CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Industrial Development Board recently purchased over 400 acres to establish Industrial Park East, and the property is already attracting big attention.
The IDB closed on the property for $18 million at a special session on Nov. 30. The 422-acre property is roughly north of Charles Bell Road, west of Hampton Station Road and south of the railway (in the below map, property numbers 15, 17 and 18 in purple, plus 16 in green).
Of those 422 acres, approximately 375 are considered developable, according to Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council CEO Buck Dellinger.
The new “Park East” is attracting attention from companies looking to move here, many of whom have shown interest in buying half or all of the park.
Expanding the job market
Along with these companies come thousands of new job opportunities across a range of fields.
“Workforce is constrained right now,” Dellinger told Clarksville Now. “It’s a tight market for that. All these jobs with these different industries that are looking at us, we’re being very selective, and these are high-tech, advanced manufacturing jobs. … We’re not trying to compete against (current employers) for any new companies that may be interested in coming here.”
Names have not been provided for the interested companies, due largely to nondisclosure agreement constraints. However, two potential projects were presented at the EDC’s regular session on Wednesday by Director of Business Development Vonda Gates, using project names.
Project Ocean
The company behind Project Ocean is part of the electric vehicle industry, and could bring over 4,000 jobs with a starting wage of $23/hour and $4 billion in capital investments.
According to Gates, Clarksville is not the only community on this company’s radar, with at least three other Eastern U.S. properties being considered, and two more in Texas.
Gates said discussions with the company are in early stages. If Project Ocean were to choose Clarksville, they would want the entirety of Park East as well as an additional 46-acre property.
Project Lisbon
Project Lisbon involves a company from the tech industry. Lisbon has the potential to bring $800.6 million in capital investments and 2,000 jobs with a $23/hour starting wage.
IDB Director Shea Hopkins said staff would be headed to California soon for negotiations with Project Lisbon’s company. Joining them will be state officials, who are also offering incentives to bring the company to Tennessee.
Project Lisbon would likely be interested in at least half of Park East.
‘And of course, we’re in Tennessee’
According to Dellinger, these are only two of several interested parties for East Park. EDC VP of Communications & Marketing Michelle Hueffmeier stressed that these are only potential options.
“What’s important to note is that we are continually being sought out for large projects and this activity is reflective of the growth of the community,” Hueffmeier told Clarksville Now.
Regardless of who ends up calling Park East home, it is likely the land will be sold quickly. With quick access to a railway and the interstate, it’s a prime location.
“There’s a lot of interest in it because it’s a sizable piece of land,” Dellinger said. “It’s got awesome utilities. It’s going to have really good access once we get the four-lane road complete, and it’s close to the interstate. It’s very buildable land.
“And, of course, we’re in Tennessee, which from a business perspective is advantageous for most companies. … You can get to 70% of the U.S population within a day’s drive from us, which makes distribution a good option.”