McKenzie Industrial Board Provides Historical Information, Updates

We appreciate the opportunity to share an in-depth overview of the McKenzie Industrial Development Board (IDB), who we are, how we operate, and what we’ve accomplished on behalf of this community. For more than six decades, the IDB has quietly worked behind the scenes to build the foundation for economic development in McKenzie, helping bring jobs, investment, and opportunity to our residents.

Who We Are
The McKenzie IDB was officially chartered on March 29, 1962, by the State of Tennessee. We are a 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation, legally separate from the City of McKenzie. Under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 7, Chapter 53, the IDB has the authority to finance, acquire, own, lease, or sell property to promote and encourage economic development.

We are not taxpayer-funded. We receive no annual appropriations from the City of McKenzie, Carroll County, or Carroll County Electric. We are a self-funded organization that operates through rent receipts, farm crop and land sales, and lease agreements. All revenue generated is reinvested locally.

Our Board consists of nine members appointed by the City Council, each serving six-year terms, and the Executive Committee comprises the Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer appointed by the Industrial Development Board. The Executive Director reports directly to the Board and manages daily operations, partnerships, and project development. All final decisions on pricing, sales, leases, legal matters, and financial matters are made by the Board and the Executive Committee, ensuring accountability and transparency.

A Proven Record of Investment and Impact
The IDB has played a decisive role in nearly every significant economic development milestone in McKenzie’s modern history. Our work has attracted tens of millions in capital investment, supported hundreds of jobs, and positioned McKenzie as a strong rural competitor for future industry.

Community and Infrastructure Investments
Carroll County Airport – The IDB held purchase options on the farmland in the 1980s that made the airport possible. That site is now a vital transportation and economic asset.
Park Theatre – Acquired and gifted to the city to support historic preservation and downtown revitalization. It is now a beautiful, restored cinema and community performing arts center owned and operated by the City.
Depot Project – Purchased and renovated by IDB with a $125,000 investment, secured a $75,000 tourism grant, paid the local match, and restored the building for public use as a critical anchor for downtown. IDB provided financing for the City at $100,000 with no interest, and all the renovations were written off as rent for the years the IDB office was housed there.
Soccer Complex – Donated three acres of land to the City of McKenzie for recreational development of a total new soccer complex.

Major Industrial and Commercial Investments
Plastic Product Formers / VP Racing Fuels; IDB invested $50,000 in environmental testing; $14 million investment | 150 jobs | $790,000 state grant; IDB administered the grant as a pass-through.

Pottery Direct / Syndicate Sales – IDB provided land and startup support; $8 million investment | 30 jobs | $400,000 state grant; PILOT agreement by the IDB; Purchased by Syndicate Sales in 2023, allowing for expansion and long-term stability.

TDOT Industrial Access Projects; $1.5 million SIA access road for Pottery Direct Investment; $2.4 million State Route 22 widening for VP Racing Fuels Investment. (waiting on TDOT)

EMS Building – $150,000 investment to keep ambulance service in McKenzie. Renovated the building and leased it to Priority Ambulance. The IDB owns the helipad behind the former hospital.

The RailYard Workspace – $250,000 investment for co-working and Chamber office space, now at 100% occupancy. This involved converting an empty building in downtown into co-working office space on located on Broadway.

Select TN Certified Site – $417,000 site development grant: 315,000 sq. ft. pad-ready site on 23.9 acres, the first Certified Site in Carroll County.

67-Acre Site Across from McKenzie High School – 20 acres zoned commercial (target: hotel and retail); 40 acres zoned residential with subdivision plan complete.

Dana Building – Purchased for $1.2 million and improved with $100,000+ in upgrades; targeted for sale to return to the tax rolls with job creation.

Hospital Property / Cachengo – Sold for $1 million, now a tech business and back on the tax rolls. The IDB is working with the new leadership to identify a new owner for the property to keep it on the tax roll and bring jobs back to the area.

Haven Steel – $6.5 million expansion with $150,000 FastTrack Grant and workforce training support.

Property Sales – Residential and commercial lots added to the tax rolls.

Significant Local Industry Investments – Past 5 Years
Over the past five years, McKenzie has experienced tens of millions of dollars in new capital investment from existing industries expanding and reinvesting in their local operations. These projects represent a decisive vote of confidence in our workforce, location, and infrastructure, strengthening our tax base and creating quality jobs.

Haven Steel – $6.5 million expansion, $150,000 FastTrack grant, new production lines, and job growth.

VP Racing Fuels / Plastic Product Formers – $14 million investment, 150+ jobs, $790,000 state grant, $50,000 IDB support.

Pottery Direct / Syndicate Sales – $8 million investment, 30 jobs, $400,000 grant, PILOT agreement, stabilized long-term operations. Recently, Pottery Direct (Syndicate Sales) notified employees of the layout effective Friday, December 19, 2025. The IDB and Workforce Development arrange a Rapid Response Meeting with employees to inform them that opportunities are available, including unemployment benefits, school, and local job openings, to help them return to work immediately. Moving forward, we will be working with Pottery/Syndicate to get them back up and running in the new year.

