ML12192A626
| ML12192A626 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Watts Bar  |
| Issue date: | 12/31/2011 |
| From: | Southeast Tennessee Development District |
| To: | Justin Poole Watts Bar Special Projects Branch |
| Poole J, NRR/DORL 415-2048 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML12192A626 (47) | |
Text
SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (CEDS) 2011 Introduction The Southeast Tennessee Development District/Chattanooga Regional Council of Governments (SETDD/CARCOG) is a special unit of local government located within the Southeast Tennessee/Northwest Georgia region. SETDD provides planning and development services and houses the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability, Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association, and Workforce Investment Board. SETDD continues to be a vital force in helping local governments plan for the future by coordinating the establishment of regional and local priorities.
The coordination of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), the regions vision for economic development and growth, is a principal responsibility of Economic Development Districts. The CEDS provides information on the regions demographic and socio-economic conditions and is developed in compliance with the Economic Development Administrations Interim Final Rule, Section 303 (a). The comprehensive planning process that goes into development of the CEDS has widespread support among local elected officials, business and industry officials and community leaders. It is a crucial step in remaining a designated Economic Development District, and the final document, once approved, serves to enhance opportunities for the regions communities to benefit from public works and business loans and grants from the Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration.
Since the fall of 2008, economic conditions have changed drastically. On the positive side, Volkswagen initiated construction activities on a new automotive assembly plant in Chattanooga, and Wacker announced that it will locate a new photovoltaic manufacturing plant near Cleveland. The combined workforce needed to support these developments is probably in excess of what is available locally. Increased growth will occur as these two companies complete construction of new facilities and begin production.
On the negative side, large numbers of jobs have been lost as the downturn in the economy has taken its toll on the building products market. The carpet industry, a mainstay of the local economy, was hit hard and many factories have closed. Although growth is expected, the housing market remains in the doldrums, and there are many foreclosed houses that have a depressing effect on the market.
The Development District in conjunction with the Northwest Georgia Regional Development Center submitted an application to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for funding under the Community Sustainability grant program. Although the application was not funded, the region received enough points to be placed on the preferred list, which could mean that funds will be available in the future. Should this occur, the CEDS will be integrated into that planning process as will other planning programs in order to provide a fully functional planning tool.
In preparing the CEDS, every attempt was made to integrate existing plans.
These include the Chattanooga/Hamilton County/North Georgia Long Range Transportation Plan 2035 and the Bradley County/Cleveland/Charleston Joint Strategic Plan 2035, which was partially funded by a grant from EDA.
The Southeast Tennessee Development Districts CEDS Committee has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to lead the process and will be able to more fully integrate the important role workforce development has in the regions overall economic well being. Community leaders serving on the CEDS Committee include:
SETDD CEDS COMMITTEE Board Last Name First Name Representation Company/Agency Bible Andrea Career Center Partner/VR TDHS,Division of Rehab.
Bott Margaret Career Center Partner/AE Adult Education Brown Rusty Private Sector Citizens State Bank Bruce-Simpson Sheila Other Job Corps/CHP International Catanzaro James, Dr. Educational Agencies Chattanooga State Cates Tony Private Sector Gestamp Chattanooga, LLC Childers Ray Private Sector Cochran Donel Private Sector McKee Foods Corporation Community Based Crutchfield Cindi Organization Alexian Brothers (Senior Aides)
Duke Buddy Private Sector Five Star Food Services Cleveland Chamber of Farlow Gary Economic Development Commerce Community Based Gingrich Marjean Organization Goodwill Industries Grant Harley, A Private Sector Energy Solutions Group Grant Michael, A. Private Sector Grant/Neil Electric Company Hardaway Janice Private Sector Manufacturer's Industrial Group Henry Dean Private Sector Suburban Propane Hite Carl, Dr. Educational Agencies Cleveland State Hopkins David Private Sector Angiosystems Johnson Avery Other City of Cleveland Kirk Susan Career Center TN. Dept. of Human Service 2
Partner/TDHS Landrum Connie Economic Development Volunteer Energy Cooperative Lawson Debra Private Sector ADF Management Layne Roger Private Sector East Tech Company, Inc.
Lewis Mary Stewart Private Sector AT&T Chattanooga Area Labor Lockhart James Organized Labor Council/Iron Workers Mann Melanie Private Sector Rock Tenn Company Petty Ben Private Sector IBI Power Proffitt John Private Sector Advanced Energy Sources Rico Manuel Private Sector Rico Monuments Russell Emerson Private Sector ERMC Saieed Dan Other Hamilton County Government Sample Jack B. Private Sector Applied Thermal Coatings, Inc.
Seaton Ray P. Private Sector Seaton Enterprises Sentell Rob Private Sector Alstom Power Shouse Dave Private Sector Lodge Manufacturing Co.
Smith Briggs, H Educational Agencies HCDE (Voc. & Tech. ED)
Kenneth Smith (Kenny) Organized Labor IBEW Local 175 Smith Stewart Educational Agencies Tennessee Tech. Center Chattanooga Manufacturer's Spires Tim Economic Development Association Stinnett Glenn Private Sector Astec Industries Associated General Tuder Roger Other Contractors Wade Tiffany Jean Private Sector Wade's Food Center, Inc.
Rhea Economic & Tourism Walker Raymond Economic Development Council White Jerry Private Sector W.R. Grace & Company Willett Sara Lynne Private Sector Abitibi Bowater Wilson Tom Edd Economic Development Chattanooga Arera Chamber Career Center Witt Andrea Partner/TDOL Career Center Elected Officials o Bobby Collier, Bledsoe Co.
o D. Gary Davis, Bradley Co.
o Lonnie Cleek, Grundy Co.
o Jim Coppinger, Hamilton Co.
o John Graham, Marion Co.
o John Gentry, McMinn Co.
o Garland Lankford, Meigs Co.
o Hoyt Firestone, Polk Co.
o George Thacker, Rhea Co.
o Claude Lewis, Sequatchie Co.
o Keith Greene, Catoosa Co.
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o Ben Brandon, Dade Co.
o BeBe Heiskel, Walker Co.
Over the past several months, Development District staff prepared an analysis of primary factors that influence the economic wellbeing of the Southeast Tennessee/Northwest Georgia region. Where possible, the analysis was performed on a county-by-county basis. However, comparable data was not always available and some limited estimates were necessary. Some of the following information has appeared in previous CEDS documents, but this year, staff members have expanded the scope of the document to include a broader range of data.
The basic assumption in the following analysis is that the economy will return to a state of business as usual. However, as with all assumptions, there is a degree of uncertainty in the current national and world economic model that could easily undermine this assumption. Over the past year, natural disasters had a wide impact on economic conditions. Failed harvests in Argentina, Australia, and Russia resulted in a world food deficit that was exacerbated by the increased use of corn in the U.S. as a feedstock for ethanol production. The earthquake in Japan and subsequent nuclear accidents at the Fukushima reactor complex is 4
currently an ongoing, slow motion catastrophe that will continue to have economic consequences far into the future. Meanwhile, the American economy is trying to shake off the effects of the last recession. The future is not assured, and a return to normalcy is not a foregone conclusion. However, at the local level, we must assume continued growth, including the utility infrastructure, housing, transportation facilities that will be necessary to accommodate that growth.
Each variable listed below is followed by a strategic finding, which summarizes the data analysis. These findings are used to develop a set of solutions to findings that are having a negative impact on the region. With the help of the CEDS committee and input from a broad range of public and private interest groups, the findings become the basis for a list of vital projects designed to meet identified needs. Once the list has been identified, an action plan was developed to include goals and objectives for implementing the plan.
In the future, the CEDS document will be the blueprint for implementing the vital projects necessary for maintaining the regions economic health. The document is updated annually and performance measures will be continuously monitored to assess progress toward meeting the economic needs of everyone living in the Tennessee Valley region.
LAND USE The State of Georgia has a well-defined comprehensive planning process that requires a land use component. This process has been in place since the early 1990s.
In 1999, the Tennessee legislature passed a law requiring growth planning in all counties. These plans required the formation of a committee composed of the county mayor, all city mayors, and other officials to prepare a map showing all urban areas in the county; the future urban growth assumptions; growth areas in the county; and rural/recreation/conservation areas. Analyses were prepared to provide a basis for determining residential and industrial expansion capacities.
These analyses took into account existing land use, prime farmland, conservation areas, and steep slopes. All land uses were mapped and submitted to the State for approval.
In addition to growth planning documents, land use plans developed for the Bradley/Cleveland and Hamilton/Chattanooga areas were consulted to determine growth areas, which are primarily concentrated along the I-75 corridor Currently, there are approximately 1,775 acres of industrial property available in the region.
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Land use ordinances vary from stringent in Metropolitan Statistical Areas to nonexistent in the rural part of the region. However, most of the counties have subdivision regulations.
All of the major industries that have located in the region chosen to build on Greenfield sites.
Finding 1:
A thorough analysis of regional land use capacities has occurred under different but parallel planning processes. These analyses provide sufficient indicators of economic development capacities available throughout the region.
POPULATION The following table provides an overview of current 2010 decennial census data as compared to the 2000 Census.
County Population Percent 2010 2000 Difference Change Georgia 9,687,653 8,186,453 1,501,200 15.5%
Catoosa County 63,942 53,282 10,660 16.7%
Dade County 16,633 15,154 1,479 8.9%
Walker County 68,756 61,053 7,703 11.2%
Subtotal GA: 149,331 129,489 19,842 13.3%
Tennessee 6,346,105 5,689,283 656,822 10.4%
Bledsoe County 12,876 12,367 509 4.0%
Bradley County 98,963 87,965 10,998 11.1%
Grundy County 13,703 14,332 (629) -4.6%
Hamilton County 336,463 307,896 28,567 8.5%
McMinn County 52,266 49,015 3,251 6.2%
Marion County 28,237 27,776 461 1.6%
Meigs County 11,753 11,086 667 5.7%
Polk County 16,825 16,050 775 4.6%
Rhea County 31,809 28,400 3,409 10.7%
Sequatchie County 14,112 11,370 2,742 19.4%
Subtotal TN: 617,007 566,257 50,750 8.2%
Region Total: 766,338 695,746 70,592 9.2%
Source: U. S. Census Bureau American Factfinder, May 2011.
