Rutherford County: The Perfect Place to Do Business

Courtesy of ICEE

When new and expanding businesses are site searching, Rutherford County stands out. Oftentimes, it’s the impressive educational system, starting in kindergarten and continuing into college, that first catches their eye. But a welcoming community, impressive infrastructure and innovative spirit are other reasons companies like ICEE, Hunter Fan Co. and Woods Air Movement choose invest in and relocate to Rutherford County. 

Maker of an Icy Favorite 

Every child knows what an ICEE is, but they may not know that the company that makes the iconic treat is headquartered in La Vergne. ICEE opened operations in the city in 2019. 

“We moved to Tennessee because we loved the area, and we thought many of our employees would want to move to Tennessee and love it here, and that has happened,” says Dan Fachner, CEO of J&J Snack Foods Corp., parent company of The ICEE Company. 

Founded in 1967, ICEE is the leader and innovator in the frozen beverage industry. “We looked at many areas in Greater Nashville, and we felt that Rutherford County would be a great fit for ICEE and offer a terrific talent pool for the business,” Fachner says. 

Fachner adds that the key factors that drew the company to La Vergne and the Rutherford County region are still true today. 

“ICEE continues to grow, thanks to having wonderful employees, and we are proud to be part of the Rutherford County community,” he says. “We even have the ICEE Bear on the water tower on Mason Road to make sure people know we are happy to be here.” 

A Big Fan of the Area 

Hunter Industrial, a division of Hunter Fan Co., moved into the Smyrna Airport Business Park in 2020. The first to create ceiling fans, Hunter is known for testing all of its fans before shipment. The Smyrna location provides a state-of-the-art customer experience center and training facility that includes an industry-leading testing lab. 

“Hunter Industrial is not just located in Smyrna, we are proud to call it home,” says Mark D’Agostino, senior vice president and general manager. “Our community is a testament to the dedication and pride of its individuals – values that are mirrored in each industrial fan we produce. Smyrna’s diversity, from budding entrepreneurs to established businesses across industries, presents Hunter Industrial with a unique opportunity to partner locally and ensure we meet their needs for the long term.” 

With a history dating back to 1886, Hunter has always been a company that looks ahead. 

“We are committed to continuous innovation in the industrial and commercial fan space, ensuring our products consistently surpass customers’ expectations, while further establishing ourselves in the Smyrna community we care so much about,” D’Agostino says. 

A Move in the Right Direction 

After completing a feasibility study looking at several states in 2021, Woods Air Movement chose to relocate to Rutherford County. 

“We found Tennessee and the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, particularly Patrick Cammack (senior vice president of economic development), to be highly engaged and understanding of Woods’ potential and our need for a custom-fit factory to produce axial flow fans,” says Daniel Luesley, president of Woods Air Movement in Murfreesboro. “The chamber’s team assisted us in finding a suitable location with good transit links and connected us with Swanson Developments, which designed the building to meet our specific needs.” 

Woods also was attracted to Rutherford County’s network of local universities – including Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Motlow State Community College and Tennessee Tech University, which is located in Cookeville about an hour away. 

“Our products and services require a high level of engineering, and the region’s universities and technical colleges gave us confidence that we could recruit a local team to effectively serve our customers,” Luesley says. 

As for the future, Luesley says Woods is currently experiencing a growth stage marked by the company’s reentry into the North American market with a well-established and trusted brand. 

“We have already secured orders in both the building markets and Tunnel and Metro segments,” he says. “To support this growth, we are continuing to invest in local staff to expand our team and plan to continue investing in our infrastructure at our factory and testing laboratory located in Murfreesboro.”