April 7, 2021

Midway Business Park Opening Celebration

Callie Blackburn

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Congressman Tim Burchett and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe celebrated the opening of Midway Business Park, 9395 Thorngrove Pike, at a ceremony on Wednesday, April 7.

Click HERE to learn more about the park’s development plan.

See below for more facts about the park.

Developed by: The Development Corporation of Knox County (TDC)

About TDC: TDC is an economic development organization that works for the greater benefit of the citizens of Knox County by endeavoring to facilitate job creation and incentivizing private development in Knox County. A principal role of TDC is to work toward ensuring the availability of quality business park sites within Knox County to aid in the recruitment of new companies and the retention of existing companies that will result in new quality jobs and capital investment. TDC is governed by a 13-member board of directors, including 5 elected officials (Mayor Jacobs, Mayor Kincannon, and 3 Knox County Commissioners) along with 8 directors from the private sector.

Timing: The Midway Business Park project began approximately 15 years ago when the first properties were initially rezoned and acquired. After a series of legal challenges and setbacks, it was in December 2015 that Knox County Commission reapproved the zoning on the property for business park use; this time it was zoned to Employment Center. Once this rezoning occurred in December 2015, it initiated the way for project design and ultimately construction.

Location: Midway Business Park is located along Interstate 40 at the Midway Road interchange (exit 402). This makes it ideal for employee access as well as for the receipt and distribution of raw materials, goods, and services. This business park is approximately 16 miles east of Downtown Knoxville and 27 miles to McGhee Tyson Airport.

Size of Midway Business Park:

Overall Acres – approximately 354 total acres; of which, approximately 275 development acres in phase 1, and another 60 development acres in future phases 2 and 3.

Sites – small and large development sites that can accommodate buildings up to 500,000 sf.

Natural Areas – Approximately 55 acres set aside and preserved as natural areas.

Donation to Adjoining Thorn Grove Cemetery – approx. 7 acres will be donated to this adjoining cemetery for its future expansion.

Utilities: All utilities (electric, water, sanitary sewer, natural gas & telecommunications) are available and installed. Immediately adjacent to Midway Busines Park is a TVA electric switch yard and a KUB substation; these provide a level of electric service and reliability to the business park that is extremely unique within TVA’s service area.

Public Amenities:

Approx. one mile of paved walking trails
0.7 miles of future natural surface trails through the preservation area
3-acre Trailhead Park includes parking area for area residents, green-space, and future pavilion with picnic tables.

Projected Economic Impacts (at full buildout):

Jobs:

approximately 2,100 direct jobs (accounting for $137M in annual wages and benefits)
approximately 2,600 indirect jobs (accounting for $121 in annual wages and benefits)
Total of approximately 4,700 direct and indirect jobs and $258M in annual wages and benefits

Projected Local Tax Revenues Generated from Wages: