Rutherford County, TN: A Region Rising

This gem in Middle Tennessee continues to be a huge draw for new residents and businesses.

By Kevin Litwin on September 17, 2021

Despite the challenges associated with COVID-19, Rutherford County continues to see an expanding population and new business growth.

Rutherford County is the fastest-growing county in Tennessee, with an average of 20 new people moving to the community every day in 2019. Murfreesboro alone was named among the 25 Fastest-Growing Cities in America by WalletHub in 2020.

Further fueling the region’s growth is a stream of businesses, including major international companies, that have expanded or relocated in Rutherford County.

A recent arrival is Gutterglove, a California-based gutter guard systems manufacturer that opened a $5.4 million production and distribution operation in La Vergne, TN in 2021. United Kingdom-based air ventilation and fan company Woods Air Movement established its North American headquarters and manufacturing operations in Murfreesboro, TN.

Rutherford County Lands New Jobs

Vi-Jon, a personal care products manufacturer known for its flagship brand Germ-X hand sanitizer, is adding 250 new jobs and investing $70 million to expand its Smyrna operation. And Germany-based MAHLE Filter Systems, a Tier 1 supplier to the automotive industry, will expand its operations in Murfreesboro by adding approximately 300 jobs.

Greenville, South Carolina-based Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems, involved with the maintenance, repair and overhaul of private and government aircraft, relocated its 75-employee operation from Nashville International Airport to Smyrna Airport.

Online retail giant Amazon has also made a splash in the county, ending 2020 by opening a new sorting center in La Vergne, hiring 1,100 employees.

These are just a few companies from around the world that are making waves in Rutherford County.

New Retail, Office Spaces Flow into Region

A major development in Rutherford County is Fountains at Gateway, a 31-acre total experience destination in Murfreesboro that features upscale retail, dining options, a corporate office campus and a central plaza. While several businesses have opened, the project is not completed – the development continues to grow. A hotel and residential condos are in its future plans.

One of its most recent spaces is Studio at Fountains, a coworking incubator, which features solo office studios and office suites for up to eight people.

“An element of Murfreesboro’s growth that never really blossomed the way it should was the lack of enough Class A office space, but Studio at Fountains fills that void,” says Scott Graby, president of Murfreesboro-based Hearthstone Group, the developer of Fountains at Gateway. “I live in Rutherford County, so this is a labor of love to develop such a project in my hometown.”

The Studio is set up to serve small, fast-growing companies as their office space needs change.

“Studio at Fountains has a great setup with individual focus pods, team offices, plenty of perimeter windows and suites to accommodate small companies,” Graby says. “And the ground floor restaurants and coffee shops make it an even better place to work and conduct business.”

New Projects Spring Up in Smyrna, TN

The hotel industry is also on the upswing. A Staybridge Suites and Hyatt Place are in the Murfreesboro pipeline, and a 79-room Avid Hotel in Smyrna opened toward the end of 2020.

“(The Avid was) specifically designed for motorists looking for a nice place to stay along I-65, or for families coming into the community for ball tournaments,” says Brian Hercules, town manager of Smyrna, TN.

Hercules adds that a new Marriott hotel will be built in Smyrna along Sam Ridley Parkway, and Smyrna Ready Mix, a family-owned- and operated ready-mix concrete company, is constructing a five-story building to relocate its headquarters from Nashville.

Also new to Smyrna is Cedar Stone Community Park, which features four artificial turf fields and LED tournament lighting.

“The four turf baseball fields can be used for fast-pitch softball all the way up to the collegiate level,” says Mike Moss, Smyrna Parks & Recreation director. “This is the first new community park built in Smyrna in 35 years, and there is also a large playground available. We are also planning to add four more turf fields to the complex in the near future.”