BUSINESS VISIONS OF MAURY COUNTY

TENNESSEE
Industries attracted to countys diverse economy

2011 | IMAGESMAURY.COM

A Pleasure Doing Business Engine for Growth

New job training center to boost workforce

Location, Labor and Land

County offers strategic assets for growth
SPONSORED BY THE MAURY COUNTY CHAMBER AND ECONOMIC ALLIANCE

Vision of Excellence
It all adds up: 8 Buy-Here/Pay-Here Used Car Stores 40 Commercial Properties

e q ua l s

SATISFIED
Call Us Today Bostelman Enterprises Inc.
610 N. Garden St., Ste. 300 Columbia, TN 38401 931-380-2262 Invested in Maury County

CUSTOMERS

I USED TO PUT A FEW DRINKS IN MY SECOND FRIDGE. AND ABOUT $146 A YEAR.
After I purchased a new ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator, I moved my old one to the garage to keep a few drinks cold. Turns out, that move was burning a pretty big hole in my wallet. Now Im saving $146 per year just by pulling the plug on my old fridge. What can you do? Find out how the little changes add up at TogetherWeSave.com.

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TOGETHERWESAVE.COM

Workstyle
Location, Labor and Land
County offers strategic assets for growth

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A Pleasure Doing Business

Industries attracted to countys diverse economy

Engine for Growth

New job training center to boost workforce

Insight
Overview Business Almanac Business Climate Gallery Energy/Technology Transportation Health Education Livability Economic Profile Through the Lens 7 8 12 28 30 32 34 38 42 47 48

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ON THE COVER Maury Countys business district in downtown Columbia is booming with new restaurants and retail stores.
PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

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BUSINESS

Digital Edition
Location, Labor and Land
Maury County offers space, skill and strategic position for growth
Story by Betsy Williams Photography by Jeff Adkins

hen it comes to competitive advantages, Maury County has three Ls in its favor location, land and labor. Centrally located near a major metropolitan area (Nashville) and interstate (I-65), the region offers convenient access to markets throughout the Southeast. The area also has plenty of unoccupied space and sites for relocating or expanding industries, with parcels ranging from 10 to 500 acres. Cherry Glen Industrial Park, located off Highway 43 in Mt. Pleasant, is MTIDA-certified as a deal-ready park, with utilities and access roads in place and environmental assessments completed. The 587-acre park offers premier lakefront plots with office, commercial and industrial zoning. In Spring Hill, local leaders are working on a plan to extend city sewer lines east of I-65 to attract more commercial development, and

Columbia has long been considered a retail and services hub for this southern Middle Tennessee region.
NORTHFIELD MARKETED FOR TRAINING, INCUBATOR Though 1,300 employees still work at the General Motors plant, a large labor pool is available in the wake of the plants standby status. This means that Maury County can offer companies its most valuable asset: a well-trained, highly skilled workforce one with even more opportunity for career development now that the South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance has leased Northfield, GMs former 320,000-square-foot administrative and training center, with the option of negotiating the buildings purchase in the near future. With 100,000 square feet dedicated to workforce and career development, the remaining square footage of this

expansive space is being marketed for back-office and business accelerator usage, says Tom Brewer, interim director of the center. The Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance and community leaders know this building is a jewel, and GM is being more than a generous partner in making this work, Brewer says, noting that Northfield offers a 10-bay automotive garage, a 100-seat theater, a 300-seat multipurpose room, a soundstage with two recording studios, 30 classrooms, 90 conference rooms, six computer labs and 700 fully furnished office cubicles. Workforce training at Northfield will not be built around a set curriculum, Brewer says, but will center on the needs of business, making it useful for the countys wellequipped economic development toolbox. Training can be designed for

Clockwise from top: Cherry Glen Industrial Park in Mt. Pleasant is MTIDA-certified as a deal-ready park; Tom Brewer, interim director of the Northfield center, GMs former 320,000-square-foot administrative and training center in Spring Hill; Numatics Actuator Group is located at the 587-acre Cherry Glen Industrial Park.

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MAURY COUNTY

201 1 EDITION , VOLUME 1 5 PROJECT MANAGER EMILY McMACKIN PROOFREADING MANAGER RAVEN PETTY CONTENT COORDINATOR JESSICA WALKER STAFF WRITER KEVIN LITWIN COPY EDITOR JILL WYATT CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MELANIE HILL, CAROLYN JONES, BILL LEWIS MEDIA TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, JESSICA MANNER, JANINE MARYLAND, KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS GRAPHIC DESIGNER RACHAEL GERRINGER MEDIA TECHNOLOGY ANALYSTS CHANDRA BRADSHAW, LANCE CONZETT, MICHELE NICCORE, MARCUS SNYDER PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, BRIAN McCORD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER WEB CONTENT MANAGER JOHN HOOD WEB PROJECT MANAGER NOY FONGNALY WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA WEB DESIGNER II RICHARD STEVENS WEB DEVELOPER I YAMEL HALL WEB ACCOUNT MANAGER LAUREN EUBANK AD PRODUCTION MANAGER KATIE MIDDENDORF AD TRAFFIC ASSISTANTS KRYSTIN LEMMON, PATRICIA MOISAN I.T. DIRECTOR YANCEY BOND I.T. SUPPORT TECHNICIAN BRYAN FORIEST SENIOR ACCOUNTANT LISA OWENS ACCOUNTS PAYABLE COORDINATOR MARIA McFARLAND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE COORDINATOR DIANA GUZMAN OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE COORDINATOR SHELLY MILLER COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN ALISON HUNTER CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SENIOR V.P./SALES TODD POTTER, CARLA THURMAN SENIOR V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY HESTER SENIOR V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SENIOR V.P./BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SCOTT TEMPLETON V.P./EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS TEREE CARUTHERS V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING KIM HOLMBERG V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./CONTENT OPERATIONS NATASHA LORENS V.P./SALES CHARLES FITZGIBBON, HERB HARPER, JAREK SWEKOSKY CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY CONTENT DIRECTOR/TRAVEL PUBLICATIONS SUSAN CHAPPELL CONTENT DIRECTOR/BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS BILL McMEEKIN CONTENT DIRECTOR/LIVABILITY LISA BATTLES MARKETING CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH EXECUTIVE SECRETARY KRISTY DUNCAN HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

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I M A G E S M A U R Y. C O M

