Putnam County Commissioners approved the sale of a lot in the Highlands Business Park to an undisclosed company as part of “Project Green.”
The project expected to create 168 new high-paying positions. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the development is a great fit for the community because it involves a company that wants to locate in the area.
“We’ve had a lot of businesses look, we’ve sent them proposals and all those kind of things, but we’re very cautious when it comes to bringing in new businesses,” Porter said. “Number one we want to make sure it’s a company that fits into our environment here in Putnam County, and the other thing is that they’re bringing us good-paying jobs. We don’t need any more $12 and $13 an hour jobs, we want the higher-paying jobs and this company fit both bills there.”
Porter will execute a purchase agreement with The Hollingsworth Company. Porter said the identity of the company is currently being protected under a project name to prevent competitors from learning about their relocation plans during the building process.
Porter said he believes higher wages will help residents of all ages amidst soaring costs of living.
“I think the affordability issue that people talk about, not being able to afford a new home or afford rent in different things, the way that we help solve that is by bringing in higher-paying jobs,” Porter said. “If you’re getting more money in your pocket each week or month coming from your job, it increases the amount that you’ll have to be able to spend on a house or some other amenities that you’re wanting.”
Porter said increasing personal income is one of the primary ways the county can help address affordability issues for residents. Porter said he is confident most of these jobs will go to workers within the Upper Cumberland.
“Well, I hope they do, you can’t guarantee who they’re going to hire and who they’re not going to hire,” Porter said. “But we’ve got a wealth of people coming out of the trade school, welders, we got engineering coming out of Tennessee Tech graduates, so we’re hoping that those folks that are already here will step up and take these higher-paying jobs, but it may wind up being surrounding county folks that take the jobs, it just depends on who the company hires.”
Porter said the existing infrastructure in the business park is suitable to support the needs of this project.
