The Need For Speed

By Kleinheider Posted on November 28, 2008 at 6:02 pm

The turnkey aspect of Chattanooga’s site was the determining factor in bringing Volkswagen to Tennessee:

The key issue was speed. Volkswagen wants the plant to be up and running by the end of 2010.

The Chattanooga site was essentially ready to go in terms of infrastructure. The state and local governments began the process of issuing permits for construction before the decision had even been made, a move that shaved weeks off the schedule. The company’s officials were also pleased to see a clearly bipartisan show of support for the plant. Kisber says that helped them feel that if problems were to arise, there would be a strong team effort to find solutions quickly.

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Tags: Chattanooga, speed, Tennessee, TVA, TVA megasite, Volkswagen  

Crockett, They Passed On The Crockett

By Kleinheider Posted on July 22, 2008 at 7:02 am

Mike Slater wants to know how Chattanooga’s megasite nabbed the Volkswagen plant when the megasite in Crockett County was all ready to go:

The new VW plant in Chattanooga is 1,600 acres. The TVA MegaSite in Crockett County is 1,600 acres. It’s called the West Tennessee Auto Park, designed specifically for…automobile production. The site was built in September of 2005. In December 2007 they somehow lost or didn’t renew their certification. And in July of 2008 a $1 billion plant opened up in a different TVA MegaSite in Chattanooga.

Am I way off base in asking why the TVA MegaSite in Crockett County wasn’t in top consideration for the new VW plant? Congressman Tanner?

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Tags: Chattanooga, Crockett County, megasite, TVA megasite, Volkswagen, VW  

Ripe For A Wamping

By Kleinheider Posted on May 12, 2008 at 7:09 am

Joe Lance argues that Congressman Zack Wamp, having been open about his interest in a Gubernatorial run, should be facing more opposition in reelection that he will be:

In conclusion, it seems that Rep. Wamp will be able to retain his position, as nominally as that may be, as a great launching pad into the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary. It could be that the good citizens of this district wish it to be so; but I’m a little puzzled at their refusal to even pretend to fight him for it.

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Tags: 3rd Congressional District, Chattanooga, Zack Wamp for Governor