Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd announced today that E & E Manufacturing of Tennessee, LLC will expand its Athens facility. The automotive components manufacturer will invest $23.5 million and create 123 jobs in McMinn County.
“Tennessee leads the nation in advanced industry job growth and our manufacturing sector is further strengthened when existing companies like E & E Manufacturing choose to expand here,” Haslam said. “We thank E & E for its continued investment in Tennessee and for bringing us one step closer to our goal of making Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”
“Nearly 344,000 Tennesseans work in manufacturing which means almost one out of every eight Tennesseans with a job works in manufacturing,” Boyd said. “I appreciate E & E for continuing to strengthen Team Tennessee by expanding in Athens and for creating these valuable jobs for Tennessee’s manufacturing sector and for McMinn County.”
E & E Manufacturing is a Tier 1 automotive supplier and has been in business for over 50 years. The company manufactures high quality stamped and welded components for many prominent automotive companies.
“We are excited to be expanding our plant in McMinn County,” E & E Manufacturing General Manager Dan Scherle said. “Our location is strategic to our customer base so we’ve been focused on investments in this plant in relation to its increasing demands. Our company team members and our EDA and TNECD partners have created a successful foundation at the Athens facility. We’re looking forward to continued growth and benefits for our community.”
E & E Manufacturing will expand production capabilities at its Athens facility to keep up with the company’s growing demand. This expansion will add 76,000 square feet to the current facility which will create a total space of 285,000 square feet.
Local leaders expressed gratitude to E & E Manufacturing for choosing to expand in McMinn County.
"McMinn County would like to congratulate E & E Manufacturing on its recent expansion. This expansion will have a lasting positive impact on our community," McMinn County Mayor John Gentry said. "McMinn County strives to provide an environment where companies like E & E Manufacturing can flourish. We are proud to have E&E Manufacturing as a corporate citizen and look forward to seeing the incredible things it accomplishes in the future."
Athens and McMinn County are represented by Sen. Mike Bell (R - Riceville) and Rep. John Forgety (R - Athens) in the Tennessee General Assembly.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Team Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: www.TNECD.com. Follow us on Twitter: @TNECD. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TNECD.