Leisure Pools to Open New Manufacturing Facility in Innovation Valley
Knoxville, TN (PRWEB) October 24, 2013 -- Innovation Valley proudly welcomes Texas-based company Leisure Pools to the region. Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty announced on Oct. 23 that the company will be opening a new facility in Knoxville. This facility, which will become the corporate headquarters for Leisure Pools in North America, will be the first for Leisure Pools in Tennessee and will service increased demand along the East Coast. Leisure Pools will invest $6.2 million and create 240 new jobs in Knox County.
“I want to thank Leisure Pools for their significant investment and the valuable jobs this new facility will bring to Knox County and Tennessee,” Haslam said. “Leisure Pools’ decision to open a new facility and make it its North American corporate headquarters underlines Tennessee’s manufacturing strength and reinforces our goal of becoming the No 1. location in the southeast for high quality jobs.”
Leisure Pools is purchasing the former Sea Ray Island Plant located at Forks of the River Industrial Park, which consists of an 80-acre facility with more than 350,000 square feet of space in multiple buildings on site. This facility will enable Leisure Pools to develop the largest and most technologically innovative composite fiberglass swimming-pool manufacturing facility in the world. Leisure Pools also plans to use this location to recruit and train both new and existing dealers.
“This project shows how economic development partnerships can work by the state of Tennessee, the TVA, Knox County and the Knoxville Utilities Board all working together to make it happen,” said Doug Lawyer, vice president of economic development for the Knoxville Chamber. “It’s also a shining example of how workforce expertise can drive location decisions. The Innovation Valley is home to world leading technologies in advanced materials and composites, and our workforce is well versed in these methods also.”
“As a result of continued growth, Leisure Pools undertook a nationwide search to identify a larger manufacturing site to relocate the manufacturing operations and the company’s headquarters,” said David Pain, president of Leisure Pools. “Knoxville was identified as the ideal location for Leisure Pools to relocate due to a highly skilled composite workforce and its excellent geographical location to a large portion of our 250-plus strong dealer network in North America. Another key deciding factor was the excellent support and assistance offered by the state of Tennessee Economic and Community Development team, Knoxville Chamber and Knox County to make this project a reality.”
“Leisure Pools announcing a new manufacturing plant in Knox County is great news,” Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett said. “I’m excited to see that a specialized vacant manufacturing plant in Knox County’s Forks of the River Industrial Park will soon be setting up a new operation, producing great products and providing good paychecks to our neighbors.”
“TVA congratulates Leisure Pools on its decision to locate a new manufacturing facility in Knoxville,’’ said John Bradley, senior vice president of economic development at TVA. “TVA and Knoxville Utilities Board are pleased to be partners on the project team with the state of Tennessee, the Knoxville Chamber, the city of Knoxville and Knox County officials to assist companies like Leisure Pools to invest and add quality jobs for area residents.”
Leisure Pools is set to close on the Knoxville property this year and the company is currently in the hiring process. Continued recruitment for these new positions will take place over the next six months. Leisure Pools is looking to hire people with skills in fiberglass composite manufacturing, transport, accounting, sales, marketing and administration. People interested in applying can email their resumes to chipgame (at) leisurepoolsusa (dot) com.
Leisure Pools currently operates a manufacturing facility in San Antonio, Texas, which supplies products to 250 dealers in the United States and Canada.
About Innovation Valley:
Innovation Valley is the regional economic development initiative centered on a 25-mile Technology Corridor with world-class resources in science, technology, and business. Experience shows that a regional approach to economic development offers the most advantages to businesses planning a corporate relocation or expansion and the communities involved. Visit http://www.knoxvilleoakridge.com for more information.
Jenny Woodbery, Innovation Valley, http://www.knoxvilleoakridge.com, 865-246-2603, [email protected]
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