Leaders highlight strategies to strengthen Tennessee manufacturing
The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry hosted the Tennessee Manufacturing Forum Friday at The Hermitage Hotel in downtown Nashville, bringing together state and industry leaders for a robust discussion on policies shaping the future of manufacturing in Tennessee.
The event featured a distinguished panel, including:
- Yunju Ko, Chief Sustainability Strategy Officer at LG Chem
- Josh Brown, President & CEO of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Allen Borden, Deputy Commissioner of Business, Community and Rural Development at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
- Victoria Hirschberg, Assistant Vice President and Chief Economic Development Director at the University of Tennessee
- Martha Moore, Managing Director of Economics & Statistics at the American Chemistry Council
Panelists provided critical insights into workforce development, supply chain resilience, tax and regulatory policies, and emerging technologies shaping the future of Tennessee’s manufacturing sector. With manufacturing contributing more than $34 billion in annual exports and employing over 153,000 Tennesseans, ensuring the industry’s continued success remains a top priority.
Josh Brown, President & CEO of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, emphasized the importance of strategic policies to support growth.
Manufacturing – The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry hosted the Tennessee Manufacturing Forum.
“Tennessee’s manufacturing sector is one of the strongest in the country, but we must remain proactive in fostering policies that sustain this momentum,” Brown said. “The discussions at Friday’s forum reinforced the need for continued collaboration between business leaders and policymakers to drive innovation, create jobs, and strengthen our state’s economic foundation.”
Ko, Chief Sustainability Strategy Officer at LG Chem, highlighted Tennessee’s role in advancing sustainable manufacturing and clean energy solutions, including LG Chem’s recent investment in the state.
“Tennessee is at the forefront of innovation in advanced manufacturing and sustainable energy production,” Ko said. “The forum provided a platform to discuss how we can further invest in cutting-edge technologies, strengthen domestic and international supply chains and ensure long-term economic growth for the state and country. LG Chem is proud to be a part of this transformation and our Clarksville facility – the largest of its kind in the U.S.– is a testament to Tennessee’s leadership in the clean energy sector. This has not only created jobs, but also reinforced a more sustainable and resilient battery supply chain for the U.S.”
Under the current political climate, companies face challenges not only from the need to continue key tax provisions and incentives but also from uncertainties surrounding trade policies and tariffs, which hinder investments in the U.S. The importance of the U.S. government maintaining and expanding industrial policies like the 45X (Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit) to attract advanced manufacturing investments and establish a domestic battery industry supply chain was emphasized by Ko during Friday’s forum.
Protectionist policies, tariffs and concerns from the industry were also conveyed, highlighting practical issues such as challenges in sourcing raw materials and the increasing burden of supply chain costs as not everything is available in the U.S.
In all, the Tennessee Manufacturing Forum served as a key opportunity for industry professionals to engage in policy discussions and gain insights on how Tennessee can continue to lead in manufacturing competitiveness, workforce readiness and technological advancements.
For more information on the Tennessee Chamber’s efforts to support the manufacturing industry, visit www.tnchamber.org.
Image by Lifestylememory on Freepik.
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