SmileDirectClub Plans Manufacturing Campus in Columbia, Tennessee
09/17/2020
The company will invest $34 million and create more than 600 new jobs as part of the expansion.
The new facility will allow SmileDirectClub to extend its manufacturing capabilities for its clear aligners in support of its continued expansion and growth while also increasing organizational resilience and introducing innovations to its supply chain.
“SmileDirectClub is grateful for the continued support of Governor Lee, Commissioner Rolfe, Senator Hensley, Representative Cepicky and the partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority and Maury County. In these unprecedented times, having a second facility located in Maury County allows our team the ability to safely travel between our manufacturing locations, and provides us the additional manufacturing capacity and strong talent pool we need as we continue our global expansion. We are looking forward to further expanding our presence in Tennessee,” Dan Baker, Global Head of Supply Chain at SmileDirectClub explained.
The Department of Economic and Community Development said this project represents SmileDirectClub’s third expansion in Tennessee in three years. In March 2019, the company announced it would invest $217 million and create more than 2,000 jobs across its Nashville headquarters and Middle Tennessee facilities.
Two years prior, SmileDirectClub pledged to invest $4.5 million to expand two Davidson County locations, which supported the creation of nearly 450 new jobs. SmileDirectClub has been headquartered in Nashville since 2016. “As we continue to focus our efforts on rebooting Tennessee’s economy, it’s a positive sign when companies are able to grow and create jobs in our state. SmileDirectClub’s newest Tennessee facility and its commitment to create over 600 new jobs will provide a significant boost for Columbia and Maury County while helping our state get back on track,” said Governor Bill Lee.
“SmileDirectClub is a valued partner, and we could not be more pleased that the company has chosen to expand its Tennessee presence yet again by investing $34 million and creating hundreds of new jobs in Columbia. Since bringing its headquarters to Nashville four years ago, SmileDirectClub has seen tremendous growth, and we thank the company for continuing to provide Tennesseans with high-quality job opportunities,” added TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe.
“Today's announcement, one of the largest jobs announcements in our community in a generation, is a win for Columbia and our entire region. SmileDirectClub is bringing over 600 new jobs to Columbia at just the right time, a time of economic and employment uncertainty, due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, but also a time when the city of Columbia is well positioned for smart growth and progress in the weeks, months and years ahead. I appreciate SmileDirectClub for their investment in our community and look forward to their success here. I am grateful for Governor Lee, TNECD, the City of Columbia Industrial Development Board, and the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance for their quick and decisive actions on this project, without which this announcement would not be possible,” said Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder.
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