Number eighteen ranking based on area’s strong job growth and industrial balance

The May issue of Inc. Magazine's May, on sale at newsstands on April 26th, includes the magazine’s "Best Cities to Do Business in America" rankings. The Knoxville metropolitan area is ranked number eighteen by the magazine.

Knoxville, TN (April 14, 2005) – Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, Tennessee Economic & Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber, regional economic development professionals, and Brink’s Home Security, Inc executives announced Pellissippi Corporate Center as the new location for their new National Customer Contact Center. The 50,000 square foot facility will be constructed on a 9.6-acre parcel of land near the intersection of Pellissippi Parkway and Hardin Valley Road.

Jewelry Television is one step closer to the construction of a new corporate campus and headquarters at Pellissippi Corporate Center.

U.S. Cellular announced last month that it is adding 60 new jobs at its customer call center in Knoxville. The call center, located off Pellissippi Parkway, currently employs more than 400 people and serves U.S. Cellular customers in Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.

Vanderbilt Mortgage Finance Inc., a subsidiary of Clayton Homes Inc., announced last month that it has purchased Chase Home Finance’s $4 billion manufactured housing mortgage portfolio and will add 200 local jobs.

Last month, the Jobs Now! partners unveiled to its investors and stakeholders a comprehensive program plan that outlines a new brand statement, strategies and work plan for 2005. Jobs Now!, a five year economic development initiative, combines the efforts of the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership, Oak Ridge Economic Partnership and the East Tennessee Economic Development Agency.

The Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership was proud to host Scripps Networks 10th anniversary of Home and Garden Television (HGTV) on November 19 at the Knoxville Museum of Art. Mayor Bill Haslam and Knox County Chief of Staff Mike Arms gave proclamations and officially made November 19th HGTV Day in Knoxville and KnoxCounty.

In an effort to thank area businesses that have made a significant contribution to the community and economy by making Knoxville and Knox County their home, Mayors Mike Ragsdale and Bill Haslam, in partnership with business leaders, have launched a multimedia campaign.

The Brunswick Boat Group (BBG) announced last month that its Sea Ray operating unit will embark on an ambitious plan to expand and further modernize several Sea Ray operations in East Tennessee.

Gerdau Ameristeel announced last month a multi-million dollar modernization effort that will upgrade equipment and improve productivity and efficiency of its Knoxville steel mill.