About 80 percent of growth in the region is concentrated in counties along the I-75 corridor from north Georgia through Hamilton, Bradley and McMinn Counties.
This growth is continuing as large manufacturers locate immediately adjacent to this primary transportation artery.
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In addition to the natural growth rate, a large wave of immigration is expected in the 2011-2015 time period as new industrial capacity begins to come on line. A new Volkswagen assembly plant will provide 2,000 direct jobs and as many as 12,000 indirect jobs associated with parts supplies. Wacker, a photovoltaics manufacturer, will bring at least 500 jobs to the Bradley County area. Although the region has lost nearly 5,000 jobs between 2008 and 2009, these new jobs will mean that the region is likely to see some 12,000 positions available (assuming a reasonable economic recovery). At 2.5 persons per household, that translates to some 30,000 additional people moving into the area. This will obviously result in a considerable impact on local housing, transportation, schools, and all public infrastructure throughout the north Georgia/southeast Tennessee region.
Finding 2: The Regions population is on a stable, upward growth path that is likely to be interrupted by a major spike in the population in the 2011-2015 period. In addition, in-migration by older retired people is anticipated but difficult to predict. That increase will require an expansion of the service sector throughout the region.
DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES As is apparent from the following chart, there are more elderly people in the population mix, and this proportion is likely to increase over the next ten to fifteen years.
Median Age COUNTY 2010 2000 1990 BLEDSOE 42.3 37.4 34.1 BRADLEY 38.2 35.5 33.1 GRUNDY 41.4 36.6 33.8 HAMILTON 39.3 37.4 34.7 MARION 42.3 38.2 34.2 MCMINN 41.6 37.9 35.3 MEIGS 42.9 36.7 35.0 POLK 42.5 38.6 36.2 SEQUATCHIE 40.6 36.7 33.9 RHEA 39.8 37.2 34.7 CATOOSA 38.3 35.8 34.0 DADE 39.0 36.1 32.5 WALKER 39.7 37.1 34.5 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990, 2000, & 2010 Decennial Census.
The median age for six of the thirteen counties in the region has increased from the mid-30s to more than 40. If this trend continues, Hamilton Countythe most populous county in the regionwill have a median age of about 44 in the next 7
twenty years. This middle aged population would present different challenges in the provision of services and infrastructure.
An increase in the elderly population will require additional health care and assistance services over the next ten years as the so-called baby boom population retires. Most of these services will be provided by independent companies and non-profit organizations. This will result in an increase in the number of service-related jobs available throughout the region. In addition, there will be an increased need for transportation services currently unavailable on the scale necessary to accommodate this group. However, the Southeast Tennessee Human Resources Agency (SETHRA) is fully capable of increasing its transportation services in rural areas and other agencies, such as the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Agency (CARTA), can accommodate urban populations.
Since there is a significant younger population following this wave of elderly people, there is little likelihood of a gap in the future workforce. The population is relatively stable, which is consistent with attempts to maintain the regions scenic beauty, an asset that would be endangered by rampant development and large increases in the population. However, a large wave of in-migration is likely to alter this scenario to an (as yet) unknown degree.
Finding 3: Additional medical facilities and specialized housing systems will be needed within the next ten years to meet the needs of a larger group of elderly persons. In addition, public transportation enhancements will be required.
These systems and facilities will be provided primarily by existing organizations.
EDUCATION Southeast Tennessee/Northwest Georgia Population Educational Attainment Population High School Bachelor's 25 and Over Grad. Percent Degree + Percent Georgia 5,185,968 4,074,616 78.6% 1,260,178 24.3%
Catoosa 35,231 26,786 76.0% 4,857 13.8%
Dade 9,728 6,521 67.0% 1,059 10.9%
Walker 40,837 27,297 66.8% 4,152 10.2%
Subtotal: 85,796 60,604 70.6% 10,068 11.7%
Tennessee 3,744,928 2,843,244 75.9% 732,688 19.6%
Bledsoe 8,455 5,583 66.0% 604 7.1%
Bradley 57,163 41,908 73.3% 9,097 15.9%
Grundy 9,441 5,207 55.2% 668 7.1%
Hamilton 207,180 167,216 80.7% 49,488 23.9%
Marion 18,815 12,147 64.6% 1,785 9.5%
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McMinn 33,110 22,940 69.3% 3,578 10.8%
Meigs 7,405 4,705 63.5% 515 7.0%
Polk 11,113 6,917 62.2% 834 7.5%
Rhea 18,894 12,333 65.3% 1,714 9.1%
Sequatchie 7,610 5,075 66.7% 776 10.2%
Subtotal: 379,186 284,031 74.9% 69,059 18.2 %
Region 464,982 344,635 74.1% 80,397 17.3%
Source: U. S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census Given that new employment opportunities will require an educated workforce, how does the Region compare to the State and Nation in educational attainment? Nationwide, about 80.4% of the population have a high school degree and 24.4% have a Bachelors degree or higher. As an aggregate, the Region is near State averages and somewhat below the Nation as a whole. The Georgia counties are near national averages.
Outside of the urban area of Hamilton County and Chattanooga, however, the educational levels fall well below what is necessary to maintain a viable work force if technological capability will be a prerequisite for success in the emerging economy. Neither the Region as a whole nor any particular county reaches the national level for Bachelors degrees.
Finding 4: Low education levels in some parts of the region are likely to hinder economic development. Programs should be developed to address this problem.
UNEMPLOYMENT Almost 5,000 jobs have been lost in the region since 2007 from major employment centers. Additional losses occurred when small businesses that supplied larger companies were in turn affected by larger companies market share losses. In the 2010-2011 period, a tepid economic recovery underway with some replacement of major job losses, but more growth is required to replace all of those who were separated from their jobs.
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April 2011 Employment & Unemployment Civilian Unemployment County Labor Force Employment Unemployment Rate Bledsoe 4,982 4,382 600 12.0%
Bradley 49,425 44,921 4,504 9.1%
Catoosa 34,896 32,089 2,807 8.0%
Dade 8,049 7,386 663 8.2%
Grundy 6,109 5,274 835 13.7%
Hamilton 169,558 155,640 13,918 8.2%
Marion 12,849 11,608 1,241 9.7%
McMinn 23,792 21,025 2,767 11.6%
Meigs 5,228 4,607 621 11.9%
Polk 7,296 6,441 855 11.7%
Rhea 13,502 11,858 1,644 12.2%
Sequatchie 6,317 5,760 557 8.8%
Walker 32,153 29,046 3,107 9.7%
Region 374,156 340,037 34,119 9.1%
Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2011.
Employment Rate Alternatives U-1 U-2 U-3 U-4 U-5 U-6 United States 5.6 5.8 9.4 10.1 10.9 16.5 Georgia 7.0 6.4 10.4 11.1 11.9 17.0 Tennessee 5.4 5.8 9.3 9.8 10.5 16.2 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2011 U-1, persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent of the civilian labor force; U-2, job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as a percent of the civilian labor force; U-3, total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor force (this is the definition used for the official unemployment rate);
U-4, total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent of the civilian labor force; U-5, total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus all other marginally attached workers, as a per-cent of the civilian labor force; and U-6, total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, plus discouraged workers as a percent of the civilian labor force.
The impact of the current economic downturn is evident when viewing the recent unemployment tables. Although the national rate is currently given at around 9.0%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics U6 rate, which includes people who have given up looking for work, is more than 16 percent in Tennessee and 17 percent in Georgia. All of the regions rural counties are now above 10% unemployment and that does not include the discouraged portion of the workforce and those under-employed.
Finding 5: Additional employment opportunities are needed, especially for rural counties in the region. Under-employment is a significant problem.
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POVERTY/INCOME Poverty Rates 30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
GRUNDY MEIGS BRADLEY RHEA MCMINN POLK CATOOSA, GA DADE, GA MARION WALKER, GA BLEDSOE HAMILTON GEORGIA SEQUATCHIE TENNESSEE 1990 POVERTY %
2000 POVERTY %
2009 POVERTY %
Source: 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census; 2009 American Community Survey, U.S.
Census Bureau As is apparent from the preceding chart, poverty levels decreased in the 10-year period between 1990 and 2000 but increased sharply by 2009. These increases were across the board, occurring even in the MSA counties where jobs are more available. Bledsoe and Grundy Counties have the highest poverty rates that exceed 25%.These numbers are consistent with unemployment figures and provide graphic indicators of how severely recessionary forces have impacted the local economy.
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Household Income Comparison 14.0%
12.0%
10.0%
8.0%
6.0%
U.S.
4.0%
TN 2.0% Chatt. MSA Cleveland MSA 0.0%
Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census, American Community Survey, 2005-2009.
The preceding graph compares the regions two Metropolitan Statistical Areas to state and national statistics. It is apparent that the green and purple columns (Chattanooga and Cleveland MSAs) exceed the state and nation on the left side and are generally below the state and nation on the right side. In other words, the region has a larger percentage of households that have lower incomes than either the state or the nation. Mid-range incomes are more consistent with national levels, but there are significantly more regional households in the lower income brackets.
Using income limits established by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD), more than 36 percent of these households would be considered low income. This is based on the assumption that a one-person household must receive $29,400 or less to be considered low income.
Two, three, and four household income limits are $33,600, $37,800, and $42,000 respectively. This would push the 36 percent figure higher, but current data are not available to accurately portray this situation; there is only enough information to make an informed estimate.
