Industrial park planned near Sweetwater, Tenn.

photo McMinn County Mayor John Gentry
photo Proposed 75 Regional Commerce Park.

Knoxville developer Nick Cazana is convinced that Interstate 75 between Chattanooga and Knoxville can be a pipeline for industry.

So when he found out one of the biggest, undeveloped flat sites along the highway became available for sale earlier this year, he jumped at the chance to buy it last week. By next June, Cazana hopes to have a plan in place for utilities, transportation and marketing of the 170 acres along I-75, just south of Highway 68.

The proposed new industrial park, billed the 75 Regional Commerce Park, is being developed by Cazana's business, Commercial & Investment Properties Co., in Knoxville, through the real estate partnership Exit 60 LLC.

During an announcement of the new venture Tuesday, public officials in McMinn and Monroe counties pledged their support, which could include tax breaks and government investments to encourage business development on the property.

"We have always felt the property that is now 75 Regional Commerce Park had wonderful potential for growth," McMinn County Mayor John Gentry said Tuesday. "I welcome the opportunity to have increased development in the northern portion of McMinn County and am eager to work with our partners in the city of Sweetwater and Monroe County."

The new industrial park is 45 miles from Knoxville and 54 miles from the Volkswagen and Amazon plants in Chattanooga.

"In addition to the proximity to Knoxville and Chattanooga, 75 Regional Commerce Park will have a transportation advantage for companies interested in easily reaching locations across the Eastern United States based on adjacent interstate access to I-75 and connecting nearby to I-40 and I-24," Monroe County Mayor Tim Yates said.

The property in the business park is split by Pleasant Grove Road, and both sides will be developed, with industrial on one side and commercial on the other.

"Spreading across 170 acres in McMinn and Monroe counties and the City of Sweetwater, the park offers the best interstate visibility of any industrial property in East Tennessee," Cazana said.

Leslie Henderson, former president and CEO of the Roane Alliance economic development organization, is serving as a consultant to Cazana on the project.

"The terrain of the property makes it highly suitable for development into an industrial park," Henderson said. "This is a big economic step forward at the local level."

Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or 757-6340.

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