Guiding Economic Development in Williamson County

Williamson, Inc.

Economic development in Williamson County takes the Aristotelian phrase “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts” to another level, combining forces for economic and community development, governmental collaboration, educational partnerships and workforce initiatives under one brand – Williamson, Inc. 

“Williamson, Inc. was formed 13 years ago when leadership from all chambers within Williamson County and Williamson County’s Office of Economic Development recognized the opportunity for impact with a unified economic development engine,” says Matt Largen, president and CEO of the organization.

“We are unique in that we encompass both a county chamber of commerce and an office of economic development. The unity of these offices within the organization creates unparalleled opportunities to partner with local, regional and state organizations.” 

Now a heavy-hitting force in the region, Williamson, Inc. wants to expand, influencing policy, opportunity and enhanced quality of life across Middle Tennessee. 

Advocate for Business in Williamson County

One of Williamson, Inc.’s member organizations, Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE), concurs with Largen’s perspective. “We regularly support Williamson, Inc. with sponsorships for community-based initiatives to promote economic development, engagement and growth,” says Todd Palmer, key accounts coordinator for MTE.

“I work in tandem with Williamson, Inc. on economic development projects by answering questions for companies interested in learning about electric rates and power reliability, which can greatly impact their decisions to relocate.”

Williamson, Inc. advocates for a business-friendly climate in numerous ways, including programs like Women in Business and Young Professionals as well as events like State of County and State of Schools. 

Williamson, Inc.

The organization supports mature companies like MTE, but Largen says a good portion of its programming is focused on small businesses, which comprise about 90% of chamber members. 

Those initiatives include the Small Business Council, which meets quarterly; Small Business Academy, which assists established small-business owners with one to 10 employees; Startup Academy, a free, 10-week program for entry-level entrepreneurs; and WillCo Connected Business Mixer, a monthly regional business networking opportunity. With the resources and support provided by Williamson, Inc., companies of all sizes can thrive in this county. 

“Williamson, Inc. has done a phenomenal job of not only attracting new businesses through their focus on economic partnerships and incentives, but also of retaining these businesses by partnering with MTE on incentives and economic packages for those that are expanding,” Palmer says.

“This area is home to several large headquarters like Nissan North America, Tractor Supply Co., Mars Petcare, Mitsubishi Motors of North America and Kaiser Aluminum, to name a few.” 

Strong Collaborator 

To support growth for these established and emerging industries, Williamson, Inc. collaborates with local educational partners. 

Representatives from Williamson County Schools and Franklin Special School District are part of the Williamson, Inc. weekly staff meetings. The economic development office hosts career exposure opportunities for students during STEAM Day and Manufacturing Day as part of its commitment to workforce development. MTE is one of the many local employers that collaborates with Williamson, Inc. to provide experiences for students during Manufacturing Day. 

Students from Williamson County Schools’ Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center also display their businesses during Williamson, Inc. events to promote and sell their products, not to mention gain valuable experiences and connections. For example, student-owned business SloaneMade will now be selling its hats at the Williamson Medical Center gift shop. 

“A good job transforms your life and creates a ripple effect, ensuring not only opportunities for your children and family but the impact you can have on your community,” Largen says. 

As for Williamson, Inc., its influence on the community is largely paying off. 

According to information released by the Federal Reserve Economic Data online database, the number of private companies in Williamson County grew from about 6,500 establishments in 2013 (the year Williamson, Inc. was founded) to nearly 14,000 by the end of 2023. Plus, according to Williamson, Inc., at least five people in all of Tennessee’s 95 counties can draw their paycheck back to Williamson County. 

“Williamson County is a supportive community in Middle Tennessee with a healthy chamber, lots of economic opportunities, quality residents and businesses that care about keeping it that way,” Palmer says. “Williamson, Inc. is the backbone of that effort and does a phenomenal job providing a healthy platform and base from which this effort and focus is launched.”