The City of Spring Hill, TN is Proud to Support Maury County

199 Town Center Pkwy. P.O. Box 789 Spring Hill, TN 37174 (931) 486-2252 www.springhilltn.org

MAURY COUNTY

Overview

Businesses Take a New Look at Maury County

The Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance recently unveiled a new brand for the organization that reflects a bold new strategy powered by public-private collaboration. Maury County, the cities of Columbia, Spring Hill and Mt. Pleasant, and a long list of local business leaders planned and funded an economic development program that will certainly cause businesses and other decision makers to take a new look at the county. Thats good, because when people look at Maury County they like what they see. In 2010, Maury County raked in the following accolades. Top 10 Most Business-Friendly Cities in Tennessee TN Center for Policy Research Top 10 Health Systems in the Nation. (Maury Regional Medical Center) Thomson Reuters Fastest-Growing City in Tennessee (Spring Hill) Bloomberg Businessweek Best Places to Live Livability.com Many of the advantages that Maury County offers are not new at all. Its excellent location, just 30 minutes south of Nashville on I-65, just gets better over time. Residents of Maury County have easy access to the metropolitan amenities of Nashville, but enjoy a low cost of living and a great small-town atmosphere. Known as the Antebellum Capital of Tennessee, Maury Countys rich history and stately old homes help give the cities a distinctive sense of place. Ancient and beautiful natural landmarks such as the Stillhouse Hollow Falls and Southport Saltpeter Cave are complemented by modern recreation facilities in more than 240 acres of parks. State-of-the-art facilities such as the Northfield Office Campus, which was formerly Saturn Corporate offices, offer businesses incredible communications infrastructure. Start-ups, relocating and expanding businesses find a pro-business environment and a commitment to facilitating growth in Maury County. At the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance, the new brand image reflects a renewed effort to invite people to see what Columbia, Spring Hill and Mount Pleasant have to offer. To see for yourself, visit the website at www.mauryalliance.com. Or just call Maury County Alliance President Brandom Gengelbach or Maury County Alliance Director of Economic Development Elizabeth West. You are invited to take a look at the old and new advantages a Maury County location offers businesses. Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance 106 W. Sixth St. Columbia, TN 38401 (931) 388-2155 www.mauryalliance.com

To Nashville
Maury County

Spring Hill Santa Fe 396 Williamsport

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Culleoka
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Almanac

ROSE BOWL LOCAL

If youve watched a Rose Bowl parade recently, youve probably seen the floral creations of Doris Hargrove, a local florist and owner of Doris Flowers & Gifts in Columbia. Hargrove has helped assemble floats at the past five Rose Bowls. This year, she and five other floral designers from Minnesota, California and Mississippi were part of the Fiesta Float team, which designed the Beverly Hills City of Dreams Come True float. The float won the mayors trophy for the most outstanding national or international city entry. Doris Flowers & Gifts opened in Columbia in 1969.

A FOGGY IDEA
From fog and haze to snow and bubbles, no atmospheric effect is too complicated to create for Froggys Fog in Columbia. The company, which moved to Columbia from Cookeville a few years ago, manufactures all-natural, water-based fog used everywhere from skating rinks and concerts to fire departments and theme parks. Since its inception in 2003, Froggys Fog has started distributing its product globally, and was featured last fall on a makeover of a haunted house on ABCs Extreme Home Makeover: Halloween Edition.

WINE AWAY THE HOURS

Got a taste for fine wine? Maury County is home to two wineries, Amber Falls Winery & Cellars and Keg Springs Winery, each of which offer enough variety to satisfy any palate. From Bordeaux-style and whites to novelty fruit wines, Amber Falls Winery is stocked with an array of barrel-aged selections and offers complimentary tastings in its cellar. Visitors can watch the winemaking process in action from an upstairs viewing room or tour the vineyard. The family-owned and -operated Keg Springs Winery features a range of wines from dry to sweet. Along with free tastings in its wine pavilion, visitors can snack on Tennessee-made cheeses, meats and salsas. Both wineries, which are surrounded by the wooded, rustic scenery of the valley, have facilities to host special events.

MAURY COUNTY

LEARNING THROUGH IMAGINATION

Kids in Maury County now have the chance to explore, discover and create through traveling exhibits put on by aMuseum, Columbias first childrens museum. From experiencing life in the early days of Tennessee to touring a castle full of storybook characters who represent what it takes to make a successful community, the museum uses interactive play to teach kids about the world around them. aMuseum is located on West Seventh Street in historic downtown Columbia. For kids curious about life on the farm, the Tennessee Museum of Early Farm Life in Spring Hill showcases horse-drawn and mule-drawn equipment dating back to the early 1800s.

SOUTHERN FRIED GOODNESS

Craving some good ol home cooking? You are in the right place. From cafes to meat and threes, local restaurants serve up Southern specialties at their best. A 1940s-era drugstore and soda shop turned restaurant, Mt. Pleasant Grille in downtown Mt. Pleasant offers all the staples you would find at the best Sunday dinner in town, including homestyle entrees and generous sides, in a setting that showcases the restaurants vintage decor. If you have a hankering for homemade soup and sandwiches or a healthy piece of pie, stop by Square Market & Cafe on the square in downtown Columbia. Along with its espresso bar and free wireless Internet, the cafe hosts songwriters nights the fourth Thursday of each month. The Nashville-based Copper Kettle, also in downtown Columbia, is another place where you can get your fried-food fix. Hungry for more? Dont miss Columbias annual Southern Fried Festival in September. Plan your visit and menu at www.southernfriedfest.com.

MOVIES AND MANSIONS

With its abundance of stately 19th-century mansions, Maury Countys reputation as the Antebellum Capital of Tennessee has long enchanted local history buffs. Now Hollywood is taking notice. Spring Hills Rippavilla Plantation recently served as the backdrop for climatic scenes of the independent thriller Deadline, produced by the Nashvillebased Film House studio. Built in the 1850s by wealthy planter Nathaniel Cheairs, the mansion has an illustrious past: Five Confederate generals held a strategic breakfast meeting there Nov. 30, 1864, just hours before they were killed in the Battle of Franklin. Cast and crew of Deadline, which stars Eric Roberts and covers the real-life crusade of a reporter to find justice for a decades-old murder, filmed 12 scenes at the mansion and a protest scene at a church in Santa Fe. Deadline isnt the first big-screen cameo for Maury County. In 2008, downtown Columbia starred as Crowleys Corner, the fictional hometown of Hannah Montana in Hannah Montana: The Movie.

I M A G E S M A U R Y. C O M

BMC METALWORKS LLC

Emphasizing High Quality, Service and Value to its Customers
A 37-year-old company providing a full line of machining, fabrication, and field team services for numerous industries throughout the Southeast. The company, originally established in 1974, has grown to its present size, which includes three large production buildings, totaling more than 70,000 square feet, and positioned on seven acres just 3 miles northwest of downtown Columbia, TN.

1116 New Highway 7 Columbia, TN 38401 931.388.2978 www.bmcmetalworksllc.com

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BRINGING THE DIRT

What do Major League Baseball teams like the Atlanta Braves, the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox have in common? They all use dirt provided by Southern Athletic Fields in Columbia on their pitching mounds and around their bases. Started by Maury County local Bill Marbet in 1996, the company specializes in providing sod and materials for the upkeep and maintenance of baseball, softball and football fields. In addition to Major League Baseball teams, Southern Athletic Fields works with baseball and softball teams at universities, colleges and high schools across the country, and has sales representatives in 12 states. To view the teams on the companys client roster, visit www.mulemix.com.

MUSEUMS FOR MOTOR LOVERS

Calling all motorheads! If you have the mechanic gene or love anything that revs up, Maury County has several must-see stops for you. View vintage bikes from as far back as 1933 at the S & G Custom Cycle Shop showroom in Columbia, along with military collectibles and other items like a 1936 Maytag washing machine with a kick-start motor. If youre a vintage-car enthusiast, be sure to swing by Davids Old Fords near downtown Columbia to peruse the old Ford models through the window. Want your own set of wheels? You can find the latest motorcycle models at Harley Davidsons prototype facility in Columbia.

