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HELENWOOD, Tenn. — Takahata Precision America, Inc., broke ground Monday on a 50,000 sq. ft. building project that will expand its operations and bring several new jobs to Scott County.
Company officials have not yet said exactly how many new jobs will be created through the expansion, which will bring its plant — located in the Mid-County Industrial Park — to 110,000 sq. ft.
Scott County Mayor Jeff Tibbals, former County Mayor Dwight Murphy, Industrial Development Board Chairman Jim Swann and ID Board Secretary Greg Jeffers were among those joining Takahata officials for the ground-breaking ceremony.
Former U.S. Sen. Howard H. Baker Jr. — who most recently served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan during the administration of President George W. Bush — also took part in the ceremony, as did his wife, former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker.
Takahata Precision America's lone plant in the U.S. has been based in Scott County since it opened in 2002. The president of the corporation's American operations is Nagahisa Tateno. Vice President is Deborah Thompson. Takahata's worldwide operations are headquartered in Japan.
The company specializes in precision moulded automobile products. It currently employs more than 60 workers in Scott County.
Scott County Industrial Development Board vice-chairman John Seale served as an intermediary during discussions of the company's expansion in Scott County.
Mr. Tateno informally announced in March that the company would be expanding its Helenwood operation. Takahata's operations were not negatively impacted by the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan in early spring.
"Takahata's decision to expand here instead of elsewhere is to be commended for allowing the people of Scott County the possibility of employment for such an employee-dedicated company," Mayor Tibbals said at Monday's ground-breaking ceremony. "The high levels of technology used throughout the plant make it a safe and unbelievably clean place to work.
"Takahata's dedication to precision quality production is extremely evident when touring their modern facility," Mayor Tibbals added. "It is most definitely one of the most impressive manufacturing facilities in not only Scott County but the entire region."
Takahata's ground-breaking came just five days after U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., addressed local government and business leaders, saying he felt Scott County was well-positioned to capitalize on a potential increase in automotive suppliers in Tennessee.
"Scott County is at the center of (America's) population, it's located in a 'Right to Work' state, and it has one of the best four-lane highway systems in the country," Sen. Alexander said. "Scott County also has the infrastructure in place (to support manufacturing operations)."
The Takahata expansion is the latest in a string of positive industrial developments for Scott County. In April, Tennier Industries — the county's largest manufacturing employer and a Department of Defense-contracted textiles company — announced that it would be calling more than 200 laid-off workers back to their jobs. More recently, jobs have been added by Huntsville-based trailer manufacturer Great Dane and Oneida-based belting manufacturer JDS Enterprises.
"Takahata's addition is an integral part of Scott County's recovery from the bad economic times that it has faced over the past few years," Mayor Tibbals said. "The Scott County Industrial Development Board has worked diligently with Takahata management to make this day a reality."
Situated between the 125,000-acre Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area and the 145,000-acre North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, Scott County is located in northeast Tennessee. The county seat of Huntsville is a 25-mile drive from Interstate 75 and is a 50-minute drive from Knoxville. For more information about industrial development in Scott County, visit www.scottcoindustry.com.
