The 'place' behind Top Workplaces: 6 reasons Knoxville is great for people and business

As Knox News began its process for recognizing the Top Workplaces in East Tennessee, our reporters began thinking about the greater "place" − that is, the community where businesses large and small chose to open up shop for whatever reason.

For some business owners, Knoxville is their hometown, and what better way to give back to the place that raised you than to offer a product or service to your neighbors.

For others, Knoxville most likely popped up on their radar for one of the factors the Knoxville Chamber outlines as great reasons to live and work in Knoxville.

We expanded on the chamber's six pitches to companies considering relocating here.

Here's a deeper look at those reasons and what leaders in each category have to say about what makes the Scruffy City special.

Finances redefined

When newcomers are considering moving to town, the Knoxville Chamber makes this pitch: We have big-city amenities and small-town living. And when it comes to finances, that translates into a cheaper lifestyle compared to some major metro areas.

Knoxville’s cost of living is far below the national average. Hancen Sale, the former government affairs and policy director at East Tennessee Realtors, told Knox News that’s driven by a lack of state income tax, low property taxes, and lower costs for goods and services.

“This makes one’s salary go a lot further than it otherwise would in a higher-cost area,” Sale said.

In the past, lower housing prices were the driving factors in our low cost of living, but above-average home price increases over the past five years have softened that advantage. City officials hope to drive down prices by increasing supply. They're working with developers to add 1,200 to 1,600 new homes or condos per year.

To do it, they're putting six strategies into play: Using tax dollars to support affordable housing, offering tax incentives to spur development, creating a comprehensive plan to address homelessness, preserving affordable apartments through a tax freeze, smart zoning, and redeveloping abandoned properties.

- Allie Feinberg

Entrepreneurship redefined

Are you a painter? A potter? A performing artist? As Etsy's first U.S. "Maker City," Knoxville will support you in the space where art and commerce intersect.

There's a "creative magic" to the city, says Anne Templeton of The Maker City, an organized community of artisans and creatives lead by the Knoxville mayor's appointed Mayor's Maker Council.

Knoxville's monthly First Friday ArtWalk showcases the arts community. Classes at the Knoxville Arts Center or Mighty Mud offer chances for beginner and experienced artists to grow. Frequent maker markets connect collectors with artisans.

The goal for many is a comfortable lifestyle, and groups are there to show the way. The Maker City provides resources to "help makers make an independent living doing what they love."

"We want people to shop local. ... When we support makers, we’re creating a stable economy for Knoxville," Templeton said. When artists succeed, it enhances the city creatively and economically.

"It’s a supportive community, one that looks to collaborate over competition, which makes it a really wonderful space to be in."

- Hayden Dunbar

Adventure redefined

Adventure is out there. Knoxville has plenty of it, and it's really close by.

The city's terrain means outdoor activities are minutes away from the urban core, from hiking to kayaking in a quarry lake to mountain biking in a forest. Having amenities nearby means there's no need to set aside a full day to indulge in your hobby. And that's attractive.

“People want to live in a place where they have fresh air, access to natural settings that reduce stress, and a variety of things to do in the great outdoors,” Visit Knoxville president Kim Bumpas told Knox News in an email. “Knoxville has all of this in abundance!”

The natural beauty is major reason employers and employees choose to come to Knoxville, Bumpas said.

Established sites like the Urban Wilderness , groups like the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club and businesses that cater to those who paddle the Tennessee River are within a stone’s throw from downtown.

The payoff is big when the city uses tax dollars to improve access to Knoxville’s wild side. Public money has been used to enhance the Urban Wilderness, add bathrooms and access points at Augusta Quarry, and establish a Knox County Water Trail on Beaver Creek.

- Keenan Thomas

Future redefined

If the world is ever powered by nuclear fusion, it may have the Knoxville region to thank.

Research partnerships between Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville drive breakthroughs in all areas of science and technology, including harnessing the power of the sun.

“It's a case of three very different institutions with very different skill sets that are in this unique partnership,” said Stephen Streiffer, director of ORNL, the nation’s largest science and tech lab.

The three institutions employ close to 30,000 people, largely with high-paying jobs, ranging from high school graduates to world renowned scientists. They create billions of dollars of economic impact for the state.

TVA, the nation’s largest public utility, provides low commercial and residential electricity rates that attract diverse companies to Knoxville. UT, which helps manage ORNL, provides students and professors to work towards a future with clean and stable energy.

“With talent pipelines like the University of Tennessee, right in Knoxville, there's a ton of new talent coming that we plan to take advantage of,” said Christofer Mowry, CEO of fusion company Type One Energy.

In a project heavy with symbolism, Type One plans to build a fusion prototype at TVA’s retired Bull Run coal plant with support from UT and ORNL.

- Daniel Dassow

Location redefined

Knoxville is an ever-growing city with a charm that attracts tourists. But for those who live here, one of the benefits is its central location to so many other cities within easy driving distance.

Besides Nashville and Atlanta – major cultural and economic hubs that are about three hours away – the Great Smoky Mountains are within eyeshot of downtown. That means spontaneous day trips to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

Chattanooga and Asheville, North Carolina, are the cities Knoxvillians most like to drive to for a visit, Knoxville-based AAA travel agents told Knox News. Biltmore Estate and the breweries in Asheville are especially big draws that are just two hours away.

Knoxvillians can be on an Atlantic Ocean beach in South Carolina within six hours. Disney World is within 10 hours.

And there are cities in all directions that are easily accessible on road trips, thanks to Interstates 40 and 75 intersecting Knoxville. St. Louis, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh are just under 8 hours away.

– Devarrick Turner

Culture and belonging redefined

Belonging and culture are pillars that define Knoxville. In a world where diversity enriches communities, Knoxville stands out because its leaders and change agents embrace residents' backgrounds and stories.

Knoxville has vibrant cultural festivals, community programs and local initiatives that celebrate the unique contributions of every individual.

"Pictures, photographs, and images are incredibly powerful," said Renee Kesler, executive director of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center. "It’s often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Walking into a business and seeing an image that reflects your own likeness fosters a sense of pride and a reassurance of belonging. We all seek assurance that we are in a welcoming and inclusive environment."

Since its founding, Knoxville has been home to exceptional individuals who have played a crucial role in the city's development and progress. The Beck Center is one of many organizations in the city working hard to make sure history is preserved while keeping "belonging" at the heart of its focus when attracting newcomers to the city. The Beck Cultural Corridor, a project that will preserve African American history with markers, monuments and maps to Black history sites throughout the city is an effort to bring awareness to history long forgotten or erased.

"We all seek assurance that we are in a welcoming and inclusive environment. So we strongly believe in highlighting our rich history throughout our city—in restaurants, shopping centers, schools, organizations, companies, and retail establishments," Kesler said. "Beck is honored to help Knoxville create a sense of connection and belonging, attracting new people and professionals to Knoxville while retaining the great people who call this city home."

- Angela Dennis

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: The 'place' behind Top Workplaces: 6 reasons Knoxville is great for people and business