The Trenton, S.C., site was actually a possibility for Shaw's project, as was a site in Dallas, Ga.
   "From a state incentives standpoint, we had three plants that could have worked functionally, and each would have been happy for us to open back up," says Dobbins.

Today there is a capital campaign to restore the Princess Theater (shown above in 1947), and the South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society has had preliminary discussions with Shaw about donating hardwood flooring from its newly repurposed plant for the effort. Below, volunteers repair its brick facade in the summer of 2000.

   "One of the attractions of South Pittsburg was several hundred qualified candidates that had worked for us before," says Williams. Even though the required skill level was higher than for the previous yarn facility, "we knew the area," he says. In fact, many of the former plant's employees had gone to work for Shaw in other plants within commuting distance in both Georgia and Alabama.
   Also helping South Pittsburg was the enthusiasm of Tennessee's lead project manager on the case, Millie Callaway, who "has a strong and pleasant personality and is a go-getter," says Woods, adding that her team moved "very quickly." How quickly? Her boss picks up the story.
   "The timeline on this from our perspective was fairly tight," says Matt Kisber, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Community and Economic Development. "When we first got involved, Millie Callaway out of Chattanooga led the project, in late July 2005, when we were requested to provide some information to the consultant. After we provided that, we put the Jobs Cabinet approach to work. We convened the state partners, as well as TVA and our local partners, to work through the project and think as a team of what we could do. In less than 10 days after starting conversation, we had a firm proposal back to the company."
   "I was impressed with their level of cooperation," says Wilkinson. "Millie Callaway was instrumental. She did a great job of pulling together the state level, local, Tennessee Valley Authority, any organization that could have a part in the process. We had some preliminary meetings in South Pittsburg, and all those groups were repped – they helped us pull the whole picture together very quickly."
   Kisber says the state's new worker's comp reform is causing a number of manufacturers who had downsized or left the state to reassess their plans, though Shaw officials demur on whether the reform was a site selection factor. More directly, Shaw benefits from a statutory jobs tax credit of $4,500 per job created as well as customized fast-track job training for those jobs.

Matt Kisber, commissioner, Tennessee Dept. of Economic & Community Development

A similar funding program for related infrastructure needs like an access road and site prep will be accomplished through applications to the state by local partners. In addition to applicant screening and on-the-job training, TVA has a few programs of its own. Shaw officials say they've ramped up so fast they have yet to take full advantage of the training benefit.
   Asked how the state keeps it all in perspective when companies close down like Shaw did in 2004, Kisber says, "Having a governor [Phil Bredesen] who's been a corporate CEO keeps you focused on the fact that the business world is a fluid and dynamic venue, and it's important to maintain a dialogue with companies that for some reason have closed operations in the state. Fortunes change, and you want to take advantage of better opportunities.
   "I think this project is extremely important to Marion County and South Pittsburg," he continues. "It's a perfect example of a rural community that has lost some manufacturing jobs and has worked very hard to try to bring them back. To have a company of Shaw's reputation decide to come back after they previously left is a huge vote of confidence in the community. It bodes well for this project, but it also gives them an added level of confidence to go build on [those jobs] with other jobs."
   "I cannot praise the state of Tennessee enough," says Mayor Killian. He hopes to lure those other jobs with, among other things, "hundreds if not thousands of acres" that the city has options on in concert with the adjacent city of New Hope at their jointly owned river port.