sites in North Carolina Foothills Commerce Center - Cleveland County Gastonia Technology Park - Gastonia Global Transpark - Kinston Park 1764 - Catawba County Also receiving votes: Heart of North Carolina Megapark - Montgomery and Moore Counties; Henderson-Vance Industrial Park; Triangle North - Vance and Warren Counties; Washburn Switch Road Site - Cleveland Co. CONTINUED Woods. 14. Best Contractors for Industrial Projects in North Carolina Gray Construction Matthews Construction Shelco Also receiving votes: Holder Construction; Skanska; Whiting Turner Construction. 15. North Carolina’s Best Small Market Innovation Hubs Chapel Hill Kannapolis Wilmington Wilson Also receiving votes: Greenville; Pembroke. 16. North Carolina’s Best Small Market Manufacturing Workforces Hickory High Point Monroe Pitt County Also receiving votes: Fayetteville; Gastonia; Jacksonville; Kannapolis; Morganton; Nash Co.; Rocky Mount; Salisbury; Scotland County; Shelby; Statesville; Wilkes County. 17. Best Megasites in North Carolina Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing Site - Chatham County Southern Business & Development | FALL 2015 | 59 NORTH CAROLINA ncData Campus - Conover and Catawba Counties T5 Kings Mountain Data Center Site - Cleveland County Also receiving votes: Catawba County Data Park; Hickory; Kings Mountain; Morganton; Winston-Salem. 20. Best Locations for the Creative Class in North Carolina Asheville Carrboro Durham Wilmington Also receiving votes: Charlotte; Hendersonville; Pittsboro; Raleigh. The Wooly Worm Festival — voted a Best Non-Sporting Event — is held every October in Banner Elk, N.C. Participants race wooly caterpillars, and the winner’s stripes are used to predict the winter forecast. 19. Best Data Center Locations in North Carolina Hopkins-Buist Eden Site - Eden 21. Best Locations for Biosciences in North Carolina Durham North Carolina Research Campus - Kannapolis Research Triangle Park Winston-Salem Also receiving votes: Morrisville; Raleigh. 60 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development 22. Best Small Market Locations for Biosciences in North Carolina Greenville Holly Springs Wilson Also receiving votes: Pitt Co.; Rocky Mount. 23. Best Places to Hire Veterans in North Carolina Fayetteville Goldsboro Jacksonville New Bern Also receiving votes: Greenville; Rocky Mount. 24. North Carolina’s Best Regional and Statewide Economic Development Agencies Duke Energy Electricities of North Carolina North Carolina Economic Development Partnership Also receiving votes: Dominion; NORTH CAROLINA North Carolina Community College System; North Carolina Department of Commerce; North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives; TVA. 25. North Carolina’s Best Local Economic Development Agencies Catawba County EDC Gaston County EDC Randolph County EDC Winston-Salem Business Inc. Also receiving votes: AdvantageWest; Alamance County Economic Development; Asheville Chamber; Beaufort County Economic Development; Carolina’s Gateway Partnership; Charlotte Chamber; Charlotte Regional Partnership; Greater Durham Chamber; Greensboro Partnership; Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development; High Point EDC; Monroe-Union County Economic Development; Mooresville-South Iredell EDC; N.C. East Alliance; North Carolina’s Southeast Partnership; Pitt County Development Commission; Research Triangle Regional Partnership; Statesville Regional Development; The Alliance; Wake County Economic Development; Wilson EDC. 26. Best Places to Retire in North Carolina Asheville Edenton Hendersonville Also receiving votes: Highlands; Mt. Airy; New Bern; Pinehurst; Raleigh; Wilmington. 27. North Carolina’s Best Craft Breweries Foothills Brewing Fullsteam Brewery Olde Hickory Brewery Wicked Weed Brewing Also receiving votes: Front Street Brewery; Green Man Brewery; Mother Earth; Natty Greene’s; Pisgah Brewing; Red Oak Brewing. 