NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership

What NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership does

NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership is a non-profit economic development organization founded in 1969 and headquartered at 10368 Wallace Alley St., Kingsport, Tennessee. It serves as the lead economic development entity for Sullivan County, providing business recruitment, site selection assistance, workforce development coordination, and access to financial incentives to companies evaluating Northeast Tennessee for relocation or expansion. The organization serves three core municipalities — Bluff City, Bristol, and Kingsport — and also supports Hawkins County on the Phipps Bend Industrial Park project.

The organization's service delivery rests on a mix of field engagement and digital infrastructure. It maintains direct relationships with site selection consultants through an annual Red Carpet Tour (a 12-year tradition credited with 2,000+ jobs and six major projects), runs an annual Northeast Tennessee Hiring Expo drawing 88+ employers and 500+ job seekers, and convenes a Teacher Industry Day linking K-12 educators with regional manufacturers. Digital tools include a redesigned website (networkstn.com) with an integrated GIS-based site selection tool and property database, the NETNConnects workforce platform, and a custom report maker. The organization markets a labor shed of 270,000 workers within a 45-minute radius, 17% regional manufacturing workforce concentration, and proximity to the intersection of Interstates 26 and 81 (one-day drive to 70% of the U.S. population).

NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership is funded primarily through government and foundation grants, including Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Workforce Invest Grants and Tennessee Three-Star Grants, with services provided at no cost to businesses. Revenue is not publicly reported. Strategic partners include TVA, BTES, AEP, both Bristol and Kingsport Chambers of Commerce, the City of Bristol Industrial Development Board, the Kingsport Economic Development Board, Northeast State Community College, East Tennessee State University, and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center. Leadership comprises CEO Clay Walker, Director of Economic Development Michael Parker, and Workforce Development and Special Projects Coordinator Abby Mease.

Name

NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership

Legal name

NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership

Website

https://networkstn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership is a non-profit economic development organization founded in 1969 that recruits businesses, supports site selection, and coordinates workforce development for Sullivan County, Tennessee, serving Bluff City, Bristol, and Kingsport.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingsport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and Foundation Grants: NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership operates as a non-profit economic development organization funded through Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Workforce Invest Grants, Tennessee Three-Star Grants, and other state economic development funding programs. They coordinate workforce development initiatives and business attraction efforts supported by public funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership provides economic development services for Sullivan County, TN, including business recruitment and expansion assistance, site selection consulting, workforce development coordination, and access to financial incentives such as PILOT agreements and Tax Increment Financing. The organization supports shovel-ready industrial sites, Foreign Trade Zone No. 204 utilization, and operates digital platforms (Site Selection Tool, NETNConnects, Custom Report Maker) that aggregate regional property data and workforce information for businesses considering relocation or expansion to Northeast Tennessee.

Product overview

NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership offers a suite of economic development services rather than a traditional product portfolio. The organization's core offerings include business recruitment and expansion support, workforce development programs, site selection assistance, and access to financial incentives. The primary digital tools include a property database/site selection tool, the NETNConnects workforce platform, and a custom report maker—all designed to support business attraction and regional economic growth in Sullivan County, Tennessee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Site Selection Tool Online property database providing up-to-date data, media, mapping information, and direct consultant contacts for available sites and buildings in the Sullivan County region. Targeted at site selectors, business consultants, and companies evaluating facility locations.
• NETNConnects One-stop online regional workforce resource for job opportunities, career pathways exploration, and workforce resources tailored to Sullivan County job seekers and regional employers.
• Custom Report Maker Customizable report builder allowing users to arrange, sort, and generate reports about regional data, properties, and economic development information for Sullivan County.

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered regional and core.

