East Tennessee Residential Communities : Holrob Communities : Private Communities near Knoxville, Knox County, Blount County, Anderson County, Sevier County

As American consumers are spending more on food, fuel, and commodities and economic analysts ponder recession, East Tennessee has been spared many of the worst economic challenges. While other areas suffer job losses and business closings, Knox and its surrounding counties has fared pretty well - the Knoxville Metropolitan Area has the lowest unemployment rate in the state. One reason for this is corporate business expansions. For instance, "Green Mountain Coffee Roasters plans to open an East Knox County plant, engineering firm SAIC is moving at least 150 jobs to Oak Ridge, and VW is building a $1 billion plant in Chattanooga that will employ 2,000 workers and likely spawn feeder business in our area." From January 2007 to January 2008, the Knoxville Metropolitan Area added 5,950 jobs, with 4,040 jobs added in Knoxville alone. Knox County's unemployment rate in 2007 was down a half point from 2006 and its median household income was 108 percent of the state's median. In addition, the county's population grew by 11 percent from 2000-2007.


Photo by Suffering the Benz.

In addition to corporate expansion, the area's diversified economy has helped to insulate against economic instability. For example, expansions in health care brought 1,600 health-related jobs to the state in 2007 while providing construction companies with non-residential work. Many of those jobs are located in Knox County. Also, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the University of Tennessee, and local schools offer stable government jobs to many area residents. Of the various sectors, near-term growth is expected to continue in "construction, durable and nondurable goods manufacturing, wholesale/retail trade, finance/insurance/real estate and education." A 2006 breakdown of employment by sector can be found here. All of this means that the region has suffered less than many others and our local business leaders are optimistic that there will be a quick recovery once the national economy stabilizes. For more information on the economic opportunities available in the Knoxville area, submit your inquiries here.

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Across the country, many are trading in their retirement plans for new careers. Studies have shown that a growing number of Americans prefer to continue working beyond the traditional retirement age of 65: "In 2006, nearly 30% of Americans ages 65 to 69 belonged to the workforce, up from 18% in 1985, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute." In addition, a "recent survey by Thrivent Financial of adults ages 45 to 64 found that 43% overall — and nearly half of all men — plan to work full or part time in retirement." Many of these people will leverage their skills, experiences, and even hobbies into a business of their own, joining "an expanding army of workers who continue working long after they become eligible for Social Security benefits." Now why the heck would they do that? Extra income, a sense of purpose, and longer and healthier life spans top the list.


Photo by Erik Mallinson.

For many, starting a microbusiness is the answer. "A microbusiness is a small business with fewer than five employees (including the owner) and less than $35,000 in start-up costs." Most microbusinesses operate out of the owner's home and have no employees at all, the owners choosing to outsource needed services rather than hire and manage employees. Successful microbusinesses have included a wide variety of goods and services. Some examples include child care, house cleaning, delivery services, catering, web design, consulting, writing and editing.

Like any business, a significant key to success is location. Not only will a good location offer sufficient resources to help with planning and funding needs, a good location will also have a growing and diverse population, a stable economy, an affordable cost of living, and an expansive talent and customer pool. Knoxville has all of these. Ranking fifth (out of 200 competitors) on Forbes' 2007 list of Best Places for Business and Careers, Knoxville enjoys a unique mix of creative and educated citizens, low costs of business and living, high technology, low taxes, and great cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities. For a quick reference sheet offering area statistics and many other awards and achievements click here. For further inquiries submit your questions here.

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In his latest book, Who's Your City, best selling author Richard Florida claims that where you choose to live is more important than ever before. Florida points out that economic activity, innovation, types of people, and creativity is concentrated in relatively few places and that those places will offer better jobs, quality of life, and services. Florida uses a series of maps to show how the world's population is distributed, and where the most productive and creative people live and the strongest economies are in the United States. The Southeast shows prominently on these maps.

Photo by sleepless aquarius.

Florida recommends considering a number of factors when deciding on a new community - opportunity and basic services are among the most important. The Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area, home to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Tennessee, and numerous medical and technology-based businesses, reflects our government and community leadership's commitment to quality economic development and quality of life. Recent awards and rankings speak for themselves:

• 2008 - Knoxville ranked 4th on the "Best Cities for Relocating Families" list for Mid-Size Markets. Source: Worldwide ERC and Primacy Relocation May 2008

• 2008 - Metropolitan Knoxville named No. 10 on the list of Forbes Magazine "Best Places for Business and Careers." Source: Forbes Magazine March 2008

• 2007 - Expansion Management magazine named the Knoxville Metropolitan area 3rd among all mid-sized cities in the nation in its annual "Best Metro for Business and Expansion" competition. Source: Expansion Management Magazine August 2007.