28. North Carolina’s Best Sporting Events Atlantic Coast Conference basketball tournament Coca Cola 600 Duke University basketball Univ. of North Carolina basketball Also receiving votes: Carolina Panthers; Krispy Kreme Challenge; Wells Fargo Championship. 29. North Carolina’s Best Non-Sporting Events Azalea Festival MerleFest Wooly Worm Festival Also receiving votes: Grandfather Mountain Scottish Highland Games; U.S. National Whitewater Center. 30. Best Three Restaurants in North Carolina Angus Barn - Raleigh Chef & The Farmer - Kinston Fearrington House - Pittsboro Also receiving votes: Crook’s Corner - Chapel Hill; Herons - Cary; Lexington Barbecue - Lexington; Price’s Chicken Coop - Charlotte; The Capital Grille - Charlotte; The Dining Room Biltmore Estate; The Fig Tree Charlotte; The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge - Blowing Rock. Southern Business & Development | FALL 2015 | 61 O KLAHOMA B e s t o f E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t i n Oklahoma City’s Tinker Air Force Base is expanding. The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex is hiring 1,000 workers in 100 days at its massive aircraft maintenance center. The base has over 9,000 civilian workers at the complex currently. Tinker was voted one of Oklahoma’s most important employers. 5. Oklahoma’s Most Admired Manufacturers Baker Hughes Kimray NORDAM Spirit Aerosystems Also receiving Industries; Pro-Fab. votes: LSB 6. Oklahoma’s Most Admired Service Companies 1. Oklahoma’s Best Economic Development Assets Bank of Oklahoma Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Oklahoma Hobby Lobby Also receiving votes: INTEGRIS tical Center; INTEGRIS Health; Michelin; OGE Energy; Saint Francis Health System; St. John Health System. Health; Verizon. 3. Oklahoma’s Most Important New Employers 7. The Best of R&D in Oklahoma Tulsa; Incentives; Inland ports; Tulsa Port of Catoosa. Midstates Petroleum; Verizon. Baker Hughes; Lufthansa Technik; Spirit Aerosystems. 2. The Oklahoma Economy’s Most Important Employers 4. Oklahoma’s Most Admired Companies 8. Best Metro Aerospace Locations in Oklahoma Favorable regulatory environment Low cost of living Low operating costs Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Also receiving votes: City of American Airlines Boeing Tinker Air Force Base University of Oklahoma Also receiving votes: Devon Energy; FAA Mike Monroney Aeronau- Boeing GE Paycom Also receiving votes: Macy’s; American Airlines Boeing Devon Energy NORDAM Also receiving votes: Hobby Lobby; Paycom; The Williams Companies. 62 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development Boeing GE University of Oklahoma Also receiving votes: Midwest City Oklahoma City Tulsa Also receiving votes: Cherokee Industrial District; Norman; Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport. 15. Best Places to Live in Oklahoma Bartlesville Broken Arrow Oklahoma City Tulsa Also receiving votes: Ada; Claremore; Edmond; Jenks; Norman; Stillwater; Weatherford; Yukon. Boeing has moved hundreds of jobs from the Puget Sound to Oklahoma City recently. Boeing was named one of Oklahoma’s most important employers as well as one of the most important new employers in the state. 16. Best Small Business Banks in Oklahoma Arvest Bank BancFirst Bank of Oklahoma Also receiving votes: MidFirst Bank. 17. Best Megasites in Oklahoma MidAmerica Industrial Park (pictured) was voted one of Oklahoma’s best megasites and industrial sites. 9. Best Small Market Aerospace Locations in Oklahoma Ardmore Broken Arrow Lawton Norman Also receiving votes: Altus; Del City; 12. Oklahoma’s Best Cities for Manufacturing Workforces Ardmore Oklahoma City Lawton Tulsa Also receiving votes: Broken Arrow; McAlester; Owasso; Sand Springs; Yukon. Enid; Owasso. 