Nashville State Invested in Growth and Success of Montgomery County

As growth expands in the Clarksville, Montgomery County area, economic development opportunities arise that benefit local residents and business interests.

LG Chem is one such company that brings a transformative influence, positively impacting the local economy and skilled labor market, while allowing families to be more financially viable due to good-paying careers. 

The Montgomery County Budget Committee approved a proposal authorizing land to LG Chem to open a new large facility, which broke ground on December 20, 2023.

Recently, a local consortium of governmental and higher education officials traveled to South Korea to meet with LG Chem to discuss workforce development strategies and partnerships.

The group, which included the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council, Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Workforce Essentials, Nashville State Community College, Austin Peay State University, TCAT Dickson and Clarksville campus, and the Tennessee Valley Authority, visited with LG Chem, LG Electronics, Hankook Tire & Technology, and Dongwha Electrolyte.  

Hankook has announced that it plans to expand its local footprint, requiring the doubling of current employees to meet the need.

The traveling party also had the opportunity to visit cultural sites.

The focus of the trip was to connect culturally and professionally and establish goals and learning objectives for workforce training and development in preparation for the companies they visited with building and expanding their operations in Montgomery County.

Nashville State Electrical Engineering Technology program coordinator Peter Ortner represented the College on the trip.

“Our mission was to visit four major business partners that are, or will be in the Clarksville area and to build a strong relationship for the development of a well-educated and skilled workforce as well as discover the educational needs of future employees to help these companies be successful for decades to come,” said Ortner. “We all left South Korea very impressed and even more excited for the future.”

Nashville State Clarksville campus, which is soon undergoing a $35 million dollar renovation and expansion, will play a key role in building a curriculum and implementing direct hands-on training and classroom instruction so incumbent and future employees have the skills to succeed.

“With Clarksville and Montgomery County’s fast-paced growth, Nashville State Community College is working to make sure we continue expanding program offerings in career fields that match local needs,” said Kathleen Akers, Nashville State’s Clarksville campus director. "We are excited that our Clarksville campus expansion will allow us to do just that, meet the needs of the growing Clarksville-Montgomery County workforce."

LG Chem alone, as reported, is expected to bring approximately 300 six-figure jobs, with a total nearing 900.

Jobs may include process control technicians, quality control technicians, chemical engineers, manufacturing electrical maintenance technicians, logisticians, millwrights, and pipefitters.