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Enterprise South Industrial Park is certified as a megasite -- a large industrial property suitable for major automotive manufacturing. It is the first site in Tennessee and the fourth in the Tennessee Valley to be certified.

The 1,600-acre site is co-owned and co-developed by Hamilton County and the City of Chattanooga with marketing and infrastructure support from a range of partners that includes the Chamber, TVA, EPB and state and federal officials.

The site is located adjacent to Interstate 75, and an interchange that will feed directly into Enterprise South is under construction. The site meets all criteria for certification, including more than 1,600 contiguous acres, land availability, transportation access and labor capacity.

TVA officials made the announcement of the certification by McCallum Sweeney Consulting of Greenville, SC, an independent firm commissioned by TVA.

"This megasite certification is a seal of approval that will send a loud and clear message to developers all over the country – and around the globe – that Enterprise South Industrial Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee is a world-class site for an automobile manufacturing plant," said Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey. "The certification also puts us on the map as a first-rate contender for other manufacturing operations. Megasite certification represents a major milestone in the history of business and manufacturing in Chattanooga."

"The megasite certification for Enterprise South literally puts Chattanooga on the short list for major manufacturing and industrial operations looking to expand," said Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield. "The investment we have made in Enterprise South makes it one of the best manufacturing sites in the country and over time will be a tremendous generator of high paying jobs for the citizens of our community."

TVA launched the megasite certification program in March 2004 in response to a growing need for large industrial properties appropriate for automotive manufacturing facilities. TVA has learned that several major manufacturers may locate additional automotive plants in the Southeast during the next decade.

"Earning certification is a testament to what ‘Chattanooga Can-Do’ means when we’re working to recruit new companies," said Trevor Hamilton, Chamber vice president of economic development. "Thanks to this TVA program, we have tested our ability to compete for an automotive project under real-world conditions. The result: auto makers will seriously consider Enterprise South when siting their operations. After all, through this effort we’ve saved them six to eight months of due diligence."