Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

That was the open invitation behind a recent local government briefing hosted by the Blount Partnership, where Maryville City Manager Greg McClain fielded questions from the community on the city’s priorities, budget and vision for the future. Here’s a recap of what’s taking shape.

Building here often takes a year underground before anything is visible.

The region sits on limestone full with caves and caverns, so nearly every major project must be built on piers driven deep into the ground before vertical construction can begin. The public often assumes nothing is happening on a site when, in reality, a year or more of foundational work is underway below.

An in-the-works downtown public-private parking deck project, for example, required 400 holes drilled and filled with concrete before a hotel is set to develop on top. It’s a challenge nearly every major employer in the area has faced — Smith & Wesson, the Amazon fulfillment center, the military base and the airport, which sits atop one of the largest caves in the region.

Downtown development deserves respect.

Because of those geological hurdles and the age of the city’s core, McClain urged the community to celebrate developers willing to take risks in developing downtown. These projects are often driven more by heart than by profit, yet they’re essential to keeping the city’s center vibrant and economically viable.

Broadening the tax base keeps taxes low.

Every new business that opens in Maryville helps spread the cost of city services, easing the burden on residential taxpayers. He pointed to retail recruitment wins that returned the city’s investment within 18 months. The city’s property tax rate stood at more than $2 when McClain started. The rate heading into the next fiscal year is $1.36. The city is also reporting its strongest-ever financial position, with record reserves and a strong bond rating.

Development incentives are rare yet strategic.

The city uses incentives sparingly — only when a project “lifts all boats,” such as moving the theater to help stabilize the mall or retaining anchor retailers like the Target to protect jobs and sales tax revenue in the process. New outparcel development is also suspected to come to the mall area.

Maryville’s utility grid is strong.

The city’s electric system carries almost no debt and delivers 99.99% reliability — a major selling point for employers evaluating where to locate. The city can serve most new loads today and would coordinate with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on larger industrial users.

Schools are growing with the city.

Maryville High School is undergoing a $58 million expansion with 48 new classrooms and a large auditorium addition. This will bring ninth graders back to the high school campus instead of the middle school. Once complete, both schools with sit at 80% capacity. This leaves room for growth over the next few decades. Sam Houston Elementary is also expanding. Strong schools, McClain noted, remain one of the region’s biggest draws for families and employers. And yes, the high school project required a year of underground construction first.

Don’t be afraid to build.

McClain recalled early opposition to Alcoa highway or the bypass. However, these are now widely viewed as some of the best things to happen to the area. He urged the community to support growth. Even though this often means change and some construction annoyances, it also means stronger economic and community development for Blount County, surrounding areas and the state.

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