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utilities in place: abundant electrical service, a 10-inch waterline, Lower cost of living
4-inch natural gas line and city sewer service. It’s tucked growth of the average weekly wage paycheck in bedford
away right off four-lane highway 231, adjacent to shelbyville’s county in the last two years has outpaced the rise in the national
tennova hospital and several satellite medical clinics. It’s 17 or state average. bedford county wages on average are up 7.7
uncongested miles from the 231 north Industrial park to I-24 percent - from $672 to $724 - yet are still well below the national
and 48 miles to nashville International Airport. average providing a highly competitive, affordable environment
the price per acre, according to the tennessee Department for businesses. the average weekly wage in the u.s. in 2015 was
of economic & community Development, is $25,000. $1,048 and by march 2017 it was up to $1,111, according to
just a few blocks from the industrial park is the bomar the bureau of labor statistics.
field-shelbyville municipal Airport. the city owned airport the average weekly wage in tennessee in 2015 was $886
has a 5,500-foot runway (with newly repainted lines) that will and by 2017 it had risen to $945 – up 6.7 percent.
accommodate private jets. the terminal building was recently According to the shelbyville/bedford county chamber of
renovated and is slated for further improvements this year. there commerce (citing tennessee Department of labor’s figures)
is local air freight service available and a courtesy van and car. as of sept. 30, 2017 there were 19,900 people employed in
bedford county.
Workforce training the u.s. census bureau estimates that the population of
for business owners looking to locate here, there are several bedford county in 2016 was 47,484. According to the u.s.
top-flight educational institutions to provide workforce training census, the population of shelbyville has been rising at a nice
and colleges and universities for employees and family members even pace for the last 17 years with the exception of 2011 when
to get a world-class higher education close to home. it declined a touch by around 30.
• Motlow State Community College is 13 miles from the In 2015, bedford county’s male population was estimated
center of shelbyville, on easy, rural highways, a 20 minute ride. to be 22,691; the female population was slightly less at 22,295.
with the tennessee promise program high school graduates can In both genders, just over half (males 52.6 percent, females
attend school here tuition free for five semesters. 51.1 percent) were adults of working age from age 20 to 59.
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology, right in the average household size is 2.7.
shelbyville, offers programs that train people for well paying
jobs. the school’s programs include: Automotive technology; Housing
Autobody repair; heating, ventilation, Air conditioning/ the chamber lists the 2016 median house value in
refrigeration; Industrial electricity; Industrial maintenance; bedford county at an estimated $121,159. the census bureau
machine tool technology; medical Assisting; practical nursing; estimated it at $115,700. local realtors are saying it’s up to
truck Driving and welding; computer Aided Design and office around $140,000.
technology. In the past year, tcAt has graduated 316 students Affordable housing in bedford county has become a big
with zero loan debt at graduation. draw for people who work in rutherford county and the greater
• Forty minutes up the road, in Murfreesboro, is Middle nashville area. In rutherford county, the median home price
tennessee state university, a comprehensive university offering is $160,700 and climbing fast. In murfreesboro the median
240 academic programs. price is up to $181,900. with prices over 60 percent less in
bedford county than murfreesboro, the relatively tame 25 mile
Good neighbors in business commute is worth it for many people who are willing to trade
some of the larger companies that have found long-term a little extra time behind the wheel and some extra commuting
success in bedford county are: expense for a nicer home in a quieter, slower-paced community.
• Tyson Foods, chicken processing facility, employing 1,337. the times-gazette teams up with the chamber of
• CalsonicKansei, manufactures automotive parts. The commerce every year to produce the magazine you’re holding:
company employs around 1,300 in shelbyville. salute. the mission of salute is to provide potential newcomers
• Newell Brands, distributes writing instruments, employs - both business owners and families – with a glimpse of what it’s
802. like to live and work here in bedford county. when we started
• National Pen Corp., manufactures writing instruments, brainstorming story ideas for the 2018 salute magazine, we
employs 500. realized right away that the quality that makes our community
• WalMart Distribution Center, employs around 500. just a little different - and we think better – from others is the
• Southern Precision Machining employs 74 people in people. In recognition of the fact that the friendly people of
shelbyville and was named an elite supplier by lockheed-martin bedford county are what sets us apart, we set out this year to
aircraft in 2016. spm’s client list also includes gulfstream, profile some of the folks that make this community special.
Airbus and boeing. some of the folks we interviewed are business leaders, some
the long term success of these and many other manufacturers are in government and some are just regular folks. we hope
in bedford county is testament to the quality and dedication of you enjoy visiting with some of bedford county’s people and
the local workforce and this area’s support of industry. if you’re considering moving we hope you’ll come take a close
look at our community. H

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