Posted February 2004

Tennessee Rand has announced plans to seek a grant from the State of Tennessee in support of a major expansion of its Chattanooga-based manufacturing operation.

According to Don Peters, Tennessee Rand’s vice president of operations and sales manager, the expansion will include an $11 million investment to construct and equip a 200,000 square foot facility. Tennessee Rand projects the expansion will create 100 new jobs over the next three years.

"Our company made a strategic decision to shift our focus from all-purpose machining work to the design and manufacture of integrated robotic systems for the automotive industry," Peters said. "As a result of that decision, Tennessee Rand has experienced 50% growth per year for the past three years."

Peters said Tennessee Rand has been working with the Chattanooga Chamber’s Existing Business Team which has connected the company with Hamilton County officials, City of Chattanooga officials, and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

"The Chamber helped us identify the state’s TIIP Grant as a resource for this project," Peters said. "We’ve had several very positive meetings with the representatives from State Department of Economic and Community Development, and we appreciate their support and the support of the Mayors Ramsey and Corker." TIIP stands for Tennessee Infrastructure Improvement Program.

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A resolution allowing Hamilton County to apply for the TIIP Grant on behalf of Tennessee Rand is scheduled to go before the Hamilton County Commission on Friday, February 27. If approved, Hamilton County will apply for and administer any grant the state makes. The grant would be used to improve the site for the construction of the expanded facility.

Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey applauded Tennessee Rand. "Hamilton County is extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work with Tennessee Rand to make this expansion happen," Ramsey said. "We congratulate them on their success, and we pledge to do everything we can to support their continued growth."

"Tennessee Rand is a homegrown company that has achieved great success and become a dynamic part of our local economy," said Mayor Bob Corker. "We are excited about the new jobs they are creating, the investment they are making in our community and the national business they have secured which is creating distinction for Chattanooga across the country."

According to Trevor Hamilton, the Chamber’s chief economic development officer, this project is an example of the kind of teamwork that is necessary to achieve economic growth in the region.

"First and foremost, Tennessee Rand is a company that has made some incredibly smart strategic moves and capitalized on that strategy with hard work," said Hamilton. "But I am also pleased to see how the State of Tennessee, Hamilton County, the City of Chattanooga, and the Chamber can come together in support of the efforts of this fine company."

Tennessee Rand’s primary business is supplying robotic systems primarily to tier-one and tier-two automotive suppliers. The company designs and manufactures fixtures, which hold components in place, so they can be welded together robotically. The company integrates these fixtures with robotic systems. Tennessee Rand sells its systems primarily to tier-one and tier-two automotive suppliers.

Harley Davidson is one of Tennessee Rand’s major customers. Tennessee Rand provided all of the robotic welding systems for Harley Davidson’s recently completed manufacturing operation in York, Penn.

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is the leading business and economic development organization for the Chattanooga region. For over 100 years, the Chattanooga Chamber has provided community engagement and opportunities for businesses, large and small, including networking, business promotion, business discounts, and public policy advocacy, as well as leadership development and training opportunities.

In addition, the Chattanooga Chamber is a one-stop-shop for site selectors and business decision-makers considering investments and job creation projects in the Chattanooga region. The Chattanooga Chamber is also responsible for marketing Enterprise South Industrial Park, a top-tier industrial park that offers significant strategic business advantages. In addition, the Chattanooga Chamber administers the Chattanooga Hamilton County Business Development Center, the largest business incubator in the U.S. in terms of the number of start up companies it houses, and the Center for Entrepreneurial Growth, an innovative effort to nurture technology-based start-up companies.

As the first stop for people interested in moving to the Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Chamber provides a range of relocation information including demographics, informational videos, connections to Chattanooga Area jobs, and frequently asked questions.