No WhiteWash!

Listed below are the November, 2010 Tennessee sales tax collections for the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) listed below.

The laggard in monthly/yearly percent change sales tax collections is the Kingsport-Bristol MSA.

Chattanooga, Cleveland and Jackson are showing the greatest yearly percent increase and it appears that the involvement of the State of Tennessee to bring new industry to these areas are paying off.

Sales tax collections (thousand $) (Seasonally adjusted)

Source: Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR)

Another missed opportunity for East Tennessee Counties.

The close working partnership between the state of Tennessee, Memphis and Shelby County has led to the successful completion of this project,” said Commissioner Kisber.

I wonder if Sullivan County has considered getting cozy with State Officials to get new companies to settle in Sullivan County?

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen today joined with Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber, Memphis Mayor AC Wharton, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell and executives of Electrolux to announce the company’s decision to locate a $190 million facility for the manufacture of major cooking appliances in Memphis, Tennessee. The 700,000 square foot facility is expected to employ more than 1,200 workers when it is fully operational.  Commissioner Kisber added that taking other construction, procurement and additional supply chain activity into account, the project could result in an additional 2,260 jobs and $550 million in additional capital investment to the region.

“I’m very appreciative of Electrolux’ investment in Tennessee and the company’s confidence in the quality and productivity of Tennessee workers,” said Governor Bredesen. “Our efforts to support the company’s existing Tennessee operations have led to a close working relationship and I couldn’t be more pleased that partnership has led to additional investment by one of the world’s best known and most respected brands.”

“The close working partnership between the state of Tennessee, Memphis and Shelby County has led to the successful completion of this project,” said Commissioner Kisber. “Memphis is truly a global city and we’re pleased that a global company of the quality of Electrolux has chosen to invest here and to create job opportunities for thousands of Tennesseans.”

“We are very pleased to have found a great location for our new manufacturing center,” said Kevin Scott, president, Electrolux Major Appliances – North America. “Important decisions like this are never easy, but this one became very clear-cut for Electrolux because of the extensive support we received from state, city and county elected officials and governing bodies.”

“The people of Memphis and Shelby County are ready to go to work to make this facility the most productive and highest quality plant in the Electrolux portfolio,” said Mayor Wharton. “We’re committed to working together to create good quality jobs for the people of our community and this announcement is a great show of progress in that effort.”

“I’m gratified the senior leadership of Electrolux believes Shelby County is the right place to build upon the company’s remarkable success,” said Mayor Luttrell. “This announcement is the result of the strong partnership between the Governor, the state, the Chamber, Memphis and Shelby County and I believe it speaks volumes about the business climate of our community.”

The facility will be located in the Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park and Electrolux officials say it will be a world class facility built to LEED certification standards. Workers will manufacture the company’s Electrolux ICON®, Electrolux® and Frigidaire® product lines, including drop-in/slide-in ranges, wall ovens, specialty free standing ranges and cook tops. Construction is expected to begin in early 2011 with production to begin in mid-2012.

Electrolux also operates a manufacturing facility for free standing gas and electric ranges in Springfield, Tennessee. The Springfield facility currently employs about 2,900 people.

East Tennessee is left out of the picture again.

Michigan-based Insurance Company to Hire Up to 750 Employees Over Three Years

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Governor Phil Bredesen and Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber today joined the president and CEO of Lansing, MI-based Jackson National Life Insurance Company, along with elected officials from Williamson County and the city of Franklin to announce the company has agreed to locate a regional headquarters employing up to 750 workers at the One Greenway Building in the Cool Springs area of Franklin, Tennessee. Jackson National’s growth plans call for the company to occupy 90,000 square feet of office space by January 2011, adding 30,000 square feet in 2012 and another 30,000 square feet in 2013.

“With this announcement, Jackson National Life Insurance becomes the 51^st company to locate a corporate or regional headquarters in Tennessee since 2003,” said Governor Bredesen. “The state of Tennessee’s ongoing partnership with government and economic development officials in Franklin and Williamson County is creating skilled, good paying jobs for the people of Tennessee and we’re grateful for Jackson National Life’s investment in our state and our people.”

“Tennessee’s nationally recognized business climate continues to be a magnet for corporate headquarters,” said Commissioner Kisber. “We’ve demonstrated that Governor Bredesen’s Jobs Cabinet approach and strong partnerships between the state and local communities can yield positive results when it comes to new jobs and investment.”

“Given Jackson’s rapid growth — which resulted in record sales and deposits of more than $15 billion last year — and our expectations for future growth opportunities, we must proactively expand our operational capacity, so we will be able to continue to deliver the award-winning service that advisers and their clients have come to expect from Jackson,” said Clark Manning, Jackson’s president and chief executive officer.