For Bradley County, a little more than 40 percent of the households would meet ECDs definition of low income. This is about 4 percentage points above the Chattanooga MSA numbers. About 36 percent of households have incomes above $50,000 compared to 41 percent for the Chattanooga area. About 12.4 percent of Bradley County households were below the Census Bureaus poverty level, and 16.6 percent of residents fell in that category.
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Per Capita Income 1970-2005 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 ne so e ey nd am i lton eig lk Rh ea ssee Bl ad l ru y M cM s Po og S eq ed Br G in n M a, ua Te H M ar io n Ch TN tc hi n at Cl -G A e tan oo A ev ela ( M ga t he ns nd SA
-Clev ,T ,T N )
el N M ( M an d- icr SA Ch Te A th op o l it
)
at tan nn es en s ,T a n Te se N SA o nn es eM -G A se etr op (C eN ol SA on m ita n )
et ro P o rt i po lit on an 1970 2005 (Adjusted) Po rti on The previous chart provides a synopsis of income levels over an extended period of time adjusted to account for inflation. Even though the regions households are not on par with national averages, the per capita income for the MSA and the regions counties increased considerably over the past 35 years. Continued economic growth is the underlying factor that fueled this increase and additional growth will be necessary to maintain these incomes.
Finding 6: Programs should be developed to address high poverty rates in rural areas of the region, especially the rural counties where very little industry is located. Poverty rates established by the Census Bureau may mask higher levels of low-income households even in high employment areas such as the Chattanooga MSA.
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OCCUPATION Number of Employees in Non-Agricultural Establishments by Sector Chattanooga Metropolitan Statistical Area Hamilton and Marion Counties in Tennessee Catoosa, Dade, and Walker Counties in Georgia (Thousands of Jobs)
Percent Chattanooga/Hamilton MSA (1,000s) Change Employment 2000 2009 MSA State Mining/Logging/Construction 10.3 8.7 -15.5% 0.0%
Manufacturing 44.6 28.3 -36.5% -35.6%
Trade, Trans. & Utilities 56.0 48.1 -14.1% -8.3%
Information 3.0 3.7 23.3% 0.0%
Financial/Real Estate 17.3 18.0 4.0% 0.0%
Professional & Business Services 22.9 21.7 -5.2% 3.0%
Education & Health Services 20.5 30.4 48.3% 41.3%
Leisure & Hospitality 19.3 22.7 17.6% 33.3%
Other Services 11.1 10.8 -2.7% 3.0%
Government 33.5 34.8 3.9% -1.8%
Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2011 Occupational Employment: Cleveland/Bradley MSA Bradley and Polk Counties in Tennessee (Thousands of Jobs)
Percent Cleveland/Bradley MSA (1,000s) Change Employment 2000 2009 MSA State Mining/Logging/Construction 1.4 1.4 0.0% 0.0%
Manufacturing 13.2 8.5 -35.6% -35.6%
Trade, Trans. & Utilities 7.2 6.6 -8.3% -8.3%
Information 0.3 0.3 0.0% 0.0%
Financial/Real Estate 1.6 1.6 0.0% 0.0%
Professional & Business Services 2.9 3.0 3.4% 3.0%
Education & Health Services 3.4 5.8 70.6% 41.3%
Leisure & Hospitality 2.8 4.2 50.0% 33.3%
Other Services 2.6 2.5 -3.8% 3.0%
Government 5.6 5.5 -1.8% -1.8%
Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2011.
As the foregoing tables illustrate, manufacturing job losses over the last decade were staggering. This alone would account for a majority of negative social impacts associated with higher poverty rates, lower incomes, and high, 14
intransigent unemployment rates. Although service sector jobs have increased, they typically do not pay as well as manufacturing positions, and contribute to an under-employed workforce.
Regional Employment by Sector in Tennessee Bledsoe, Grundy, McMinn, Meigs, and Rhea Counties.
2006 2009 Difference Natural Resources & Mining 315 47 (268)
Construction 1,410 1,275 (135)
Manufacturing 11,875 8,554 (3,321)
Trade, Trans. & Utilities 6,403 5,452 (951)
Information 331 202 (129)
Financial/Real Estate 1,076 1,024 (52)
Professional & Business Services 2,269 700 (1,569)
Education & Health Services 6,231 1,679 N/A Leisure & Hospitality 2,637 1,946 (691)
Other Services 384 400 16 Public Administration 1,334 1,144 (190)
N/A = Partial data; complete statistics for 2009 not available.
Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2011.
As is apparent from the preceding tables, manufacturing is still a significant source of employment in non-MSA counties. Manufacturing in McMinn and Meigs Counties is heavily weighted toward the automotive supply industry. .
However, the Service Providing sector is by far the dominant source of employment.
At one time, there were predictions that the information industry - computer software, telecommunications, etc. - would be the growth area in the American economy. Growth did occur in that industry, but it happened in India, not the United States. Consequently, the number of jobs in that field has virtually stagnated over the last ten years, and there are few indications that the process will somehow reverse itself. This sector of the economy moved offshore along with a large contingent of our manufacturing capacity.
Globalization is obviously one of the most important trends affecting the national and regional economy. The challenge is to work out a method to take advantage of opportunities that will occur if that trend continues while maintaining the flexibility to change should the trend collapse. Primary market forces that help to propagate the trend include:
Abundant overseas labor Low wages in Mexico, Latin America, and China result in greater corporate earnings Sophisticated transportation systems that allow the flow of raw materials and goods to and from producers and consumers on a just in time basis 15
Low cost of energy The region cannot compete with overseas labor markets where low wages and relaxed environmental requirements are a heavy inducement for many companies to relocate. However, the region is endowed with excellent transportation systems and a central location in the mid-south. Barge, rail, and interstate highways converge to make the Chattanooga region one of the premiere natural transportation hubs in the south.
What happens if the forces of globalization falter? The trade deficit is seen by many to be unsustainable. We are purchasing huge volumes of goods - most of what we need or want - from overseas sources. At the same time we are producing fewer and fewer value-added goods, and that does nothing to improve the value of the dollar. In the mean time, oil prices are increasing the cost of transportation far beyond recent expectations. Although this is a simplistic rendering of economic facts, it is sufficient to support the need for alternative options to an economy that has the propensity, but not the capacity, to infinitely expand globally.
Wages in the region have increased consistently. There are no current indications that this trend will falter, but in a global economy, uncertainty is the constant.
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Travel to Work: 2000 80.0% Worked outside county More than 30 Minutes to work 70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0% ch oe Brad G ru nd ari n inn eig s k
Po Rh ie osa Dad alker ed s le y y o cM l ea Ca e Bl H am M M Se qu to W ilt on M at As is obvious from the preceding table, large numbers of people work outside the county that they live in. This is not a significant problem in most of the MSA counties because the urban areas in Hamilton, Catoosa, and Walker are essentially contiguous and separated only by artificial political divisions, not topography. This is not the case for Marion County and non-MSA counties, such as Bledsoe and Grundy. Counties at risk for economic disruption are those with a high percentage of people working outside the county and a high percentage of people driving more than 30 minutes to work. For these groups, transportation is critical.
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County County Loss Population Gain & Loss City City Loss 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 Bledsoe Bradley Grundy Hamilton McMinn Marion Meigs Polk Rhea Sequatchie Catoosa Dade Walker (2,000)
(4,000)
Source: Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau. Release Date: March 22, 2007.
As the foregoing chart indicates, the growth is occurring in non-urban areas. In the Hamilton County urban area, which includes Chattanooga, some cities gained while others lost residents. The majority of municipal losses occurred in Chattanooga, East Ridge and Red Bank. Other Hamilton County municipalities, such as Collegedale and Soddy-Daisy, had significant population increases. The net loss in municipal residents is likely the result of a long-term trend of population diffusion into rural areas, commonly referred to as urban sprawl.
Consequently, the data on travel time to work will likely show an increase with the next decennial census.
High fuel prices will continue to have a detrimental impact on workers who must travel long distances. There is a risk that these workers will simply be unable to make the journey if fuel prices exceed their earning capabilities. Consequently, the challenge is to build employment capacity within these counties or provide alternative, lower-cost transportation options for those at high risk.
Speaking at the Bridge Forum Dialogue in Luxembourg on April 13, 2011, Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, state The age of cheap energy is overThe only question now is, will the extra rent from dearer energy go to an ever smaller circle of producers, or will it be directed back to the domestic economies of the consumers, with the added benefits of increased environmental sustainability?
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Finding 7:
Continue to develop the transportation industry Maintain infrastructure capacity to re-integrate offshore companies back into the U.S. and regional economies Guarantee an educated, motivated workforce Develop local start-up business and expansion of existing companies Consider developing a transportation network, carpooling centers, etc. for workers outside the MSA ECONOMIC CLUSTERS The following economic clusters are the primary growth areas in the region:
Chattanooga Cleveland-Athens Rossville-Fort Oglethorpe-Lafayette (Walker County Corridor)
South Pittsburg-Jasper Dunlap Area Dayton-Graysville-Spring City Area Cluster Employment Name Workforce Percent of Region Ringgold-Rossville-Ft. 85,120 21.9 Oglethorpe-Lafayette Chattanooga Area 166,600 42.9 Cleveland-Athens 92,050 23.7 Dayton-Graysville-Spring 14,320 3.7 City S. Pittsburg-Kimball-Jasper 13,620 3.5 Total: 279,660 72.0 Although there are five major clusters, 66.6 percent of the total employment occurs in the Chattanooga/Cleveland/Athens corridor South Pittsburg-Jasper The South Pittsburg-Jasper corridor is expanding almost to Dunlap where major infrastructure grants have been provided. Two additional tourism growth areas should be added: The Polk County/Ocoee River is part of the Tennessee Overhill region and the Sequatchie Valley scenic area between Dunlap, Pikeville and 19
Spencer along TN 111 and TN 127, including the Fall Creek Falls State Park.
