All roads lead to Tennessee

Think of Tennessee and you might envision Davy Crockett, the Great Smoky Mountains, or the Grand Ole Opry. Lesser-known facts are that it's the fifteenth-fastest-growing state in the country and situated in the center of the South. More than 75 percent of the country's population is within a day's

Tennessee is long and narrow - 500 miles from east to west and borders eight states. It has three distinct geographic regions and occupies two time zones. A number of interstates, railroads, and navigable waterways cross its expanse. Very few extreme weather situations arise that create major transportation or business delays.

Manufacturing has long been an economic strength of the state last year it accounted for 24 percent of the gross state product. Major manufacturing sectors include automotive, chemicals, food processing, commercial and industrial machinery, fabricated metals, appliances, plastics, and printing and publishing.