Tennessee Named 2009 State of the Year by Business Facilities Magazine

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Hemlock Semiconductor Earns Silver Award for 2009 
Economic Development Deal of the Year In Clarksville, TN

NASHVILLE – The editors of Business Facilities magazine, a national economic development publication, have named Tennessee the magazine’s 2009 State of the Year for the number of new jobs created and amount of capital investments made during the calendar year. New Jersey-based Business Facilities also named the Hemlock Semiconductor project in Clarksville, Tennessee its 2009 Silver Award winner for Economic Development Deal of the Year, citing the company’s announced investment of $1.2 billion dollars and the creation of 500-900 new jobs. “With our strong and productive workforce, low taxes and nationally recognized business climate, Tennessee continues to distinguish itself as one of the most business-friendly states in the nation,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “I appreciate this recognition of our success in securing corporate investment and creating higher skilled, better paying jobs for the people of our state.” “Despite the economic downturn, Tennessee welcomed more than 16,700 new jobs and $3.1 billion in new capital investments in 2009,” said Commissioner Matt Kisber, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. “Job creation continues to be our top priority, and we are grateful to Business Facilities for recognizing the efforts to generate economic growth in our state.” Business Facilities editors noted Tennessee won the honor “due to an aggressive and creative development effort that defied the economic downturn with a series of multi-billion-dollar projects.” Cementing Tennessee’s position on top were back-to-back announcements that the world’s two largest polysilicon manufacturers, Hemlock Semiconductor and Wacker Chemie AG, would both locate major production facilities in the state.