Terry Brewer built log homes for seven years before the housing slump put his employer out of business in January.
“I was off work for three months, and that was tough,” the 35-year-old Dayton, Tenn., builder said Wednesday. “There was just no work to be found.”
But in March, Mr. Brewer landed what sometimes is a seven-day-a-week job at the Volkswagen assembly plant under construction here. He now is among more than 5,000 construction workers employed in the region at some of Tennessee’s biggest current building projects.
“I’m glad Volkswagen is here,” Mr. Brewer said while putting on his hard hat to go to work for RIMSA Plus at a $15-an-hour job building tables, roller beds and equipment. “It’s already brought a lot of jobs to this area.”