Both of these areas possess great natural beauty, abundant moving water and forested areas, which will attract Eco-Tourism.
Chattanooga Economic Development Center Topography plays an important part in the direction of growth in this center. The area's main physical features are the valleys and ridges, which run in a northeast
- southwest direction, and the Tennessee River and Chickamauga Lake that divides the county. Growth has occurred in the north and east direction of the City of Chattanooga due to these physical features. Growth is expected to continue to occur to the north, east, and northeast portion of Hamilton County, as well as south into Georgia.
The area has substantial industrial development. The Tennessee River in the Amnicola Industrial Park offers an opportunity for a major industrial development.
The area also has prime industrial land available for development within existing industrial parks, especially the Enterprise South industrial park. Currently, a new interstate exchange is nearing completion to provide direct access to the park from I-75.
The following transportation improvements may enhance the area's economic development potential in the future:
Further widening and improvements of I-75 north of Chattanooga.
Improvements to Highway 27 over Olgati Bridge in Chattanooga.
High-speed rail service between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Passenger rail service (e.g., Amtrak) though Chattanooga.
Other facilities, which make Chattanooga the major economic center in the region, include:
Extensive Medical Facilities Extensive Education Facilities Cultural and Recreation Facilities The urban services provided, including available infrastructure, area makes the area capable of supporting additional development: Sewer service is available in to most of the incorporated areas of Hamilton County; the Chattanooga Regional Wastewater Treatment facility offers opportunity to provide sewage treatment for a large portion of the region; and the Tennessee River offers an adequate supply of water.
Commercial development has been significant over the past 5 years. Hamilton Place Mall, the largest mall in Tennessee, has resulted in major commercial development in and around the primary facility. The Chattanooga downtown 20
area has also emerged as a major attraction for tourism. The Tennessee Aquarium, Imax Theater, and the Riverpark have been spurring commercial and retail development along the river area in the downtown area. With the transformation of the downtown area, efforts revitalize Chattanoogas Southside community are continuing apace.
Cleveland-Athens Economic Development Center The Cleveland-Athens Growth Center corridor, as designated in 1971, extends south of Cleveland in Bradley County, to just north of Niota in McMinn County. It includes the cities of Athens, Charleston, Cleveland, Calhoun, and Niota. The area is easily accessible to U.S. Highway 11 and Interstate 75. East-West travel is hampered by ridges and poor quality primary roads.
Athens and Cleveland are the major economic sub-centers for the area. The cities serve as employment and service centers for Meigs and Polk Counties.
Improvements to Highway 30 from Decatur to I-75 will enhance the opportunities for continued economic growth in the area.
Manufacturing is the backbone of the economy in this area, comprising 31% of the jobs in Bradley County and 43% in McMinn County. Automotive products contribute heavily to the McMinn County manufacturing base with companies like Denso and Waupaca. Bradley Countys manufacturing sector is more diverse, but from a regional perspective, the combined economy of this part of the region has a healthy mixture of businesses.
Ringgold-Rossville-Fort Oglethorpe-Lafayette, Walker Co Economic Development Center The Rossville-Fort Oglethorpe-Lafayette and Walker County Economic Development Center extends from Rossville and Chattanooga (Tennessee state line) along a corridor, which includes Fort Oglethorpe, Chickamauga, Linwood and Lafayette. These communities and the area along U.S. 27 are the economic hub of the Walker and Catoosa County area.
Rossville and Fort Oglethorpe are very closely tied to the Chattanooga area and are defined as part of the Chattanooga MSA. The Rossville-Fort Oglethorpe area has substantial residential and commercial development in the growth center area.
South Pittsburg-Jasper-Dunlap Growth Area The South Pittsburg-Jasper Center in Marion County serves as a sub-center for the Sequatchie Valley, which includes Marion, Bledsoe, Grundy, and Sequatchie Counties. It now extends to Dunlap up the Sequatchie Valley. Natural barriers (Waldens Ridge, Raccoon Mountain, and the Cumberland Plateau) make 21
east/west transportation routes from the Sequatchie Valley difficult to transverse.
It is much easier to travel south from Dunlap to South Pittsburg-Jasper area. The mountains prevent the communities from having a direct link with Chattanooga.
The area has ample vacant industrial land. During this decade, the Towns of South Pittsburg and New Hope have developed Nickajack Port, a multi-million dollar river port and industrial park located between the Tennessee River and the principal line of the Seaboard Railroad.
There has been significant industrial development within the area over this decade: Polymer Materials, Variform, Inc., Orion Foods, Valmont Industries, Inc.
and Tennessee Galvanizing located in Marion County -- these industries accounted for 400+ jobs. Rock-Tenn also relocated to the Jasper Industrial Park, which resulted in the creation of 100 new jobs.
Access to the highway transportation system is excellent for the Jasper/Kimball/South Pittsburg area. I-24 provides immediate access to the Chattanooga metropolitan area where there are connections to I-59 (Birmingham) and I-75 (Knoxville/Atlanta).
Dayton-Spring City Growth Area The Dayton-Spring City Growth Area extends from Graysville, along Highway 27 to Spring City. A railroad line runs parallel to the highway for the length of the area.
The Dayton Industrial Park, which was expanded with EDA financial assistance, has attracted several industries. Planned expansions and locations resulted in the creation of hundreds of jobs over the last several years. The area also has other potential industrial development sites, including the Spring City Industrial Park where there is the potential for significant industrial expansions in the near future.
Finding 8: The region has well-developed growth centers that are actually well integrated with each other. High quality transportation corridors between and among centers provide the ability to develop synergies that will benefit each jointly.
SEWER ANALYSIS:
Sewer service is provided almost exclusively by the regions municipalities.
Several of the rural utility districts provide onsite service through the use of decentralized package systems and drip-irrigation. An analysis of each system shows that some form of sewer service is available at each industrial park within the region. However; in many of the parks the lines have become inadequate due 22
to line size and industry expansion. These lines must be replaced to continue recruiting business and industry to the region.
The plateau portion of the region which encompasses Grundy, Bledsoe, Marion, Sequatchie Counties as well as areas in Hamilton and Rhea County continues to struggle to provide sewer service due to the lack of blue-line streams suitable for wastewater discharge. Several of the sewer systems are at or near capacity making it difficult to service new industrial and commercial growth. These sewer providers must find new cost-effective methods to deliver service to their clients.
Design Capacity Treated Effluent Remaining Percent (%) of County Utility (Millions/Day) (Millions/Day) Capacity Capacity Bledsoe Pikeville 0.57 0.12 0.46 21%
Bradley Cleveland 37.00 9.10 27.90 25%
Grundy WWTP 0.10 0.025 0.08 25%
Monteagle 1 0.25 0.14 0.11 56%
Monteagle 2 0.25 0.06 0.19 24%
Hamilton Moccasin Bend 160.00 120.00 40.00 75%
Signal Mountain 1.50 0.23 1.27 15%
McMinn Athens 4.03 3.24 0.79 80%
Englewood 0.25 0.158 0.09 63%
Etowah 2.00 0.73 1.27 37%
Niota 0.40 0.15 0.25 38%
Marion Jasper 0.78 0.30 0.48 38%
South Pittsburg 1.40 0.70 0.70 50%
Meigs Decatur 0.34 0.307 0.033 90%
Polk Benton 0.18 0.039 0.141 22%
Copperhill 0.70 0.30 0.40 43%
Ducktown 0.14 0.05 0.09 36%
Rhea Dayton 2.69 1.30 1.39 48%
Spring City 3.50 1.00 2.50 29%
Sequatchie Dunlap 0.93 0.50 0.43 54%
Walker Lafayette 3.50 1.90 1.60 54%
Dade Trenton 1.00 0.25 0.75 25%
TOTALS: 221.51 140.60 80.92 Extreme I & I Monteagle problems Operational Monteagle 1 problems Poor design, discharge stream Monteagle 2 inadequate Signal Mtn. Moratorium: I & I Jasper New development (Rarity Bay) will require additional capacity Athens Moratorium: I & I Englewood I & I; Commissioner's Order 23
Decatur Nearing capacity Copperhill Plant needs upgrade I & I = Infiltration & Inflow - storm water overwhelming the system Commissioner's Order requires system upgrades Moratorium means no new hookups allowed until the system has been repaired Finding 9: Sewer plant and line improvements are needed to maintain the existing residential, commercial, and industrial base of the Region. These are primarily improvements associated with aging and/or outdated infrastructure.
WATER SYSTEM ANALYSIS Water is one of the most important necessities for economic development. The Tennessee Valley is blessed with abundant water sources, such as the Tennessee and Hiwassee River. This does not mean that everyone has access to a water source: some parts of the region are cut off by mountainous terrain and other topographic factors.
Political constraints are also a problem with water supply. The State of Tennessee has adopted the Interbasin Water Transfer Act, which effectively prohibits water transfers out of the Tennessee River Valley watershed. This has an impact on the southern section of the Region where water flows toward the Chattahoochee River basin Aging and inadequate infrastructure is another problem. Regulatory requirements for water plant operations are stringent, resulting in the need for frequent equipment and facility upgrades. As the population increases, additional capacity is also required, and regional treatment plants begin to make more sense as economies of scale come into play.
Currently, there is one regional system operated by the Hiwassee Utility Commission (HUC). This organization operates provides water to other utilities throughout the Hiwassee Region, including Cleveland, Riceville, Athens, and Niota. Water systems that can access HUCs main lines have a distinct advantage over systems that are isolated because they have an assured backup supply if their plant or water source fails. HUC has a virtual endless supply of water from the Hiwassee River, which is one of the least polluted streams in Tennessee. Currently, the Utility District needs to upgrade its plant to supply the increasing needs of the region.
