Robertson County, TN: A Sweet Spot for Businesses
For entrepreneurs wanting to launch a startup or for companies looking to relocate, find out why it's great to do business in Robertson County.
If variety is the spice of life, then Robertson County may be the region’s most tempting offering for new business startups and companies seeking prime relocation sites. There are plenty of great reasons to do business in Robertson County.
Location, Location, Location
The county stretches from just north of Nashville (population nearly 700,000) to rural acreage on the Kentucky state line. In between are wide-open spaces and enough small-town charm to accommodate just about any taste.
Jordan Osborne, Robertson County Chamber of Commerce president, considers the area a sweet spot for companies looking to do business at a reasonable cost in Middle Tennessee, a region that has seen an influx of residential and commercial investment.
“We are in close proximity to two fast-growing metropolitan statistical areas (MSA), yet it is 15% less costly to live here and 30% less costly to do business,” Osborne says. “So, we are seeing a lot of interest.”
About 35 miles northwest of Springfield, is Clarksville, site of the Fort Campbell army base and home to more than 250,000 residents. It is part of the Clarksville- Hopkinsville metropolitan statistical area.
“Our Robertson County property values are strong, but costs are lower than both Clarksville and Nashville. And you have your choice of settings: urban, suburban or rural,” Osborne says.
Open for Business
Within Robertson County are no fewer than 11 incorporated areas, the largest being Springfield, the county seat, with about 19,000 residents.
Portland, east of Springfield, is known for its manufacturing and logistics operations, including a Macy’s distribution center that ships internationally.
While many small towns are considered “bedroom communities,” Robertson County residents have the choice to enjoy more rural living with only a 40-minute commute to Nashville, WalletHub’s No. 1-ranked city nationally for 2023, or find something closer to home.
The town of Portland, for example, with about 13,500 residents, boasts more than 6,000 jobs, a quarter of those in manufacturing.
“The population grows substantially during the day with employees who drive here to work,” says Sherri Ferguson Portland Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “Lunch is the busiest time of the day for our downtown restaurants.”
As part of the Nashville MSA, companies in Robertson County attract workers from a 32,000-member labor pool locally and 500,000 MSA-wide. The nearby presence of Austin Peay State University, Volunteer State Community College and other educational facilities assists in training and growth of the workforce.
Along with plentiful quaint downtowns and vibrant commercial centers as places to set up shop, the county also has multiple dedicated industrial and commercial sites, including the Vaughn Parkway Logistics Center and Tennessee/ Kentucky Business Park in Portland, a new business park in White House, and the North Springfield Industrial Park, among others.
Additionally, Robertson County also has a payment-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT) program that can assist qualified companies through the crucial first months or years.
Homegrown Entrepreneurs
Residential growth isn’t too far behind the business pace, with Robertson County’s low cost of living increasingly gaining attention in the growing Middle Tennessee economy. Sometimes it’s a package deal.
Lisa Arnold
Lisa Arnold relocated from New York to Springfield and opened Small Town Startup, a marketing, design and advertising agency that specializes in launching new companies.
The opportunity to live and do business in the Nashville market at a lower cost was part of the draw, along with the large number of entrepreneurial startups she saw gaining traction in the region.
Her company’s services range from planning a business strategy to social media marketing, website development and digital advertising.
“We can help bring an idea to reality with experts on our team,” Arnold says.
Arnold’s business also offers creators and entrepreneurs the opportunity to enjoy working amid the charm of downtown Springfield in an impressive historic building at 101 Fifth Avenue W. that features private offices, retail incubators, creative studios and services, and meeting rooms for hourly or daily use.
Get to Know Robertson County, TN
Want to learn more about living and working in Robertson County, TN? Check out the latest edition of Livability Experience Robertson County, Tennessee.
