enterprise_interchange_08_04
Posted August 2004
Mayor Bob Corker, County Mayor Claude Ramsey and Congressman Zach Wamp joined TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely in launching construction on a $23 million interchange off I-75 which will serve Enterprise South Industrial Park.
During the August ceremony at the future interchange, Corker and Ramsey praised Governor Phil Bredesen and Nicely for helping the community secure this important amenity.
"We have worked closely with two governors and two Department of Transportation administrations to set Enterprise South apart from other industrial sites in the country by establishing a dedicated interchange off of I-75," Corker said. "We are indebted to Governor Phil Bredesen and TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely for making this significant investment in our community and assisting us in making Enterprise South one of the nation's premier sites for business and industry. This exit will be as important to Enterprise South as the Hamilton Place exit was to the success of the mall."
The Chamber, along with city, county, state and federal governments have devoted significant efforts and resources toward developing Enterprise South Industrial Park in a way that will create the largest number of high paying jobs possible. Last December, the roads, sewers, rail lines and entrance to Enterprise South were completed and dirt continues to turn as the first new businesses establish their facilities there. Over the next few years, many other businesses and jobs will be added in our community as a result of this effort.
Ramsey agreed adding, "Just as the Hamilton Place exit quickened the commercial development in that area, we believe the Enterprise South exit will be critical to attracting industrial development to the park. The state's willingness to launch such a major project in anticipation of growth is virtually unprecedented, and demonstrates the great potential this site holds not only for our community but for the state of Tennessee."
Creation of Enterprise South has allowed Chattanooga to overcome a decades-old obstacle of not having large tracts of developable flat land to recruit new industry.
Through federal funding which Wamp helped secure, the city, county and state will work together to construct a connector road from the new interchange through Enterprise South
"Enterprise South is one of the premier assets for future investment in the Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor,” Wamp said at the groundbreaking. “In order to gain full advantage from the excellent location of this major industry and technology magnet, we must add this interchange at I-75 and construct a five lane road into this prime site. This is a red letter day for economic development in East Tennessee."
"Contributing to a community's economic development is an important part of TDOT's mission," said Nicely, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. "We are extremely pleased to be able to assist the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County in making the Enterprise South interchange a reality."
Even before his administration began, Governor Phil Bredesen supported that vision and worked closely with the city and county in funding this important asset, which will aid in significant job creation, to be added to the site.
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce has put in place an aggressive recruitment and marketing effort to attract strong prospects to Enterprise South. Through their concentrated efforts businesses have already located at the site and over time many more will follow.
According to Trevor Hamilton, Chamber vice president of economic development, the new interchange is a major selling point. "Having a dedicated access point from I-75 directly into Enterprise South makes the site even more attractive to industrial prospects," Hamilton said. "On behalf of the entire business community, let me say that we are grateful to all of these leaders for the years of coordinated effort they have invested in making this important project possible."
The new interchange will serve both Enterprise South Industrial Park and the adjacent 2,800 acre passive recreation area that is also under development. The new interchange and connector road into Enterprise South are scheduled for completion in December of 2006.
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is the leading business and economic development organization for the Chattanooga region. For over 100 years, the Chattanooga Chamber has provided community engagement and opportunities for businesses, large and small, including networking, business promotion, business discounts, and public policy advocacy, as well as leadership development and training opportunities.
In addition, the Chattanooga Chamber is a one-stop-shop for site selectors and business decision-makers considering investments and job creation projects in the Chattanooga region. The Chattanooga Chamber is also responsible for marketing Enterprise South Industrial Park, a top-tier industrial park that offers significant strategic business advantages. In addition, the Chattanooga Chamber administers the Chattanooga Hamilton County Business Development Center, the largest business incubator in the U.S. in terms of the number of start up companies it houses, and the Center for Entrepreneurial Growth, an innovative effort to nurture technology-based start-up companies.
As the first stop for people interested in moving to the Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Chamber provides a range of relocation information including demographics, informational videos, connections to Chattanooga Area jobs, and frequently asked questions.