Most of the utilities in the region have the ability to interconnect with other neighboring systems, a long-term goal of the Development District Board. This is very important because parts of the region have experienced water shortages due to drought conditions that have occurred with increasing frequency over the 24
past several years. These interconnections provide backup sources of water, especially for the utilities that are not directly connected to a large water resource like the Tennessee River.
In 2004, the Development District commissioned a study to determine the most appropriate method of supplying water to the west side of the region. Problems with water sources, failed wells, and aging infrastructure have plagued this part of the region for some time. The study recommended a 6 million gallon per day plant located on the Tennessee River, which would be capable of providing water to all of the utilities operating in the Valley as well as those located on the adjacent Cumberland Plateau in Bledsoe, Grundy, and Sequatchie Counties.
Some of the most likely methods of implementing study recommendations includes forming a utility (similar to the HUC) to build a new plant. Another option is to develop an agreement with South Pittsburg to upgrade their plant on the Tennessee River to accommodate all of the needs in this part of the region.
Another option would be for an existing system, such as the Tennessee American Water Company, to provide water to the Sequatchie Valley region.
Avg. Daily Avg. Max.
Design Capacity Pump Pump County Utility Gallons/Day (Millions Gal.) (Millions Gal.)
Bledsoe Pikeville Water System 518,400 0.488 0.515 Taft Youth Center 604,800 0.590 1.718 Bradley Cleveland Utilities 2,330,000 7.827 8.247 Hiwassee Utility District 7,499,520 3.620 5.700 Grundy Big Creek Utility District 1,866,240 0.849 1.115 Tracy City Water System 799,200 0.440 0.667 Hamilton Eastside Utility District - 8.156 11.694 Hixson Utility District - 6.747 8.308 Mowbray Mtn Utility District - 0.336 0.421 Sale Creek Utility District 529,920 0.178 0.323 Savannah Valley Utility District 2,880,000 1.837 2.026 Signal Mountain Water System 3,369,600 0.936 2.010 Soddy-Daisy-Falling Water Utility District 5,971,680 1.905 2.512 Tenn-American Water Company 64,800,000 39,219.000 53,214.000 Union Fork-Bakewell Utility District 604,800 0.371 0.561 Walden's Ridge Utility District - 0.883 1.707 Marion Foster Falls Utility District 0.034 0.098 25
Griffith Creek Utility District - 0.073 0.110 Jasper Water System 1,693,440 1.114 1.678 Monteagle Public Utility Board 1,008,000 0.393 0.685 Orme Water System 74,880 0.024 0.034 South Pittsburg Water System 3,359,520 0.998 1.477 Suck Creek Water System 108,000 0.026 0.058 Whitwell Water System 1,209,600 0.838 1.088 McMinn Athens Utility Board 4,147,200 2.142 2.979 Calhoun-Charleston Utility District - 0.202 0.740 Englewood Water Department 576,000 0.239 0.429 Etowah Utilities 5,499,360 2.771 3.545 Niota Water System - 0.297 0.541 Riceville Utility District - 0.226 0.460 Meigs Decatur Water Department 1,008,000 0.618 0.726 Polk Benton Water System 1,584,000 0.348 1.135 Copper Basin Board Public Utilities 748,800 0.261 0.402 Copperhill Water Department - 0.080 0.108 Hiwassee Water Co-op - 0.126 0.284 Ocoee Utility District - 1.318 2.384 Rhea Dayton Water Department 4,032,000 2.650 3.547 Grandview Utility Department - 0.089 0.157 Graysville Water Department 432,000 0.158 0.245 North UD of Rhea County - 0.197 0.430 Spring City Water System 1,658,880 0.485 0.910 Watts Bar Utility District 1,152,000 0.702 0.990 Sequatchie Cagle-Fredonia Utility District - 0.137 0.211 Dunlap Water System 2,016,000 0.703 1.048 Lone Oak Utility District 233,280 0.034 0.169 26
Source: Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, Division of Water Supply, 2007.
In Marion, Grundy, and Sequatchie Counties there are several interrelated problems occurring that will require a solution in the near future. First, the Town of Jaspers plant on the Sequatchie River is not able to handle the additional demands that development is placing on it. Barring another solution, the Town is considering spending several million dollars on a new plant located on the Tennessee River. Upgrading the existing plant is possible, but flows in the Sequatchie River are not sufficient to feed long-term requirements. This is a relatively small stream that is used by Pikeville, near its headwaters, as well as Dunlap. Both cities also use the stream for wastewater discharges.
On Monteagle Mountain, there are problems with water supplies. This is a water poor area that is still suffering from coal mining operations that have long since shut down. The water table is heavily polluted with iron, and there are few reliable sources of surface water. A recent study performed by the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, the South Cumberland Water Resources Regional Planning Pilot, recommends increasing the capacity of an existing water impoundment and connecting utilities throughout that part of the region to help mitigate any water shortage that occurs locally.
Further north in the Sequatchie Valley, the Town of Whitwell has water storage problems and will also need an upgrade in their water treatment system. Looking at the preceding chart, there seems to be enough capacity in this part of the region, but that assumes reliable water sources and usable infrastructure, two factors that are missing for several of the utility systems.
At the north end of the Sequatchie Valley, a water line was previously constructed from the Dayton system to Pikeville. However, new development, including a State prison, that will be dependent on water from Pikeville and the construction of a force main and pump station to the prison site.
The following charts were taken from a study designed to develop a strategy to solve water availability problems in the Sequatchie Valley.
Projected Water Demands Based on Water Usage Data Sequatchie Valley Region Latest TDEC Water Projected Water Use Trends Survey Data Year 2011 Year 2021 Water Treatment Pumping Avg. Daily Max. Daily Average Peak Average Peak System Capacity Capacity Pumpage Pumpage South Pittsburg 4.00 4.18 1.08 1.32 1.26 1.82 1.44 2.09 Jasper 1.69 3.31 0.98 1.30 1.16 1.59 1.36 1.88 Whitwell 1.31 2.59 0.68 0.99 0.94 1.45 1.17 1.80 Dunlap 2.00 2.02 0.62 0.93 0.71 1.09 0.80 1.24 Pikeville 0.58 1.71 0.43 0.86 0.46 0.80 0.53 0.93 27
Big Creek U.D. 1.87 3.46 0.91 1.42 1.21 1.88 1.49 2.31 Monteagle P.U.B. 0.70 1.73 0.33 0.57 0.41 0.73 0.47 0.84 Tracy City 0.80 1.94 0.40 0.90 0.39 0.70 0.48 0.86 Taft Youth Center 0.61 2.45 0.55 1.05 0.85 1.66 1.08 2.10 Suck Creek 0.11 0.29 0.05 0.19 0.08 0.28 0.11 0.39 Total: 13.67 23.68 6.03 9.53 7.47 12.00 8.93 14.44 Source: "Sequatchie Valley Water Supply Study," GRW Elrod Dunson, Inc., August 2004.
Projected Water Use Trends 16 Million gallons per day 14 12 10 8
6 4
2 0
Average Daily Current 2011 2021 Peak Daily As the preceding data indicate, a large increase in water treatment capacity will be required within the next five (5) years.
Finding 10: An expansion of existing water impoundment(s) is needed to provide water to the South Cumberland section of the region. This will include the need to connect various water systems to each other so that water can be wheeled through one system to reach another. Additional water needs include residential and commercial water line extensions and water main construction to alleviate pressure problems. Additional upgrades may be needed to the Pikevlle water system to serve the northern sections of this region.
SOLID WASTE The Southeast Tennessee Municipal Solid Waste Planning Region was conceived in 1993 to provide long-term guidance to local governments in maintaining adequate waste collection, disposal, and recycling capacity. A solid waste plan was prepared and approved by the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation in 1996. The plan is updated annually in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Act of 1991 and submitted to TDEC for approval.
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In Georgia, each county is required to prepare a comprehensive plan, which includes a solid waste component with similar requirements to that required of Tennessee counties. The Planning Region Board invites participation from all Georgia counties in the planning process.
Currently, the region has enough solid waste disposal capacity for at least the next ten years. Facilities include the following:
Projected Life Sanitary Landfills (Years)
Bradley County 20 Chattanooga-Birchwood 8 Marion County 22 McMinn County 24 Meadow Branch 12 Rhea County 20 Collinsville, Alabama (Allied Waste) Not Available Construction & Demolition Landfills Bradley County C&D 24 Environmental Materials 10 McMinn County C&D 18 The Bradley County and Chattanooga Birchwood facilities serve north Georgia Counties. Allied Waste, a privately owned and operated company, provides collection and disposal service to Dade County and a large portion of Hamilton County.
Marion Countys landfill provides disposal for all of Grundy and Sequatchie Countys needs. Bledsoe County hauls to Rhea Countys facility, which also accepts some of Hamilton Countys waste. Meigs Countys waste goes to Meadow Branch landfill (McMinn County), which is privately owned and operated, and Polk Countys waste goes to the McMinn and/or Bradley County landfill.
All of the landfills are regional: They generally accept waste from any source because tipping fees for the waste are their only source of income. The costs associated with developing and operating a landfill are huge, and large volumes 29
of waste are needed for operations as well as closure and post-closure care, which continues for at least 30 years after the landfill is closed.
In addition to assured disposal capacity, States require counties to reduce waste disposed of in a Class I (sanitary) landfill by 25 percent. This is accomplished through recycling programs, bans on waste tires in landfills, wood waste diversion to chipping operations, and diversion of construction/demolition materials.
Finding 11: There is adequate solid waste collection, disposal, and recycling capacity in the region. A sophisticated planning program is in place to maintain and monitor waste activities through State agencies.
INDUSTRIAL PARKS Each county in the region has at least one industrial park. Most of these parks will have some infrastructure needs because companies moving into the area often have specialized needs that may or may not conform to what is already available at any particular site.
