Chattanooga, Tennessee

A Chattanooga company's expansion is bringing 400 new jobs to the area. Access America Transport (AAT) was founded in 2002. Right now, the logistics company employs 215 people in Chattanooga, but they plan to add 400 new jobs over the next five years. AAT says their average employee makes 2,000 a year.Leaders on hand for the announcement Monday morning included Commissioner Bill Hagerty with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger, Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield and Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ron Harr.Hagerty said that Access America's story is one that state leaders want to encourage and replicate."Tennessee is truly a global logistics powerhouse, and [Access leaders] have figured out how to harness that," he said.CHATTANOOGA CHAMBER NEWS RELEASETennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty along with Access America Transport officials today announced the company will expand its Chattanooga and Knoxville facilities and create 550 jobs during a five year period -- 450 additional jobs at the Chattanooga facility and 100 additional jobs at the Knoxville facility."I want to congratulate Access America Transport on the expansion of both its Tennessee facilities and the creation of more than 500 new jobs in the Chattanooga and Knoxville areas," Haslam said.  "One of our priorities is focusing on companies and businesses already located in Tennessee with the goal of becoming the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.""Access America Transport is a true Tennessee success story and a prime example of the prosperous entrepreneurial spirit we have in our state," Hagerty said.  "Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, I congratulate the company on its continued growth.  We are proud to have Access America Transport as part of the Tennessee business community and look forward to working with them on future expansions." Access America Transport is a full service transportation company headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn. Founded in 2002, the company handles all modes of transportation including truckload (van/flatbed/reefer), less-than-truckload, intermodal and specialized freight. Along with the company's Chattanooga and Knoxville facilities, Access America Transport has operations in Minnesota, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Texas and Colorado."While Access America Transport has a major presence in several cities across the country, we are proud of our roots in Tennessee and anticipate enormous growth in our Chattanooga and Knoxville offices over the next five years," Ted Alling, CEO, Access America Transport, said.  "By 2017, we expect that at least 500 additional East Tennesseans will join our unique company culture as we continue to work towards being the best employer in the country. We are a people company and most of our success to this point rests of the shoulders of the passionate people who represent Access America every day.""We applaud Access America for continuing to create family wage jobs in our community," Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger said. "They are leading the way for many other entrepreneurs to make the most of Hamilton County's business assets." "Access America keeps proving Chattanooga is a great place for growing companies," Chattanooga City Mayor Ron Littlefield said. "These young business leaders are the first of many examples of how Chattanooga is drawing more and more young, talented people who are driving job creation.""The team at Access America exemplifies Chattanooga's entrepreneurial culture," Charles Wood, vice president of Economic Development, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, said. "They continue to strengthen our entrepreneurial environment, and we are working hard to support them in doing so.""The city of Knoxville welcomes the expansion of Access America, which is already providing solid jobs to the area and contributing to the local economy," Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero said. "This is a good sign that our economy is continuing to recover.  We eagerly anticipate these new job opportunities." "I want to thank Access America for deciding to expand its operations in the Knoxville Oak Ridge Innovation Valley," Doug Lawyer, vice president of Economic Development, Knoxville Chamber, said.  "This is yet another example of corporate services, an Innovation Valley target industry growth sector, making a smart decision to expand in our region."

• published: 11 Dec 2012
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