Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

10/30/2026

The Third Saturday in October brought the noise. 🔊 🙌

During the Tennessee Football vs. Alabama game, Neyland Stadium reached a record-shattering 130.3 decibels, the loudest scientifically verified crowd noise in college football.

Tennessee knows how to turn up the volume. That’s what .

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

10/29/2026

We brought home not one, but two 2026 International Economic Development Council Excellence in Economic Development Awards this week! 🏆

🥇 Gold | Disaster Recovery Initiative
Our first-of-its-kind initiative helped impacted employers preserve more than 530 jobs and invest nearly $70 million in new capital across Unicoi and Cocke counties after Hurricane Helene.

🥈 Silver | Experience High Volume Website
Our redesigned website brings Tennessee’s Experience High Volume brand to life while showcasing our state as a premier destination for business, talent and innovation. We’re grateful to our agency partner, MP+F, for helping bring the vision to life.

TNECD's Web Administrator Riley Sandborg and Multimedia Production Lead Levi Gibson accepted the awards in New Orleans, Louisiana, on behalf of the department.

We’re proud to see Tennessee recognized on the national stage. 🙌

10/29/2026

MAT Industries Jackson is expanding again!

The company first announced an expansion at its Madison County facility in June 2025, creating 30 new jobs and investing $9 million.

Today’s announcement marks the next phase of that ongoing growth, with MAT Industries committing to create an additional 85 jobs, bringing even more opportunity to the Jackson community. 👏

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Deputy Governor and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter today announced MAT Industries will expand its manufacturing operations in Madison County. In June 2025, MAT Industries announced it would expand at ...

10/29/2026

Rally US will bring the FIA World Rally Championship back to the United States for the first time since 1988, with Knoxville serving as host city and a ceremonial start on Nashville’s Lower Broadway. 🎉

“Rally US is more than a major international sporting event; it is a powerful economic development driver for Tennessee. It gives us an opportunity to showcase the people, places and industries that make our state competitive while bringing visitors and business executives to towns and cities along the route. While here, they will see the strength of our workforce, the beauty of our state and the hospitality that defines Tennessee. We look forward to showing the world why Tennessee is a great place to live, work, play and invest.” - Deputy Governor/TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter

🔗 Learn more: https://www.wrcrallyus.com/copy-of-press-release-oct-8-2026

WRC - FIA World Rally Championship

Knoxville named Host City, with a ceremonial start on Nashville’s Broadway and competition stages from the Appalachian Mountains to the Cumberland Plateau, August 26–29, 2027

10/28/2026

Dolly Parton’s unmistakable Tennessee spirit brought a special moment to the Southeast U.S.-Japan (SEUS) Annual Joint Meeting in Nashville. ✨

In a video recorded shortly before her passing, Dolly welcomed Japanese political and business leaders and celebrated the longstanding friendship and economic partnership between Japan and the Southeast U.S.

The meeting marked nearly 50 years of collaboration between Japan and the Southeast, including a partnership that has made Japan Tennessee’s #1 FDI partner, with 200+ companies supporting over 60,000 Tennesseans. 🤝 🇯🇵

🔗 Watch the video: https://www.wsmv.com/2026/10/28/dolly-parton-video-airs-seus-japan-meeting-nashville/

Japan-America Society of Tennessee, Inc.

A video recorded by Dolly Parton days before her death was shown to hundreds of Japanese political and business leaders at the Southeast U.S.-Japan (SEUS) Annual Joint Meeting in Nashville.

10/28/2026

"From aerospace and advanced manufacturing to nuclear energy and quantum technologies, Tennessee has built an ecosystem that uniquely positions our state to support this mission. Pursuing the U.S. Space Academy is about more than attracting a historic investment. It’s about strengthening our innovation economy, creating new opportunities for Tennesseans and helping shape the future of American space exploration for generations to come.” 🚀 - Deputy Governor/TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter

Someone will determine what the future looks like — that should be Tennessee.

We have the location, infrastructure, workforce & spirit of innovation needed for the new United States Space Academy.

Grateful for the leadership of Donald J. Trump & NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and we look forward to helping them bring the vision to life. 🚀

Read more: https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/2026/10/28/gov--lee-announces-tennessee-s-pursuit-of-united-states-space-academy.html

10/28/2026

The latest round of Downtown Improvement Grants will award more than $3.9 million in funding to 14 Tennessee communities.

“Vibrant downtowns do not happen by accident — they are built through local vision, long-term planning and collaboration. These grants will help 14 communities turn that vision into visible progress by revitalizing the places where residents gather, businesses grow and visitors experience what makes each community unique,” said Deputy Gov. and Commissioner McWhorter.

See if your community is a grantee below ⬇️

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Deputy Gov. and Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter announced today the 14 Tennessee Main Street and Tennessee Downtowns communities that are recipients of Downtown Improvement Grants (DIGs). “Ou...

10/28/2026

As we round out our monthlong celebration of , we’re looking back one more time on an unforgettable two days in Chattanooga. ⏪

From meaningful conversations about Tennessee’s future to inspiring speakers, memorable experiences and special surprises, this year’s conference brought together leaders from across the state to connect, celebrate, reflect and look ahead. 🤝

Thank you to everyone who helped make our biggest Governor’s Conference yet. We’re already looking forward to seeing y'all in Nashville for , Oct. 21–22. 😎

10/27/2026

TNECD announced today that 14 Tennessee counties have been selected for housing market analyses to help communities better understand their housing needs and plan for future growth.

Conducted in partnership with Points Consulting, these studies build on similar efforts completed across West Tennessee in preparation for growth surrounding BlueOval City.

See which counties were selected below! ⬇️

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD), in partnership with Points Consulting, today announced 14 counties that will receive a Housing Market Analysis. The counties are Carter, Clay, Cocke, Cumberland, Dickson, Greene, Marshall, Overton, Putnam, S...

10/26/2026

The 48th SEUS/Japan Joint Meeting is underway in Nashville!

Tennessee is proud to host this annual gathering of business and government leaders from Japan and across the Southeast as we strengthen this longstanding economic partnership and explore new opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Former Gov. Bill Haslam is serving as chair alongside Japan co-chairs Yasuhiro Morita and Masaaki Tsuya of Bridgestone.

Japan is Tennessee’s top foreign direct investment partner, with more than 200 Japanese businesses supporting nearly 50,000 jobs and $21 billion in capital investment across the state. We’re excited to build on these relationships and welcome our partners from Japan and across the Southeast to Tennessee.

With an incredible speaker line-up to kick off the conference, here are a few snapshots from day 1 so far!