Governor Bill Haslam announced a new LG facility will be coming to Clarksville, bringing at least 600 jobs to the area.
The Clarksville facility will be LG’s first washing machine manufacturing operation in the United States.
It is expected to be the world’s most advanced production plant for washing machines. Construction on the 829,000-square-foot facility will begin later this year, and will begin operations in 2019.
The factory will initially produce front-load and top-load washing machines. Longer term, the 310-acre site offers the potential to expand for production of other home appliances.
Gov. Haslam was joined by the Department of Economic and Community Development and LG Electronics Inc. officials Tuesday to make the announcement.
The global manufacturer, with headquarters in South Korea, is a leader in appliances, electronics and mobile devices. LG will invest $250 million in the facility, creating at least 600 new jobs in Montgomery County.
“We are proud to welcome LG to Tennessee and thank the company for creating 600 valuable, new jobs in Clarksville,” Haslam said. “LG’s decision to establish new manufacturing operations in Tennessee is a testament to the business-friendly environment, ideal location and highly-skilled workforce we offer to companies around the globe. Tennessee is the top state in the nation for advanced industry job growth, an accomplishment that would not be possible without the many successful companies that choose to do business here. I look forward to building a lasting partnership with LG in the years ahead as we work together to make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”
“Our department has placed a significant emphasis on recruiting international companies, and today’s announcement underscores our efforts to expand our reach not just domestically, but abroad to build upon the success of the Tennessee brand,” TNECD Chief Operating Officer Ted Townsend said. “When a company with such a strong, global reputation, like LG, chooses to operate in Tennessee, it speaks volumes to our state’s many business advantages, including our thriving manufacturing sector. We greatly appreciate LG’s investment in Tennessee and look forward to the positive impact the new facility will have on Montgomery County and its residents.”
Tennessee was ranked No. 1 among all U.S. states for foreign direct investment (FDI) job commitments in 2015, according to the 2016 IBM Global Locations Trends report.
South Korea is among the top five countries for foreign investment in Tennessee, with Korean companies investing nearly $1 billion and employing more than 1,700 Tennesseans.
“LG is proud to make further investments in America, to create jobs and to bring state-of-the-art home appliance production technology to the great state of Tennessee,” said Dan Song, president of the LG Home Appliance and Air Solutions Company. “Over the past six years, LG studied eight states for the location of this facility. Tennessee is the clear choice for LG’s latest major investment in America, due to the state’s excellent business climate, quality workforce and central location for distribution to our U.S. customers.”
Officials with the TVA and Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation also expressed their excitement and congratulated LG Electronics on its decision to locate in Clarksville.
