Convenient Road, Rail and Air Connections Offered
Published Feb 23, 2009
Flights from Tri-Cities Regional Airport go to Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis and Orlando.
Getting there may be half the fun, but it’s also most of the challenge for manufacturers. Happily for those who’ve chosen to settle in the Northeast Tennessee Valley, it’s a challenge that’s easily met.
With three interstate corridors crisscrossing the area as well as other federal and state highways, rail lines and a regional airport, moving raw materials in and finished product out is simple.
Indeed, location is a prime selling point throughout the region, and the strong transportation infrastructure is usually one of the first positives mentioned by local economic development professionals.
“We’re in a great location in that we’re between Interstates 81 and 26, and that’s how we promote ourselves,” says Betty Martin, director of business development for NETWORKS-Sullivan Partnership, the economic development organization for Bluff City, Bristol, Kingsport and Sullivan County, Tenn. “And we’ve got between 60 and 70 transportation companies around here, so there’s no shortage of ways for people to get things moved.”
The Distribution Connection
A major coup for NETWORKS – one that will benefit the entire region – was landing an $8 million, 90,000-square-foot FedEx Ground distribution center in the Gateway Commons Park near the intersection of I-81 and I-26. That facility will anchor NETWORKS’ other development efforts. To that end, it’s snapping up large parcels near air and ground transportation hubs in a bid to prepare for the future.
“We’ve got several hundred acres under our NETWORKS’ responsibility,” Martin says. “We’ve got property by the airport, property in the cities, so we’ve covered all our bases as far as potential development (is concerned). The Bristol property is a rail site, and the airport site is well positioned for whatever comes along.”
Property adjacent to Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Blountville, Tenn., is made that much more attractive by the availability of more than two dozen commercial flights per day. The airport has eight hangars ranging from 8,000 square feet to 28,000 square feet of storage space, plus a 13,000-square-foot cargo facility. Designated a Foreign Trade Zone, the airport also offers full customs services.
From Roadways to Railways
Railways round out the triad of convenient transportation options in, around and through the valley. CSX Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp. serve the region, connecting it to ports that include Charleston, S.C., and Norfolk, Va. And given the area’s strong business growth and the bright outlook for more light industry and manufacturing, it’s no surprise that the railways are looking to expand their presence.
“We’re conducting a study to find a possible location for a new intermodal facility in Tennessee,” says Robby Klein, industrial development manager for Norfolk Southern’s Knoxville office.
According to Klein, the eastern part of Tennessee is part of the railway’s Crescent Corridor project, which has as its initial goal the removal of 1 million truckloads of freight from interstate highways – and the placement of them on the rails.
“We’re studying ways to improve the rail route along that corridor through Tennessee, increasing its capacity and trying to get rid of some of the restraints we currently have,” he says. “We’re also very excited about the opportunity to serve the new Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, and we’re going to compete aggressively for that business.”
Story by Joe Morris
Photo by Ian Curcio
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