Kingsport goes from bust to boom... (houses, layoffs, university)

[kamoshika]

Series of articles running this week in the Kingsport Times-News:

Job layoffs. Factory closings. Mass exodus. Vacant houses. Depressed market.

Words that could describe Kingsport not so long ago.

But not anymore.

During the next few days, the Kingsport Times-News will look back on life in the city just a few years ago, and what happened to turn the tide.
Tri-Cities, Tennessee Personal News and Media Center
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Model City undergoing commercial, cultural change

A commercial and cultural renaissance is taking place in downtown Kingsport, where vacant buildings and ordinary streets have been transformed into new businesses, musical forums and a scene of art.
Tri-Cities, Tennessee Personal News and Media Center
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Model City, former retail powerhouse, comes full circle

The city, once known as the retailing center of the region, had lost its competitive edge.

"The bottom line — there is a great deal of wealth in Kingsport, but a lot of that wealth was being spent outside of Kingsport, and we had to figure out a way to keep it here," said Miles Burdine, chief executive officer of the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce.

At the economic summit in November 1999, city leaders decided to make retail development one of the city’s top priorities.
Tri-Cities, Tennessee Personal News and Media Center
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Kingsport putting higher education within reach of its residents

When people in the Tri-Cities think about higher education, places such as East Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee probably come to mind. Now, through some behind-the-scenes work of local leaders and educators, higher education has become a reality for the Model City.
Tri-Cities, Tennessee Personal News and Media Center

[nitneylion]

Quite interesting, thanks!

[mbmouse]

Thanks for sharing this! I work in Kingsport and I am very interested in the downtown revitalization and have just been blow away with all the changes! I think it is just wonderful and now I really enjoy spending time in the downtown area, especially Main and Broad area, that is really the catalyst of the "new" area. And the great part is it isn't new, it is just updated. There are great shops and restaurants. Everyone involved has been doing great things in a short time. I had never really payed much attention as I drove by before, now I stop LOL!.