Why Are Companies Relocating to Williamson County?

Low costs and quality of talent pool among the reasons jobs and opportunities are pouring into this Middle Tennessee county.

By Bill Lewis on December 5, 2022

Nathan Lambrecht

When company executives across the country are looking for a better location for their headquarters, Williamson County stands out as the place where they invest, grow and create jobs.

CEOs of companies arriving from other states cite Williamson County’s deep pool of talent, business-friendly atmosphere, shared social values, highly regarded public schools, low taxes and cost of living, an abundance of available Class A office space and diverse, downturn-resistant economy.

Williamson County checked all the boxes for Advanced Correctional Healthcare (ACH) when the company decided to relocate from Peoria, Illinois.

“Advanced Correctional Healthcare is growing, and so are Illinois’ taxes, some of the highest in the nation,” says Jessica Young, president and CEO of ACH. “Our team looks forward to lower taxes, lower cost of living and top-rated schools.”

The company announced it would invest $2.5 million in its new Cool Springs Boulevard headquarters and create 58 jobs. ACH is the country’s largest county jail health care provider. It provides health care teams and customized programs in correctional settings, including county jails, juvenile detention centers, mental health units, work release centers and drug rehabilitation centers. 

Another Illinois company finding Williamson County to its liking is Highland Ventures Ltd., which is bringing its headquarters operations from Glenview to Brentwood. Over the next five years, the $8.2 million investment will create 80 jobs in Williamson County.

Highland Ventures’ new Brentwood headquarters will serve as the business hub for the company’s well-known brands: Family Veterinary Group, Hoogland Restaurant Group — one of the largest Marco’s Pizza franchisees — Stay Fit 24, Highland Pure Water & Ice and Legacy Commercial Property. 

Familiar Names 

ACH and Highland Ventures join a roster of companies with household names that call Williamson County home, including Nissan North America, Mars Petcare, Tractor Supply and Mitsubishi Motors. More than 40 companies have their headquarters in Williamson County, including 12 of the 25 largest publicly traded companies in the Nashville area.

Shared values attracted the parent company of K-LOVE and Air1, the country’s most significant contemporary Christian music radio networks, to Franklin. As a result, Educational Media Foundation (EMF) is relocating its global headquarters from California. EMF is also among the top 10 U.S.-based audio streaming companies and is the parent company to WTA Media, a leader in faith-based films and publishing; AccessMore, a growing faith-focused podcasting platform; K LOVE Books and K-LOVE Films.

The company will employ several hundred people at its 11-acre campus in Berry Farms. EMF’s 170,000-square-foot space will include broadcast facilities, podcast and video production studios, and a worship center. 

“Middle Tennessee is the hub for Christian musicians, publishers, filmmakers and industry professionals, making it a great place for us to call home,” says EMF CEO Bill Reeves. “It is incredibly important to us to be somewhere that shares our values. We’re excited to bring our headquarters here. The content we’ll be broadcasting from this community will impact people across the U.S. and around the world.”

Educated Workforce 

Williamson County’s location in the heart of the Nashville region gives companies access to a highly educated workforce. Across the region, nearly a third of adults over 25 have at least a bachelor’s degree. That number is even higher in Williamson County, where more than 60% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree.

All of Williamson County’s advantages added up for Kaiser Aluminum when the company announced the relocation of its headquarters from California to Franklin. As a result, the company is investing $3 million and creating 80 jobs.

The move brings Kaiser’s headquarters closer to its existing operation in Tennessee. Kaiser Aluminum has been a long-term employer in Tennessee through its Tennalum facility in Jackson and, more recently, with a new sales office in Knoxville.

“We look forward to expanding our presence in Tennessee,” says President and CEO Keith A. Harvey. “Williamson County provides the benefit of a corporate-friendly business environment and access to a highly talented workforce that fits well with Kaiser Aluminum’s corporate value of being a preferred employer and a great place to work.”

Kaiser Aluminum is a leading producer of specialty aluminum products, serving customers worldwide. The company employs about 3,700 people and operates 14 production facilities.

Another California company with manufacturing operations in Tennessee moved its headquarters to Williamson County. Gutterglove is investing $720,800 and creating 20 jobs in Williamson County. 

The relocation follows the company’s $5.4 million manufacturing expansion to Rutherford County, which created 85 jobs and brought Gutterglove closer to the majority of its customers.

“Gutterglove is excited about our relocation to Williamson County, recognized widely for having a great quality of life and being an attractive place to build a business,” says Matt Smith, Gutterglove’s CEO.