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EDC director outlines prospect pipeline, grant work and local business openings
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Summary
EDC Director Philip Reese told commissioners about recent prospect activity — several large leads that did not submit, state site-development work, a consultant-led recreational planning survey and potential relocations — and provided December 2025 unemployment figures for Giles County.
Pulaski, Tenn. — At the March 16 meeting of the Giles County Legislative Body, Economic Development Director Philip Reese briefed commissioners on the county’s prospect pipeline, site-development grant work and local business openings.
Reese reported county unemployment at 4.5% for December 2025 (a slight uptick from a revised 4.1% in November), with a steady total labor force near 13,216 and 600 unemployed in December versus 540 in November. Reese said January data were not available at the time the report was published.
On business prospects, Reese summarized several larger leads that ultimately “did not submit”: Project BioGranite (a U.S.-based life sciences manufacturer needing 50,000–100,000 sq. ft.), Project Rin House (a copper-foil manufacturer cited as a $50 million capital investment and 120 jobs, requiring 350,000+ sq. ft.) and Project Supernova (an electrical-infrastructure employer reportedly seeking 75+ buildable acres, rail access, $150 million capital investment and about 380 jobs). Reese described those leads as active discussions that had not resulted in formal submissions as of the report.
Reese updated commissioners on the Site Development Grant, saying staff were working with the state to expand the grant scope to include temporary road work, new signage and engineering for a spec building. He said a pilot funder offered to pay for a community waste-treatment system at Exit 14 but did not want to operate it long term; discussions have begun with South Giles Utility District and other possible operators.
Destination by Design consultants working under a ThreeStar grant toured multiple sites in Giles County and launched an online survey to collect public input on a proposed recreational plan; Reese encouraged public participation in the coming weeks. He also said Keith Consolidated Industries had expressed interest in the Bankston RV property in Ardmore and that two firms were considering the repurchased 5-acre parcel in Dan Speer Industrial Park South.
Reese noted two local business openings in early planning: Common John hopes to open in early April, and Pizza on Main is targeting late spring or early summer.
Separately, NRCS District Conservationist Chip Rose told the commission NRCS had delivered more than $1 million in assistance to 52 local producers and described common NRCS practices (fencing, cover crops and watering facilities). EMA Chief Josh Young updated the commission on mutual aid and said the safe-room project is under development with funding earmarked in 2017.
No formal action was taken on the EDC items beyond receiving the report; commissioners were asked to watch for the online survey and to provide local input to consultants.