The Kingsport Academic Village consists of six buildings administered by North-east State Community College: Kingsport Center for Higher Education (KCHE), Regional Center for Applied Manufacturing (RCAM), Regional Center for Health Professions (RCHP), Regional Center for Automotive Programs (RCAP), and Blazier-Wilson Hall. Students are able to earn selected baccalaureate and graduate degrees from participating colleges and universities as well as associate degrees from Northeast State.
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Entrepreneurs and Business
Kingsport has a strong and active entrepreneurial spirit, with a history of industry and business. There are several opportunities for new businesses and strategic partnerships.
Average Household Income
There’s a predicted rate of increase of 15% over the next 5 years.
5.4%
Unemployment Rates
Top 10 Largest Non-Government Employers
| Top 10 Employers by Jobs in Sullivan Country* | Type of Business | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|
|
Healthcare | 11,230 |
|
Chemical Industry/Manufacturing | 7,000 |
|
Food Services | 6,271 |
|
Education | 2,450 |
|
Healthcare | 2,400 |
|
Retail, Private Label, Customer Service | 1,973 |
|
Call Center | 1,500 |
|
Food | 1,177 |
|
Manufacturing | 1,076 |
|
Healthcare | 1,035 |
Top 10 Largest Manufacturers
| Top 10 Employers by Jobs in Sullivan Country* | Type of Product(s) | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Chemicals | 7,000 |
|
|
Water Products | 1,076 |
|
Security and Defense | 800 |
|
Rubber and Automotive Hosing | 800 |
|
Specialty Fuel | 750 |
|
Fencing, Railing, and Hardware | 700 |
|
Electrical Products | 600 |
|
Fiber Products | 530 |
|
Greeting Cards | 461 |
|
Motion and Control Technologies | 440 |
Healthy Workplaces
Workplace health is taken very serioursly in Kingsport. Efforts made by Healthy Kingsport to provide healthy eating options, encourage healthy activities such as walking and biking, and sharing educational information about how to take small steps to improve day-to-day healthy living have all made an impact on Kingsport’s community and workplaces.
Worforce and Education Development
Catalytic Investments
Project Inspire in 2013
Eastman Chemical Co, a specialty chemical products company serving markets such as adhesives, coatings, electronics and medical, constructed a major expansion of the 100-year-old Tennessee company. Called Project Inspire, Eastman invested over $1.6 billion in its Kingsport site and added 300 new jobs through 2020.
Town Park Lofts
Opening its first phase in December of 2018 the luxury apartment complex offers 263 apartment units, the complex also will include retail storefronts facing Clinchfield Street. The investment totals more than $32 million in a key downtown entry point.
Kingsport Press Redevelopment Site
In 2008, the City took possession of approximately 54 separate buildings totaling 950,000 sf spanning 20 acres over two city blocks for $1. For $64 Million in private investment the site now houses ETSU at Downtown Kingsport, The Kingsport Chamber offices, the Kingsport City Schools Administration office and DB EXCEL, many medical offices, the Farmers Market, Carousel and local Grocer.