11/13/2001

Chattanooga, TN—Mayor Bob Corker and County Executive Claude Ramsey today announced their endorsement and recommendation to the City Council and County Commission of Fluor Global Location Strategies (FGLS), an international industry location and site development company,  to serve as lead consultant for guiding the development of the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant (VAAP) site.

Publicly traded, Fluor is regarded as a world-class consulting firm, with proven expertise in site marketing, site location consulting services and has successfully located some of the world’s most prestigious companies.

Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker said, “The proper development of the VAAP site may be the most important project our community has undertaken in recent history.  Fluor brings with them international experience in developing sites similar to VAAP and an impressive Rolodex of Fortune 500 companies they have successfully placed in communities throughout the country.  Their involvement will be critical as we work to establish the largest number of high paying jobs on every acre of the VAAP site.”

Fluor will begin work as soon as the contract is approved and is expected to complete their initial plan within 12 weeks.  The first phase of work will be aimed at targeting industries for the site, evaluating the site’s competitive strengths, developing marketing strategies and identifying other key elements necessary to position VAAP as a premier industrial location.  The company will also work with engineering firm, Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon, in the development of an initial site development plan, layout features, division of parcels and planning of infrastructure components for the site.

County Executive Claude Ramsey commented, “We are very fortunate that we will be working with Fluor, a company with an outstanding international reputation, on the next component of the VAAP Development.  As we hone the master plan for VAAP, their expertise will help us identify the site and development characteristics required by world-class corporations when they choose a location.  Their strong relationships with so many of the companies that we want to attract to our community is very exciting."

The result of this project and the cooperative efforts of FGLS and BWSC will be a blueprint that identifies optimal development and marketing of the VAAP site to achieve the highest results possible for the economic progress of the community.  A full-scale master planning process is likely to follow the initial work of the consulting team. To expedite development progress, aspects of site preparation, infrastructure development and marketing of the site are expected to begin by the conclusion of the initial work by FGLS and BWSC, if not before.   

A 5-member group consisting of Mayor Bob Corker, County Executive Claude Ramsey, City Council Chairman Yusuf Hakeem, County Commissioner Richard Cassavant and Chamber President Tom Edd Wilson oversaw the selection of Fluor.

A specific description of the services Fluor will provide is provided on the attached fact sheet.  The total cost for the project, which will be split between the city and county is $198,000 for services provided by Fluor and for the additional component that will be coordinated through Fluor with Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon.

For more information, contact Todd Womack, Communications Director, at 423-757-5168