Allegion/Republic – multi-million-dollar modernization improving production capacity and efficiency.

Profile Metal Forming – $2.5 million expanded operations by 7,000 square feet and added a new 1,000-ton press line to increase the company’s capabilities to meet new automotive market demands.

McKenzie Valve and Machine – $2+ million equipment upgrades and expansion, enhancing production and job stability.

CMC (Tower Support Systems) – Corporate acquisition securing operations and workforce retention.

Stanley Black and Decker / MTD – Acquisition of MTD facility, 150 trucks per week, strengthening logistics and distribution.

Estimated total capital investment: $30+ million over five years. Job creation and retention. Strategic outcomes: modernized manufacturing, stronger tax base, enhanced logistics, and a stable workforce pipeline.

Chamber of Commerce Community Engagement
The McKenzie Chamber of Commerce and Industry was formed in 2020 by the IDB to strengthen local business engagement and community development. The Chamber is fully funded by membership. The IDB covers the Executive Director’s salary, utilities, and office space at The RailYard.

This allows the Chamber to operate with zero overhead and investing every membership dollar directly into the community.

Today, the Chamber has approximately 100 active members, ranging from small businesses and industry partners to education partners and healthcare providers.

Core Chamber Programming and Services
Business Visibility – Ribbon cuttings, grand openings, promotions, and GrowMcKenzie.com member directory.

Networking and Development – Bi-monthly Chamber Coffees, workshops, trainings, and free use of The RailYard meeting space.

Marketing and Tourism – Regional advertising campaigns (NWTN Tourism Guide, TN Vacation Guide, print and digital media) and “Shop Local” branding.

Community Events and Programs
Easter Egg Drop (thousands of attendees); Teacher Appreciation Week; Welcome Week and Bethel Freshman Carnival; Back-to-School supply donations; Manufacturing Month (420+ employees fed, industry and education tours); Annual Chamber Banquet; Christmas Open House and Luncheon

Regional Engagement – Active sponsor of NWTN Legislative Breakfast and tourism partnerships.
The Chamber is a business retention and expansion tool, a tourism driver, and a bridge between commerce and community pride.

Leadership and Regional Representation
The strength of the McKenzie Industrial Development Board isn’t only in the projects we lead; it’s also in the relationships and partnerships we build beyond city limits. A key part of my role as Executive Director is to actively represent McKenzie and Carroll County at the regional, state, and national levels, ensuring our community has a strong seat at the table for key decisions on economic development, workforce training, and infrastructure investment.

I currently serve on the following boards and committees:

Northwest Tennessee Workforce Board – working directly with state and regional partners to align workforce training programs with industry needs.

American Job Center Committee – collaborating on strategies that connect residents with employment opportunities and workforce development programs.

Northwest Tennessee Tourism Board – promoting McKenzie as part of a regional tourism and quality-of-life strategy that supports economic growth.

Professional Certifications and Statewide Leadership
I am the only Tennessee Certified Economic Developer (TCEcD) in Carroll County and one of only 144 in the entire state.

Graduate of the TVA Rural Leadership Institute and the TVA Workforce Institute, strengthening McKenzie’s position in TVA’s economic development strategies.

Graduate of the WestStar Leadership Program, one of West Tennessee’s premier leadership initiatives, which provides access to a robust network of decision-makers and state leaders.

Graduate of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Institute and the Retail Academy, enhancing my ability to support both large-scale industry and small business development.

Strategic Impact for McKenzie
These leadership roles and credentials are more than titles — they provide direct access to key resources, programs, and funding opportunities that support McKenzie’s goals. Through these connections, our community benefits from:

• Early awareness of state and federal grant opportunities
• Stronger regional partnerships that support industrial recruitment
• Access to workforce and training programs that benefit our existing employers
• Increased visibility for McKenzie in statewide and national conversations around economic development, tourism, and rural growth
• Collaborative opportunities to align with TVA, TNECD, state tourism, education partners, and private-sector leaders

This strategic leadership approach ensures that McKenzie isn’t just reacting to opportunities — we’re at the table when they’re being created.

BlueOval City A Strategic Opportunity
While Ford’s Blue Oval City, now the “Tennessee Truck Plant,” and its fully gas-powered vehicles have been delayed to 2029, this provides a unique advantage. The additional time allows West Tennessee communities like McKenzie to:

Strengthen infrastructure — roads, housing, healthcare, education; Expand workforce pipelines through TCAT, UTM, Bethel University, and local industry; Give suppliers and service providers time to scale up; Plan sustainable, phased growth.

McKenzie, with its Certified Site, available building inventory, and strategic location, is positioned to benefit from this transformational project. This is not a setback — it’s time to build capacity.

In Closing
For more than 60 years, the McKenzie Industrial Development Board has quietly built the economic backbone of this community. We’ve created a foundation that attracts and retains industry, supports local business, and invests directly in infrastructure, people, and opportunities.

Our industries are thriving. Our Chamber is growing. Our leadership is recognized statewide. And with BlueOval City on the horizon, McKenzie is positioned for smart, sustainable growth.

Monica Heath, Executive Director
Joel Washburn, Chairman of the Board