What McMinn County Economic Development Authority does

McMinn County Economic Development Authority (the EDA) is a county-level government authority headquartered at 9 E Madison Ave., Athens, Tennessee, established in 1985 to drive business attraction, retention, expansion, workforce development, and tourism promotion across McMinn County. The organization serves prospective and existing employers — primarily in advanced manufacturing, automotive parts, food and beverage processing, aerospace, and logistics — by providing site selection assistance, GIS-based site plan analysis, permitting coordination, government liaison services, and lifetime support for existing industries from construction through production. It operates a small team of three named professionals (Executive Director Lindsey Ferguson, Tourism Coordinator Brianna Baker, and Office & Event Coordinator Aryn Stewart), supplemented by a broader board and a network of public and private partners.

The EDA's core deliverables are programmatic rather than commercial products. These include the MCWorks workforce development initiative (launched 2025), the MADE Camp summer career-exploration program for 6th–8th graders (with DENSO as title sponsor and Cleveland State Community College as host), an annual job fair, the Discover McMinn tourism platform (launched 2025 alongside a 2024 Tourism Strategic Plan), and a tiered membership program (Funding Agency, Investor, Champion, Builder, Associate, General) anchored by local banks, utilities, and municipal members. Underlying infrastructure includes GIS for site analysis, a digital member directory, two websites (makeitinmcminn.org and DiscoverMcMinn.com), and active social channels on Facebook, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

The EDA is funded through a combination of membership dues (starting at $250/year for small businesses), event and job-fair revenue (e.g., $26.50 non-member annual meeting tickets), grants, and local government allocations. It does not sell a software or commercial product. Its go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven: direct engagement with site-selection consultants and corporate real estate teams, supported by regional marketing, awards programming (e.g., seven annual awards across community revitalization, business expansion, catalyst projects, tourism impact, and workforce excellence), and partnerships with TVA, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, and local utilities boards.

Name

McMinn County Economic Development Authority

Legal name

McMinn County Economic Development Authority

Website

https://makeitinmcminn.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

McMinn County Economic Development Authority is a Tennessee county-level government agency that drives business attraction, retention, expansion, workforce development, and tourism promotion for McMinn County, serving prospective and existing employers primarily in advanced manufacturing, food and beverage, automotive, and aerospace through site selection, permitting liaison, and program services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of General Economic Programs (926110)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Site selection assistance
• Workforce development programs
• Business retention expansion
• Tourism promotion services

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The EDA operates a membership program with multiple tiers (Funding Agency Members, Investor/Partner Members, Champion, Builder, Associate, General Members) starting at $250 per year for small businesses. Membership provides networking, business promotion, and local support.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from event sponsorships, job fairs, and annual meetings. Non-member tickets for annual meeting cost $26.50.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The McMinn County Economic Development Authority is a county-level government entity that provides comprehensive economic development services to attract new businesses, retain and expand existing industries, and promote tourism in McMinn County, Tennessee. Its core offerings include site location assistance with GIS analysis, permitting liaison, government relations, workforce development programs, and tourism marketing under the Discover McMinn brand.

Product overview

The McMinn County Economic Development Authority operates as a unified economic development organization offering business attraction, retention, and expansion services; workforce development programs including MCWorks and MADE Camp; tourism promotion through Discover McMinn; annual job fairs; site selection assistance with GIS analysis; permitting and government liaison services; and a tiered membership program. The organization does not sell a traditional software product but provides economic development services and workforce/tourism programs aimed at strengthening the McMinn County economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MCWorks: Workforce development initiative launched by the McMinn County EDA to build tomorrow's workforce today and prepare residents for upcoming job growth.
• MADE Camp

