Business Facilities - March 2009 - (Page 9)

lion dollars by the company and the employment of up to 900 people within five to seven years. If plans are fully implemented, the project would become the largest announced corporate capital investment in Tennessee history. “We live in a time when a growing reliance on sustainable forms of energy is leading to growth rates of 30 percent to 40 percent annually for the solar industry,” said Kisber. “This announcement means Tennessee will play a leading role in the growth of solar technology for many years to come.” When complete, the Clarksville facility will have the capacity to manufacture up to 10,000 metric tons of polycrystalline silicon annually but is being designed with the capability to manufacture up to 34,000 metric tons. The plant will occupy the entire 1,215 acre Commerce Park megasite and the company plans to acquire an additional 947 acres adjacent to the site for additional buildout and to provide buffer space. Volkswagon, which closed its last U.S. car plant, in Pennsylvania, in 1988, recently reaffirmed its commitment to build a $1-billion auto assembly plant near Chattanooga. The Tennessee site was selected by the German auto giant in July after intense competition with locations in Alabama and Michigan. The decision by Volkswagon was seen by some analysts as a bit of a silver lining in the generally depressing story of the plummeting U.S. dollar: the corresponding rise of the euro dramatically increasing the cost of manufacturing cars in Europe, leading overseas car makers to take a close look at shifting production to the United States. The increasing cost of European car production was cited as a major factor in VW's decision to locate its new plant in the U.S. The choice of the Tennessee site was heralded by Bredesen, who held aloft front-page headlines declaring “It’s Chattanooga!” When it is fully operational in 2011, the new plant will employ 2,000 people directly as well as offering business to hundreds of suppliers. The new facility will eventually have an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles and will be used to build a new midsized vehicle for the U.S. market. VW said its decision also was based on a range of factors including financial incentives offered by the state linked to job creation, investment and training. VW told Tennessee officials last month that despite the dramatic downturn in the global auto industry due to the recession—which has seen demand shrink to less than half of worldwide capacity—the German automaker is moving forward on the new U.S. plant. Washington, Rhea Counties Win Quality Awards Tennessee one county/municipal economic T wo Center for counties and Excellence. Interest Award from development organization have received the 2008 the Tennessee Performance Rhea and Washington Counties and NETWORKS—Sullivan Partnership were among the honorees that have completed a rigorous evaluation and feedback process for the performance award based on criteria from the Baldrige National Quality Program. “Recognition by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence is a high honor that represents dedication and hard work on the part of each of these communities,” ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber said. “ECD is proud to partner with TNCPE for the continued assessment and improvement of communities across Tennessee. I congratulate Washington and Rhea Counties and NETWORKS.” The three communities are participants in the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s Three-Star Program. ThreeStar maintains a close partnership with TNCPE, a nonprofit organization that exists to help Tennessee businesses and organizations run more effectively by conducting assessments and providing training. “While receiving this award is truly significant, the efforts behind it are even more exciting,” TNCPE President Katie Rawls said. “The TNCPE assessment process helps Three-Star communities identify where to focus improvement efforts. This results in stronger communities that better serve the people of our state.” All of the award-winning Three-Star communities were evaluated by TNCPE’s Board of Examiners, a volunteer corps composed of professional leaders from across the state. The process provided valuable insight that the communities will use to improve the quality of life for their citizens. BUSINESS FACILITIES 9

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Business Facilities - March 2009

Business Facilities - March 2009 Contents First Word Snapshots Corporate Moves: Tennessee Deciphering High-Tech Hubs Industry Focus: Biotech/Pharmaceuticals The Lone Star State Continues to Burn Brightly Pennsylvania is Holding Its Own Corporate Moves: Florida Metro Spotlight: Findlay, OH Advertiser Index Ask the Expert

Business Facilities - March 2009

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