Maury County: Destination of Choice
With a location along two interstates, access to an international airport, a dedicated workforce, and large industrial and commercial sites ready for immediate development, Maury County is the destination of choice for a growing number of businesses.
With assets that include a location along an interstate and major state route, quick access to an international airport, a dedicated workforce, and large industrial and commercial sites ready for immediate development, Maury County is the destination of choice for a growing number of businesses.
“Those have always been our strong points – access to markets, a strong labor pool and a good quality of life,” says Wil Evans, president of the Maury Chamber and Economic Alliance.
Businesses enjoy immediate access to Interstate 65 and State Route 840, which forms a southern loop around Nashville and links to I-40, I-24 and I-65. Nashville International Airport is a short drive away. And, unlike some counties in the region, Maury County has industrial and commercial sites ready for development with no delays.
Attracting Investment
Businesses are taking notice. The NorthPointe Industrial Park in Columbia will house a new $32 million metal service center for Samuel, Son & Co., Limited – the nation’s largest family-owned automotive metal processor and distributor.
“The NorthPointe Industrial Park met all the criteria that we were looking for,” says Frank Conciatori, vice president for Samuel Automotive, a division of Samuel & Son.
From Columbia, the company plans to serve the South’s growing automotive industry as well as other market sectors, Conciatori says. NorthPointe Industrial Park has an unbeatable advantage over other locations, he says, citing its “proximity to current and future customers, skilled labor and vendors.”
In Spring Hill, the availability of land along Beechcroft Road attracted Magna International and Comprehensive Logistics, which supply parts for the General Motors plant located less than a mile away. NorthPoint Development, headquartered near Kansas City, is developing the industrial site that could eventually house additional parts suppliers. The companies qualified for tax incentives in return for meeting goals for capital investment and job creation.
“As a quickly expanding city, we know how critical it is to compete with other municipalities to attract good-paying jobs here in Spring Hill,” Mayor Rick Graham says.
Having a facility in Maury County enables Magna to serve GM more efficiently, says Mike Bisson, president of Magna Seating.
“This new facility demonstrates our commitment to GM in delivering high-quality products through our world-class manufacturing initiatives,” he says. “We are pleased to support our customer and look forward to potential growth opportunities.”
The new facility is Magna’s fifth location in Tennessee and is expected to employ approximately 357 people. Comprehensive Logistics Co. is creating more than 200 new jobs at its new facility, says Brad Constantini, executive vice president and principal of the company.
“We are excited to open our first operation in Tennessee and become a part of the Spring Hill community,” he says.
In addition to logistic support, Comprehensive Logistics will provide value-added services including parts sequencing and assembly of headliners, tires and wheels, rear suspensions, and front verticals for GM vehicles.
Certified for Growth
One of Maury County’s top industrial assets, Cherry Glen Industrial Park, has earned the distinction of being a Select Tennessee Certified Site. The program sets a consistent, rigorous standard upon which companies can rely on in making critical location decisions. Located at Highway 43 and Sam Watkins Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, Cherry Glen is one of just 34 greenfield sites that have been certified across the state.
The Select Tennessee Certified Sites program gives decision-makers confidence their project will move forward without any serious roadblocks. The sites have already been vetted and certified to international standards by selection firms Austin Consulting and The Foote Consulting Group. Among the qualifications needed for certification, a site must have at least 20 developable acres, proper zoning in place to allow for ease of development, all utilities at the site or a formal plan to extend to the site, and truck-quality road access.
“The comprehensive and detailed information available on the property allows us and our clients to make faster decisions compared to sites that haven’t gone through a formal due diligence process,” says Brandon Talbert with Austin Consulting. “Other things being equal, a certified site is viewed more favorably and generally carries less risk because most of our questions have already been answered.”
Maury County is the perfect location for growing businesses, Evans says.
“As you get closer to Nashville, it becomes harder and harder to find large parcels suitable for industry,” he says. “We have a lot of properties still available. That leaves us well positioned for phenomenal industrial and office growth.”