WHERE THE POLK LEGACY LIVES

Columbia is best known for its most famous citizen, James K. Polk, the 11th president of the United States. While practicing law and getting his political career off the ground, Polk lived in a Federal-style home built by his father near the downtown square of Columbia, and today the Polk Ancestral Home is a shrine to the president, showcasing 1,000 objects, including furniture, paintings, china and silver, that the Polks collected during their years in the White House. The newest addition to the museum is the new Polk Presidential Hall, housed in a renovated historic church, which hosts exhibitions and educational programs related to Polk and the era in which he lived. The shuttered Polk Theatre, originally constructed in the 1950s, may also be getting a second life. The Maury County Arts Guild recently launched an effort to restore the building and transform it into a cultural arts center.

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Business Climate

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Springing Ahead
County pushes forward with new jobs, opportunities
Story by Betsy Williams Photography by Jeff Adkins

aury County may be known for its Old South roots and antebellum homes, but with its thriving retail market and diverse industrial base, it boasts one of Tennessees most progressive business climates. The countys three flourishing municipalities Columbia (the county seat), Spring Hill and Mount Pleasant topped the states business-friendly rankings in a recent report by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, and an influx of out-of-state businesses have relocated to the region in recent years.
COMING BACK STRONGER Adversity often builds unity, and thats what happened in Maury County after the December 2009 announcement by General Motors that it would shutter its former Spring Hill plant, displacing more than 6,000 workers. The silver lining in that cloud is that it has allowed us to come together as a community and overcome some challenges, says Brandom Gengelbach, president of the Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance. The result is the successful creation of a four-

year economic development strategy funded with $2.7 million raised through a first-time publicprivate partnership, so that county leadership can focus on attracting knowledge-based companies that will further diversify a strong economic base.
IB TECH LOCATES, SEKISUI PLASTICS USA EXPANDS The efforts are paying off. In September 2010, the Maury County team announced that IB Tech, a subsidiary of Japanese-owned auto parts manufacturer Imasen Electric Industrial Company, would locate its second U.S. facility in Mt. Pleasant. The company, which produces seat adjusters and other automotive parts for clients that include Honda and Nissan, is investing $50 million and creating 385 jobs by 2012. Sekisui Plastics USA, which located in Maury County in 2006 to produce foam resin polymers used in doors, bumpers and other parts of all U.S.-built Toyotas, Mazdas, Mitsubishis, Hondas and Nissans, is already expanding. GM is bringing back more than 500 employees to its Spring Hill facility to increase manufacturing capacity of a four-cylinder

More than 500 workers are returning to GMs Spring Hill plant to manufacture its four-cylinder Ecotech engine.
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Historic Downtown Columbia

Shopping and dining in a National Historic district 43 miles south of Nashville, TN. 76 miles north of Huntsville, AL.

www.columbiamainstreet.com
Working together for you
24-hour open houses at: www.YourTNHomes.com 100 W. 6th Street Columbia, TN 38401 (931) 384-9400 www.BeckySellsColumbia.com

Becky Thomas and Melissa Pyron

Seating up to 150 Guests for a delicious meal Come Join us for lunch! family, Hot Buffet or Cafe menu

Best of Maury County 2009

Tuesday-friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday Buffet 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Something for All Occasions At Our Place or Yours

109 e. 6th St. Columbia (931) 388-7109

a reCepTioN aNd eveNT veNue iN THe HearT of doWNToWN ColumBia, TeNNeSSee

located at 125 West Seventh Street. for information and pre-booking, call (931) 334-6810. www.westburyhouseonthesquare.com

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engine, and Gengelbach is optimistic more GM employment will follow. The car manufacturer is also in the midst of reevaluating its real estate, he says, creating exciting possibilities for the companys former 320,000-square-foot Northfield training and administrative center. Thanks to a March 2011 cooperative purchase agreement between GM and the South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance, Northfield will not only serve as a leadingedge workforce development and career center, it will also serve as a business accelerator, launching entrepreneurial businesses with a focus on emerging technologies, including the soaring solar industry, says Tom Brewer,

interim director of the center. Having this as an incubator is the ideal, Brewer, who worked at the Spring Hill facility for 25 years, says. We have 100,000 square feet dedicated to a workforce development center and 200,000 square feet that can be leased to tenants. It is especially ideal for back-office operations in the insurance and medical industries. Business is also on the rise with new restaurants and retail stores opening in downtown Columbia, and construction is booming in Spring Hill, which was named among the fastest growing cities in the nation by BusinessWeek.

RELOCATIONS AND EXPANSIONS IN MAURY COUNTY

IB Tech
Investing $50 million in an auto parts plant in Mount Pleasant and creating 385 jobs by 2012

Sekisui Plastics USA

Expanding Mt. Pleasant facility, which makes foam resin polymers used in doors, bumpers and other parts of U.S.-built cars

GM
Recalling more than 500 employees to increase manufacturing capacity of a four-cylinder Ecotech engine in Spring Hill

Clockwise from top left: IB Tech, a subsidiary of Japanese-owned auto parts manufacturer Imasen Electric Industrial Company, is locating its second U.S. facility in Mt. Pleasant; Powertrain engines move along the production line at the Spring Hill GM plant; New GMC products on display at Spring Hills GM plant.

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Location, Labor and Land

Maury County offers space, skill and strategic position for growth
Story by Betsy Williams Photography by Jeff Adkins

hen it comes to competitive advantages, Maury County has three Ls in its favor location, land and labor. Centrally located near a major metropolitan area (Nashville) and interstate (I-65), the region offers convenient access to markets throughout the Southeast. The area also has plenty of unoccupied space and sites for relocating or expanding industries, with parcels ranging from 10 to 500 acres. Cherry Glen Industrial Park, located off Highway 43 in Mt. Pleasant, is MTIDA-certified as a deal-ready park, with utilities and access roads in place and environmental assessments completed. The 587-acre park offers premier lakefront plots with office, commercial and industrial zoning. In Spring Hill, local leaders are working on a plan to extend city sewer lines east of I-65 to attract more commercial development, and

Columbia has long been considered a retail and services hub for this southern Middle Tennessee region.
NORTHFIELD MARKETED FOR TRAINING, INCUBATOR Though 1,300 employees still work at the General Motors plant, a large labor pool is available in the wake of the plants standby status. This means that Maury County can offer companies its most valuable asset: a well-trained, highly skilled workforce one with even more opportunity for career development now that the South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance has leased Northfield, GMs former 320,000-square-foot administrative and training center, with the option of negotiating the buildings purchase in the near future. With 100,000 square feet dedicated to workforce and career development, the remaining square footage of this

expansive space is being marketed for back-office and business accelerator usage, says Tom Brewer, interim director of the center. The Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance and community leaders know this building is a jewel, and GM is being more than a generous partner in making this work, Brewer says, noting that Northfield offers a 10-bay automotive garage, a 100-seat theater, a 300-seat multipurpose room, a soundstage with two recording studios, 30 classrooms, 90 conference rooms, six computer labs and 700 fully furnished office cubicles. Workforce training at Northfield will not be built around a set curriculum, Brewer says, but will center on the needs of business, making it useful for the countys wellequipped economic development toolbox. Training can be designed for

Clockwise from top: Cherry Glen Industrial Park in Mt. Pleasant is MTIDA-certified as a deal-ready park; Tom Brewer, interim director of the Northfield center, GMs former 320,000-square-foot administrative and training center in Spring Hill; Numatics Actuator Group is located at the 587-acre Cherry Glen Industrial Park.

