Carter County Tomorrow announced today, that they have received the final report for the Select Tennessee program. And the results are somewhat hopeful, according to CCT Chairman Richard Tester.

The report provided findings and recommendations for four different properties in Carter County – two with existing buildings on them and two large fields.

One of the properties is the former Alcoa Plant or Matheson Property. The report stated this property held the greatest near term opportunity for industrial development and suggests additional environmental assessments and better marketing materials.

The Richie property, an undeveloped 105-acre farm land off of US 321 between Elizabethton and Johnson City, was the best long-term opportunity of industrial or mixed-use development. The development of this property would, however, require significant time and resources to develop.

The Borla Commercial Complex along I-26 in Carter County was also evaluated, but the report suggested this site was better suited for smaller commercial office and light industrial development.

“The report hits home the lack of industrial property we have in Carter County and gives us some solid recommendations for moving forward as a City and County,” Tester said.

Elizabethton Planning and Economic Development Director, Jon Hartman, says there is nothing too surprising the in the report. “We have known for some time that the Matheson property was our best bet for industrial development and we have been working with property owners to better prepare the site for marketing and industrial recruitment.”

In March CCT voted to place an option on the Matheson site in order to lock-in a price and make the property more attractive to potential industries.

“Currently we are looking at what additional next steps we can take in order to make these sites attractive for recruitment and development.” Tester commented.