Which Way to Grow? How Two Highways Could Reshape Blount County’s Future
Local governments across Blount County are preparing to spend millions of dollars on a highway that may not open for another decade. Supporters say the investment is about more than building the Pellissippi Parkway Extension. Together with the ongoing Alcoa Highway relocation project, they argue the construction will shape where the county grows, improve access […]
The Growth Dilemma: What the Numbers Say About Blount County’s Population Future
The narrative has become as familiar as the gridlock on Alcoa Highway: those Californians are taking over Blount County. It plays well in political ads. It fills Facebook comment sections. It packs city council meetings with residents who describe their community as being overcrowded by outsiders. But a closer look at the data — drawn […]
Gas Prices, Slow Growth Test Blount County Tourism Outlook
Blount County has maintained an annual 5-6% jump in visitor expenditures since the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, that growth may flatten. For Blount County, where visitors generated $610.9 million in direct spending in 2024, that kind of slowdown would typically raise concern. But on the ground, tourism operators are reading the shift differently. Local experts […]
Developers, City Leaders Bet on Downtown Growth
When Maryville completed its Downtown Master Plan in 2024, the research painted a picture of the downtown business landscape. The business mix included mostly restaurants, government services and health care. Businesses in the study area numbered around 280, with 7,400 workers and only a few hundred residents. In other words, Maryville’s downtown was a source […]
Siemens Breaks Ground on Pellissippi Place Manufacturing Facility
Leading German multinational technology conglomerate Siemens AG has begun construction of an 82,000-square-foot medical device research, development and manufacturing facility at Pellissippi Place, according to Jeff Muir, communications director for the Blount Partnership. Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete. Founded in 1847, Siemens employs more than 318,000 people worldwide, but estimates for […]