Jackson National Life Insurance Company has national headquarters in Lansing, Michigan and offers variable, fixed and fixed index annuities and life insurance products through banks, independent financial advisors, regional brokers and dealers, wire houses and independent agents. The company was founded in 1961 and named after president and Tennessean Andrew Jackson. The company has assets of nearly $88 billion and operates in ten locations across the U.S. with more than 3,700 employees.

“Middle Tennessee has a large and well-educated workforce and is home to many institutions of higher learning,” said Jackson Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer Mike Wells. “With several insurance and financial services companies located in and around Nashville, we expect to be able to attract numerous experienced, qualified job candidates.”

Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson said Jackson’s decision to locate their operations in Franklin reflects positively on Williamson County’s reputation as the location-of-choice for headquarter operations.

“The Nashville region in general and Williamson County in particular is a magnet for regional, national and international corporate headquarters,” said Anderson. “Jackson’s decision to locate their operations here reflects the economic diversity of Williamson County and reinforces our understanding that great schools, great amenities, and superior talent are the primary attractors for corporate locations.”

“The City of Franklin is well known for our rich history and quality of life. It’s no surprise Jackson National Life Insurance Company chose our fine city to locate their regional headquarters. They will be a welcome addition to our global corporate community. Franklin offers a top-notch talented workforce that will compliment Jackson’s high quality service record,” Franklin Mayor John Schroer said.

“It is very exciting news that Jackson National Life Insurance Company is locating their regional headquarters in Williamson County,” said John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development. “TVA is glad to be on the economic development team with the Williamson County Office of Economic Development, City of Franklin, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to bring quality jobs and investments which will boost the area’s economy.”

Forbes has ranked the worst cities below for jobs.

1. Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, Mich.
2. Morristown, Tenn.
3. Elkhart-Goshen, Ind.
4. Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich.
5. Holland-Grand Haven, Mich.
6. Kokomo, Ind.
7. Janesville, Wis.
8. Dalton, Ga.
9. Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, N.C.
10. Waterbury, Conn.

See the following links for more information

• The Worst Cities for Jobs
• In Pictures: 10 Worst Cities For Jobs
• In Pictures: 10 Worst Mid-Size Cities For Jobs
• In Pictures: 10 Worst Big Cities For Jobs
• In Pictures: Best Mid-Sized Cities For Jobs
• In Pictures: Best Small Cities For Jobs

It appears that Keith Wilson, former NETWORKS chairman and publisher of the Kingsport Times-News is using his newspaper to drum up support for increased funding to make the Kingsport schools the best in the state.

Keith Wilson quoted some statistics below on how Kingsport schools ranked in the state and he would like to use NETWORKS to market Kingsport schools “in soliciting new business and industry and trying to keep existing business and industry”.

NETWORKS is a joint economic development partnership of Bluff City, Bristol, Kingsport and Sullivan County, Tennessee.

There is nothing wrong about using Kingsport school statistics to attract new business, but if the Kingsport schools rank was so good now, then why hasn’t NETWORKS used that to attract new business and industry in the past.  How successful were you Mr. Wilson during your term as Chairman of Networks in getting new business and industry by promoting the Kingsport schools?

NETWORKS envisions making Kingsport schools best in Tennessee (Please read the entire Kingsport Times-News article)

Wilson cited statistics compiled by the SCORE program of former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, which Wilson said showed that among 119 K-12 public systems statewide Kingsport schools had the sixth-highest per-pupil expenditures in the state, the third-highest percentage of local funding in their budget, and the 38th-highest graduation rate.

It also was the 14th most economic advantaged system, was 18th in growth from third to eighth grade scores, and ranked sixth in the three-year ACT score average, he said

I smell a tax increase that would affect only the City of Kingsport property owners. Somehow, I don’t think the Kingsport citizens would approve of a tax increase while Bristol, Bluff City and Sullivan County residents got the benefits of a new business or industry located outside of Kingsport city limits.

Kingsport BMA needs to be reminded that the household median income for Kingsport is $34,391 and the Individuals below poverty level 18.0%. Two people in the same household making the minimum wage would make $30,160 per year.   Kingsport citizens cannot afford a tax increase to fund the NETWORKS marketing scheme that Keith Wilson is proposing.  The City of Kingsport also  has 20.1 percent of its population that are over 65 years of age and this group cannot not afford a tax increase.   The NETWORKS marketing scheme should be funded by business or a personal tax on the “elite”.

Mr. Wilson, what were you doing during your involvement with NETWORKS when the opportunities below went somewhere else?