10. Best Local Economic Development Initiatives in Oklahoma 13. Oklahoma’s Best Small Market Manufacturing Workforces Oklahoma City Strategic Investment Program Oklahoma City MAPS 3 Tulsa’s Future Also receiving votes: OKC TIF. 11. Oklahoma’s Best Community Colleges for Workforce Training Murray State College Oklahoma City Community College Tulsa Community College Also receiving votes: Rogers State University; Southwestern Oklahoma State University; Tulsa Technology Center. Bartlesville Durant MidAmerica Industrial Park Midwest City Also receiving votes: Enid; Glenpool; Sapulpa; Sand Springs; Yukon. 14. Oklahoma’s Best Economic Development Law Firms Doerner Saunders Daniel & Anderson Eller & Detrich GableGotwals Inola Station MidAmerica Industrial Park Tulsa International Airport Also receiving votes: Tulsa Port of Catoosa. 18. Best Industrial Sites in Oklahoma Ardmore Industrial Airpark MidAmerica Industrial Park Port of Catoosa Port of Muskogee Also receiving votes: Cherokee Expressway Industrial Park; Okmulgee South Industrial Park; East Industrial Park - Durant. 19. Best Data Center Locations in Oklahoma Broken Arrow MidAmerica Industrial Park Tulsa Also receiving votes: Ardmore; Oklahoma City. 20. Best Locations for the Creative Class in Oklahoma Jenks Norman Oklahoma City Tulsa Also receiving votes: Broken Arrow. CONTINUED Southern Business & Development | FALL 2015 | 63 Oklahoma City, recognized numerous times in The Best of Economic Development in Oklahoma, has transformed its downtown in the last two decades. 21. Best Locations for Biosciences in Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma City Stillwater Also receiving votes: Broken Arrow; Owasso; Tulsa. 22. Best Places to Hire Veterans in Oklahoma Altus Lawton-Fort Sill Oklahoma City Also receiving votes: Enid; McAlester. 23. Best Locations for Defense Industries in Oklahoma Altus Enid Lawton-Fort Sill Oklahoma City Also receiving votes: Ardmore. 24. Best Places for Startups in Oklahoma Broken Arrow Oklahoma City Tulsa Also receiving votes: Norman; Owasso; Stillwater. 25. Oklahoma’s Best Local Economic Development Agencies Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Lawton-Fort Sill Economic Development Corporation MidAmerica Industrial Park Tulsa Regional Chamber Also receiving votes: Ardmore Development Authority; Bartlesville Development Corporation; Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation. 26. Best Places to Retire in Oklahoma Bartlesville Keystone Lake Lake Eufaula Also receiving votes: Ardmore; Duncan; Edmond; Grand Lake; Lake Texoma; McCurtain Co.; Ottawa Co.; Stillwater; Tulsa. 27. Oklahoma’s Best Craft Breweries 405 Brewing Anthem Brewing COOP Ale Works Marshall Brewing Mustang Brewing Also receiving votes: Dead Armadillo Craft Brewing; Prairie Artisan Ales. 64 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development 28. Oklahoma’s Best Sporting Events Oklahoma City Thunder basketball Oklahoma State University football University of Oklahoma football Also receiving votes: Oklahoma City Dodgers; Tulsa Drillers baseball; Tulsa Oilers hockey; Tulsa Roughnecks soccer. 29. Oklahoma’s Best Non-Sporting Events Festival of Light Tulsa International Mayfest Tulsa Oktoberfest Also receiving votes: Oklahoma State Fair; Poteau Balloon Fest; Red Earth Festival; Tulsa State Fair. 30. Best Three Restaurants in Oklahoma Bodean Seafood Restaurant - Tulsa Cattlemen’s Steakhouse Oklahoma City Nic’s Grill - Oklahoma City Prhyme Steak House - Tulsa Also receiving votes: Adam’s Greek House - Lawton; Blackbird Norman; Cheever’s - Oklahoma City; KD’s - Oklahoma City; Ranch Steakhouse Oklahoma City; Redrock Canyon Grill Oklahoma City; The French Hen - Tulsa; Vast - Oklahoma City. SOUTH CAROLINA B e s t o f E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t i n The Port of Charleston, one of the largest container ports in North America, was voted by the Southern Economic Development Roundtable as one of “South Carolina’s Best Economic Development Assets.” 