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Roane County touted as pick for state economic property program as commissioners hear investment figures
Summary
County economic-development officials told the commission Roane County was chosen as one of three Tennessee counties for a state economic and property-valuation program; speakers cited roughly $7 billion in recent private-capital investment and about 2,500 new jobs announced, while commissioners pressed for local infrastructure investment to follow.
Roane County economic-development representatives told the commission the county has been selected as one of three Tennessee counties to participate in a state economic and community-development property-valuation program aimed at identifying industrial sites for near-term development and building a pipeline of future properties.
Justin Snow, who introduced himself as "president and CEO of the Ronald Alliance," briefed commissioners on the selection, said consultants will conduct a site visit Nov. 18, and described broad investment figures discussed in the county packet. "The investment that's happened in the county the last roughly three years is over $7,000,000,000," he said, and noted roughly 2,500 to 2,597 announced new jobs tied to recruiting activity.
Commissioners asked staff to clarify whether the private-capital figures included the most recent announcements; Justin Snow said the county's figures include that activity and that county tax assessment remains materially lower than total announced investment. Local officials and members of the public urged that tax revenue from new businesses be invested in infrastructure and schools rather than solely used for incentives. Michael Webby, who said he works at Oak Ridge National Lab, recommended prioritizing local school improvements rather than subsidies for incoming firms.
County staff also updated commissioners on property-transfer work with the Department of Energy (DOE) and potential industrial partners, and said staff are planning additional informational sessions with companies on the county agenda (Oklo, Radiant, Kairos Power referenced).
