Hawkins County's Phipps Bend and beyond sees development boom

Hawkins County is seeing several economic developments this year — the most ongoing projects its ever had at once, Industrial Development Board Chair Patrick Lund said. Rebecca Baker, the board's executive administrative coordinator, said these projects largely come from the state government. Companies tell the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development what they need, and the state connects them with the appropriate counties. The board also learns about interested companies from the Tennessee Valley Authority and word-of-mouth. In the past year, two industries came to Hawkins County. Vulcan Thermal, a heat treatment company, completed its building in Phipps Bend Industrial Park, Baker said. According to the company's website, its 15,000-square-foot facility represents a $5 million investment and around 30 new jobs. The grease cartridge manufacturer Biederman bought the preexisting Elkins Precision Products in Rogersville. This marks the Canadian company's first location in the U.S. Biederman will add 48 jobs to Elkins' 12 positions, investing $4.4 million into the project. Three new companies are looking to establish in Phipps Bend — which is in Surgoinsville — with a fourth company interested. Highland Materials is the $900 million Project Rocks. The state assigns ongoing projects with codenames to protect the company's privacy from competitors; however, Highland Materials CEO Richard Rast has confirmed that his company is Rocks. Highland Materials manufactures polysilicon, which is sold off and eventually used to make solar panels and semiconductors for computers. Lund said, in late February, the company is in the planning and engineering phase for its facility, awaiting a loan from the U.S. Department of Energy. The DOE awarded Highland Materials over $255 million in tax credits for its work in clean energy. Rast told the Times News in September that he expects the facility to be in active construction by the fourth quarter of 2026 and to begin operations in the latter half of 2027. It is expected to create more than 400 jobs. Project Elixir involves a specialty water company, according to previous reporting from the Kingsport Times News. It is expected to create around 50 jobs, although its timeline forward is uncertain. Tenaska, a battery storage systems company, has already bought property in Phipps Bend. Lund said this project is awaiting TVA approval. At an October board meeting, he said it may bring the county $1 million a year, over the next 20 years, in taxes. Baker said another company has expressed interest in Phipps Bend, but no details have been discussed. There are also five existing companies looking to expand in Hawkins County; the first four are in Phipps Bend, while the last is in Rogersville: Project Novo, formerly Campbell and TopCoat — 100 jobs, $12 million investment, awaiting formal announcement by the state Project Choo Choo — 60 jobs, also awaiting formal announcement Project Third, formerly Necklace — 50 jobs, $5 million investment Project Transparent — unknown number of jobs Project Conductor — 40 jobs, $11 million investment "We are very excited about these projects that we have in hand right now," Baker said. "We think most of them will be coming to fruition really soon." With all this growth, Phipps Bend is almost full. There's around 25 to 35 usable acres left in the industrial park, Lund said. Hawkins County will participate in the state's Property Evaluation Program to potentially expand Phipps Bend or find an additional site. The program also makes the county eligible for related funding. TCAT expansion The Tennessee College of Applied Technology's Hawkins campus — also in Phipps Bend — will begin construction on its expansion this year. TCAT President Susie Cox said the project represents a little over $8.8 million in capital investments. Campus Coordinator Charles Johnson said the school's welding classroom space will double in size. He said this is one of the area's most popular programs. Another sought-after program, truck driving, will get its own building. The expansion will also create a flex classroom, renovating the current welding shop. Johnson said the school's new nursing program, expected to begin in 2027, may go there. "The nursing program at TCAT Morristown has done really well over the years, and we look forward to being a part of that," Johnson said. Cox said construction bids for the project have gone out. Once they're processed, construction will begin with a tentative end date in 2027. "It's an exciting time," Cox said. "It's all about the students — making it easier for them to have meaningful careers right where they live."