gallatin, tennessee. - Gallatin Economic Development Agency

Board of D irectors
annual report
 Samick Music
F Y06-07
Corporation, GF Puhl
Open for Business. 2
 Target Caps Year of Remarkable Retail
Growth. . . . . . . . . 3
 Existing Industry
Program Shifts into
High ‘GEAR’ . . . . . 3
six of them
> J F @ H R P F @ L O M’
…on a Tennessee Traveler
Greg Bennett Guitar
This spring Samick Music Corporation is finishing construction on and moving into its new corporate
headquarters in Gallatin, Tennessee. As part of the Nashville MSA, Gallatin’s Economic Development
Agency is celebrating the latest addition to the Music City area by sharing our excitement with key site
location consultants such as yourself.
As part of that celebration, your name has been entered for a chance to win one of three grand prize
Tennessee Traveler (TT-65) guitars, from Samick Music Corporation’s famous Greg
Bennett line. Names that are not drawn for guitars will receive a unique
commemorative SMC/Gallatin EDA piano music box. We will have our
drawing in early June, about the time Samick is moving into its beautiful
new home in the Gallatin Industrial Center.
 Direct Mail Campaigns
Earn High Praise . . 4
Meanwhile, construction continues on Samick’s 200,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution facility next to its corporate offices. Once
operational in Gallatin, SMC will be the largest maker of
pianos in North America.
Music Box
No action is required on your part. We just wanted to let you
know that you were among the 40 site location professionals
selected to help us in welcoming Samick. We also hope
you consider Gallatin for your next corporate
headquarters relocation project.
(PPEMVDLJOUIFESBXJOH
Gallatin
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
PO Box 773 • Gallatin, TN 37066
615-451-5940 • clay.walker@gallatin-tn.gov
FY06-07
was a great year for
“
G allatin , T ennessee . our citizens enjoy.
The past fiscal year for the City of
Gallatin saw activities on all fronts from
an economic development standpoint.
Dirt was being moved and steel was
being hoisted as manufacturing,
corporate headquarters, retail stores,
and restaurants invested in our
community, providing jobs and adding
to the already tremendous quality of life
The Gallatin Economic Development
Agency kept its marketing focus on
parlaying its work in regional economic
development initiatives, while working
with newly announced companies as
they constructed their facilities and
helping corporate mainstays grow
through expansion. Meanwhile, the
EDA supported and assisted private
retail developments as nationally and
internationally recognizable firms
continue to find their way to Gallatin.
So much activity occurred in FY0607 that we have expanded this year’s
annual report to four pages. Activity
continues to give us every reason to
believe that our remarkable growth will
continue next year.
Annual Report FY 06-07
T h e C i t y o f G a l l atin Economic
D e v e l o p m e n t Agency is
c o m m i t t e d t o c r e ating investment
a n d e m p l o y m e n t opportunities
a n d i m p r o v i n g the quality
o f l i f e f o r t h e community
a n d s u r r o u n d i n g region. We
f o c u s m o s t o f o ur energy and
r e s o u r c e s o n t h e recruitment
o f c o r p o r a t e h eadquarters,
s o m e l i g h t m anufacturing
s e c t o r s , r e t a i l development,
a n d a s t r o n g e x isting business
a n d i n d u s t r y p rogram. Our
m a r k e t i n g e f f o r t s are driven by
r e g i o n a l p a r t n e r s hips and reflect
a v e r y p r o - a c t i ve approach to
r e c r u i t ment.
www.gallatintn-eda.com
”
H eadquarters &M anufacturing
Samick Music Corporation joined
companies such as ServPro and
Nationwide Studios that call Gallatin
their corporate home with its decision
to relocate from southern California,
announced in early 2006.
The
company, which also decided to move
manufacturing from South Korea and
its southeastern distribution operations
from Kentucky, will move from its
temporary offices in Gallatin into its
newly constructed corporate offices in
July. In a few more months, SMC will
begin production in its 200,000 square
foot manufacturing and distribution
facility. Once operational Samick will
become the largest manufacturer of
pianos in North America and employ
more
than
100
people,
expecting to add 25 employees
each year over the next three
years. The company chose
to locate its new campus in
the Gallatin Industrial Center
and purchased an additional
15 acres on which it plans to
construct another facility within
the next couple of years.