1. South Carolina’s Best Economic Development Assets Port of Charleston readySC Right-to-Work state Skilled workforce Also receiving votes: Aggressive state and local economic development leadership; Santee Cooper; South Carolina Ports Authority; South Carolina Technical College System; Transportation network. 2. The South Carolina Economy’s Most Important Employers BMW Boeing Michelin Also receiving votes: Continental Tire; Greenville Memorial Hospital; Medical University of South Carolina; Santee Cooper; SCANA; Shaw Air Force Base; Sonoco. 66 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development 3. South Carolina’s Most Important New Employers Boeing GITI Tire Lash Group Also receiving votes: Nephron Pharmaceuticals; Portucel; Ruiz Foods; Toray Carbon Fibers. 4. South Carolina’s Most Admired Companies BMW Boeing CONTINUED Southern Business & Development | SUMMER 2015 | 67 68 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development Southern Business & Development | FALL 2015 | 69 SOUTH CAROLINA 8. Best Metro Aerospace Locations in South Carolina Charleston Greenville South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center - Greenville Also receiving votes: Columbia; Myrtle Beach. 9. Best Small Market Aerospace Locations in South Carolina Pictured is Boeing’s massive industrial complex, located at the Charleston International Airport in North Charleston, S.C. The facility and the company, cited many times in the “Best of Economic Development in South Carolina,” houses thousands of workers that fully assemble the 787 Dreamliner. Dillon County Graniteville Orangeburg Sumter Also receiving votes: Aiken; Camden; Greer; Laurens Co.; Newberry Co.; Rock Hill; Spartanburg. 10. Best Tier One Auto Supplier Sites in South Carolina Aiken County Berkeley County Laurens County Spartanburg County Also receiving votes: Anderson Co.; Charleston; Columbia; Dorchester Co.; Fairfield Co.; Greenville; Greer; Kershaw Co.; Newberry Co.; Orangeburg; Piedmont; Summerville; Sumter; White Hawk Megasite. Boeing and BMW are two of the Palmetto State’s largest single employers. Pictured is the BMW plant, which houses nearly 10,000 workers, in Spartanburg County, S.C. Michelin Also receiving votes: Benefitfocus; Duke Energy; Santee Cooper; SCANA; Sonoco. 5. South Carolina‘s Most Admired Manufacturers BMW Boeing Michelin Also receiving votes: Continental Tire; Keer Group. 6. South Carolina’s Most Admired Service Companies Amazon Lash Group Santee Cooper SCANA Also receiving votes: Benefitfocus; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of South Carolina; Duke Energy; Elliot Davis Decosimo; LPL Financial; Medac. 7. The Best of R&D in South Carolina 11. South Carolina’s Best Community Colleges for Workforce Training Aiken Technical College Graniteville Greenville Technical College - Greenville Midlands Technical College - Columbia Piedmont Technical College - Greenwood Also receiving votes: Calhoun Clemson University International Technical College - Orangeburg; Spartanburg Community College; Center for Automotive Research Savannah River National Laboratory The Medical University of South Carolina Also receiving votes: SCRA Applied Technologies; South Carolina Research Authority. 70 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development Trident Technical College - Charleston; York Technical College - Rock Hill. 12. Best Engineering/Architecture Firms in South Carolina Alliance Consulting Engineers S&ME Thomas & Hutton Also receiving votes: Carlisle Associates; LS3P Associates. CONTINUED SOUTH CAROLINA 13. South Carolina’s Best Economic Development Law Firms Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough Nexsen Pruet Also receiving votes: McNair; Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein. 14. Best Contractors for Industrial Projects in South Carolina Fitts & Goodwin MB Kahn Construction Thompson Construction Also receiving votes: THS Constructors; Walbridge Construction. 