JC - New Economic Council, Jobs (Johnson City, Gray: water heater, live in, move)

[jabogitlu]

JohnsonCityPress.com - Local News - Johnson City, TN (http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/09/News/article.php?ID=68482 - broken link)

The local Economic Development Board gave its blessing Thursday to a new “Washington County Economic Council” that will aim to enhance economic development in the metro area, which got a boost with the announcement of 300-400 new call center jobs at EDB’s monthly meeting.

[mbmouse]

Good News! Lets hope they get something accomplished and promote the area to new businesses.

[jabogitlu]

I admit I don't know anything about local government here, but throughout the article it seems like four or five different boards and things were mentioned. How many different people are going to funnel money to in the name of "promoting business"?

I hope this really works but if it goes in typical JC fashion, we'll never hear anything else about it, all the while they're still on the payroll.

[rccrain]

If JC got a major corp like Eastman with both a manufacturing and HQ, where should it go?

1. Out a ways toward Watauga (@ intersection of Watauga Rd and Steam Plant Rd). Has RR, a river; needs a better road connection to I26.
2. North West JC (@ intersection of Claude Simmons Rd and Knob Creek Rd). Has RR, close to SoF and I26.
3. Boones Creek (plenty of space surrounding Boones Creek Rd). Has RR, Right on I26, high growth area.
4. Fordtown Rd at Exit 56 on I81 (may be out of Wash Co) Near crucial interchange of I81 and I26; no RR
5. Others?

[jabogitlu]

It would have to go out of the city a good ways, yep. I think a major corp would have to go north or west as South JC is just about full and outside the city isn't really that great landwise. And somewhere with good infrastructure or possibility of upgrades; I'm not sure if Watauga and surrounds could handle not only commercial traffic but everyone driving out that way to work.

Northwest JC is too residential, I can't ever see them putting it there.

Boones Creek would be good, I think.

It could also go along I-26 between JC and Gray, further out than Boones Creek. There's a lot of room for expansion there and people that live in north JC or Gray could have an easy commute. And it's closer to I-81.

[mbmouse]

Ummm. We do have a major corp and it is right downtown.

[jabogitlu]

Do you mean American Water Heater? Or Drugs & Prostitution. <g>

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Do you mean American Water Heater? Or Drugs & Prostitution. <g>

ROFL!!! AOSmith I believe is what they are called now.

[rccrain]

AO Smith is HQed in Wisconsin. If we could get AO Smith's HQ with 2,000 white collar jobs, then that would be the type of development I'm looking for. 1,000 manufacturing jobs is nothing to snub your nose at though...

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=AOS

[jabogitlu]

Wisconsin is probably still good for them, though. We need to try to pull businesses from places that are too burdensome. Yes, I'm thinking northeast. Nothing against the good people of the northeast. It's not their fault that we're just better.

But as more and more corps do move their HQ to the south (especially Atlanta and Raleigh, Charlotte and surrounds), maybe more will start looking at the TRI.