The Village Group is reimagining Knoxville’s mid-term housing
Meet the local entrepreneur providing luxury, flexible stays for Knoxville’s contract professionals.
Recently, we covered Morning Momentum, a Knoxville Chamber event designed to provide local entrepreneurs with high-level feedback from the business community. Among the presenters was Curtis Lundy, founder of The Village Group, which offers mid-term housing for travel workers.
The Village Group provides temporary, luxury apartment accommodations for an average of 30 days at a time, positioning itself as a primary alternative to standard hotel stays, Airbnbs, or the rigid commitment of a long-term lease.
For Lundy, the goal is to bridge the gap between “traveling” and “living.”
“Our mindset is focused on flexibility and convenience. We still want to provide housing, but above all, we want to make it feel like you’re at home. The bridge that we provide is that you don’t have to go to a hotel, you don’t have to feel like you’re traveling. You don’t have to feel like you’re living out of a suitcase. You have a kitchen, a place to host. ”
We wanted to learn more about Lundy’s entrepreneurial journey and how he is putting his Morning Momentum advice into action as Knoxville continues its rapid expansion.
A home for a growing workforce
Lundy is originally from the Knoxville area, but extensive travel throughout Tennessee in his previous careers gave him a unique perspective on his hometown’s appeal.
“Recently, Knoxville was voted the number one place to relocate in the country, and I can understand why, with the reasonable cost of living and the gorgeous mountains,” Lundy said.
As Knoxville’s reputation grows, so does its economic footprint. According to the University of Tennessee’s 2026 Economic Outlook, the state’s job growth is expected to outpace the national average this year. However, this growth has created a dilemma. While jobs are booming, the inventory of available housing at affordable prices remains critically tight.
Lundy is strategically positioning The Village Group to solve this problem for specialized professionals like travel nurses and engineering specialists who are coming to the area on contract. By shifting his focus toward preferred provider partnerships with local hospitals and firms, Lundy hopes to create a stable pipeline of clients that are interested in this mid-length stay.
“That’s the next phase where we’re working on—developing those connections with engineering firms and hospitals,” Lundy explained. “We want to let them know that we are here and show them how our housing accommodations can take the stress off their employees or the people they have moving into the area.”
The dual-market purpose
The Village Group operates on a model that benefits both the travel worker and the local real estate market. By leasing units directly from apartment complexes, Lundy helps property managers maintain high occupancy rates during seasonal lulls.
“Sometimes the properties we deal with may be low, depending on the season,” Lundy said. “We’re able to come in, scoop their units at competitive rates, and benefit both markets.”
Fueling the local economy
Lundy views his business as a vital part of Knoxville’s economic engine. He argues that without accessible, quality housing, the city cannot successfully fill the high-level jobs it is attracting.
“I understand how the labor force in the market has a major ripple effect,” he noted. “Yes, you are here for the job and you are here for the lifestyle or income, but people also have to remember that a lot of people bring families in. In return, this benefits the whole ecosystem.”
Entrepreneurial tips
Though Lundy has dabbled in various ventures before, The Village Group represents his first deep dive into full-time entrepreneurship.
“It’s challenging, it’s exciting. It motivates me to build something that my family and my grandkids and my great grandkids can enjoy,” said Lundy.
He credited his team’s background in project management and crisis handling for their ability to provide such high-quality customer service. He recalled a specific instance involving a contract worker from Miami whose contract was renewed at the last minute during the holiday season. Though his unit had already been booked by another guest, the relationship Lundy had built allowed them to find a solution.
“I said, ‘Go on vacation. Enjoy your holiday season, and I’ll see what I can do.’ We pulled some strings so he wouldn’t have to pass up the contract or go somewhere else. He’s a very loyal repeat customer, and whenever he’s on contract in the Knoxville area, he gives me a call.”
For other local founders looking to get started, Lundy points to the community support he found early on.
“The biggest resource I would recommend is the Knoxville Chamber. They have offered a lot of resources, a lot of names, contacts, and platforms to meet those people that we need to meet,” he said.
Follow The Village Group LLC on LinkedIn.
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