Staff Photo by Randall Higgins
Tom Rowland, Cleveland’s longest-serving mayor, gives his 17th annual “State
of the City” address Thursday at a meeting of the Cleveland Kiwanis Club.CLEVELAND, Tenn. — With nearly $2 billion worth of industrial projects under way or in planning, the momentum will continue in 2011 and beyond, Mayor Tom Rowland said Thursday in his 17th annual State of the City address.
More than 20 active prospects have indicated they will develop new facilities over the next two years, Rowland said.
Several local existing businesses have told the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce that they’ll be expanding, either by adding services or jobs, he said.
Development of an industrial park is under way, and the new airport should open in 2012, he said.
“We are currently experiencing the fastest job growth rate in the Mid-South,” although “our unemployment rate is still a little higher than we would like to have it,” he said during his annual speech at the Kiwanis Club.
“Our region is still producing jobs at a rate that is quite impressive to people on the outside,” he said.
Since its 2009 announcement that it would build a plant in Bradley County, Wacker Chemical has increased its job expectations from 500 to 650 and increased the project’s cost to $1.5 billion, Rowland said.
Along with Volkswagen in Hamilton County, the region is getting worldwide attention.
“The spinoffs from this will affect our community for many years to come,” Rowland said.
“A good example of our land needs is Amazon.com,” Rowland said.
Bradley County was able to find a location for one of two Amazon distribution centers. The other is being developed in Chattanooga.
A potential industrial park is being planned on more than 300 acres south of APD-40, where an interchange will be built in the near future, he said.
Doug Berry, Chamber of Commerce vice president for economic development, said after the address that the new park will be more environmentally friendly than traditional industrial parks.
“We are stepping beyond the expected industrial park to develop a park sustainable to the environment and resolve the potential for conflict between industry and residential neighborhoods,” Berry said.
Contact staff writer Randall Higgins at rhiggins@timesfreepress.com or 423-314-1029.