Job creation remains a top priority
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Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty on Tuesday released the department’s 2011 Annual Report, which details changes and milestones achieved by the department over the past year. 

In 2011, ECD projects and private sector growth accounted for 28,535 new jobs in Tennessee and more than $4 billion in investment.  After reshaping the model for economic development, ECD had one of the most productive years in the state’s history, and job creation hit its highest mark in the last five years and since the onset of the global recession. 

“Making Tennessee the No. 1 state in the Southeast for high quality jobs continues to be a top priority for this administration,” Haslam said.  “Our Jobs4TN plan is working.  We continue to focus on regionalism, existing businesses, and key clusters while also pursuing new businesses for Tennessee.  I am convinced that Tennessee can compete with anyone when it comes to attracting jobs.”  

 “Tennessee transformed its economic development model in 2011, applying solid business principles to set the stage for long-term growth,” Hagerty said. “The state experienced a record year for private sector job creation in this challenging, new economy. Tennessee is well-positioned to compete nationally and globally with one of the most business-friendly climates in the world.”

After becoming the first department in state government to undergo  Haslam’s top-to-bottom review, ECD saw a significant realignment of departmental resources accompanied by a reduction in overall staff size by more than 40 percent.  At the same time the business development team, which includes those on the frontlines of recruiting and retaining companies, grew by more than 70 percent.

 Additionally, ECD was able to significantly lower the average cost of incentives per new job created compared to the previous decade.  In 2011, the average incentive cost per job was $2,640 versus $5,586 for the years 2002-2010, a reduction of more than 50 percent.

The top-to-bottom review resulted in the Jobs4TN economic development plan announced in April 2011.  This new strategy narrowed ECD’s focus to key sectors where the state holds a unique competitive advantage along with a renewed emphasis on assisting existing Tennessee companies that create the vast majority of all new jobs in the state.  Other components included a decentralization of ECD with the establishment of jobs base camps in nine regions throughout the state, a $50 million investment in innovation through the INCITE program, and a review of federal and state regulations.  

To read more or download a copy of ECD’s 2011 Annual Report, please visit tn.gov/ecd/pdf/2011AnnualReport.pdf.