Gallatin-based J.B. Harrison
and Associates will expand
into its new facility just beginning
construction in the Gallatin Industrial
Center sometime in late 2007. The
metal tank and container manufacturer
will employ some 30 people at startup and hopes
to grow that
business within
its new 30,000
square
foot
building.
company from having to leave the region
and state. GF Puhl, manufacturers
of machinery used in the paper and
cardboard industry, announced in late
2006 that it would construct a 51,000
square foot facility, saving more than
50 Tennessee jobs and providing the
opportunity for dozens more over the
next several years. Located on Airport
Road, across from the city’s industrial
park, GF Puhl has recently moved into
its new facility.
Working
regionally paid off
in spades as
Gallatin was able
to keep a former
Davidson County
Trebro Manufacturing expanded its
Montana operations to Gallatin after
acquiring TRD Industries. The turf
harvesting equipment service parts
distributor is located on Long Leaf Drive
in the city’s manufacturing district.
WebPresence
With 59% of corporations and 88% of site selection consultants reporting that the internet
is their primary source for site selection information, the EDA is undertaking a complete
redesign of its website. The goal is to create a site that is dynamic, extremely interactive
and user-friendly, well-linked to our economic development partners and support groups,
and captures its audience with a distinct “wow” factor. The EDA hopes to have its new-look
site up and running within the next few months.
Annual Report FY 06-07
2
www.gallatintn-eda.com
R etail D evelopment
Target and another “big box” store will
set the stage for the recently announced
Cypress Equities’ development project
along Nashville Pike.
Also within Greensboro Village, several
shops are in various stages of negotiations
to occupy The Shops of Greensboro Village,
Walgreen’s drug store is constructing a
second Gallatin building, and plans are
being considered for various types of office
buildings. Kennesaw Farm’s retail marketing
campaign is gaining momentum and
generating interest from several firms.
Neighborhood Cinema Group (NCG)
opened a 10-screen, state-of-the-art
facility in Gallatin in May and the crowds
keep coming as 2007 promises a summer
of blockbusters for movie enthusiasts.
Over the past several months, several
restaurants have opened their doors.
New Orleans Manor, a legendary
Nashville
eatery
known for its Cajunstyle seafood, opened
its second location on
South Water Street.
Chain restaurants at all
price points, such as
Longhorn Steakhouse,
Burger King and Arby’s
(second
Gallatin
location) have recently
opened for business.
Gallatin also welcomed
a unique gourmet ice
cream company when
Marble Slab Creamery
opened in the Publix
development.
Retiree
recruitment
As its primary area of focus for the recent
county-wide Three-Star status effort, the
EDA has taken the lead in developing a
Retiree Recruitment strategy and program
for Sumner County.
This program is designed to provide
pertinent information about the area to
retiring “baby boomers” who bring a great
deal of experience, wisdom, sense of
civic responsibility, and financial
resources to communities. The target
50-something empty-nesters (as well
as traditional, older retirees) require
little increase in public services such as
schools while stimulating the community
economically, and in more intangible
– yet just as valuable – ways, such as
through mentoring and volunteer work.
While the Gallatin EDA is the organizing
agency, representatives from across the
county are active in the effort. The
group is comprised of professionals in the
fields of real estate, healthcare, tourism,
chambers of commerce, and economic
development, as well as retirees. The group
is currently exploring fund-raising avenues
and selecting a website design firm to attract
this technology-savvy sector to our region.
Existing Industry
Existing
Industry
Several manufacturing facilities in Gallatin have enjoyed recent expansions. Four
Several manufacturing
Gallatinor
have
enjoyed
recent expansions.