• Small NC town to get $1 billion Apple data center
• Gov. Bredesen – works to attract investments for West TN, but plant flowers in East TN
• Silver Eagle Bus Manufacturing lands in Gallatin
• Bredesen, Kisber Announce New Investment in Renewable Energy Sector, Creating 500 New Jobs
• Volkswagen Group of America Selects Chattanooga Location
• East TN lost another one!
• New York Site Edges Bristol, VA In Competition For Yahoo! Data Center
• Multi-Million Dollar Capital Investment to Create Over 400 New Jobs in West TN
• Southern towns: Harley plant welcome
• German firm buys Chattanooga Aerisyn operation
• State panel approves purchase of land for Haywood megasite
• Governor Bredesen, Commissioner Kisber Announce Unilever Expansion in Covington
• BJS North America East Celebrates Grand Opening in Jefferson County

Keith Wilson is not listed on the NETWORKS Board of Directors.

In my opinion, the NETWORKS organization which is supported with taxpayer money, is just simply ineffective in getting new businesses that offer good jobs for the area.

See also the following link;  Kingsport leaders tentatively on board with NETWORKS plan for schools

NASHVILLE – State revenue collections once again fell short of budgeted estimates last month. Overall February revenues were $638.9 million, which is $47.1 million less than the state budgeted.

“This entire fiscal year has brought us negative growth in the sales tax, which is almost two-thirds of our revenue,” Finance and Administration Commissioner Dave Goetz said. “Moreover, the running total is now 21 consecutive months of negative growth in sales tax collections since January 2008, when the downward economic spiral began for us in Tennessee.”

“In spite of the budgetary challenges, we have laid out a plan for balancing the budget and we’re working with the Legislature to end this year and the next with a balanced budget, as our constitution requires.”

On an accrual basis, February is the seventh month in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

The general fund was under collected by $43.8 million and the four other funds were under collected by $3.3 million.

Sales tax collections were $38.4 million less than the estimate for February. The February growth rate was negative 6.67%. The year-to-date growth rate for seven months is negative 5.84%.

Franchise and excise taxes combined were $1.4 million above the budgeted estimate of $33.0 million. For seven months revenues are over collected by $7.4 million. The year-to-date growth rate for seven months is 8.32%.

Gasoline and motor fuel collections for February decreased by 3.86%, but were $180,000 above the budgeted estimate of $68.3 million. For seven months revenues are under collected by $13.9 million.

Tobacco tax collections were $4.0 million under the budgeted estimate of $23.1 million. For seven months revenues are over collected in the amount of $303,000.

Year-to-date collections for seven months were $232.4 million less than the budgeted estimate. The general fund was under collected by $196.3 million and the four other funds were under collected by $36.1 million.

The budgeted revenue estimates for 2009-2010 are based on the State Funding Board’s consensus recommendation adopted by the first session of the 106th General Assembly in May of 2009, and are available on the state’s Web site at http://www.tn.gov/finance/bud/budget.html.

The State Funding Board met again on December 18, 2009 and adopted revised revenue ranges for 2009-2010. The revised ranges reflect growth rates ranging from negative 1.50% to negative 0.25% in total taxes, and negative 2.35% to negative 0.85% in general fund taxes.

Based on the funding board’s consensus recommendation, the official budgeted estimates for 2009-2010 were revised in late December. The revised estimates are reflected on pages A-70 and A-72 in the 2010-2011 Budget Document. The revised estimates assume an under collection in total taxes in the amount of $161.3 million, and an under collection of $153.2 million in the general fund.

via February Revenues | TN.gov Newsroom.

NASHVILLE – State tax collections fell below budgeted estimates in November, for the fourth consecutive month of the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2009. Finance & Administration Commissioner Dave Goetz today announced that state revenue collections for November were $708.2 million, which is 0.52% below November 2008 collections. November collections reflect consumer spending in October.

“November is the 18th consecutive month in which sales tax collections have experienced negative growth,” Goetz said. “If there’s a bright spot, it’s worth noting that the growth rate for sales tax collections in November, while still negative, fared slightly better than the month before, when it was negative 7.8 percent.”

“It’s important to remember we won’t see how after-Thanksgiving retail sales performed until this time next month, when we’ve collected revenues for November spending.”

On an accrual basis, November is the fourth month in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

November collections were $13.5 million less than the budgeted estimate. The general fund was under collected by $8.1 million and the four other funds were under collected by $5.4 million.

Sales tax collections were $21.2 million less than the estimate for November. The November growth rate was negative 4.45%. Year-to-date the growth rate is negative 7.52%.

Franchise and excise combined collections for November were $42.3 million, which is $11.6 million above the budgeted estimate of $30.7 million.

Gasoline and motor fuel collections were $5.3 million less than the budgeted estimate of $72.5 million.

Tobacco tax collections for the month were over collected by $4.3, with November collections at $27.8 million.

Inheritance and Estate taxes were under collected by $3.7 million for the month.

All other taxes were over collected by a net of $600,000.

Year-to date collections for four months were $114.8 million less than the budgeted estimate. The general fund was under collected by $96.3 million and the four other funds were under collected by $18.5 million.