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Maury County Regional Hospital Maury County Regional Airport Cherry Glen Industrial Park Columbia State Community College Northfield Learning Center
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the needs of new or existing companies in this versatile five-star facility. Its potential as a full-service corporate location hasnt even been tapped at this early stage in plan development, Brewer says. Northfield is set up as a plug and play for a call center or corporate headquarters, says Elizabeth West, director of economic development for the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance. This is truly an incredible asset for our community. Northfields vast space, along with Maury Countys central location and skilled workforce, has already caught the attention of Soltility, a Friendsville, Tenn.-based solar energy firm, which is working on negotiating a deal to lease 10,000 square feet inside the facility to assemble solar photovoltaic arrays.
INCENTIVES AVAILABLE If location, land and labor werent enough, the

county also offers attractive incentives for qualifying companies, West says. The communities of Maury County take a strong pro-business attitude when it comes to job creation and capital investment, West says. Tax abatements or deferrals may be offered on city and county levels once a project has been evaluated and if it meets certain job creation and wage criteria, skill levels and capital investment, and the government entities in Maury County will assist with securing state grants and incentives for infrastructure improvements. Thanks to a four-year strategic plan funded through a $2.75 million public-private partnership, the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance is sharpening its focus on four prongs of economic development: new business attraction, existing business, workforce development concentrated on knowledge-based companies and attracting new talent to this community that offers a dynamic quality of life.

THE INDUSTRIAL EDGE

In addition to its strategic location, Maury County offers other advantages to a wide variety of industries, including: Cap on franchise/ inventory tax for distribution/ warehousing facilities. Tax incentives on machinery, manufacturing, and distribution equipment/ racking systems. Jobs Tax Credit Program Abundant workforce in Right-to-Work state Reliable TVA electric power Highly-developed transportation system

Maury County's Key Assets

Could we plot these points Major highways Interstate 65 U.S. highways 412, 43 and

65

Airport Maury County Regional Ai Note to designer: Location Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee, 38

Industrial Park Cherry Hill Industrial Park Note to designer: Location

Workforce Training Center North eld Learning Cente Note to designer: The new headquarters building for South Central Tennessee Development District is College being constructed at Cherry Glen Industrial Park. Top left: A full-size house built inside the Northfield center will help train students in the plumbing and electrical program. Columbia State Communit Note to designer: 19
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A Pleasure Doing Business

Maury Countys diverse economy attracts companies and customers
Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Jeff Adkins

ith its strategic location, strong infrastructure and pro-business climate, Maury County and its cities of Mt. Pleasant, Columbia and Spring Hill are a natural hub for retail, services and manufacturing throughout south central Tennessee. Customers from four surrounding counties frequent shopping centers in the area, and the same goes for entities like Columbia State Community College, Maury County Regional Airport and Maury Regional Medical Center. A variety of businesses and industries have also chosen to set up shop throughout Maury Countys three cities each of which attracts a diverse mix of companies.

MT. PLEASANT Once known as the Phosphate Capital of the World, Mt. Pleasants industrial heritage dates back to its days as a mining boomtown following the discovery of elemental phosphorus there in the late 1800s. That industry eventually waned but the city has been able to attract niche manufacturers that produce everything from nonporous roofing material to inkjet and laser cartridges. Mt. Pleasant has seen a lot of manufacturing growth recently, including a September 2010 announcement that IB Tech is making a $50 million investment and will create 385 new jobs, says Brandom

Gengelbach, president of Maury Alliance. IB Tech is in the automotive sector and makes seat adjusters for Nissan, Honda and other carmakers.
COLUMBIA Thanks to recent streetscape improvements revitalizing its downtown sector, Columbias business district is booming and bringing in restaurants like Copper Kettle, Square Market & Cafe and Killions Coffee & Creamery, along with specialty shops like The Castle toy store. Columbia is home to several insurance agencies, including the states largest insurance provider, the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.

Businesses like The Wheel, a full-service bicycle shop, thrive on the square in downtown Columbia.

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MAURY COUNTY AT A GLANCE

Home to 84,778 people Natural resources include crushed stone and timber Brings in $1 million per year in retail sales and $27,809 in per capita personal income Has a civilian workforce of 36,769 Offers 240 acres of natural recreation

The city also has a growing manufacturing base that recently added companies like Bakery Technology Enterprises, LLC, which manufactures commercial baking equipment, and Softspace South, which fabricates interior design furniture and accessories for high-end customers. Our company began in Maine in 1999, and we moved to Maury County in 2006 because we wanted our customer base to spread to the entire country plus Middle Tennessee has much nicer weather than Maine, says Gloria Clark, president of Softspace South. Softspaces clients include Maybelline and U.S. Cellular, and the company just completed interior build-outs for 19 of Nikes top flight stores throughout the country. We constructed custom pieces for Nike such as solid walnut tables, leather benches, pegged accessory walls and shoe chandeliers, all made by our staff of 19 employees who are amazing woodworkers, Clark says.

SPRING HILL The Tennessee Center for Policy Research has named Spring Hill the fourth most business-friendly city in the state, based on job growth, median income, property and sales taxes, crime rate and academic achievement. One new Spring Hill business that has already experienced much success is Timberland Cabinetry Company, which built a 100,000-square-foot distribution center in 2008 and is already constructing high-end cabinets in new homes, ranging in price from $350,000 to well over $1 million. As Spring Hills population continues to grow, more businesses become attracted to the area, Gengelbach says. We at Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance are getting a lot of inquiries from companies looking to locate back-office service centers and call center operations in Spring Hill. Look for those information sectors to really flourish in Spring Hill in the near future.

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A popular lunch spot in downtown Columbia is Square Market & Cafe, which also sells a variety of chocolates, candy and desserts.

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Workforce Development & Conference Center at Northfield

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MAURY COUNTY

Engine for Growth

Workforce Alliance to transform empty building into job training center
Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Jeff Adkins

n Spring Hill, a virtually empty building is being transformed into one of the regions greatest potential education and job training assets. In February 2011, South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance entered a lease agreement with General Motors Corp. for a reported $3.4 million, with the option to negotiate the purchase of the automakers Northfield building in Spring Hill. The spacious Northfield building formerly housed GM executive offices and employee training sessions. The Northfield building is two stories and features an impressive 320,000 square feet of space more than half as large as the famed AT&T

Batman building in downtown Nashville and immediately after leasing Northfield, SCTWA began scheduling classes that are now open to the public. At least 100,000 square feet will be dedicated to workforce and career development, while the remaining square footage is being marketed for back-office and business accelerator usage. We are grateful for the opportunity to lease the facility and begin offering classes, says Jan McKeel, executive director of the South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance. We received a $5 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development to render

toward building and operating costs.

