Maury County: Tennessee’s next innovation powerhouse

While Nashville and Huntsville have made headlines for their explosive growth, Maury County, Tennessee is quietly emerging as a key player in the south-eastern United States, attracting talent and investment at an unprecedented rate.

If you haven’t heard of it yet, your competitors likely have. Located at the epicenter of regional development, Maury County is a magnet for businesses seeking strategic advantages in a fast-evolving market. This article delves into the driving forces behind this growth and why, as a CEO, you need to be paying attention.

The real estate adage holds that the three most important factors are location, location and location. Maury County exemplifies this, offering an incredibly strategic position that appeals to businesses across industries.

As part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area, Maury County sits at the intersection of I-65 and I-840, enabling efficient access in all directions. This prime location is further enhanced by its proximity to two of the fastest-growing markets in the United States – Nashville and Huntsville.

Just an hour’s drive from Nashville International Airport and the vibrant amenities of Downtown Nashville, Maury County is perfectly positioned for businesses that value connectivity and convenience.

A talent base

In today’s business landscape, success is fueled by talent, and increasingly, that talent is choosing Maury County as its home. The county ranks in the top five percent of all counties nationwide for population growth, boasting an impressive 18.7 percent increase over the past five years.

According to Wil Evans, President and CEO of the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance, the area is exceptionally well-positioned for talent recruitment.

"While the county population is around 110,000, businesses can tap into a much larger labor shed of over 850,000 people within a realistic 45-minute commute," Evans explains. "Our community is unique in that management and engineering talent tend to live in or north of the county, while production talent is more concentrated to the south. This allows companies to draw from diverse talent pools within a single, centralized location, which is a rare advantage."

Maury County’s growth isn’t just about people – it’s also about significant corporate investment. According to SmartAsset, Maury County ranks in the top five percent of all counties nationwide for new building permits and incoming investments. The regional economy is diverse, with key industries including automotive, healthcare/technology and defense.

In the past five years, General Motors and Ultium Cells LLC have invested over US$4 billion into their production facilities in Maury County, while Oracle and Amazon have made substantial investments in nearby Nashville. Oracle, in particular, sees immense potential in the region as the worlds of healthcare and technology become increasingly interconnected.

"To really understand what’s happening here, you need to step back and view the landscape from a strategic vantage point," says Travis Groth, Vice President for Economic Development at the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance.

"It may seem early to consider Maury County for certain types of investment, but the forces driving growth in this area are accelerating. The real question is whether companies will seize this moment or risk missing the window of opportunity entirely. It will be interesting to see which businesses have the vision and courage to capitalize on this unique moment in time."

As Maury County continues to attract forward-thinking companies, new opportunities are on the horizon for both the community and businesses with vision. From an economic development perspective, the county plans to build on its established strengths in manufacturing and healthcare while attracting more diversified, technical and innovative companies to the area.

Companies like JC Ford, SGB Enterprises and the Parker Filtration Innovation Center are already finding success within this framework.

The hub of innovation

One of the county’s most valuable assets is the Innovation Campus – a 134-hectare site just off I-65 in the rapidly growing city of Spring Hill. Publicly owned and strategically visioned for R&D, innovation and HQ-type development, the Innovation Campus offers a rare opportunity for large-scale, campus-style development in the greater Nashville market.

"Nothing is more frustrating to a company than wanting to locate in your community but not being able to find a suitable site or building," Groth notes. "Fortunately, Maury County not only offers a strategic location but also has publicly owned property available to support the type of innovative companies we’re working to attract."

In a hot real estate market like this, opportunities like the Innovation Campus don’t last long. If your company is looking to enter the greater Nashville and Huntsville markets, the Innovation Campus could be your best opportunity. Just don’t wait too long…