Chattanooga and Hamilton County have 1,600 acres available at the Enterprise South industrial park, which has been primed for large industrial locations. Next in size is the Nickajack Port property in Marion County, which is in an excellent location to take advantage of barge, rail, and interstate highway access.
CARCOG INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES Min Size Max Size Rail Address City, State (Acres) (Acres) Access 1 134 Waupaca Drive ETOWAH, TN 5 1,717 yes 1494 Happy Valley Road - Happy Valley 2 Road Property ROSSVILLE, GA 5 50 no 17th Street - South Etowah Industrial 3 Park ETOWAH, TN 4 46 no SODDY-DAISY, 4 203 Tsati Terrace - Hixson Pike Property TN 29 29 no 2400 Denso Drive - Athens McMinn 5 Interstate Industrial Park ATHENS, TN 5 350 no 6 2515 Benton Pike CLEVELAND, TN 82 no 2800 Riverport Road - Centre South CHATTANOOGA, 7 Riverport Industrial Park TN 10 74 yes 8 300 Payne Lane - Hollin Property DAYTON, TN 5 200 Feasible 310 Sequachee Industrial Drive -
9 Sequachee Valley/Dunlap Industrial DUNLAP, TN 5 110 no 30
Park 3400 Cummings Road - Cummings CHATTANOOGA, 10 Road Site TN 5 145 Feasible 11 381 Hwy 127 - Pikeville Industrial Site PIKEVILLE, TN 5 50 no 441 Allan P. Deakins Road -
12 Bledsoe/Pikeville Industrial Park PIKEVILLE, TN 5 18 no 443 Industrial Drive - Marion County 13 Industrial Site JASPER, TN 5 30 no 4829 Battlefield Parkway - Catoosa 2A 14 Site RINGGOLD, GA 20 20 no 6075 Bonny Oaks Drive - Enterprise CHATTANOOGA, 15 South Industrial Park TN 5 1,600 yes 16 620 Industrial SW CLEVELAND, TN 5 33 yes Barney Lane And 20th Street NE -
17 Pinnacle Industrial Park CLEVELAND, TN 5 35 Feasible 18 CBIP 33 Acre site CLEVELAND, TN 5 33 yes Highway 156 and Port Road - Nickajack 19 Industrial Site & Port NEW HOPE, TN 5 1,217 yes Highway 238 and Burnett Road -
Whitwell-Powell Crossroads Industrial 20 Park WHITWELL, TN 10 10 no Highway 308 and Haney Road - CHARLESTON, 21 Hiwassee River Industrial Park TN 18 18 no 22 Highway 50 - Pelham Industrial Park MONTEAGLE, TN 5 50 no Highway 58 Near SR60 - Meigs South 23 Industrial Site DECATUR, TN 5 52 no 24 Industrial Drive - Dunlap Industrial Park DUNLAP, TN 5 12 no Industrial Drive - Tracy City/Monteagle 25 Industrial Site TRACY CITY, TN 58 58 no Industrial Park Drive - Copper Basin 26 Industrial Park DUCKTOWN, TN 5 60 no Manufacturers Road - Dayton Industrial 27 Park DAYTON, TN 5 45 yes McCarter Road - McCarter Road no 28 Industrial Site LA FAYETTE, GA 14 14 29 Athens/McMinn County Industrial Site ATHENS, TN - 223 no 6,299 Finding 12: There is enough industrial park space to accommodate additional industry in much of the region. However, infrastructure needs are always an issue because capacities must fit the needs of prospective industries.
BROADBAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRICITY 31
Most of the region has access to broadband service, even in the rural areas.
According to the Report and Recommendations produced by the Tennessee Broadband Task Force for the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (January 2007),
there are four areas that do not have adequate access to broadband in Tennessee. These include a small section of southwest Hamilton County, northwest Rhea County, northern McMinn County around Niota, and western Polk County north and south of Benton.
Areas that do not have broadband on the west side of the region are generally on Waldens Ridge where the topography is very mountainous. However, these areas are relatively small and lightly populated. In northern McMinn County, broadband is simply missing; it should be available because all other infrastructure is there to support it. This is also true for western Polk County outside of the Cherokee National Forest, which is the largest area without broadband in the region.
Currently, information is not available for the geographic distribution of broadband in Catoosa, Dade, and Walker Counties. The State of Georgia does, however, provide a grant program to assist rural counties in developing broadband coverage through the One Georgia Authority.
Energy The region is blessed with abundant electrical energy resources provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority. There are six hydroelectric facilities in the region:
Ocoee River 1, 2 and 3 Watts Bar Dam Chickamauga Dam Nickajack Dam Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage Facility In addition to hydroelectric facilities, there are three nuclear plants:
Sequoyah Unit 1: 1,147 MWe Sequoyah Unit 2: 1,125 MWe Watts Bar Unit 1: 1,138 MWe Construction of a second unit at Watts Bar was halted after about 80 percent of the construction was complete. TVA is now in the process of completing construction to meet increased power demands in the future. This would provide and additional 1,275 megawatts.
Other generating capacity is just outside the region in Bridgeport, Alabama at the Widows Creek coal-fired plant. This facility generated 1,629 MWe and much of that capacity is allocated to the region.
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Finding 13: The region has an assured supply of electricity for the foreseeable future, and most residents have access to broadband telecommunications.
However, support should be provided to those areas in the region that do not have access to broadband.
TRANSPORTATION The regional Rural Planning Organization along with the Chattanooga MPO and the Cleveland MPO help define the transportation priorities of the region. The primary transportation needs are:
- 1. Highway 30 east/west connector: Historically, topographic barriers to east/west movement across the region have impeded development.
The Cumberland Plateau and Waldens Ridge are oriented to a northeast/southwest direction across the region. Most of the roadways follow the valleys; few try to conquer the 1,200 foot inclines presented by the mountains. U.S. Highway 30 was designed to do this, but it is a narrow, winding road in most parts of the region and upgrades are needed to bring it up to the standards needed to make it a viable commercial transportation corridor.
The RPO has endorsed this project although no funds have been allocated for feasibility studies. In addition, local governments along the route have formed the Highway 30 Coalition to promote the project.
- 2. Corridor K: This is the Chattanooga to Asheville Highway that is partially funded through the Appalachian Regional Commission. A study is currently underway to determine the economic development impacts of the highway. This route will connect the region to the economies of the east coast along a more direct route than currently exists.
Currently, the RPO does not consider non-highway projects, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation does not provide support for non-highway planning through the RPO process. The Tennessee Rail System Plan (completed October 10, 2003) has essentially languished with no indication of movement toward an implementation strategy.
There is a need identified through the planning process for an inland port facility somewhere in the region along the Tennessee River, either at the Port of Nickajack or at established ports in Chattanooga. There is significant support for such a facility, but additional infrastructure will be required to implement the project. This will include rail access and linkages to the Interstate system.
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Another potential transportation project is a high speed rail under consideration that would link Chattanooga to the Atlanta area. This would obviously have a major impact on the regional economy. The Tennessee Finding 14: Significant funding will be required to complete necessary highway expansions. Part of the funds for Corridor K has been committed, and the Highway 30 corridor is only in the initial phases of conceptual development. Inland port development is a high-value project that needs further evaluation.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES The following comparison of tax rates across the region is interesting because it shows the poorest and richest counties nearly equal in their tax rates. This is due to the fact that Grundy County, which is listed as distressed by the Appalachian Regional Commission, has large areas of state-owned property.
Since this property is effectively off the tax roles, the countys citizens must pay a higher rate just to receive basic services.
Hamilton County is the center of the MSA and has a slightly higher tax rate than Grundy and Polk Counties. The difference is that Hamilton County provides considerably more services than either Grundy or Polk. This go well beyond the basics of schools, roads, police, fire protection, ambulance service: it also includes parks and recreation, on-line county services, etc.
Polk County currently has the highest tax rate, primarily because one third of the county is within the Cherokee National Forest. Currently, the county is experiencing financial difficulties because there is simply not enough money to fund basic needs. As an example, the county jail was recently condemned because it does not meet basic state requirements.
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Tax Rate Comparison
$3.50
$3.00
$2.50
$2.00
$1.50
$1.00
$0.50
$0.00 Grundy Hamilton Polk Rhea Dad e Bledsoe Bradley McMinn Marion Cato osa Meigs Sequatchie Walker FINANCIAL RESOURCES FUND GEN. OBL. PER CAP G.O. REVENUE BOND COUNTY BALANCE DEBT DEBT DEBT Bledsoe $1,200,000 $1,195,000 $96.63 $542,403 Bradley $5,800,000 $1,200,000 $13.64 $9,700,000 Grundy $1,039,000 $1,700,000 $118.62 $605,000 Hamilton $55,363,000 $125,510,000 $404.00 $861,340 Marion $1,170,000 $24,000,000 $1,117.28 $1,356 McMinn $1,000,000 $0 $0 $0 Meigs $897,000 $1,400,000 $126.30 $40,000 Polk $165,856 $18,218,282 $1,135.10 $4,691,953 Rhea $1,200,000 $1,900,000 $66.90 $12,000 Sequatchie $724,000 $6,300,000 $554.09 $53,473 Catoosa $4,100,000 $2,900,000 $52.29 $225,000 Dade $2,100,000 $4,700,000 $297.66 $52,000 Walker $4,500,000 $8,100,000 $124.00 $398,041 Grundys higher tax rate translates into lower debt ratios for its residents as compared to Polk. In general, most of the counties in the region have significant financial resources.
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Finding 15: Per capita debt is very manageable in most of the counties. The highest, Polk County, is troubling because this is one of the counties with a relatively high tax rate, the third highest in the region. As previously stated, this is due to the fact that a large part of the county is comprised of a national forest and no tax revenue is acquired from this property. Polk County obviously needs additional resources.
CAREER CENTER SYSTEM When the Congress passed the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the legislation outlined the framework for a new workforce delivery system that would provide One Stop Career Centers where job seekers and employers could access a host of workforce, education and human care services all at one location. The Southeast Tennessee Development District operates two comprehensive Career Centers located in Hamilton and McMinn Counties and four satellite facilities, located in Bradley, Marion, Rhea and Sequatchie Counties. In north Georgia, a Career Center in Catoosa County serves businesses and job seekers.
Career Centers have taken the forefront in the delivery of public workforce services. Business customers benefit from the following services:
Customized recruitment, screening and assessment of job candidates Accurate and timely labor market information Specialized employee outreach and recruitment campaigns Assistance with business expansions and /or relocation Outplacement services designed exclusively for downsizing Rapid response assistance Development of On-the-Job Training supports Specialized employment-related supports Customer service feedback Job Seeker Services include:
Outreach / intake / orientation to the One Stop Career Center Basic skills testing / Occupational aptitude testing Career counseling / Individual employment plan development Resume development/ employability skills development / job search assistance Job vacancy listings Interviewing skill development / job readiness and retention training Short term pre-vocational training Referral to education and job training services Support services / financial aid information and assistance Customer service feedback 36
Training options for job seekers include Occupational skills training On-the-Job training / Skill upgrading Entrepreneurial training Adult education and literacy Customized training Work experience - paid and unpaid Follow-up services Other sources of services and resources available through the One Stop system include:
Local, regional and national labor market data / growth and demand areas Information on job skills necessary to obtain jobs or explore new careers Performance / program cost information on training providers Performance information on Career Centers as well as Training Providers Requisite earnings / skill requirements for jobs Unemployment compensation information Information on student assistance packages and coordination of education benefits Customer service feedback The One Stop system is established to utilize a host of partners to create cost efficiencies and provide a higher level of customer convenience and satisfaction.
Partner groups share in the operating expenses of the One Stop, helping to reduce costly duplication of independent operation and services. Many of the partner organizations are co-located within the Centers and all have established systems of referral in place. Key Partners to the One Stop include:
WIA Adult, Youth and Dislocated Worker Programs Veterans Employment and Training Programs Job Corps Employment Service Adult Education Post Secondary Vocational Education Vocational Rehabilitation Title 5 of the Older Americans Act Native American Program Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers The strength of the Career Center system is in its capacity to deliver accessible services to customer groups all at one convenient location. Business and industry and the job seeking public as well have universal access to seamless, 37
quality services through the one Stop system. Weaknesses of the system include limited hours of operation; generally Centers are only open Monday through Friday during the normal working day. Technology is sometimes outdated prior to securing the coordination and identification of funding for replacement. One of the key Centers where rapid growth is occurring has surpassed its physical capacity to deliver services effectively. And, a final weakness involves the employer community: Many employers do not understand the function of the Career Center system and how they can utilize services to assist with the identification and referral of trainable workers.
There is great opportunity for the One Stop Career Center System to link more effectively with local and regional economic development entities. Opportunity also exists for the system to expand partnerships to other supporting entities, including faith-based and community organizations. Conversely, threats to the system include reduction in public funding for workforce services, as well as pending changes to legislation proposing the elimination of One Stops as the point of entry. Intrinsically, the system has long been threatened with the inability to rid co-located partners of their connection and allegiance to their with their respective employers rather than to the greater good of the One Stop mission and the delivery of premier services that will enhance economic vitality of the region.
Finding 16: For the One Stop Career Center System to continue to function in a manner that encourages growth and a higher level of usage among job seekers and employers, it is incumbent upon the Southeast Tennessee Development District, as Administrative Entity, to maintain close oversight and enact vigilant intervention where system adjustments are warranted.
TRAINABILITY AND DOCUMENTATION OF SKILLS The cost of hiring, training and retaining high-quality workers is one of the greatest costs incurred by business and industry and significantly impacts their bottom line. In an effort to address these issues, the Southeast Tennessee Development District joined forces with the Southeast Tennessee Workforce Investment Board, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, and Chattanooga State Technical Community College to implement a proven job skills readiness model, the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC). The CRC model is designed to provide workers with a cross occupational portable skills credential. The credential, denotes readiness, and is as sometimes referred as the the Fourth R, joining the standards of reading, riting, and rithmetic as the 21st century measure of capacity to enter and remain in the workforce as a contributing employee.
The strength of the Career Readiness Certificate is directly attributable to its utilization of the WorkKeys' assessment test to measure a candidate's potential 38
to succeed in the business/working world. The assessment process has been developed by ACT, Inc., a nationally recognized leader in educational testing.
Although ACT is best known for its college entrance exam which measures ones potential to succeed in the academic world, the WorkKeys assessment serves as an excellent indicator of probable success in the workplace. It evaluates functioning levels skills in three vital areas:
Applied Mathematics Reading for Information Locating Information Three levels of the CRC allow an individual to advance h/her skill level in order to qualify for more jobs. Individuals can attain a Bronze Level, documenting core employability for 30% of the jobs, a Silver Level, documenting core employability mastery for approximately 65 % of he profiled jobs, or a Gold Level, documenting core employability for approximately 90% of the profiled jobs.
An added strength to the system is a component designed for individuals who do not initially achieve the Career Readiness Certificate. Assessment results will indicate the targeted training needed to achieve the skill levels necessary to obtain the certificate. The Tennessee Career Centers as well as the companion Career Center serving the MSAs northwest Georgia counties offer assistance to individuals in increasing their skill levels through the use of computerized software that is prescriptive.
Although these three areas are standard areas that represent the skills that are the most utilized in 10,000 job profiles located in ACTs Occupational Profile Database, one weakness of the Career Readiness Certification System is that some employers have been in need of other skill assessments including skill development in the areas of Technical Writing and Teamwork..
One of the greatest opportunities the SETDD has is in growing the CRC system.
The District collaborated closely with its partners forming the Tri-State Workforce Alliance to ensure that the initiative was approached on a regional level and that a mutually shared CRC database would be established and maintained. This led to the development of CertificateKey, a database that provides open access to WorkKeys certifying entities across the SETDD labor shed, including the contiguous states of Alabama and Georgia. The Twenty-four participating counties show high levels of commuting to-and-from jobs within the Districts labor market area.
With thirty-seven states now in various stages of Career Readiness Certification deployment, the threat to the SETDD region is in lagging behind in efforts to sufficiently grow the database so that existing companies interested in expanding and new companies interested in locating in the region can be assured that the region offers an established pool of trainable workers with documented skill 39
levels required of any new jobs that may be coming on line. Many workers have test anxiety and are hesitant to participate in a comprehensive assessment process that will determine their skill levels.
Finding 17: It is incumbent upon the Southeast Tennessee Development District to make a unified, concerted effort to continue the rapid expansion of the CertificateKey Database in order to document the proficiency of the regions workforce and to enhance the opportunity for maximum utilization of CertificateKey by the regions business and industry a ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT One of the primary sources of new jobs is the development of new, local business. Entrepreneurship development is an elusive concept for many community leaders who have traditionally relied upon recruitment as their primary economic development strategy. For some rural communities, the encouragement and support of entrepreneurship is the best and most realistic economic development strategy.
Overall, small and medium sized businesses account for up to 95% of all businesses and up to 80% of all jobs. Creation and expansion of small and medium sized firms will be an important component in the regions continued recovery from the severe economic downturn and high unemployment rates experienced by all counties in the CARCOG/SETDD region in recent years.
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE Healthcare access and means to pay for it are difficult issues for the entire nation. The Southeast Tennessee/Northwest Georgia region is no exception.
Community service providers and hospitals, in combination with State and Federal programs, struggle to meet the healthcare needs of the local citizens with limited resources.
The healthcare strengths of our area include that Rural Health Centers and urban clinics are available in all of our counties. These centers provide vaccination services, some routine testing and screening, some crisis management and even can act as Primary Care facilities for some qualified patients. Also, our area has many excellent hospitals, which are mostly not-for-profit and provide medical care to people in need. Rhea County even has a new facility called Rhea Medical Center that opened up the week of August 23rd 2007. This facility will create a new high level care facility within quick driving distance of many rural residents. In addition, Erlanger Hospital in Hamilton County is a non-profit, academic teaching center affiliated with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. It is also a Level-One Trauma Center for adults and the provides tertiary care services for the citizens of an entire four-state region, encompassing southeast Tennessee, north Georgia, north Alabama and western North 40
Carolina. Each year, more than a quarter of a million people are treated by the team of healthcare professionals who are part of Erlanger.
The region boasts a local, Volunteers in Medicine office which is a full service medical clinic that provides medical services to financially eligible individuals and families who otherwise have no access to health care. Project Access is coordinated by the Medical Society of Chattanooga & Hamilton County and the Medical Foundation. It brings together doctors, hospitals, medical schools, community clinics, the Hamilton County health department, and many other partners to improve the health and well-being of the people of Chattanooga and Hamilton County. Having local facilities that will treat anyone in need, regardless of their ability to pay, is a great boon to the region, though these facilities face a continuing struggle as funding for them is cut while the demand for service increases as people loose their health insurance.
The weaknesses of the regional healthcare system are varied. Access to preventative care is limited and causes health problems to progress to stages wherein treatment is very expensive. State and local funds are drained as people enter care without the resources to pay for it. Facilities often struggle to support themselves in an environment wherein insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, doctors and health care facilities, are fighting over the same dollars.
The uninsured often use hospitals emergency rooms as their only recourse, which puts an onerous financial burden on hospitals because this is the most expensive care for day-to-day ailments, it over-burdens emergency staff, and creates roadblocks for people who actually need emergency service.
