Businesses Thrive in the Innovation Valley
The Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley region has strong concentrations in businesses that take advantage of its central location, excellent infrastructure, and world-class technology assets. These business clusters include automotive, marine manufacturing, technology, advanced manufacturing, distribution centers, and corporate headquarters.
Automotive- Over 50 manufacturers produce assemblies and sub-assemblies
- Over $500 million investment since 2004
- Just 90 minutes north of the new VW plant in Chattanooga
- Proximity to the majority of Southern and Eastern automotive OEMs
- Access to a strong regional transportation network
- More than 15 major boat manufacturers
- Over $90 million regional investment by boating industry since 2004
- Central location with convenient highway access and proximity to seven TVA reservoirs
- Excellent telecommunications infrastructure
- Concentration of colleges and universities with 75,000 students enrolled
- Business-friendly environment
- Major regional airport with 120 flights a day
- Superior quality of life
- Home of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, world’s largest multidisciplinary research lab, center of basic and applied research in energy, environment, and national security
- Home of the Y-12 National Security Complex, working to solve the security challenges facing the nation and world
- High-bandwidth telecommunications infrastructure, including Digital Crossing, a world-class data center
- 75,000 college and university students, including a high concentration in engineering, math, and science
- Private companies include Bechtel-Jacobs, Siemens, Science Applications International Corp., Radio Systems, Nucsafe, and Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network
- See Technology Advantages for more information.
- Within a day’s drive of 75% of U.S. markets
- At the junction of three major interstates: I-40, I-75, I-81
- Served by CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads
- Low-cost barge transportation on the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway system
- Regional airport with modern cargo freight complex
- Major distribution center for Con-Agra, H.T. Hackney, Sysco, Wyeth, American Honda, CVS, General Electric, and Cardinal Health
- Foreign trade zone
List of Major Employers with 250+ employees
major-employers.pdf
