Bill Hagerty, Tennessee’s commissioner for economic and community development, takes part in an editorial board meeting at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
STATE JOB GROWTH
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development aided a record number of business projects last year, directly adding more than 20,000 jobs.2008: 127 projects created 13,037 jobs2009: 118 projects created 12,016 jobs2010: 149 projects created 17,075 jobs2011: 140 projects created 18,175 jobs2012: 195 projects created 20,062 jobsSource: Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Southeast Tennessee led the state last year in job additions from new or expanding businesses recruited by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
In a record year for employment gains from state recruitment programs across Tennessee, the 10-county Chattanooga-area region added 3,317 jobs from 19 projects during 2012. Collectively, those projects invested $148.2 million in the region.
That was the biggest job gain among Tennessee’s nine regional offices and helped lead Tennessee to a statewide record yearly gain of 20,062 jobs from 195 projects statewide during 2012.
Gov. Bill Haslam has set a goal of aiding even more businesses to create more jobs in 2013. But the state’s chief economic recruiter said Monday the economy is facing strong headwinds from new federal regulations.