Business View Magazine - November 2016

Business View Magazine - November 2016 117 the city’s largest employers and the Summer Regional Medical Center, which is the county’s largest employer. One unique advantage that Gallatin offers both po- tential and current businesses is that the city owns all of its own utilities: gas, water, sewer, and even elec- tric. “Recently, those departments have undertaken some pretty massive expansions to accommodate our growth,” says Bates. “And we have great rates. That’s what helps us attract business and industry.” Fenton elaborates: “It makes the conversation so much easier when we have prospects coming to talk to us. We’re able to sit everyone down in the room with no concerns about fiefdoms that sometimes exist with utility companies,” he says. “More importantly, with us owning, we are able to look to the future and make investments. We have utility infrastructure through large swaths of land that are primed for development, already. We don’t have to wait for it once somebody decides to come and invest. Three years ago, we fin- ished a $30 million wastewater treatment facility. It’s very advanced and we have excess capacity. They’re already working on increasing and upgrading our wa- ter intake treatment so that we get to stay ahead of the curve. The electric company is putting in new substa- tions before they’re needed. They’re working with the TVA provider to make sure that we have what compa- nies need when they move into the area. And we have the lowest residential electric rates in the Tennessee Valley Authority area – and some of the lowest indus- trial rates, also. That’s because we own it.” As long as Gallatin continues investing in its infrastruc- ture, and its own utilities, its future success as the em-