• 2007 - Boating Life Magazine named Knoxville as one of the "10 Best Places to Live And Boat." Source: Boating Life Magazine July 2007

• 2007 - Metropolitan Knoxville named No. 5 on the list of the best metro areas for business and careers by Forbes Magazine. Source: Forbes Magazine April 2007.

• 2007 - Knoxville ranked 1st on the "Best Cities for Relocating Families" list. Source: Worldwide ERC and Primacy Relocation May 2007

• 2007 - Expansion Management magazine named Knoxville one of "America's 50 Hottest Cities," cities that are best places to expand or relocate a business. Source: Expansion Management Magazine February 2007.

If you would like more information about Knoxville, click here and request more information.

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Knoxville's vibrant growth and development has helped to bring national attention to the region. Says Garrett Wagley of the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership: "The greatest benefit of the national rankings is that they place Knoxville in the national spotlight. They call attention to Knoxville among the nation’s largest companies and among those companies that might be looking to expand."

Knoxville's National Rankings

• Best Cities for Relocating Families (2008, 2007) - Worldwide ERC and Primary Relocation - #4, #1
• Best Place for Recent College Graduates (2006) - Economic Research Institute - #1 of 206 reviewed
• Best Metros for Business and Expansion (2007) - Business Expansion Magazine  - #3
• America's 50 Hottest Cities for Business Relocation & Expansion (2007, 2006, 2005) - Business Expansion Magazine - #23, #9, #14 of 50
• America's Most Affordable Travel Destinations (2006) – Hotwire.com - #4 of 50
• Knoxville - Best Cities to Do Business in America (2005) – Inc Magazine - #7 of 274
• Best Overall Business Climate (State Ranks, 2005) – Site Selection Magazine - #5 of 50
• Best Places for Affordable Living (2005) – Sperling’s Best Places - #8 of 32
• Best Places for Business & Career (2008, 2006, 2005) – Forbes Magazine - #10, #5, #17 of 200
• Best Places to Retire (2006) – Money Magazine - #10 of 100
• Top Mid-Size City Boom Towns (for Job Growth, 2006) – Inc Magazine - #23 of 60
• States With A Strong Workforce Training Program (2006) – Expansion Magazine - #6 of 50
• 3rd best places to live and boat in the country by Boating Life magazine.

This national attention and the dedication of area government, business, and community leaders has resulted in a steady increase in jobs for the region. A regional economic development campaign meant to coordinate public and private support was launched in 2002. Jobs Now! was charged with "creating 35,000 net new jobs, growing non-residential capital investment to $2.5 billion, and increasing the average annual wage to $40,908" within five years. Funded by 170 public and private investors, Jobs Now! members support economic development by actively marketing the region and coordinating responses to business inquiries. The investors also support capital improvements and higher wages for regional employees. National attention and their efforts have done much for the region: At the end of year four, the program "had reached 109% of its five-year goal of 35,000 net new jobs and 141% of the five-year capital investment goal of $2.5B."

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In the East Tennessee Economic Development Agency’s Summer 2007 newsletter, Bill Underwood, general manager of the Appalachian Electric Cooperative, reported that Jefferson County is “poised for great things.” Between 1990 and 2000, Jefferson County’s population grew 34.4%! This growth, and a 14% increase in per capita income between 2000 and 2006, is largely the result of the area’s rapidly expanding tourism, manufacturing, and education sectors. Because of Jefferson County’s fortunate mix of qualities that are highly regarded by developing service and manufacturing industries, there’s every indication that this growth will continue long into the future.

As the entire East Tennessee Valley has benefited from its geographic location, so has Jefferson County with Interstates 40 and 81 providing easy access to and through the county. New industries look for areas with strong transit routes such as this, but the county has so much more to offer: large areas of available land suited for industrial development; an attitude of growth and improvement in the local leadership; and close proximity to the urban amenities that Knoxville has to offer, such as fine dining, theater, festivals, and sports. Tennessee provides a pro-business tax structure while utility companies have joined with local leaders and those in the economic development community to provide incentives to attract and retain businesses. Equally important is the work ethic for which the people of East Tennessee are known.

Although manufacturing is the bedrock of the county’s economy, many work in education, medicine, and in services supported by tourism. Jefferson City is home to Carson-Newman College, one of the South’s best liberal Arts colleges, according to US News and World Report; St. Mary’s Jefferson Memorial Hospital, a beautiful 5-year-old, state-of-the-art facility; and numerous retail, service, and entertainment establishments. With two Tennessee Valley Authority lakes and the French Broad River, rolling hills and lush foliage, Jefferson County is enjoying a rapid growth in tourism and has recently become a choice destination for retirement.

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