Chattanooga's drive to land Volkswagen had hit a pothole.
In May 2008, VW site selectors visiting the city had told local economic developers that Enterprise South industrial park was third in a three-city sweepstakes for a new $1 billion assembly plant.
Just hours later -- two years ago this week -- the decision was made to mobilize city and Hamilton County work forces and start to clear the wooded tract so VW officials could better see the property.
It's a move some say produced a key turnaround in the way VW regarded Chattanooga's bid.
"It was a great big turning point," said Tom Edd Wilson, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce's chief executive.
Since that time, work has never stopped at the massive 1,340-acre parcel. In mid-July 2008, VW announced Chattanooga had won the biggest manufacturing investment in its history and a huge construction effort was started.
Currently, there are more than 3,000 workers building the 2 million-square-foot plant that's slated to begin producing a new midsize sedan early next year.
But two years ago, local officials were nervous about their prospects to land the German automaker.
"At the time, I would probably have to say I didn't have a great deal of confidence we'd be where we are today," Mr. Wilson said.
GREENFIELDS
He said VW decision makers had told officials here after their visit that they couldn't see the site well. The former Army ammunition plant was competing against two flat greenfields in Huntsville, Ala., and outside Detroit, Mr. Wilson said.
"They couldn't judge what they saw" at Enterprise South because of the wooded site, he said. "You couldn't see 200 feet."
Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey and city counterpart Ron Littlefield made the call to bring in public and private resources to begin clearing part of the property.
Mr. Ramsey said he knew something had to be done. He'd been told by VW that the city itself was in first place among the contenders, but the site was third.
Mr. Ramsey said Gov. Phil Bredesen and his top economic developer, Matt Kisber, told him the state would help financially if need be and it did.
"Many people worked out there long hours and worked hard to make an impression," Mr. Ramsey said.
Steve Leach, the city's public works administrator, said the idea was to make the tract more visible.
TIMELINEMay 2008 - Clearing of Enterprise South tract startsJuly 2008 - VW awards Chattanooga $1 billion projectApril 2009 - First concrete pillar installed for plantJuly 2009 - Steel beams raised for all four of the plant's major structuresFebruary 2010 - VW hires first production workersApril 2010 - VW announces five firms for supplier parkBY THE NUMBERS* 8.5 million: cubic yards of dirt removed at VW site to date* 1.9 million: cubic yards of rock blasted at the site to dateSource: city of Chattanooga
"It was basic grubbing and clearing work," he said. "The land form wasn't changed as much as the foliage and trees. There was a lot of scrub on site."
In addition to putting in 12-hour days, workers placed utility poles at the corners of the tract equipped with strobe lights to better show the size of the property, Mr. Leach said.
Mr. Wilson said site work was done without any assurances from the VW officials that they'd be back for a second view.
"We heard 'You've got a lot of great things going for you but the site is important,'" he said.
The Chamber official said workers also put a video camera at the Enterprise South site permitting VW officials to see the clearing online as it proceeded.
He said local authorities were in effect saying, "We heard you. We're going to do this in hopes you'll see how serious we are and take another look."
Mr. Wilson said that's exactly what happened. The VW site team returned and the city's prospects looked better from that point, he said.
"This kept us in the game. Their reaction was very, very positive," he said, adding that VW Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby was among the group that made a return visit.
Mr. Ramsey said the VW project already is having a positive impact on the area and the plant isn't even running yet.
"It will lead to a bright future for our young people," he said. "We've got to encourage people to get a good education and be prepared and trainable."
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