Competing for Talent: Blount County's Roadmap to Smart Growth

Blount County, situated in Eastern Tennessee close to Knoxville, is home to a robust economy and valuable assets, ranging from significant investment in advanced manufacturing and other industrial sector growth, highly-rated Chamber of Commerce, and workforce development program, to top-quality facilities for tourism, recreation, and quality of life. Following the independent creation of a 5-year plan by the Blount Partnership, JLP+D is providing creative solutions that seek to make Blount County a world-class community of choice for top talent and innovative businesses by identifying ways to leverage existing assets to create new opportunities.

JLP+D is first assessing the relative connectivity of existing assets, as well as how these assets and resources are distributed within the county. Situating Blount County within the regional context enables our team to compare the county’s performance with competitors and peer regions, regarding economics, physical conditions, social conditions, demographics, and equity and inclusion. This analysis reveals gaps, which inform strategic planning goals for the future of Blount County, and highlights the need to develop targeted strategies regarding: Placemaking; Social Infrastructure; Quality Housing Choices; Education; Business and Community Networks; Jobs and Industries. Case studies are compiled based on identified goals, highlighting creative policy, programming, and initiatives nationwide from which to draw best practices that can be applied in the county.

Ultimately JLP+D is recommending a list of action-oriented projects to be considered, ranging from policy tools and place-based interventions to marketing and branding strategies for business and industry attraction. Management and implementation strategies will set out the path for these recommendations to be completed on the ground in the next five years.