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.

• 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