The Tennesseans won’t give up.
After sending flashlights to power-sensitive California companies earlier this year, recruiters from the Volunteer State were in Orange County last week pitching companies on relocation.
“Things are going very well,” said Alex Fischer, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. “I am really surprised at how responsive companies are to the power crisis.”
The Tennessee agency made a splash when it sent flashlights to 1,000 California companies in response to the power crunch. Last week’s visit to Southern California was designed as a follow-up. The officials were here on a three-day visit and met with 35 companies in OC and Los Angeles.
“Almost a third of the companies that we are meeting with are based in Orange County,” Fischer said last week. Out-of-state recruiters who’ve watched haplessly as California’s economy has surged are back in action as the state grapples with a power shortage and rolling blackouts.
Tennessee is among the most aggressive states trying to capitalize on the power crisis. Texas and Colorado are some of the others trying to make the most out of California’s energy woes.
The Tennessee officials started their trip with a bash at the Orange Hill restaurant in Orange. The dinner party counted 75 attendees, according to Fischer. On Wednesday, the visitors threw a similar dinner event in Venice, where they had received 170 reservations. “We might have to order more food,” Fischer joked.
Fischer said he believes the flashlights, meetings and dinners will pay off.
“There are a dozen prospective clients who are very serious about setting up operations in Tennessee,” he said. “The others are longer-term projects that would materialize over the next 24 months or so.”
Tennessee officials said they are in advanced talks with an OC-based medical device maker that wants to set up a $75 million expansion plan, but refused to give further details. The device maker “wants to set up its manufacturing and distribution operations in Memphis,” Fischer said. The officials also said that they are talking to a couple of OC software companies.
“Companies are tired of the power crisis, high cost of living, traffic gridlock and the regulatory environment,” Fischer said. “The power issue is the straw that is breaking the camel’s back.” n