Products and services

• Economic Development Services

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2025TVA provides professional leadership training through the Rural Leadership Institute. Lindsey Ferguson, Executive Director, graduated from this program. TVA supports economic development initiatives and provides site selection services, incentives, and workforce training assistance.
• DENSO CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025DENSO is the largest employer in McMinn County with 1,360 employees. EDA officials met with DENSO representatives during the 47th SEUS-Japan Conference in Tokyo. The partnership exemplifies how global collaboration brings lasting benefits to the community through advanced manufacturing investment.
• City of AthenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Athens is a member of the EDA and represented on the Board of Directors. Population of 14,309 with 986 businesses employing 13,305 workers. Major employer hub within McMinn County.
• City of EtowahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Etowah is a member of the EDA with population of 3,654 and 152 businesses employing 2,061 workers. Actively growing community with 0.22% projected growth rate.
• City of NiotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Niota with population of 789 and 47 businesses employing 773 workers. Growing community with 0.15% projected growth rate.
• DENSO Manufacturing (MADE Camp Title Sponsor)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDENSO is the title sponsor of MADE Camp, a workforce development initiative for 6-8th grade students exploring manufacturing careers. This partnership supports early career exploration and future workforce development.
• Cleveland State Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleveland State Community College is both a Gold Sponsor and home of the McMinn Higher Education Center where MADE Camp is held. Provides workforce development programs and dual enrollment opportunities.
• Simmons Bank (MADE Camp Platinum Sponsor)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSimmons Bank is a platinum sponsor of MADE Camp, supporting workforce development initiatives for middle school students.
• IronCraft Attachments (MADE Camp Platinum Sponsor)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIronCraft Attachments is a platinum sponsor of MADE Camp, supporting career exploration for students in McMinn County.
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) AthenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCAT Athens provides technical education and training programs. Attended Workforce Summit and partnered on MADE Camp workforce development initiative.
• Tennessee Wesleyan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTennessee Wesleyan University is an education partner providing higher education pathways. Host of EDA Annual Meeting at Colloms Campus Center.
• Athens Utilities BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAthens Utilities Board provides electricity, water, and other utilities essential for industrial operations. Ensured Heil Trailer has necessary utilities for expansion.
• Tennessee Department of Economic and Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level economic development agency that connects businesses with resources, incentives, and site selection assistance. Facilitated Heil Trailer expansion with state support.
• Southeast Tennessee Local Workforce Development Board (SETW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSETW discusses funding and training opportunities in McMinn County at Workforce Summit.
• University of Tennessee Center for Industrial ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUTCIS shares available training programs that businesses can use and recommend to employees.
• McMinn County Schools Career and Technical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTE programs preparing students for technical careers and connecting with local business workforce needs.
• Athens Area Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber partner in MADE Camp development, representing business community interests.
• McMinn County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partner in MADE Camp for career exploration among middle school students.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JobsOhio: State-level private economic development corporation that performs site selection, business attraction, and workforce development similar to Tennessee ECD. Closest analog by funding model and function, though at much larger scale.
• Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development: State-level economic development agency that partners with McMinn County EDA on incentives, site selection, and workforce development. Functions as the parent or coordinating entity for county-level EDAs across Tennessee.

Others

• Site Selection Magazine: Industry publication covering corporate site selection decisions and incentives. Provides market intelligence and benchmarking that EDAs like McMinn County use to position their communities to prospective tenants.
• Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC): Federal economic development agency serving Appalachian counties including McMinn. Provides grants (including the McMinn County Forest ARC Grant) and serves as a programmatic funder and convener for county EDAs in the region.
• Winrock International: Non-profit that delivers economic development, workforce, and community development programs in rural and Appalachian communities. Operates workforce and economic inclusion programs analogous to MCWorks and MADE Camp.
• International Economic Development Council (IEDC): Professional association for economic developers; provides training, certification, and best practices to county and city EDAs. Member-driven organization that sets standards for the EDA profession.

Regional players

• Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce (Economic Development): Regional peer and direct competitor for site selection in Southeast Tennessee, headquartered in Chattanooga (45 minutes from McMinn County). Competes for the same I-75 corridor manufacturing and logistics tenants.
• Knoxville Chamber (Knox County Economic Development): Immediate regional competitor for manufacturing and food/beverage site selection in East Tennessee, headquartered in Knoxville (45 minutes from McMinn County). Competes for overlapping laborshed and target industries.
• Greater Cleveland (TN) / Bradley Chamber of Commerce: Neighboring county economic development organization in Cleveland, Tennessee, providing workforce and industrial development services. Located in the same Southeast Tennessee region and overlapping laborshed.

Broad incumbents

• TVA Economic Development: Utility-affiliated economic development arm of the Tennessee Valley Authority providing site selection, incentives, and workforce training across the multi-state TVA region. Active strategic partner with McMinn County EDA and provides the Rural Leadership Institute.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MakeItInMcMinn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCD-8y1TX-dExzZ7vErIbabQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/makeitinmcminn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcminn-county-economic-development-authority

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 McMinn County Economic Development Authority