Greater Chattanooga: Industrial Strength

Billions in new investment flow into Greater Chattanooga.

By Bill Lewis on August 7, 2023

Consumers and businesses across the country are purchasing products manufactured in Greater Chattanooga, from electric vehicles and home appliances to solar panels and snack foods.

To keep up with demand, manufacturers are investing billions of dollars in new and expanded facilities, while creating thousands of jobs. Global chemical company WACKER, for example, announced it is expanding operations with the addition of new silicone production facilities in Bradley County, Tennessee. The company plans to invest more than $200 million and create more than 200 new jobs in Bradley County, adding to WACKER’s existing workforce of 700 employees in Charleston, Tennessee.

“We are pleased to explore the expansion of our production capability in Charleston (Tennessee) and add jobs in a market that continues to grow. This additional manufacturing capability allows us to continue to expand our global portfolio for downstream products, while accelerating our growth and adding high-quality, well-paying jobs in Tennessee,” says Ken Collins, WACKER-Charleston’s senior director and site leader.

Between 2019 and 2022, businesses across the region announced $3.2 billion in capital investment and 10,195 jobs related to new projects and expansions.

Alternative Energy Solutions

After investing $800 million to expand its factory, Volkswagen of Chattanooga stands as a North American leader in electric vehicle production.

In addition, Piedmont Lithium is set to create 117 jobs at its new $582 million lithium hydroxide processing, refining and manufacturing facility in McMinn County, Tennessee, at the North Etowah Industrial Park, a CSX and Tennessee Certified Site. 

“We are excited to announce the site of our newest project and partnership with the City of Etowah, McMinn County and the State of Tennessee, as we advance our strategic goal of becoming a leading lithium supplier to the U.S.,” Keith Phillips, CEO and president of Piedmont Lithium, says.

The region’s clean energy footprint grew larger as Korean solar panel manufacturer Hanwha Q CELLS announced a $2.5 billion investment to expand operations in Dalton, Georgia. The company is adding 2,500 jobs to its workforce.

“Georgia has become the clean energy manufacturing heart of America, and we are proud to contribute to the state’s advanced manufacturing economy,” Justin Lee, CEO of Hanwha Q CELLS, says.

Growing Together

One of the region’s best-known employers, GE Appliances, is experiencing a series of expansions. Between a $43 million expansion in June 2019 and additional investments in 2020 and 2021, GE Appliances created a total of 350 new jobs for the region.

In December 2021, the company said that it was investing $118 million in its subsidiary, Roper Corp., in LaFayette, Georgia. To grow its cooking appliances business, GE Appliances announced that it was expanding capacity, developing new products and adding more than 600 new jobs to Walker County by the end of 2024.

Greater Chattanooga is the destination of choice for food manufacturers. Broth producer Essentia Protein Solutions is also expanding its presence along the Tennessee-Georgia border by establishing a new manufacturing plant in Whitfield County, Georgia. The project, planned for a 20-acre site in Carbondale Business Park, is expected to create 80 new jobs. 

SK Food Group, a custom food manufacturing company, is investing more than $205 million to establish a production facility in Cleveland.

The 525,000-square-foot facility will support growing demand by using state-of-the-art automated technology to assist with sandwich assembly and food handling. The company specializes in supplying sandwiches, wraps and other snacks for branding by corporate customers worldwide.

“This project will generate 840 new jobs in the Cleveland region by 2030 and will leverage Cleveland’s best-in-class technology training program, along with our proprietary training and educational programs, to provide ongoing skills development to community members and allow our company to grow together with the community,” says Dustin Dixon, president of SK Food Group.