• Seaman CorpregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Manufacturing employer participating in Teacher Industry Day, hosting educators to learn about textile production processes and hiring expectations. Entry-level wages start at $18.50/hour.
• USAntibioticsregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Pharmaceutical manufacturer participating in Teacher Industry Day, providing exposure to domestic manufacturing and supply chain roles.
• Bell HelicopterregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Aerospace manufacturer participating in Teacher Industry Day, providing educators exposure to career pathways in aviation manufacturing.
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology - ElizabethtonregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Vocational education provider offering competency-based training through traditional and distance learning to prepare individuals for employment and job advancement.
• Bristol Tennessee City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2026Education partner in the TVA Workforce Invest Grant initiative, working to strengthen career awareness and align student experiences with regional employer needs.
• Hard Rock Hotel and Casino BristolregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2026Participating employer providing senior leadership volunteers as mentors for workforce development programs including JA BizTown Mobile.
• Kingsport Economic Development BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Co-organizer of the Northeast Tennessee Hiring Expo, partnering with NETWORKS to connect employers with job seekers in the Tri-Cities region.
• Industrial Development Board of the City of BristolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Co-organizer of the Northeast Tennessee Hiring Expo, partnering to support workforce connections and regional employment.
• Tennessee Department of Labor - American Job CenterregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 February 2026Workforce support services provider at hiring expo, offering resume assistance, job search support, and computer skills training.
• Greene County PartnershipregionalGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 December 2025Regional economic development partner collaborating on the Northeast Tennessee Red Carpet Tour to bring site selectors to the region.
• Golden Shovel AgencycoreTechnology or Integration · 22 October 2024Website design and development partner that created the redesigned networkstn.com platform featuring enhanced site selection tools, property databases, and regional economic development resources.
• AEP (Appalachian Electric Power)coreTechnology or IntegrationAEP is a key utility partner providing power infrastructure information and economic development support for businesses locating in the Northeast Tennessee region through the NETWORKS partnership.
• Bristol Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBristol Chamber of Commerce collaborates with NETWORKS on business attraction, workforce development, and regional economic growth initiatives serving Sullivan County businesses.
• BTES (Bristol Tennessee Essential Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationBTES is a utility partner and co-host of workforce development events including the annual Northeast Tennessee Hiring Expo and Teacher Industry Day. BTES owns Bristol Business Park, a Select TN Certified Site.
• City of Bluff CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Bluff City is a member community of NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership, receiving economic development support and serving as a location option for businesses considering Sullivan County.
• City of BristolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Bristol partners with NETWORKS through the Industrial Development Board for site development projects including the Airport Parkway industrial land purchase and Bristol Business Park.
• City of KingsportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Kingsport is a key partner community with the Kingsport Economic Development Board collaborating on business recruitment, sites, and workforce development initiatives.
• Kingsport Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKingsport Chamber of Commerce works with NETWORKS on business attraction, economic development marketing, and regional workforce initiatives.
• NETVRIDAregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerNETVRIDA is a regional partner organization supporting economic development initiatives and workforce development across Northeast Tennessee.
• Sullivan CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSullivan County government is the primary jurisdiction served by NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership, providing the foundation for all economic development activities and business attraction efforts.
• Northeast State Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey educational partner providing workforce training through programs including the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM), Regional Center for Automotive Programs (RCAP), and Regional Center for Health Professions (RCHP). RCAM is Tennessee's largest apprenticeship facilitator.
• East Tennessee State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university offering engineering, materials science, and manufacturing technology programs that produce skilled workers for regional employers. Programs offered through Kingsport Center for Higher Education.
• Kingsport Office of Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship (KOSBE)regionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides free technical assistance services for business formation, planning, and financing along with small business training opportunities for Sullivan County businesses.
• Holston Business Development CenterregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBusiness incubator offering suites with amenities at a progressive rent scale, helping startups turn ideas into successful ventures.
• Tennessee Small Business Development Center - Johnson City (TSBDC)regionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides free confidential counseling and training seminars on business topics for small business owners and entrepreneurs in the region.
• Bristol Business Resource CenterregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProgram of Bristol Chamber of Commerce offering free confidential services for new and existing businesses including counseling and group training.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce: Regional chamber and economic development organization for the Chattanooga metro in Southeast Tennessee. Comparable non-profit EDO in Tennessee with overlapping focus on advanced manufacturing, automotive, and logistics recruitment.
• Knoxville Chamber (Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership): Regional chamber and economic development organization for the Knoxville metro of East Tennessee. Comparable non-profit EDO in the same Tennessee region with similar target industries but operating in a different geographic market from Sullivan County.

Direct peers

• Industrial Development Board of the City of Bristol: Municipal industrial development authority for Bristol, Tennessee. Partner and peer to NETWORKS on the Northeast Tennessee Hiring Expo and Airport Parkway industrial land projects, with directly overlapping mandate in Sullivan County site development.
• Kingsport Economic Development Board: Municipal economic development body for the City of Kingsport, Tennessee. Functions as a sister organization to NETWORKS with overlapping target industries (advanced manufacturing, chemicals, automotive) and shared leadership in Sullivan County business attraction.
• Greene County Partnership: Non-profit economic development organization serving Greene County in Northeast Tennessee. NETWORKS and Greene County Partnership actively co-host the Red Carpet Tour and are direct functional peers in county-level business attraction and workforce development.
• NETVRIDA (Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association): Regional industrial development association serving the broader Northeast Tennessee region. Listed as a regional partner of NETWORKS and a directly comparable peer in cross-county economic development coordination and business recruitment.

Others

• Appalachian Regional Commission: Federal-state economic development partnership serving Appalachia, including the counties NETWORKS serves. Comparable regional development mission but at multi-state scale; provides funding and policy support that complement NETWORKS' local efforts.
• International Economic Development Council (IEDC): Global non-profit membership association for economic developers. Not a competitor but the primary industry body that NETWORKS likely participates in for professional standards, training, and best-practice benchmarking in economic development.
• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): Federal corporation providing economic development programs across the Tennessee Valley. Acts as a major grant funder to NETWORKS (Workforce Invest Grants exceeding $6M across 40+ communities) and an enabler/ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development: State-level economic development agency for Tennessee. Operates as a broad incumbent with overlapping priorities (business recruitment, workforce, FastTrack infrastructure grants) but at state scale, often co-funding projects NETWORKS helps originate locally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ClaytonRWalker
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@networkssullivanpartnershi6114
• Facebookfacebook.com/NETWORKStn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sullivan-partnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership