Strong Workforce, Stronger Support: Why Entrepreneurs Choose Oak Ridge

Courtesy of Kaleb DeFreese

In Oak Ridge, small businesses are thriving in an environment defined by collaboration, innovation and strong community support. Known globally for its leadership in nuclear science and advanced research, Oak Ridge is also home to a growing ecosystem of entrepreneurs who are finding opportunity and long-term success.

Lea Ann Sanford, owner of P&L Business Services, founded her accounting firm in 2015 as a side venture after leaving an accounting firm in Knoxville. What began with just a few clients steadily evolved until it became a full-time business in 2022.

Sanford immediately immersed herself in the local business community, joining the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce right after signing her lease.

Through consistent networking and building relationships, her company experienced rapid growth. Today, P&L Business Services serves more than 300 clients and employs six full-time and two part-time staff members.

Liz Salem

Collaborative Community

Sanford says Oak Ridge offered both lifestyle and business advantages. “Strategically, the rent was much less than Knoxville, and since I was a solopreneur, I didn’t need anything large,” she says. “Additionally, I knew the area was growing, and the proximity makes it easy for me to get to multiple areas of East Tennessee.”

What stands out most, Sanford says, is Oak Ridge’s collaborative culture.

“Oak Ridge is an interesting community. There are huge companies here that do business all over the world, very small ones that do business only locally, and many in between,” she says. “All of the businesses welcome each other, and there are many people moving in, which will only grow opportunities here.”

That collaborative environment has also attracted new entrepreneurs and national brands to the city. Kaleb DeFreese, franchise owner of a Culver’s restaurant in Oak Ridge, says several things stood out about the community as a place to establish the business.

“It offered diversity, a competitive restaurant market, business-friendly leadership and strong growth potential,” he says. “Most markets offer some of those things, but Oak Ridge had all of them.”

DeFreese officially opened his Culver’s restaurant in September 2025 after several years of preparation. Originally from Elkhart, Indiana, he first became familiar with the brand as a customer before eventually pursuing franchise ownership. Since opening, he says the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.

“As a high-level brand, we’ve had immediate recognition throughout the community and surrounding areas, which has brought many new guests in to experience Culver’s,” DeFreese says. “Oak Ridge has welcomed us with open arms.”

Courtesy of Kaleb DeFreese

Supportive Ecosystem

Diana West, owner of Manhattan Legacy Service (MLS), shares a similar experience. She founded her company in 2016 after recognizing a need for specialized services supporting government facilities.

“The business began with one employee besides me and now has about 50-plus employees and an excellent staff,” West says.

West credits the city’s supportive business ecosystem for helping her company grow.

“Oak Ridge is very fortunate to have many small innovative businesses that collaborate and support each other,” she says.

Organizations such as the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce have played a key role. The Chamber has also been a valuable resource for DeFreese.

“We became members right away, and we could not have made a better decision,” he says. “They hosted both our groundbreaking ceremony and grand opening, and several chamber members have since become regular guests in our restaurant.”

For established companies and newer businesses, the local workforce has been another major advantage. West says MLS has grown with the help of local employees and retirees.

“They have been valuable to MLS and to the businesses that utilize them because of their knowledge from previous work experience,” she says.

DeFreese agrees, noting that the community has been key to his restaurant’s success.

“From managers to shift leaders and crew trainers, most of our team members are from right here in Oak Ridge,” he says. “Our greatest strength is our team and the community it comes from.”