Robertson Co. is Ready for Business
New industrial park to provide jobs for an influx of young workers.
Sponsored by: Robertson County Economic Development
In the mid-19th century, a popular stagecoach traveling the L&N Turnpike typically stopped at a white, two-story house near the Kentucky state line to let passengers rest overnight or enjoy a meal.
Even President Andrew Jackson reportedly stayed in the oddly-colored building – few were painted white back then – that gave birth to the Tennessee town’s name.
Today, White House is becoming a hub for a different kind of traffic. State and local officials recently announced the first tenant in the brand-new White House Business Park along the Interstate 65 corridor.
After searching for two years for the right spot, Advanex Americas, a precision spring and components parts manufacturer, is relocating its U.S. operations from California, investing $17 million in Robertson County to build a 75,000- square-foot facility, and creating 102 jobs.
Advanex products are used in everything from ballpoint pens to space stations in industries that include automotive, agriculture and medical.
“They were looking for a location closer to the East Coast, and they identified the Middle Tennessee area,” says Margot Fosnes, chief economic development officer for the Robertson County Economic Development Board.
“The site was already zoned industrial but it really hadn’t drawn a lot of attention,” she continues. “The fact that we were planning to develop the rest of the property as an industrial park really resonated with them.”
The seed for the new business park was planted when TVA Economic Development approached Robertson County economic planners about partnering to develop spacious, publicly controlled tracts of land – a scarce commodity near bustling Nashville. The project received an additional boost when it was awarded a Site Development Grant by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
“There truly is a very, very big demand for large parcels of land that have the necessary infrastructure and easy access to the interstate,” Fosnes explains. “We’re running out of that in Middle Tennessee, especially for projects that need 20, 30, 50 acres.”
The new 200-acre park is conveniently located near the heavily trafficked interstate, with flexible spaces that can accommodate tenants on a fast timeline.
“If somebody says, ‘I need to build a 100,000-square-foot building’ and the lot would only hold a 50,000- square-foot building, we have the flexibility to move those parcels around,” Fosnes says.
Another plus is the availability of a growing workforce commuting from both Tennessee and Kentucky.
As the fastest-growing town in Robertson County, White House is drawing young families with its ample recreational opportunities, affordable housing and quality schools. More than 700 new apartments and 3,500 single-family homes are currently under development.
Inquiries about the industrial park are also picking up speed, and Fosnes predicts the mixed-use development will build out quickly and possibly expand in the future.
“White House has an exciting future,” she concludes.
For more information about Robertson County, visit growinrobertson.com.
Nashville Area Economic Development
This digital edition of the Nashville Area Economic Development is sponsored by Diocese of Nashville.