Pointing at the need to bolster distressed West Tennessee counties, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean is pledging to complete the Memphis Regional Megasite and appoint an adviser to oversee the project.

2. Develey Mustard Opens Dyersburg Plant - Saturday, August 18, 2018

A Germany company has opened its first plant in North America in Dyersburg.

Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development commissioner Bob Rolfe attended the grand opening of Develey Mustard & Condiments’ new facility last week. The new West Tennessee plant will employ 150.

3. Develey Mustard Opens Dyersburg Plant - Wednesday, August 15, 2018

A Germany company has opened its first plant in North America in Dyersburg.

Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development commissioner Bob Rolfe attended the grand opening of Develey Mustard & Condiments’ new facility last week. The new West Tennessee plant will employ 150.

4. ABB Expanding Facility, Adding Jobs in Athens - Tuesday, August 7, 2018

ABB, a global industrial technology company that acquired Memphis-based Thomas & Betts Corp. in 2012, will expand its operations in Athens, creating up to 70 new jobs in McMinn County, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced Monday, Aug. 6.

5. EMS Ready To Double Footprint In Bartlett - Friday, June 1, 2018

After holding on to an adjacent parcel of land for more than a decade next to its facility in Bartlett, medical device manufacturer Engineered Medical Systems LLC is gearing up for a major expansion of its facility. The company is investing $10.5 million in a move that will create 40 new jobs.

6. Medical Device Maker Investing $10.5M in Bartlett Expansion - Friday, May 18, 2018

A Bartlett-based medical device manufacturer is expanding with a $10.5 million investment that will create 40 jobs.

Engineered Medical Systems LLC plans to add 57,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space to its existing 47,500-square-foot facility at 3325 Appling Road, where it makes surgical instruments, implants and other specialty medical devices.

7. Tennessee OKs $20M in Incentives for Tyson Foods Facility - Friday, May 18, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tyson Foods Inc. will receive a state economic incentives package worth $20 million to build a new chicken production complex in Tennessee, a project that's expected to include $322 million in private investment and 1,600 new jobs within five years.

8. 12 Communities Picked for Tennessee Downtowns Program - Tuesday, May 15, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – State officials say 12 communities in Tennessee will participate in a program aimed at revitalizing their downtown commercial districts.

Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe said Friday that the communities will receive a $15,000 grant to complete a commercial improvement project as part of their inclusion in the Tennessee Downtowns program.

9. South Korean Appliance Co. Opening Plant in West Tenn. - Saturday, May 5, 2018

Dong-A Hwa Sung Co, a South Korean maker of home appliance and automotive parts, is opening its first U.S. plant in Martin, Tennessee.

10. South Korean Appliance Co. Opening Plant in West Tenn. - Thursday, May 3, 2018

Dong-A Hwa Sung Co, a South Korean maker of home appliance and automotive parts, is opening its first U.S. plant in Martin, Tennessee.

11. New York Financial Firm Heading to Tennessee With 1,050 Jobs - Thursday, May 3, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Financial firm AllianceBernstein Holding LP is moving its global headquarters from New York to Tennessee, bringing 1,050 jobs and investing more than $70 million in the booming southern city of Nashville.

12. TNECD Touring State For Apprenticeship Opportunities - Friday, March 9, 2018

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development will host an apprenticeship listening tour across the state to discuss the future of apprenticeship in Tennessee.

In Memphis, TNECD will be at Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Macon campus, 5983 Macon Cove, on Monday, March 19, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

13. Olympus Opens Expanded Bartlett Campus - Thursday, March 8, 2018

Medical device manufacturer Olympus celebrated the grand opening of its $12 million expanded Bartlett campus at 2937 Appling Road on Tuesday, March 6. The state-of-the-art facility expands Olympus’ existing R&D and surgical manufacturing building on Appling Road, which has operated in Bartlett since 1984.

14. Tennessee Officials Announce $400K in Agriculture Grants - Wednesday, February 7, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee officials have announced more than $400,000 in grants to help new and expanding agriculture and food businesses, particularly in rural counties.

Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe released award information Monday for the first round of grants through the $1 million Agriculture Enterprise Fund.

15. MEGA HYPE - Saturday, January 27, 2018

In physics the larger an atom is, the more polarizing it can become. The same can be said of real estate development. So it’s not surprising that something referred to as a megasite can incite a range of opinions that are as vast as the site itself.

16. State Dropping Plans to Dump Megasite Wastewater Near Randolph - Wednesday, January 24, 2018

After vocal opposition from residents in and around the community of Randolph, Tennessee, state officials have announced they are withdrawing their current plans for the Memphis Regional Megasite’s 35-mile long wastewater pipeline.

17. Agilent Expanding Distribution in Memphis, Creating More Than 100 Jobs - Monday, December 18, 2017

Agilent Technologies Inc., a life sciences, diagnostics and applied chemicals company, has announced it will be expanding its operations in Memphis, which will result in 117 new jobs.

18. California Chemical Company to Expand in Memphis, Create 100 Jobs - Friday, December 15, 2017

Agilent Technologies, a life sciences, diagnostics and applied chemicals company, has announced it will be expanding its operations in Memphis, which will result in 100 new jobs.

Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Agilent’s expansion will make the Memphis logistics facility the company’s primary American distribution center.