NEW NAME, SAME BUILDING The building is now called the Workforce Development & Conference Center at Northfield, or Northfield for short. Since the Saturn assembly plant idled in November 2009, the building has been used primarily to train dislocated GM workers and automotive suppliers for new careers in medical record coding, green jobs technology, health information technology and nursing. Now there will be five academies that are available to the public, with training in advanced manufacturing, health care, hospitality arts, public
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safety and information technology, McKeel says. We are pleased with the progress so far, and we are depending on both public and private employers to help ensure that we bring in programs that result in trained people who can get high-paying, highly skilled jobs.
30 CLASSROOMS, SIX LABS McKeel says an early goal for the building is to have Columbia State Community College and the Technology Training Center at Hohenwald and at Pulaski offer courses and supply classroom training, and then hopefully universities like

Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State, Belmont, Lipscomb and others will eventually do the same. There are also plans to ultimately offer classes to help high school students earn college credits. The Workforce Development & Conference Center at Northfield is equipped with an advanced manufacturing lab, 30 classrooms, six computer labs, a 10-bay automotive technology garage and 91 conference rooms. There is also a 250-seat cafeteria with full commercial kitchen and a 100-seat theater. The campus unofficially opened to the general public April 11-17 with a six-day

Tennessee Solar Institute course that taught the basics of solar installation and photovoltaic technology. Northfield came to us wire-ready, so its easy to host classroom sessions in any part of the building, McKeel says.
AND ANOTHER $8.4 MILLION In addition to the funds for the Northfield lease agreement, SCTWA was also approved for an additional $8.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. That money will really help us launch the technical programs we want to offer students, McKeel says.

Left: Students participate in training in the Practical Nursing program by the Technology Training Center at Hohenwald.

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Gallery

Copper Kettle restaurant in downtown Columbia Photo by Jeff Adkins

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Historic bell tower on West Seventh Street in Columbia Staff Photo

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Energy/Technology

Maury has an App for That

Innovative, technology-driven companies thrive in Maury County
Story by Bill Lewis

hen the U.S. bobsled team set out to win Olympic gold, its path to victory ran straight through Maury County, where an innovative company is researching and developing products that help customers improve their personal, team and business performance. Looking for ways to get down the bobsled course faster, the 2010 Olympic team sought help from Experimental Design & Analysis Solutions Inc. (EDAS). The company makes Ripxx, a GPS-enabled device that empowers top athletes and weekend warriors who want to measure their performance. The bobsled team arent the only customers relying on ideas and products developed in Maury County. Health-conscious individuals turn to Integrity Nutraceuticals International for scientifically researched dietary supplements. The worlds copper mining industry depends on Cytec Industries for a method of extracting the valuable metal from the earth without the need for costly and

environmentally damaging smelting. Industries everywhere depend on Numatics Actuator Group for products that enable automated compressed air equipment to operate efficiently.
CREATING NEW TECHNOLOGY Elizabeth Crutcher, operational coordinator for Cytec, could be speaking for many of Maury Countys businesses when she explains how the company has found success for 54 years in Mt. Pleasant, where it employs 120 workers. Worldwide the company employs about 9,000 people. Innovation, Crutcher says. Weve been successful in improving safety and our processes. Innovation is a daily task at EDAS, where a group of rocket scientists developed Ripxx during their free time. EDAS recently spun Ripxx off as a wholly owned subsidiary. The companys original business, developing high-end vibration testing solutions for jet engines and other high-performance industrial applications with a low tolerance

for error, is what pays the bills. EDAS customers include Pratt and Whitney, General Electric, Honeywell and the Department of Defense. It takes time to build a new technology, CEO Kurt Nichol says. Maury is exactly the right place to do that. The company moved to Spring Hill in 2008 after concluding that its location in neighboring Williamson County was too expensive both for the business and for its 15 employees. Being the CEO of the company that makes Ripxx has its advantages, Nichol says. There arent many people who can say theyve pulled five Gs in a bobsled on the Olympic track at Lake Placid with Steve Holcomb (a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. team in 2010). I have, he says. Next year he just might find himself rowing with the U.S. canoe and kayak teams, which are using the BlackBerry-sized Ripxx to train for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Ordinary sports enthusiasts who want to keep a record of, and perhaps brag about, their performance can strap on the

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MAURY COUNTY

original device or download Ripxx apps to their smart phones. Like EDAS, Integrity Nutraceuticals concluded that Maury County was the best possible location. The company, which imports bulk nutraceuticals from India and China and sells its finished products to retailers, moved from Florida in 2007. We drew a circle on a map around Nashville. What it came down to was the availability of property and where we wanted to live, President Tim Romero says.
MAURY COUNTYS COMPETITIVE EDGE Maury County had all the attributes that were on the companys list: central location, a nearby international airport, a well-developed highway network and high quality of life for its 60 full-time employees. The company employs about 20 more people on a temporary basis. The Nashville region being a oneday trip to 95 percent of the United States, and our ability to serve clients everywhere, makes a big difference, Romero says. At Numatics Actuator Group, about 100 workers design and manufacture motion-control products that are used to automate industrial equipment. The company moved to Mount Pleasant from Williamson County several years ago, says Kevin Hubbard, vice president of operations. In Maury County, were close to the center of gravity for our customers, Hubbard says.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RIPXX

Kurt Nichol, CEO of Experimental Design & Analysis Solutions Inc., and his engineering team developed Rippxx, a GPS-enabled, performance-tracking tool used by the U.S. Olympic bobsled team.

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Transportation

Moving Right Along

County boasts a robust transportation network
Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Jeff Adkins

MAURY COUNTYS TRANSPORTATION ASSETS

30 miles south of Nashville on I-65 40 miles from the Nashville International Airport 40 miles from the Port of Nashville Served by Tennessee Southern Railroad, Interstates 65 and 840, and U.S. highways 412, 43 and 31 Within a four-hour drive of Memphis, Tenn.; Atlanta, Ga.; Louisville, Ky.; Lexington, Ky.; Huntsville, Ala.; Birmingham, Ala.; and Chattanooga, Tenn.

arget and Walmart executives use it regularly, and clothing officials from Goodys used it often in recent months as they opened their new store in the Columbia Mall. Maury County Regional Airport is part of a robust transportation network that Maury County has in place. The airport serves the needs of area business and industry by accommodating both corporate passengers and freight. We have technologically advanced instrumentation on-site along with heated hangars and aircraft maintenance services, and 42 planes are based here, says Paul Turner, manager of Maury County Regional Airport. There are two runways including a 6,000-foot runway that has the capacity to land DC-9 jets as well as private planes. One of Vanderbilts Lifeflight helicopters is also based here. In 2011, the airport installed self-service fuel pumps for pilots who use the facility after hours, and a renovation to hangars is currently taking place. Once the renovations are complete and the hangars are full of planes again, we will begin construction on even more hangars, Turner says. We also recently remodeled our

terminal building and have an on-site restaurant that is open to the entire community for lunch each day.
ROAD TO SUCCESS Maury Countys central location and its logistical highway advantages have helped several local businesses successfully grow their distribution networks. For example, Home Depot operates a large distribution center in Columbia where trucks have easy access to U.S. Highway 31 and Interstate 65, while Porter-Walker LLC has utilized its ideal Maury County location to help the company become a leading Southeast distributor of industrial tools and safety maintenance supplies. Likewise, Brooks Machine Company Inc. in Columbia machines and fabricates parts and then distributes finished products by trucks to industries throughout the Southeast area. The future for logistics and distribution in Maury County is getting even brighter as the national economy starts to turn around, says Brandom Gengelbach, president of Maury Alliance. For example, Columbia being located at I-65 is making wholesale warehousing a big aspect of businesses we are looking to attract.

