Business Booming at Interstates

Both development directors at Knox County and Sevier County are hoping to come up with a large parcel of land at the juncture of both counties for use as a draw for industrial development.

"We're about out of industrial property at the interstate," said Allen Newton, executive director of the Sevier County Economic Development Council. "It's one of those things when you're looking for property, you need a lot."

Officials have been working together for about a year to find property for a joint industrial park near Interstate 40.

Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters said Tuesday that whatever industry the proposed park attracts, it would provide a lot of jobs for both neighboring counties.

"We think that could be a win-win situation," he said.

Knox County officials also believe such a partnership helps everybody involved.

"I think we have to look at things from a regional perspective," said Todd Napier, director of development for the Development Corporation of Knox County. "As less developable land becomes available in each of our counties, we have to look for land elsewhere."

Though a joint industrial park with another county would be a first for Sevier, local officials have already made significant progress over the past few years in promoting industrial land on their own. Three speculative buildings have been sold to diverse smaller-sized industries in the John L. Marshall Technology Park on Pittman Center Road.

While that program has been successful, "our future is going to be focused on the interstate," Waters said.

Competition with other areas for large industry is depending more on interstate accessibility, which Sevier and Knox counties share, according to Waters.