In a year in which the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce launched an ambitious 5-year “Chattanooga Climbs” campaign to raise wages, investments and income, the region captured more than a billion dollars of new investments projected to add thousands of jobs in coming years.
The biggest business announcements this year for new investments included:
1. Volkswagen’s $800 million expansion to add 1,000 jobs for electric vehicle production.
2. Hanwha Q Cells opened new $150 million solar production plant in Dalton, Georgia, with 500 employees and plans to grow.
3. Arrive Logistics announces plans for 500 more jobs and $3.6 million investment in Chattanooga to expand its freight brokerage business.
4. Mueller’s $41 million facility in Marion County to bring 325 jobs over five years.
5. Nippon Paint plans $61 million automotive paint plant in East Chattanooga with 150 jobs.
6. Gestamp plans $48 million expansion with 150 more jobs.
7. $300 million TVA system operations center in Georgetown will relocate 175 employees and aid TVA in saving $200 million in energy and other costs a year.
8. Micronics Engineered Filtration Group to add 140 jobs and Team Title Service will add 80 jobs at former Alstom site.
9. Roper $43 million expansion in Lafayette, Georgia, adds more jobs.
10. Hubner Manufacturing, a German automotive supplier, plans $9.6 million facility with 66 jobs in Dunlap, Tennessee.
Others include:
* Nokian Tyres opens its $360 million factory in Dayton, Tennessee, and plans to have 400 workers on board when the plant is at full production, making 4 million tires annually.
* La-Z-Boy opens $18 million innovation center in Dayton.
* A Volkswagen supplier, ARN Hoelzwl LP, plans to locate its North American headquarters in Chattanooga, investing $6 million and creating 100 new jobs over five years.
* Covenant Solutions moves to North Shore with $3 million brokerage service business with 130 employees.
* Wacker Chemical completes $150 million expansion, adding 50 jobs at $2.5 billion complex in Bradley County.
* Zeus Industrial Products plans $11.2 million expansion in Lookout Valley to add 54 jobs.
* TopGolf entertainment complex planned on Exit 1’s Jordan Crossing in East Ridge.
* Chattanooga Airport to build 1,300-car parking garage and invest about $25 million