15. South Carolina’s Best Site Location Practices Global Location Strategies McCallum Sweeney Strategic Development Group 16. Best Small Town Manufacturing Workforces in South Carolina Aiken Greenwood Dorchester County Kershaw County Sumter Also receiving votes: Anderson Co.; Cherokee Co.; Chesterfield Co.; Greer; Lancaster Co.; Laurens Co.; Newberry; Oconee Co.; Orangeburg. 17. Best Megasites in South Carolina 18. Best Small Town Industrial Sites in South Carolina Black River Airport Industrial Park - Sumter Fairfield Commerce Center - Winnsboro Gue Gressette Industrial Site - Orangeburg Oconee Industry & Tech Park - Oconee Also receiving votes: I-26 Corporate Park - Clinton; Sage Mill Industrial Park - Aiken; South Carolina Advanced Technology Park - Barnwell. Central South Carolina Megasite - 19. Best Places for Startups Kershaw County in South Carolina I-26 Megasite - Newberry Anderson County I-95 Megasite - Clarendon Columbia County Greenville White Hawk Megasite - Florence Rock Hill Also receiving votes: Carolinas I-95 Megasite - Dillon; Jafza Magna Also receiving votes: Aiken; Park - Orangeburg; South Atlantic International Logistics Center - Marion. 72 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development Charleston; Clemson; Lancaster. CONTINUED SOUTH CAROLINA 22. Best Places to Hire Veterans in South Carolina Charleston Columbia Sumter Also receiving votes: Aiken; Beaufort; Myrtle Beach. 23. Best Tech Hubs in South Carolina Charming Aiken, S.C., was cited several times in the “Best of Economic Development in South Carolina,” including one of “South Carolina’s Best Tier One Auto Supplier Sites” and “Best Small Town Manufacturing Workforces in South Carolina.” 20. Best Locations for the Creative Class in South Carolina 21. Best Locations for Biosciences in South Carolina Charleston Blythewood Columbia Columbia Greenville Also receiving votes: Beaufort; Charleston Hilton Head; Lake City. Lexington Also receiving votes: Anderson Co.; Greenville. 74 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development Charleston Columbia Greenville Also receiving votes: Aiken; Clemson; The Innovista Innovation Center; University of South Carolina. 24. South Carolina’s Best Local Economic Development Agencies Aiken-Edgefield-Saluda Economic Development Partnership Greenville Area Development Corporation CONTINUED SOUTH CAROLINA The Carolina Cup is an annual steeplechase horse race held at the Springdale Race Course in Camden, S.C. It was named one of South Carolina’s Best Sporting Events. NESA - North Eastern Strategic Alliance Upstate Alliance Also receiving votes: Central SC Alliance; Charleston Regional Development Alliance; Kershaw County Economic Development; Orangeburg County Development Commission; South Carolina I-77 Alliance; Sumter Development Board; York County Economic Development. 25. South Carolina’s Best State and Regional Economic Development Agencies Santee Cooper Power Economic Development South Carolina Department of Commerce SC Power Team South Carolina Ports Authority Also receiving votes: Duke Energy; readySC; SCANA Corp. 26. Best Places to Retire in South Carolina Aiken Beaufort Hilton Head Kiawah Island Also receiving votes: Horry Co.; Lake Murray; Mount Pleasant; Myrtle Beach; Northwest South Carolina Mountains; Oconee Co.; Tega Cay. 27. Best Places to Raise a Family in South Carolina Beaufort Five Forks Fort Mill Lexington Tega Cay Also receiving votes: Aiken; Edgefield; Goose Creek; Greenville; Lake Murray; Mauldin; Richland Co.; Summerville; Walhalla. 