Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

The center gives the veteran-owned, 1977-founded construction contractor a dedicated space to train carpenters and field crews away from active client job sites.

It includes hands-on carpentry training bays, equipment and machinery storage, a gym for employees, and a conference room set to host multiple internal trainings each week. Subcontractors and partner organizations are also welcome to train there. Most recently, they hosted a training session for the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority.

“We are very excited that Hickory is having this Workforce Development Center because it gives everyone that’s living in the area, especially our younger folks, opportunities to do something different than the higher education path,” said Tracey Cooper, Vice Mayor for the City of Alcoa.

Housing small businesses

Beyond their own training, the center sets aside multiple flexible, currently unfinished bays for community tenants.

With Hickory being a construction company, the beauty is that they can build out each bay to a tenant’s specifications with the potential for a second story, a roll-up door or other customizations. The company has already fielded interest from subcontractors wanting showroom space to an esthetician exploring the site for their own studio. 

“Today not only marks an exciting milestone for opening up this brand new building, but it marks a time for opportunity for Hickory to grow their workforce and be sure that they are skilled to continue building in our community and within the region. It’s also an opportunity for other small businesses to continue to grow here,” said Blount Partnership’s Director of Economic and Community Development, Alexa Johns.

Building up the industry

Back in 2017, the company marked its 40th year in business with an announcement that it would help boost career consideration in the trades among Blount and Knox County’s next generation.

Since then, Hickory has stuck to the commitment in a plethora of ways: formalizing a partnership with the Pellissippi State Community College Foundation, staff joining Pellissippi’s Engineering Technology Program Advisory Board and the “Hickory–Built Careers in Construction” scholarship. 

This builds on honoring that commitment.

As Hickory’s President, Ben Pinnell concluded the ceremony, “This is just one more way to bring excitement to the construction industry and bring more opportunity to Alcoa.”

Watch Blount Partnerships video recap below.

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