This March 25, 2014, file photo, shows a Lowe's store in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Lowe's picks Coopertown for $100 million center
Lowe's said Thursday it will locate a new $100 million direct fulfillment center that will add 600 jobs in Coopertown, northwest of Nashville.
Lowe's direct fulfillment center will cover some 1.1 million square feet – the equivalent of 22 football fields under one roof. Plans call for the facility to be operational by the third quarter of 2018, initially employing approximately 400 people and growing to 600 employees by 2022.
"Investing to build a new fulfillment center - the first of its kind for Lowe's - allows us to offer customers more products online, consolidate multiple parcel shipments and ship purchases directly to customers faster and more efficiently," said Brent Kirby, Lowe's chief supply chain officer. "The Nashville area was chosen due to its existing large shipping hubs, access to interstate roadways and well-skilled workforce."
Lowe's, which is the second largest home improvement company in the world, joins more than 16,000 transportation, logistics and distribution establishments operating throughout Tennessee.
"Tennessee's geographical location is in the heart of the U.S. with easy access to markets around the world, which makes our state the perfect location for a company like Lowe's to locate its new fulfillment center," said Randy Boyd, commissioner of economic and community development.
Dalton manufacturer to hire 60 operators
The Georgia Department of Labor will help Sustainable Corrugated recruit about 60 employees to work at the company's Dalton factory.
The recruitment will be held next Thursday, Aug. 4, from 2-7 p.m. at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center at 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road in Dalton.
Sustainable Corrugated will be recruiting forklift and machine operators, along with industrial electricians and second shift maintenance mechanics.
Due to U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, all employees must be at least 18 years old. A high school diploma, or a General Education Diploma (GED), is required. Salaries for all openings will range from $14 to $25 an hour, depending on experience and position.
Photo of Rick McKenney, courtesy of Unum.
Rick McKenney is succeeding Tom Watjen as Unum's CEO. Chamber board picks executive committee
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce recently named its 2016-17 executive committee and board members.
New to the executive committee are Tom Glenn, president at Elder's Ace Hardware; Rick McKenney, president and chief executive officer of Unum Group; Kevin Spiegel, president and chief executive officer for the Erlanger Health System; and Jim Vaughn, East Tennessee region president at SunTrust Bank.
The Chattanooga business group also named 25 members to its board.
Mortgage rate edges up to 3.48 percent
Long-term U.S. mortgage rates edged higher this week for a second straight week. They still are near historically low levels to encourage potential homebuyers.
Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday the average for the benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 3.48 percent from 3.45 percent last week. The average rate is down sharply from 3.98 percent a year ago.
The 15-year fixed mortgage rate increased to 2.78 percent from 2.75 percent last week.