28. South Carolina’s Best Craft Breweries Conquest Brewing Edmund’s Oast Holy City Brewing Also receiving votes: COAST Brewing; Palmetto Brewing; River Rat Brewery; RJ Rockers. 29. South Carolina’s Best Sporting Events Carolina Cup steeplechase horse race Clemson University football University of South Carolina football Also receiving votes: Heritage Golf Tournament. 30. Best Three Restaurants in South Carolina Halls Chop House - Charleston Slightly North of Broad - Charleston The Ocean Room - Kiawah Island Also receiving votes: Cribbs Kitchen - Spartanburg; Da Vinci’s Ristorante - Columbia; FIG - Charleston; Peninsula Grill - Charleston. 76 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development LOUTSIANA T B e s t o f E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t i n ENNESSEE There are few single-location employers in the South larger than FedEx’s world hub in Memphis. FedEx was recognized several times in the “Best of Economic Development in Tennessee,” including one of “The Tennessee Economy’s Most Important Employers.” University & Medical Center; Volkswagen; West Tennessee Healthcare; Y-12 National Security Complex. 3. Tennessee’s Most Important New Employers Beretta Firearms Electrolux Hankook Tire Volkswagen Also receiving votes: Amazon; Nissan was voted one of “The Tennessee Economy’s Most Important Employers,” and was recognized several other times in The Best of Economic Development in Tennessee. The Japanese automaker operates its North American headquarters (pictured) and its largest assembly plant in the Nashville metropolitan area. 1. Tennessee’s Best Economic Development Assets Location Memphis Regional Megasite TVA Workforce Also receiving votes: Low taxes; Natural resources; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Incentives; Tennessee’s Community Colleges; Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development; Tennessee Promise. 2. The Tennessee Economy’s Most Important Employers Eastman Chemical FedEx HCA Nissan Also receiving votes: Bridgestone; Denso; Gaylord Entertainment; GM; International Paper; Nike; Oak Ridge National Lab; Smith & Nephew; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; TVA; University of Tennessee; Vanderbilt Cirrus Aircraft; Fresenius Medical Care; Keurig Green Mountain; NN Inc.; UBS; Under Armour; Wacker. 4. Tennessee’s Most Admired Companies FedEx Jack Daniels TVA Nissan Also receiving votes: Alcoa; Bridgestone; Eastman Chemical; HCA; Ole Smoky Moonshine. 5. Tennessee’s Most Admired Manufacturers Bridgestone Eastman Chemical CONTINUED 78 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development Southern Business & Development | FALL 2015 | 79 TENNESSEE Also receiving votes: Amazon; AutoZone; Cracker Barrel; First Tennessee Bank; Gaylord Entertainment; LifePoint Health; M*Modal; Regions Bank; Service Master; Tractor Supply; West Tennessee Healthcare. 7. The Best of R&D in Tennessee Eastman Chemical operates one of the largest chemical manufacturing plants (pictured) in North America in Kingsport, Tenn. Eastman was named one of “The Tennessee Economy’s Most Important Employers.” Jack Daniels Nissan Also receiving votes: Delta Faucet; Denso; Electrolux; Gibson Guitar; JD Squared; Kellogg’s; Toyota Bodine; Tyson Foods. The addition of a satellite center for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology is enabling Greene County, Tenn., to grow its skilled workforce to better accommodate manufacturers’ ever-changing technology needs. Greeneville was recognized as one of Tennessee’s Best Small Market Manufacturing Workforces. 