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Plus, Maury County has U.S. Route 412, along with a four-way bypass that offers easy access through Columbia and into Mount Pleasant.
CLOSE TO INTERSTATE 840 Gengelbach adds that just north of Maury County is Interstate 840 that links trucks to the highly traveled Interstate 40. Maury Countys easy access to I-840 gives our community another distribution advantage, he says. I-840 eastbound offers trucking access to east Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia, and the westbound portion of I-840 is currently completing construction and will open in 2012. That

will provide ideal routes to Memphis, Arkansas and Texas.

WELL ON TRACK Gengelbach adds that Maury County is 30 miles south of Nashville and only a 40-minute drive to Nashville International Airport and the Port of Nashville on the Cumberland River. I-65 makes us well connected between the major commerce cities of Nashville and Huntsville, he says. Our community also has a good rail system in place with CSX Transportation and the Tennessee Southern Railroad. The rail lines connect our county with several parts of Middle Tennessee and North Alabama.

Maury County Regional Airport in Mt. Pleasant accommodates both corporate passengers and freight.
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Health

Medical Milestones
Maury Regional ranked among the nations top hospitals
Story by Melanie Hill Photography by Jeff Adkins

orld-class health care is at home in Maury County. The countys flagship hospital, Maury Regional Medical Center, has repeatedly been recognized for excellence in medicine and patient care.
THE NATIONS BEST In 2011, the Columbia, Tenn., hospital was named one of the Top 10 Health Systems in the Nation by Thomson Reuters. This award is reflective of the commitment of our physicians, employees and volunteers who are dedicated to using methods proven to result in better outcomes for our patients, says Robert Otwell, chief executive officer at Maury Regional Medical Center. The second-largest employer in the region, MRMC was also selected as a top 50 health system by Modern Healthcare in 2009. Other accolades include being one of only 23 hospitals in the nation to receive the 2009 Premier Award for Quality and being recognized as a 2009 Excellence Award winner by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence. The largest hospital between Nashville, Tenn., and Huntsville, Ala., Maury Regional provides top-notch specialty care through accredited heart, cancer, neurological and orthopedic centers. Along with a surgery center and neonatal intensive care unit, the hospital features a brandnew outpatient pavilion near its main campus and is working on renovating most of its patient rooms. OWN THE BONE For its leadership in bone health and fragility fracture prevention, Maury Regional was named one of Americas Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report in 2010. MRMC

Right: Dr. Michael Sattasiri uses advanced image-guided radiotherapy to treat patients at Maury Regionals Cancer Center in Columbia.

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I M A G E S M A U R Y. C O M

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was the first hospital in Tennessee to implement Own the Bone, an American Osteopathic Association program that identifies patients for osteoporosis and reduces the risk of fragility-related fractures. Orthopaedic surgeon Jeff Adams, M.D., of Columbias Mid-Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic, led efforts to institute the program at MRMC. Its important to us to identify individuals at risk for future fractures, Adams says. We can then schedule them for a bone density scan to determine the extent of the disease, prescribe calcium and osteoporosis medications, and provide nutritional consultations. Our goal is to prevent future fractures and ensure a better quality of life for our patients.
SPECIALIZED CARE Maury Regional is quick to embrace technology and innovative treatment tools. At the hospitals Cancer Center, patients receive advanced image-guided radiotherapy through the new Trilogy linear accelerator and imaging system, which delivers a wide range of ultra-precise treatments with great speed. This state-of-the-art system makes it possible for us to treat patients with the most advanced radiotherapy

techniques, using the most clinically efficient processes in the world, says radiation oncologist Michael Sattasiri, M.D. It provides us with more versatility and precision than weve ever had, for customizing treatments according to the specifics of each patients case. Cardiac services at MRMC include interventional procedures, electrophysiology, pulmonary and critical care services, and cardiothoracic surgery through a partnership with Nashville-based Vanderbilt Heart. In 2011, the hospital became the second in Middle Tennessee to utilize a new pacemaker that allows patients to safely undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. And in the new outpatient pavilion, MRMCs Womens Center offers digital technology that allows for a higher quality of images, along with a minimally invasive breast biopsy system. The physicians and staff at Maury Regional Medical Center are committed to providing outstanding care and staying on top of current technology, Otwell says. We have been compared to some of the most respected medical centers in the country and have received recognition for the quality of care that we provide. We all want the very best of care for those we hold dear and that is what we strive to provide to every patient, every day.

Maury Regional obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Bryan R. Kurtz ranked among the Best Doctors in America in 2010 by Best Doctors Inc.

MID-TENNESSEE BONE & JOINT CLINIC

The Mid-Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic in Columbia, Tenn., is an eight-physician orthopaedic/physical medicine and rehabilitation practice providing care for southern Middle Tennessee since 1975. The clinic offers treatment for sports fractures, joint replacements and back, hip, hand and foot disorders. Mid-Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic 1050 N. James Campbell Blvd. Ste. 200 Columbia, TN 38401 (931) 381-2663
www.mtbj.net

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MAURY COUNTY

At the Top of Their Game

MAURY REGIONAL DOCTORS EARN NATIONAL ACCOLADES
Wonder where the best doctors in the country are? Two of them work in Maury County. Dr. Rufus R. Clifford and Dr. Bryan R. Kurtz both practice medicine at Maury Regional Medical Center and were named in 2010 as two of the Best Doctors in America by Best Doctors Inc. The Boston-based organization was founded in 1989 by physicians affiliated with the Harvard Medical School to provide expert medical consultation services, and has conducted an annual Best Doctors survey since 1992. The Best Doctors in America database includes the names and professional profiles of doctors who are chosen through a comprehensive peer-review survey of tens of thousands of physicians. The physicians are specifically asked, If you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty, to whom would you refer them? Only 5 percent of physicians in more than 40 medical subspecialties are selected for each Best Doctors list, which comes out every two years. Dr. Clifford is a pediatrician at Maury Regional and has been practicing in Columbia since the mid1960s. He received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis and then completed his residency at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Dr. Kurtz is an obstetrician and gynecologist who has been associated with Maury Regional for nearly nine years. He received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis and completed his residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He received fellowship training in endoscopic surgery at Centennial Medical Center. Kevin Litwin

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Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon

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Education

Standing the Test

Columbia State has been education leader for more than four decades
Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Jeff Adkins

t all started in 1967 when thenUnited States President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife, Claudia Lady Bird, flew to Columbia to attend the opening of Columbia State Community College. Today, the first community college in Tennessee history serves nine counties at five campuses in south central Tennessee, offering day, evening and online classes. CSCC is accredited by the same Southern Association of Colleges and Schools that accredits universities such as Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Belmont, Lipscomb and Middle Tennessee State. Students can complete their first two years of college at a much lower price at Columbia State compared to most universities, says Paul Hickey, director of public relations at the college. They can take the exact same core classes here that they can at any four-year school. Tuition at Columbia State is $118 per semester hour for in-state students, and the school awards more

than $10 million in financial aid each year. Enrollment is close to 4,500 and there are 250 faculty members. Every professor at Columbia State is required to have a masters degree, and 85 percent of our faculty and staff hold even more advanced degrees, Hickey says.
PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESS, INDUSTRY The college offers 50 degree programs and is especially well known for its nursing and elementary education curriculums. CSCC also partners with area businesses to provide training and continuing education for employees. Acknowledging the growing solar sector in Tennessee, CSCCs Center for Economic and Workforce Development now offers online sustainability courses for students interested in careers in green construction and the production of biofuels, clean energy and solar power. Specific programs include biofuel

Students enjoy class outside at Columbia State Community College, Tennessees oldest community college.
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BY THE NUMBERS: COLUMBIA STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

5
Campuses throughout south central Tennessee

44 50

Number of years CSCC has been in existence

Degree programs offered

$10M

Amount of financial aid the school awards to students each year

85%

Percentage of faculty who hold advanced degrees

Visitors browse a community art exhibit at the Pryor Art Gallery at Columbia State Community College.

production operations, principles of green buildings, certified indoor air quality manager, natural gas plant operations and a solar power professional program, Hickey says.
PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH At the same time, Columbia State has also launched an extensive effort to make its own sustainability improvements across the main campus in Columbia as well as four satellite facilities. The focus is on improving building operating efficiency with lighting control upgrades, water conservation improvements, and heating and air conditioning advancements. This initiative helps Columbia State reduce costs and reduce our carbon footprint,

says Dr. Janet F. Smith, CSCC president. CSCC officials estimate that the annual savings from the efficiency measures will approach $200,000 annually, which is more than a 30 percent savings on the colleges current utility and maintenance costs. Those savings are equivalent to powering 85 homes, planting 1,000 acres of trees and removing 740 cars from the road. In addition, the school has purchased hybrid and electric vehicles to replace older gas-powered vehicles driven by security and maintenance staff, Hickey says. And automatically at night, all PCs in the colleges computer labs are powered down and then rebooted in the morning so they are ready for student use.

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Schools of Thought
MAURY COUNTYS THREE MAIN HIGH SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO IMPRESS
A total of 20 schools make up Maury County Public Schools 10 elementary, three middle, three unit schools (K-12), one alternative and three high schools. The three main cities in the county are Columbia, Mount Pleasant and Spring Hill, and each has its own successful high school. Heres a look at recent achievements from all three schools. the achievements of students once they graduate, and a variety of colleges are represented in the display. Tennessee. The program is led by manufacturing/Project Lead the Way teacher Ben White, and the mission is to prepare students to be leaders in STEM science, technology, engineering and math. SHHS also has a rigorous Advanced Placement biology class, and Spring Hill High has an overall 86.5 percent graduation rate. Carolyn Jones

SPRING HILL HIGH SCHOOL

Spring Hill High has the only Project Lead the Way program in the Maury County Public Schools system, with the program recognized by the state of

COLUMBIA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Columbia Central High School has 145 classes, 50 student clubs, a growing roster of Advanced Placement courses and award-winning academic teams. The school also offers instruction for more than a dozen career and technical areas. Programs include a mass communication course that was started by broadcast journalism teacher Dan Bell. Students in Bells classes produce Pride TV, an award-winning television broadcast featuring stories about people and events at the school and in the community. The schools athletic program is stellar. Columbia Central Lions are the current 5A Tennessee state football champs.

MT. PLEASANT HIGH SCHOOL

Two innovative projects recently occurred at Mt. Pleasant High School. First, freshman class members had individual portraits taken in a graduation cap and gown. This is part of their commitment to graduate as seniors in 2014, and the portraits are displayed in the school as a picture of future success for these students. Second, graduates of MPHS have created and designed college pennants that hang in the foyer. The Ask me about my college pennants are a way to highlight

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Livability

Great Escapes
Outdoor adventures abound in Maury County
Story by Kevin Litwin

STAFF PHOTO

rom hiking, biking and caving to golf, tennis and hunting, Maury County offers a trove of adventure and escape for outdoor lovers. There is easy access to the Duck River, which is home to 100 species of fish. There is also Southport Saltpeter Cave in Culleoka one of the largest caves in Tennessee for spelunking as well as Stillhouse Hollow Falls, a cascading 75-foot waterfall hidden in a thickly wooded area of Mt. Pleasant. Maury County is home to some of the most scenic hiking areas in the state, including a stretch of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Fishing enthusiasts can choose from four lakes in Williamsport that are managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

One of the lakes is Whippoorwill, which is specifically designated as a youth fishing lake. Also in Maury County are five beautiful parks that we manage Chickasaw Trace, Hampshire, Jerry Erwin, Williams Spring and Maury County parks, says Al Ray, director of Maury County Parks and Recreation. Maury County Park itself spans 242 acres in Columbia and one of its central features is Kids Kingdom, a playground that attracts 600,000 to 800,000 people annually. And at Chickasaw Trace Park, there is an 8-mile mountain bike trail that is maintained by the county along with Columbia Cycling Club, which hosts a lot of events there. In all, the five parks total 525 acres with many trails and much greenspace

situated throughout the massive landscapes. In Columbia, a new 78-acre sports park, Ridley Park, is expected to draw a multitude of regional tournaments with its 12 multipurpose athletic fields for softball, baseball, football and soccer.
THE CLUB SCENE Golf courses in Maury County are as nice as a 100-yard chip shot sailing directly into the cup. Columbia is lucky enough to have two venues the private-membership Graymere Country Club and the public 18-hole Stoneybrook Golf Course. Mt. Pleasant is home to the semi-private Mt. Pleasant Country Club, and Spring Hill features the semi-private Kings Creek Golf Club designed by PGA champion Arnold Palmer.

Stillhouse Hollow Falls, located 21 miles southwest of Columbia on U.S. 43, is one of several must-see natural landmarks in Maury County.
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Palmer was on hand to formally open the Spring Hill course in June 2006, and drove the ceremonial first ball about 275 yards off the first tee to the delight of throngs of admirers in attendance. Kings Creek has three natural creeks and has actually been designated an Audubon sanctuary, says Brenda Pierce, executive director of the Maury County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT Maury County is also home to several public tennis courts, including more than a half dozen at Columbia State Community College. Other opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts include canoeing, bicycling and hunting. Maury County Gun Club has a skeet shooting range that is getting more popular all the time, and anyone who likes horseback riding can do so at Fiddlers Green and at

the Yanahli Wildlife Management Area, Pierce says. As for hunting, it is a truly excellent experience thanks to Maury Countys large agricultural base along with its abundant ponds, lakes and rivers. In fact, the Williamsport Lake Wildlife Management Area features 1,800 acres of hunting land that is open to the public, and the Tennessee Valley Authority also opens large tracts of land for public hunting.

The semi-private Kings Creek Golf Club in Spring Hill was designed by PGA champion Arnold Palmer.