19. Mars Petcare to Expand US Headquarters - Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe have announced that Mars Petcare will expand its U.S. headquarters in Williamson County.

20. Piece by Piece: Construction Projects Flourishing Throughout Mid-South - Saturday, December 9, 2017

With $11 billion spread out among more than 300 active projects in the Memphis area, according to data from brokerage firm Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors, it’s safe to say business in the region is good.

21. Gubernatorial Candidate Bemoans Memphis Megasite Elimination - Monday, November 13, 2017

Diane Black, a Republican candidate for Tennessee governor from Gallatin, used a disappointing economic announcement from Toyota Motor Corp. Thursday to try and win some political points.

22. Last Word: Mega-Site, New Chandler Real Estate Numbers and Grizz Second Unit - Friday, November 10, 2017

When the state’s new commissioner of Economic and Community Development met several months ago with local leaders in Arlington, Bob Rolfe said Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam had made it clear that Rolfe’s primary task between then and when Haslam leaves office at the end of 2018 is to find a tenant for the west Tennessee megasite in Haywood County. Toyota-Mazda executives told the state this week that their $1.6 billion electric car plant to be built in the U.S. and create 4,000 jobs will not be considering the megasite and another un-named prospect has also walked away, according to the state.

23. Packaging Manufacturer Plans Expansion in Chattanooga - Thursday, November 9, 2017

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) – Officials say packaging manufacturer M&M Industries plans to create 110 jobs with a $42 million expansion of its operations in southeast Tennessee.

Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe said Tuesday that M&M will purchase and retrofit a building in Chattanooga and expand its current manufacturing facility in the city.

24. Corker: Not Ruling Out Possible 2020 Run Against Trump - Monday, October 30, 2017

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) — Sen. Bob Corker did not rule out a possible run in 2020 against President Donald Trump when asked by reporters. But he adds he's focused on the next 14 months of his term and isn't thinking that far ahead.

25. Highline Aftermarket Expands Memphis Facility - Saturday, October 21, 2017

Highline Aftermarket, a manufacturer and distributor of automotive chemicals, lubricants, parts, tools and related accessories, is expanding its existing Memphis presence and headquarters in Memphis.

26. U of M Files $33.5M Permit for Land Bridge - Monday, October 23, 2017

570 Houston St. 

Memphis, TN 38111

Permit Amount: $33.5 million

Owner: University of Memphis

Details: The University of Memphis has filed a $33.5 million building permit application with the Office of Construction Code Enforcement to move forward with a parking garage and a long-awaited land bridge over the Southern Avenue railroad track.

27. Highline Aftermarket Expands at Memphis HQ - Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Highline Aftermarket, a manufacturer and distributor of automotive chemicals, lubricants, parts, tools and related accessories, is expanding its existing Memphis presence and headquarters in Memphis.

28. Haslam Headed on Asia Trade Mission as Senate Decision Looms - Thursday, October 5, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam is headed on trade mission to Asia next week to pitch companies in Japan and South Korea about investment opportunities in Tennessee.

The trip comes as Haslam mulls whether to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Bob Corker, a close family friend. Haslam has said he will announce his decision on that race by the end of the week.

29. Tyson Foods to Expand Operations in Union City - Friday, August 18, 2017

State officials say Tyson Foods Inc. plans to expand operations in northwest Tennessee, adding more than 300 jobs in the process.

30. Last Word: Megasite Prospect, Crosstown Opening Plans and New Chandler Numbers - Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Tennessee is pursuing the new $1.6 billion assembly plant Toyota and Mazda announced just last week to turn out 300,000 vehicles a year and there is that regional megasite in nearby Haywood County that isn’t being used. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says he wants to add the joint facility to the state’s auto industry.

31. Thomas and Betts Expanding, Creating 90 New Jobs - Friday, July 14, 2017

New details are emerging surrounding the relocation Thomas & Betts’ headquarters as the manufacturing company has announced that it is expanding its operations in Memphis by consolidating its R&D Functions to a new facility in Memphis, creating 90 new jobs.

32. Tennessee Gov. Haslam Taking Business Recruiting Trip to Europe - Friday, June 23, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam is headed to Europe next week to try to recruit more foreign investment in Tennessee.

Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe plant to visit the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and Germany. They are scheduled to leave on Monday and return June 30.

33. Memory Foam Maker Sinomax Celebrates Opening of First US Plant - Wednesday, June 7, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Memory foam maker Sinomax Group is opening its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Tennessee.

The 500,000-square-foot plant will formally open its doors in the Nashville community of La Vergne on Tuesday. The facility is expected to create 350 jobs.

34. Online Platform Tracks Economic Development Goals - Thursday, May 18, 2017

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development has launched a new online platform that provides the public with information measuring the department’s strategic objectives.

The platform features 40 interactive dashboards that track key performance measures related to TNECD’s long-term strategic plan. The department has set all of these goals for 2025:

35. Last Word: The List and Who Is On It, Lovell's Impact and Fountain Brook Recovers - Monday, February 20, 2017

A list of 81 people who can’t come to City Hall without a police escort includes a lot of names from the last year of protests and marches in the city. And as the week begins, the list is under review by Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings at the request of Mayor Jim Strickland.

36. Haslam Names Rolfe as Commissioner of Economic Development - Monday, February 20, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has named Nashville businessman Bob Rolfe as the new commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.