6. Tennessee’s Most Admired Service Companies FedEx HCA TVA 80 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development Oak Ridge National Laboratory University of Memphis University of Tennessee Also receiving votes: U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex. 8. Best Aerospace Locations in Tennessee Oak Ridge Smyrna Tri-Cities Airport Aviation Park Also receiving votes: Aviation Park - Sullivan County; Memphis; Millington; Nashville; Tullahoma. CONTINUED TENNESSEE Tennessee STEM Innovation Network University of Tennessee Also receiving votes: Middle Tennessee State; Middle Tennessee STEM Innovation Hub; Southeast Tennessee STEM Innovation Hub; The Gulch; The Innovation Hub/Nashville Entrepreneur Center; The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation; Vanderbilt University; West Tennessee STEM Hub; Williamson Co. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory was cited several times in “The Best of Economic Development in Tennessee.” 9. Best Tier One Auto Supplier Sites in Tennessee Anderson County Chattanooga Jackson Morristown Murfreesboro Also receiving votes: Athens; Blount Co.; Bradley Co.; Coffee Co.; Dyer Co.; Gallatin; Gibson County; Giles Co.; Greene Co.; Hawkins Co.; Haywood Co.; Putnam Co.; Roane Co.; Spring Hill; Wilson Co. 10. Best Innovation Hubs in Tennessee 11. Tennessee’s Best Community Colleges for Workforce Training Chattanooga State Chattanooga Jackson State - Jackson Northeast State - Blountville Pellissippi State - Knoxville Southwest Tennessee - Memphis Also receiving votes: Cleveland State - Cleveland; Roane State - ETSU Northeast Tennessee STEM Harriman; Volunteer State - Gallatin; Innovation Hub Walters State - Morristown. Oak Ridge National Laboratory 82 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development TENNESSEE 12. Tennessee’s Best Educational Assets Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce Tennessee Promise Tennessee’s Community Colleges University of Tennessee Also receiving votes: Middle Tennessee State University; Memphis State University; Vanderbilt University. 13. Best Engineering/Architecture Firms in Tennessee Barge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon Forcum Lannom H&M Architects/Engineers Also receiving votes: Gresham 18. Best Megasites in Tennessee Memphis Regional Megasite Northwest Tennessee Regional Industrial Center - Obion County Also receiving votes: Bristol Business Park - Sullivan Co.; Centre 75 Business Park - Loudon Co.; Dyersburg Rail Park; Gallatin Industrial Center; Gibson County Industrial Park; Horizon Cherry Glen Industrial Park - Center - Roane Co.; North Etowah Maury County Industrial Park - McMinn Co.; Corporate Business Park South - Partnership Park II - Sullivan Co.; Montgomery County Phipps Bend - Hawkins Co.; Technology East Tennessee Progress Center - Park II at Holston Army Ammunition Plant - Kingsport; Timberlake Industrial Morristown Site - Henderson County; Washington I-40 Advantage Park - Haywood County Industrial Park. 19. Best Small Town Industrial Sites in Tennessee County CONTINUED Smith & Partners; Hart Freeland & Roberts; Mattern & Craig Engineers; SSOE. 14. Tennessee’s Best Economic Development Law Firms Baker Donelson Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Miller Martin Also receiving votes: Bass Berry & Sims. 15. Best Contractors for Industrial Projects in Tennessee Forcum Lannom Contractors H&M Construction TW Frierson Contractor Also receiving votes: Bell & Associates; Brasfield & Gorrie; Codemas; JA Street & Associates. 16. Tennessee’s Best Small Market Manufacturing Workforces Clarksville Dyersburg Greeneville Jackson Also receiving votes: Athens; Blountville; Cleveland; Clinton; Coffee Co.; Cookeville; Giles Co.; Maryville; Morristown; Obion Co.; Wilson Co. 17. Tennessee’s Best Large Market Manufacturing Workforces Knoxville Memphis Murfreesboro Nashville Also receiving votes: Chattanooga; Tri-Cities. Southern Business & Development | FALL 2015 | 83 TENNESSEE 21. Best Cities for the Creative Class in Tennessee Chattanooga Knoxville Nashville Also receiving votes: East Nashville; Franklin; Jackson; Johnson City; Memphis; Murfreesboro. 