News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETennessee Gov. Bill Lee and DENSO Officials Announce Major Expansion in AthensAthens, TN – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, along with Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and DENSO officials, announced today the company’s significant expansion in Athens. DENSO will establish additional manufacturing operations, featuring...Continue Reading

McMinn County Economic Development Director, Lindsey Ferguson, graduated from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute (OU EDI) on May 2, 2024 at the OU Spring session. OU EDI is an intensive 117-hour certificate program which provides a broad spectrum of advanced education for the economic development professional.  Barry Matherly, CEcD and Dean for OU EDI, said, “OU Economic Development Institute is the premier organization dedicated to training economic development professionals. These graduates have invested in improving their professional capabilities to support their local communities.  Congratulations to all.” OU EDI began in 1962 and...Continue Reading

Job seekers and companies across McMinn County can enjoy a full day of networking on Thursday, August 7, at the Athens Regional Park Conference Center at 101 Regional Park Drive. The job fair starts at 9 a.m., runs through 3 p.m., and is free for vendors and applicants.“Our job in...Continue Reading

Dairy is a valuable industry in Tennessee and an essential product of McMinn County. According to the USDA, McMinn County is the top milk-producing county in Tennessee, and one of the leaders in the United States. Dairy is a $13.6 million industry in McMinn County because of its high milk...Continue Reading

International Economic Development Week runs from May 12 to 16, 2025, and the McMinn County Economic Development Authority (EDA) is using the event to showcase its manufacturing strengths. Manufacturing is a $70 billion industry in Tennessee, accounting for 13.4% of the state’s GDP. More than 364,300 Tennesseeans work in manufacturing...Continue Reading

The global economy is facing massive changes, with major impacts on the site selection landscape. At this year’s Site Selectors Guild Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, four experienced site selection consultants came together to discuss what’s next for the industry during the closing “Crystal Ball” session moderated by DCI’s Andy...Continue Reading

Rural communities hold immense potential for growth, innovation, and development. However, capitalizing on this potential requires strategic efforts highlighting your rural community and its unique advantages. At Golden Shovel Agency, we specialize in empowering economic developers to promote their regions effectively.Why Promoting Rural Communities MattersEconomic development in rural areas is...Continue Reading

Summary: The national unemployment rate edged down to 4.0 percent in January, though Tennessee saw a year-over-year increase. U.S. import prices increased in February, while export price growth slowed. Retail and food service sales grew modestly in February, while housing data showed mixed trends: housing starts rose, but permits and...Continue Reading

In today’s global economy, industrial companies drive innovation, job creation and economic transformation. For rural communities, developing industrial parks is crucial for attracting jobs and securing long-term prosperity.To support communities lacking resources, Tennessee created the Select Tennessee initiative, a suite of programs led by the Tennessee Department of Economic and...Continue Reading