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PHOTOS BY JEFF ADKINS

Small-Town Attraction
HOSPITALITY, AFFORDABILITY DRAWS HOME BUYERS TO MAURY COUNTY
With its friendly charm, abundant land and low cost of living, residential growth is on the rise throughout Maury County, especially in the cities of Columbia and Spring Hill. From retirees to growing families, the area attracts those who may want the option of living near a big city, but also crave the advantages of a small town, such as tightknit communities, walkable neighborhoods and more. Located 30 miles from Nashville, the city of Spring Hill, which was recently named one of the fastest growing communities in the nation by BusinessWeek, provides a smalltown feel with big-city amenities. Spring Hills expansive farmland and historic homes offer a pleasant contrast to the busy shopping centers and recreational activities like The Crossings of Spring Hill shopping center or the Kings Creek Golf Club. Another quickly expanding city in Maury County is Columbia. Columbia residents also enjoy a communitycentered atmosphere. Outdoor activities are abundant with the Maury County Park spanning 242 acres of the city. Community events like Mule Day bring the town together and attract visitors from across the country to enjoy the pleasures of a small town. The cost is a major plus to living in Maury County. Homes are just so much cheaper here than in Williamson County, says Cyril Evers of Evers & Jones Realty Co. in Columbia. Buyers can get more home for the money. Home prices begin around $135,000 and can go up to $400,000 with huge homes on large areas of land. Carolyn Jones

Maury County Public Schools

501 West 8th St. Columbia, TN 38401 (931) 388-8403 Find us on

Funeral Directors

Maury Countys Oldest Continuing Business Serving with Dignity and Consideration Since 1856

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advertisers
Ascend Federal Credit Union www.ascendfcu.org Becky Thomas Re/Max Elite www.yourtnhomes.com BMC Metalworks LLC www.bmcmetalworksllc.com Bostelman Enterprises Christys 6th Street Restaurant www.heavenlycreationstn.com City of Mount Pleasant www.mtpleasant-tn.com City of Spring Hill, Tennessee www.springhilltn.org Columbia Hampton Inn www.hampton.com Columbia Machine Works www.columbiamachineworks.com Columbia Power & Water Systems www.cpws.com Columbia State Community College www.columbiastate.edu/visions Community First Bank & Trust www.cfbk.com Complete Forms Supply Co. LLC www.completeformssupply.com CYTEC Industries Inc. www.cytec.com Duck River Electric Membership Corporation www.dremc.com Farmers Service www.fbtaxservice.com First Farmers www.myfirstfarmers.com Haulers Insurance Company Inc. www.haulersinsurance.com Kraft CPAs www.kraftcpas.com Life Care Center of Columbia www.lcca.com Main Street Columbia, Tennessee www.columbiamainstreet.com Maury County Public Schools www.mauryk12.org Maury Regional Hospital Maury Regional Medical Center www.mauryregional.com Mount Pleasant Power System www.mountpleasantpower.com Oakes & Nichols Inc. www.oakesandnichols.com Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors www.oakesandnichols.com Redman-Davis Insurance www.redmandavis.com Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation www.facebook.com/pages/ Tennessee-Farm-Bureau-Federation/143287010098 Tennessee Livestock Producers www.tennesseelivestockproducers.com Universal Screen www.univscreen.com Vanderbilt Medical Center Williamson www.vanderbilthealth.com/williamson Westbury House on the Square www.westburyhouseonthesquare.com

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MAURY COUNTY

ECONOMIC PROFILE
BUSINESS CLIMATE
Maury County has a diverse economic climate, with a mix of large companies and about 600 small businesses. The Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance is dedicated to helping existing businesses thrive while bringing new businesses to the community. Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development 312 Rosa Parks Ave., 11th Floor Nashville, TN 37243 (615) 741-1888 www.tennessee.gov/ecd

LARGEST EMPLOYERS
Maury Regional Medical Center 2,100 employees Maury County Public Schools 1,609 employees TN Farm Bureau & Affiliates 700 employees Maury County 477 employees Wal-Mart 400 employees City of Columbia 385 employees First Farmers & Merchants Bank 290 employees Super Target 285 employees Columbia State Community College 250 employees NHC Healthcare 293 employees The Kings Daughters School 173 employees

Tennessee Aluminum 142 employees Cytec Industries 138 employees Lowes Home Improvement 130 employees Interco Print LLC 115 employees
Source: www.mauryalliance.com

TRANSPORTATION
Maury Regional Airport 1200 N. Main St. Mt. Pleasant, TN 38474 (931) 379-5511 www.maurywebpages.com/ airport.htm

RESOURCES
Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance 106 W. 6th Street, P.O. Box 1076 Columbia, TN 38402 (931) 388-2155 info@mauryalliance.com www.mauryalliance.com The Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance serves as both a chamber of commerce and an economic development initiative for the county.

EDUCATION

27%
Associate Degree

15%
Bachelors Degree

Whats Online
For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on Maury County, go to imagesmaury.com and click on Demographics.

8%
Graduate Degree
Source: Onboard Informatics

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

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410 W. Seventh St. Columbia, TN (931) 388-5387

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INSURANCE

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Through the Lens

Get the Story Behind the Photo

Now that youve experienced Maury County through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit imagesmaury.com to view our exclusive photographers blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.
FROM OUR PHOTO BLOG: MAURY COUNTY
Sometimes photographing a restaurant before it opens its doors for business is challenging. I arrived at Mt. Pleasant Grille about a week before its grand opening, so there was no food to shoot. Parts of the restaurant were still under construction, and there were no customers yet. But the interior of the restaurant was really visually interesting with the repeating patterns on the floor, the bar stools and the booths. The photo happened when the chef walked through the frame to unlock the front door for a delivery.
POSTED BY JEFF ADKINS

More Online

See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at imagesmaury.com.

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MAURY COUNTY

UNIVERSAL SCREEN
Building a Safer Workplace and Community, One Test at a Time
DOT TESTING NON-DOT DRUG TESTING DOT & HEALTH PHYSICALS CPR TRAINING DNA TESTING BACKGROUND SCREENING 2500 Cayer Ln. Ste. C Columbia, TN 38401 (931) 489-0045 (877) 627-0045 www.univscreen.com

City of Mt. Pleasant, tn

stephen Huffer, P.e., City Manager City Hall 100 Public sq. P.o. Box 426 Mt. Pleasant, tn 38474 (931) 379-7717 t (931) 379-5418 f email: shuffer@mtpleasant-tn.com www.mtpleasant-tn.com

We Love Having You Here

Mount Pleasant Power System

We Light Up Your World
123 N. Main St. P.O. Box 186 Mt. Pleasant, TN 38474-0186 (931) 379-3233 Fax (931) 379-9223

Clean & Fresh Hampton Bed Free Hot Breakfast Free High-Speed Internet Access I-65, Exit 46 Columbia, TN 931-540-1222 www.columbia.hamptoninn.com

www.mountpleasantpower.com

Supporting the Community for Over 50 Years

1101 new hwy. 7 P.O. BOx 270 COlumBia, Tn 38402-0270 (931) 381-5406

Cytec Industries Inc. Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee

TOll-free: (800) 346-6071

www.haulersinsurance.com

I M A G E S M A U R Y. C O M

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