The Williamson County Office of Economic Development coordinates the development of Williamson County's economy through partnerships with the public and private sectors. It markets the county to attract new businesses and help existing businesses grow. In 2010, the office helped facilitate over 2,000 new jobs through business expansions and relocations, including Jackson National Life Insurance's relocation of 750 jobs to Franklin. The office also works to cultivate entrepreneurship in the county.
3. Who were are
The Williamson County Office of Economic Development is the single point of contact for
the coordination and facilitation of the continued development of the economy of
Williamson County and its six municipalities.
What we do
The purpose of the Office is to grow the county’s economy and improve the quality of life
of its residents by partnering with the public and private sector to encourage job and
wealth creation.
How we do it
The Office markets and positions the community as an attractive investment location to a
local, national and international audience, focusing on three key areas:
• Growing existing business
• Recruiting new business
• Nurturing a culture of entrepreneurship
4. Workforce Activity
Relos and expansions in 2010
Business Activity
January 2010 – Present
Number Type of Operation
Date of City of Expansion or of New Square
Activity Company Name Location Relocation Jobs footage
3/16/2010 Renal Advantage Franklin Expansion 0 54,000 HQ
Corporate Office
Principal Financial
4/12/2010 Group Brentwood Relocation 50 9,000
Jackson National Life Regional HQ
5/25/2010 Insurance Company Franklin Relocation 750 155,000
6/23/2010 Advanced BioHealing Brentwood Expansion 10 5,500 Life Sciences R&D
8/17/2010 Comdata Brentwood Expansion 120 0 HQ
8/27/2010 IRS Franklin Relocation 736 115,885 Government
BioMimetic HQ, Health Care, R&D,
10/1/2010 Therapeutics Franklin Expansion 75 90,000 Manufacturing
HQ
10/11/2010 MedSolutions Franklin Expansion 100 19,000
HQ, Manufacturing
2010 TS3 Franklin Expansion 80 0
HQ
10/14/2010 OHL Brentwood Expansion 250 37,000
TOTAL 2,171 485,385
5. How Do We Compare?
Unemployment rates in the U.S.
6. Jackson National Announcement
Celebrating Williamson County
"There wasn’t a soul in
our internal decision- Press conference and announcement
making process that of Jackson National Life Insurance’s
didn’t think Nashville regional HQ in Franklin which will add
was the right place to 750 new jobs over the next 3 years
come to“
– Mike Wells, COO
10. Marketing
Celebrating Entrepreneurship
Ad on back of Williamson
County CVB booklet in 2010 and
2011
11. Marketing
Capturing the attention of Site Consultants
Tractor Supply Company Jackson National Life Insurance
12. Marketing
Updated maps to reflect marketing strategy
Updated maps to reflect
marketing strategy
13. Marketing
Celebrating Williamson County
Williamson 101
Informational brochure about the
county
14. Marketing
Celebrating Williamson County
Prospect Binder
15. Marketing
Quarterly Newsletters
Email to 700, tweet to 742
16. Filling a Workforce Need
Promote IT programs and careers in schools
CURRENT # STUDENTS FOR 2010-2011 165
GOAL FOR 2011-2012 330
High School IT Enrollment Initiative
target 8th grade students who
show an aptitude for information
technology to enroll in the
Information Technology
Foundations classes
STEP 1, NOV 2010
Williamson County Career Fair
Entice kids to visit the IT booths
and become interested in
careers in IT
17. New Rankings
Williamson County Credentials
Tennessee's most business-
* friendly cities
Brentwood (3rd), Spring Hill
(4th), Franklin (5th) - The
Tennessee Center for Policy
Research (2010)
Where the Jobs Are (25 counties with
* highest job growth in past 9 years) One of the Best Cities for Startups
Williamson County (20th) - Money Magazine
* Franklin (8th)
(2010) ZoomProspector.com and Bloomberg
Businessweek (2010)
Best Places to Live
* Franklin (66th) - Money Magazine (2010) 1st in Personal and Family Well-Being
* Williamson County ranks #1 in TN scoring a perfect
5 Local Schools On the Top High Schools in 10
* America List - Tennessee Advisory Commission on
Brentwood (213), Ravenwood (469), Franklin Intergovernmental Relations (2010)
(1,003), Fairview (1,492), Centennial (1,605) -
Newsweek (2010)
* Healthiest County in Tennessee
- National County Health Rankings, University of
America's Richest Counties Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute and Robert
* Williamson County (17th) Wood Johnson Foundation (2010)
(Median Income: $88,316) - Forbes (2010)
20. Demographics
New #’s released fall 2010
All demographics broken into cities on
www.WilliamsonProspers.com in the Data Center
21. Economic Diversity
Closely mirrors US economy
1. Promote education
Marketing Focus
IT Enrollment Initiative
2. Continue to improve regional and sub-regional cooperation
Rotating Council Meetings
Nashville Health Care Council, Nashville Tech Council, P2010
3. Strong existing business program
Case Study
Room for Improvement
4. Recruit targeted business sectors (HQ, Health Care, IT, Energy Technology)
Marketing directed at prospects and consultants
Partnerships at ECD and Nashville Chamber
Tennessee Economic Partnership Board Seat
5. Sell economic development vision to all communities
Continuous Process
22. Who is growing jobs?
2009 Population Estimates Net Job Change in the Nashville Area
2004 to 2009
21,899
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Workforce Study, Aug 2010