Four plants
plants have either expanded
over thefacilities
past inyear
are
currently
undergoing
an
have either expanded over the past year or are currently undergoing an expansion,
expansion, including Salga
Plastics,
which
recently
completed
its
30,000
square
including Salga Plastics, which recently completed its 30,000 square foot addition and
foot addition, and ITW-CIP,
which
been
cleared
by itsoffice
corporate
office to
ITW-CIP,
whichhas
was just
cleared
by its corporate
to begin construction
on abegin
squarefoot
feet addition
to its to
Steam
Road Plant
building.Road building.
construction on a 30,00030,000
square
addition
its Plant
Steam
Jamison Bedding announced this spring that it would consolidate production from other
plants intothis
its Gallatin
facility
which
lead toconsolidate
several new hires.production from
Jamison Bedding announced
spring
that
it will
would
other plants into its Gallatin facility which will lead to several new hires.
The Gallatin EDA continues its
promise of “service
after the
The Gallatin EDA continues
its promise
sale” with its Existing Industry
of “service after the sale”
Gallatin
Board, with
which isthe
becoming
one
of the(GEAR)
most highly
lauded
Expansion and Retention
Program,
existing
industry
programs
in
which is becoming one
of the
most
highly
middle Tennessee.
Most of
lauded existing industry
programs
middle
Gallatin’s
major inemployers
participatemajor
in this program
which
Tennessee. Most of Gallatin’s
employers
rotates from facility to facility
participate in this program
which
rotates
and meets quarterly. from
(see
Document
III)
facility to facility and meets
quarterly.
Mayor JoAnn Graves and Marius Sipos of ABC Fuel Systems
Marketing Efforts
www.gallatintn-eda.com
Gallatin’s EDA utilizes the great regional Annual
marketing organizations
in middle
3
Report
FYTennessee
06-07
in order to attract new business and industry. Partnering on marketing trips and hosting
Gallatin
ECONOMIC DEVELOP
MENT
AGENCY
PO Box 773
Gallatin, TN 37066
M arketing E fforts
Gallatin’s EDA utilizes the great
regional marketing organizations in
middle Tennessee in order to attract
new business and industry. Partnering
on marketing trips and hosting inbound
events with the Nashville Area Chamber
of Commerce, TVA, MTIDA, and the
Tennessee Economic Partnership,
Gallatin maintains a presence as a vital
player in this fast-growing region.
Some of the highlights over the past
year included outbound trips to Atlanta
with a Kenny Chesney concert being
the main event,a similar trip to Los
Angeles organized around an Alison
Krauss concert, and hosting site
location firms and corporate decision
makers at the CMA Awards in Nashville.
At these events, teams of area
representatives meet with site location
consultants and corporate decision
makers to tout the area as an ideal
place to bring relocating and expanding
companies. The EDA’s staff also “tag
strings
attached
teams” prospects and consultants when
attending seminars, trade shows, and
other events by working in conjunction
with communities such as Murfreesboro,
Clarksville, and Nashville.
Gallatin maintains an independent
presence through advertisements in site
selection magazines and direct mail
campaigns, usually aimed at site location
consulting firms, especially those with
reputations for handling front office
projects. Most often, these campaigns
feature Gallatin’s existing corporate
HQ’s as testimony to the community’s
attributes these types of projects are
usually seeking.
The latest such campaign was
executed in partnership with Samick
Music Corporation, using SMC’s move
into its new corporate building as an
opportunity to tout Gallatin as a city
suited for headquarters. To celebrate
the event and generate interest, the EDA
followed up a promotional mailer with
gifts of piano music boxes to some 40
site location consultants, with three
lucky winners receiving a Tennessee
Traveler guitar, part of the company’s
famed Greg Bennett line.
“
I t h i n k t h a t l a n ding Samick
M u s i c C o r p o r a t i o n just speaks
v o l u m e s a b o u t y o ur community.
T h i s ( d i r e c t m a i l c ampaign) is a
r e a l l y n i c e w a y o f telling your
w o n d e r f u l s t or y. Wow!
”
-Katie Burdorf, WDG Consulting
PO Box 773 - 132 West Main St.
Gallatin, TN 37066
C l ay Wa l k e r
executive director
c l ay. w a l k e r @ g a l l at i n - t n . g o v
Annual Report FY 06-07
shirley smith
a d m i n i s t r at i v e a s s i s ta n t
s h i r l e y. s m i t h @ g a l l at i n - t n . g o v
www.gallatintn-eda.com
615.451.5940
6 1 5 . 4 5 1 . 5 9 4 1 ( fa x )