The budgeted revenue estimates for 2009-2010 are based on the State Funding Board’s consensus recommendation adopted by the first session of the 106th General Assembly in May of 2009, and are available on the state’s Web site at http//www.tn.gov/finance/bud/budget.html.

via November Revenues | TN.gov Newsroom.

Dandridge, TN will get 150 new jobs thanks to the efforts of city, county and state officials.  While these jobs are closer to Sullivan County, we have yet to hear anything about new jobs for Sullivan County.  Another missed opportunity for Sullivan County!

New Manufacturing Facility Creates 150 Jobs

NASHVILLE — Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber along with BJS North America East, Inc., a Swedish furniture manufacturer specializing primarily in bedroom accessories, announced today the grand opening of a new manufacturing facility in Dandridge, Tenn. This move brings a $6-8 million investment to Dandridge, creating approximately 150 jobs.

“Governor Bredesen and I welcome BJS North America East to the Volunteer State,” Commissioner Kisber said. “We’ve worked hard to create a business friendly climate in Tennessee, and we are grateful for BJS North America East’s investment in our citizens and state.”

The company will celebrate the opening of the new facility with a ceremony and ribbon cutting on Friday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. at 1000 Industrial Park Road in Dandridge. In addition to the ribbon cutting, BJS will also be celebrating the production of the one millionth piece of furniture for Swedish furniture company IKEA. Local Jefferson County community leaders and several Swedish dignitaries will be in attendance at the ceremony.

With the help of city, county and state officials, the principles of BJS, Pär Lidåker and Kaj Johansson, have partnered with Klote International Corporation official Carl-Gösta Torstensson to bring this facility to Dandridge. The new manufacturing facility located in the Dandridge Industrial Park contains 95,000 square feet of production, warehouse and office space. Continue reading “BJS North America East Celebrates Grand Opening in Jefferson County” »

I have done many posts concerning the median age and population in Sullivan County, Tennessee and  Sullivan County has one of the oldest populations in the state (click here to view the data).

The data below is from the state and I hope will help illustrate exactly what will happen if Sullivan County continues as it has in the past.

Below in the graph is a breakdown on the population for the different age groups in Sullivan County for the census year 2000 and projections for year 2025.  Sullivan County population in year 2000 was 153,048 and is projected to be 161,262 in year 2025.

Note that in the graph below that the 2025 population for all age groups are less for age groups that are under the 55 to 59 age group.  The year 2025 graph shows that the population numbers shows the population growing for for ages group 55 and up.  The largest single age group with the largest population is the age group 75 and up and the larger part of them are females.

Is Sullivan County equipped to handle the aging population?  There should great demand for those businesses offering services to the elderly.  But, if you are a pediatric physician, you might want to start your practice elsewhere because of the low birth rate in Sullivan County.

The table below gives the actual population numbers for the different age groups.  I have added the year 2010 which is not plotted in the above graph so you can see what is projected for 2010.  The data from the state is given as number of males and females for each age group and I have added the male and female population numbers together in the table below and the graph.

Population Projections for Sullivan County, TN

You can view the data for other Tennessee Counties which includes projections for every five years up to year 2025.  Click on the link below to go to the Tennessee webpage

Demographic Information on Age-Gender Composition

In addition to the population projections for each Tennessee city and county contained in the report above, you may access more detailed cohort-component data for a city or county below. (Please note that updated demographic projections will be forthcoming.)

Please either click a county on the Tennessee state map or click a county name in the alphabetical list below the map to access the cohort-component data. Note the Word of Caution following table listed below.

Click here to view state data for Tennessee Counties

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I am one of the older population and am concerned about the future of Sullivan County.   No, you can’t move us out of the county, but you should be concerned about the future of the county when we have left this world.  There must be something in place to keep young people in Sullivan County.  A good start would be get companies that have good paying jobs to locate here.   If you too are concerned, talk to your elected officials.  You can email them at the following links.

Comments are welcome.

West Tennessee wins and East Tennessee loses again.  What are our local elected officials doing to bring  jobs to the Sullivan County area?

Project will Create 275 New Jobs and an Investment of $100 Million

NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen and Commissioner Matt Kisber of the Department of Economic and Community Development announced today that the Unilever plant in Covington, Tenn. will be expanding, generating an investment of $100 million and creating approximately 275 new jobs.

“This is great news for Unilever and the state of Tennessee,” Governor Bredesen said. “These new jobs are the result of a strong partnership between the state and the local community. I’m pleased Unilever has chosen to further solidify its presence in Tennessee and we look forward to working with them on this ambitious expansion project.”

Read more via Governor Bredesen, Commissioner Kisber Announce Unilever Expansion in Covington | TN.gov Newsroom.