22. Best Locations for Biosciences in Tennessee Franklin Knoxville Memphis Also receiving votes: Johnson City; Kingsport; Nashville; Oak Ridge. Murfreesboro; 23. Best Places for Startups in Tennessee The NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies were voted one of Tennessee’s Best Sporting Events, along with NASCAR at Bristol Motor Speedway and University of Tennessee football. 20. Best Data Center Locations in Tennessee Bristol Chattanooga Jackson Knoxville Also receiving votes: Clarksville; Cleveland; Morristown; Murfreesboro. 84 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development Chattanooga Franklin Knoxville Murfreesboro Nashville TENNESSEE Also receiving votes: Bristol; Crossville; ETSU Innovation Laboratory; Greeneville; Jackson; Kingsport; Lebanon; Morristown; Oak Ridge. 24. Best Places in Tennessee to Hire Veterans Clarksville Millington Tullahoma Also receiving votes: Chattanooga; Memphis. 25. Tennessee’s Best Local Economic Development Agencies Greater Memphis Chamber Jackson Chamber Knoxville Chamber Nashville Area Chamber Rutherford County Chamber Also receiving votes: Anderson Co. Chamber; Chattanooga Area Chamber; City of Gallatin Economic Development; Clarksville-Montgomery Co. EDC; ClevelandBradley Chamber; Cookeville-Putnam Chamber; DyersburgDyer Chamber; Greene Co. Partnership; Morristown Area Chamber; NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership; Northeast Tennessee Valley RIDA; Obion Co. JEDC; Sevier Co. EDC; The Roane Alliance; Washington Co. EDC; Williamson Inc. CONTINUED THE VALLEY WORKS People, partnerships, power – the Valley region offers you every competitive advantage: • Plentiful, highly skilled labor • Enthusiastic regional, state and community partners • Affordable TVA power with exceptional reliability and diverse generation portfolio PUT THE VALLEY TO WORK FOR YOU – CONTACT TVA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TODAY. Southern Business & Development | FALL 2015 | 85 TENNESSEE 27. Tennessee’s Best Craft Breweries Blackstone Restaurant & Brewery Ghost River Brewing Jackalope Brewing Company Yazoo Brewing Company Also receiving votes: Black Abbey; Depot Street Brewing; Fat Bottom; Rock Bottom; Saw Works Brewing; Wiseacre Brewery. 28. Tennessee’s Best Sporting Events NBA Memphis Grizzlies NASCAR at Bristol Motor Speedway University of Tennessee football The massive Bonnaroo festival that is held each June in Manchester, Tenn., was recognized as one of Tennessee’s Best Non-Sporting Events. 26. Best Places to Retire in Tennessee Chattanooga Crossville Paris Savannah Also receiving votes: Dandridge; Johnson City; Knoxville; Sevier Co. Also receiving votes: NHL Nashville Predators; NFL Tennessee Titans; University of Memphis football; University of Tennessee Women’s basketball. 29. Tennessee’s Best Non-Sporting Events Bonnaroo CMA Music Festival Grand Ole Opry Memphis in May Also receiving votes: Blue Plum Festival; Chattanooga Riverbend Music Festival; Nashville Film Festival. 30. Best Three Restaurants in Tennessee Folk’s Folly Waffle House - Memphis Kayne Prime Steakhouse - Nashville Miss Mary Bobo’s - Lynchburg The Southern - Nashville Also receiving votes: Chesapeake’s - Knoxville; City House - Nashville; Eastland Cafe - Nashville; Flight Restaurant & Wine Bar - Memphis; Husk - Nashville; The Catbird Seat Nashville. 86 | FALL 2015 | Southern Business & Development
Similar documents
Here Come the Chinese!
Guitar; JD Squared; Kellogg’s; Toyota Bodine; Tyson Foods. The addition of a satellite center for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology is enabling Greene County, Tenn., to grow its skilled w...
More information