Opportunities in our area include the Appalachian Regional Commissions commitment to assist in the construction and expansion of health departments in rural areas. Expanded facilities allow the development of new services and new preventative programs that will result in cost savings across the board. Also, the location of several insurance companies and drug manufacturers in our area might lend itself to possible funding opportunities for various programs. The teaching nature of Erlanger Hospital could bring new and cutting edge treatments to our citizens. In addition, the state of Tennessee has several programs taking the place of the old TennCare system that might be able to fill some gaps in our region in health insurance coverage for children and the working poor.
Several looming threats overshadow healthcare systems in the United States, and the Southeast Tennessee/Northwest Georgia region is no exception. Many people in our region lack health insurance. Local employers are often small and do not provide health insurance. Many of the bigger employers that provide health insurance do it only if the employee pays an increasingly large portion that many cannot afford. The capacity of local Emergency Rooms is often stretched beyond safe limits because so many people can only seek health care there. The recent collapse of Tennessees Tenncare system has left many poor and working people without insurance who had it just a few years ago and people with 41
preexisting conditions struggle to obtain health insurance even when they can afford it, furthermore the population of our area is aging and as the baby-boomers hit the system our healthcare systems will strain to accommodate the onslaught.
Finding 18: Access to healthcare is an ongoing problem in our region. Lack of health insurance poses the greatest threat to the integrity and stability of the healthcare system in our area.
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The preceding findings were presented to the CEDS committee, county Joint Economic & Community Development Boards, the Executive Committee of SETTD/CARCOG, and other community groups. A broad consensus subsequently emerged to address three primary problems summarized as:
- 1. Finding 3: Demographic changes occurring as a result of baby boom retirement
- 2. Findings 7 and 14: Significant changes in the type(s) of employment available within the region
- 3. Findings 8 and 9: Aging and/or inadequate infrastructure, especially related to sewer and water systems Details of these findings are as follows.
- 1. Finding 3 Demographic changes in the population associated with an aging population will result in needs more common in the retirement areas of Florida. This is also an economic development opportunity since many of those in this demographic will be retirees with significant incomes, and they have a minimal impact on local government resources, such as police, fire, and educational facilities. In addition to this trend, recent developments in the industrial sector will likely result in thousands of new jobs in the region. This will translate to an increase in population that will have a wide impact on the entire region.
Goal 1: Prepare a plan to deal with the impacts of aging populations and heavy growth associated with a new industrial capacity that will heavily burden local capacities.
Objectives 42
- a. Develop comprehensive community sustainability plans to help local governments and communities cope with anticipated growth
- b. Integrate existing plans, including RPO transportation, stormwater, solid waste, and other planning efforts along with the GreenPrint plan developed by the Chattanooga Office of Sustainability
- 2. Findings 7 and 14 It is apparent that the manufacturing sector has lost much of its dominance in the region. Low-paying service sector jobs have replaced many manufacturing jobs, resulting in under-employment for a significant segment of the local workforce.
Goal 2: Develop transportation resources, maintain existing manufacturing capacity, and support infrastructure to re-integrate goods-producing sectors back into the regional economy.
Objectives
- a. Support the development of Corridor K and Highway 30
- b. Develop an inland port facility in Hamilton or Marion County
- c. Improvements to industrial park sites
- d. Develop adequate rail for freight and passenger service to connect with major economic centers in the country
- e. Consider local alternative transportation modes Goal 3: Support small business and startup operations that will grow locally and provide local jobs.
Objectives a) Support business development programs throughout the area b) Assist communities in understanding the impact and importance of small business development to the long term sustainable development of their local economies.
c) Expand access to capital to new and existing businesses.
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d) Provide assistance to existing and hopeful entrepreneurs through educational programs and outreach that are timely and convenient.
e) Provide linkages to networks of small business assistance programs.
f) Support new and existing small business incubators through technical assistance and funding opportunities.
- 3. Findings 8 and 9 The analysis of water and sewer systems shows a pronounced need for infrastructure improvements and expansions. Some of these needs are urgent.
Goal 4: Provide water service to all parts of the region and develop sewage treatment capacity where feasible.
Objectives
- a. Develop a regional water source and treatment plant capacity for the Sequatchie Valley region
- b. Construct/augment impoundments in the region without assured water supplies
- c. Sewage system upgrades and extensions to areas with inadequate treatment capacity PROJECTS LIST Geographic Area Anticipated Estimated Estimated Description Benefited amount of Private Jobs (New request Investment & Saved) from EDA Project 1 McMinn, Bradley, $1,500,000 $130,000,000 700 Development in the Mount Verde industrial park and at the Goal 4 & Monroe Niota I-75 exit is dependent on the extension of sewer service Objective (c) Counties to these sites. Industrial and commercial development at these sites will help assure the economic vitality of the Athens region.
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Project 2 McMinn, Polk, $1,000,000 $160,000,000 250 The Waupaca Foundry was a major source of employment for Goals 2 Bradley, & this part of the region until the economic downturn resulted in Objective (d) Monroe Counties an idled plant. However, the company intends to resume Goal 4 operations as soon as the economy recovers, and in order to Objective (c) continue development of employment opportunities, the company needs additional access to the rail system and an increase in sewage disposal capacity. This will require the construction of a rail spur and increasing the size of sewer lines in Etowah to accommodate larger flows to the wastewater treatment plant.
Project 4 Grundy, Coffee, $1,650,000 $15,000,000 45 A regional wastewater treatment plant is required for Goal 4 Franklin, & municipalities in the region, including Monteagle, Sewanee, Objective (c) Marion Counties Tracy City, and Pelham (unincorporated). Although Monteagle has wastewater treatment capacity, the two existing plants cannot adequately treat current flows. Planned commercial development cannot be implemented without a new wastewater plant. This development is currently the only option for additional local employment in an area where more than 50% of employable residents commute as much as 50 miles for a job.
Approximately $150,000 would be needed to assess treatment plant options prior to any construction.
Project 5 Marion, $2,000,000 $110,000,000 350 Water capacity is limited in the Sequatchie Goal 4 Hamilton, Valley/Cumberland Plateau area due to limited well Objectives (a) Grundy, Rhea capacities, inadequate reservoirs, and low-flow periods on and (b) & Sequatchie the Sequatchie River. New or expanded water plants on Counties the Tennessee River, which has an unlimited supply, would provide the necessary volumes of water to accommodate the new development occurring in the region and provide the means to maintain continued economic growth that this new development will engender. Other alternatives include new and/or expanded reservoirs and utility acquisition of existing lakes. Water needs in the region include supplies for a new State prison in Bledsoe County, large developments in Marion and Sequatchie Counties, and several municipal systems that could lose their water source if extended drought conditions persist.
Project 6 Bledsoe, $300,000 $50,000 N/A Development of a comprehensive plan to deal with Goal 1 Bradley, growth associated with the location of the Volkswagen Objective (a) Catoosa, Dade, assembly plant at Enterprise South and Wacker in the and (b) Grundy, Hiwassee Industrial Park. The plan will also deal with Hamilton, changing demographics in the region that will impact the Marion, regions ability to grow. This would be a regional effort to McMinn, determine the need for infrastructure, housing, schools, Meigs, Polk, etc. throughout the region, including northwest Georgia Rhea, and northeast Alabama.
Sequatchie, Walker Counties Project 7 Dade, Grundy, $1,500,000 $35,000,000 200 As fuel prices increase, materials transport by barge becomes Goal 1 Hamilton, more cost- effective. The major increase in transportation-Objectives (a), Sequatchie related jobs in the region indicates that large volumes of goods (b), (d) and (e) Counties are handled in the area. An inland port facility located in Marion or Hamilton County would fit well with the transport-based economy that is already present. Barge transport via the Tombigbee Waterway would provide a direct link to Gulf Coast sea ports. In addition, rail access improvements to other major industrial parks will increase their viability.
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Project 8 Bledsoe, $1,500,000 30,000,000 2,000 Provide assistance to energy-related companies relocating the Goal 2 Bradley, southeast Tennessee area (e.g. Wacker Chemical). This includes Objective (c) Catoosa, Dade, solar and wind as well as nuclear power related companies.
Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea, Sequatchie, Walker Counties Project 9 Catoosa N/A N/A 500 (est.) Planning and funding efforts to develop a high-speed or Mag-Dade Lev rail system between Atlanta and Chattanooga.
Goal 2 Walker Objective (d) Hamilton Project 10 Hamilton 120,000 20,000 100 Renovation of the existing business incubator to become the Goal 3 new consolidated Business Development Center for Objectives (a) Entrepreneurial Growth.
through (f)
Project 11 Bradley 1,000,000 120,000,000 500 Utilities and rail access are needed to a new industrial site in Goal 2 Cleveland where Whirlpool i relocating operations from old, Objective (c) dilapidated facilities in central Cleveland. The City is planning to revitalize the abandoned area through EPA Brownfields funding.
VITAL PROJECTS LIST Vital projects as currently identified are as follows:
Project 5: Regional Water Treatment Plan Project 6: Regional Planning Project 7: Inland Port Facility and Industrial Park Improvements ACTION PLAN Project 5 Increase water treatment capacity at the South Pittsburg plant from two to six million gallons per day as determined in the Sequatchie Valley Water Study.
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Time Frame: 2-5 years Funding Sources:
- 1. Community Development Block Grant Program $1,000,000
- 2. U.S.D.A. Rural Development 2,500,000
- 3. EDA 1,500,000
$5,000,000 Performance Measures 2010 Prepared Community Development Block Grant Application 2011 Prepare Additional Funding Applications (Rural Development, State Revolving Loan Fund, etc.)
2011 Begin Construction 2013 Complete Construction Project 6 Regional Plan Time Frame: 1 year Performance Measures 2011 Matching fund development and determine strategic objectives: Apply for HUD Community Sustainability Funds 2012 Plan development/Implementation Project 7 Inland Port Facility/Industrial Park Improvements Performance Measures 2011 Infrastructure funding grant applications: Need commitments from local governments and site owners.
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