Meco Corporation officials recently announced that the company will invest $27.8 million to expand its headquarters in Greene County, which is categorized as an “economically distressed” county by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD).
Meco Corporation will invest nearly $28 million to expand its Greeneville, Tennessee, headquarters.
Through this project, the Tennessee-based manufacturer will create 67 new jobs in Tier 4, At-Risk Greene County. @americanagrillshttps://t.co/J2l938fukQ pic.twitter.com/QKNTHvjeyf
— TNECD (@TNECD) May 24, 2023
According to a TNECD press release, Meco Corporation is expected to create 67 new jobs in Greene County through its expansion project.
“We have an amazing group of associates that work together towards a common goal to produce domestically manufactured BBQ grills in Greeneville, Tennessee,” Meco Corporation President Whitney Winter said in a statement. “This group exhibits teamwork that is impressive by anyone’s standards. We are working hard to reinvest in this facility, to hire more associates throughout our organization, develop new products and expand our footprint in the BBQ market. We are grateful for the opportunity and support as we expand our workforce, and we are anxious to see what the future holds for Meco!”
Meco Corporation was founded in the Volunteer State in 1959 and manufactures steel folding furniture, step stools, OEM components, and barbecue grills. In Greeneville, the company has manufactured more than 60 million grills.
“As one of the oldest manufacturing plants in our town, it is exciting to see this locally owned company investing here in Greeneville. Meco has been a fixture in our community for over 60 years, and with this investment we hope it will continue to be here for 60 more,” Greeneville Mayor Cal Doty stated.
TNECD categorizes Greene County as a tier-4, at-risk, economically distressed county, which is the second lowest ranking in terms of a county’s economic status. According to the most recent data from the department, the county’s poverty rate is 16.9 percent, while the three-year average unemployment rate is 5.8 percent. The county’s per capita market income is $23,786.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Meco Corporation” by TNECD.
And just how much are the supposed 67 new jobs going to cost Tennessee taxpayers in “incentive” dollars? I bet there is a big cost to us taxpayers.