County Executive J Mack Chandler, Lawrenceburg Mayor Keith Durham, and Daniel Webb, Executive Director of Economic Development received the John S. Wilder Award presented by The Tennessee Development District Association and The South Central Tennessee Development District. The presentation took place at the downtown Sheraton in Nashville, TN. Lawrence County was the only county that received an award for creation of new jobs into the county due to the expansion of Modine. Chandler stated it’s all about teamwork and working together.

The City of Lawrenceburg and Lawrence County are rebuilding Tennessee through an industrial expansion. Modine Manufacturing, a producer of radiators, HVAC system modules, and oil coolers, considered relocating from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee to Mexico to take advantage of lower manufacturing wages. The company was persuaded to remain in Lawrence County because of the commitment from Lawrenceburg, Lawrence County, Lawrenceburg/Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and the State of Tennessee. The City of Lawrenceburg, Lawrence County, and chamber officials, working with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and South Central Tennessee Development District, were able to acquire $570,000 in Tennessee Fast Track funds to improve the old Murray Manufacturing facility in order to accommodate Modine’s heavy manufacturing needs. This project not only retained 180 employees but created an additional 280 high skilled jobs. Additionally, South Central Tennessee Development District was able to assist the City of Lawrenceburg in obtaining $500,000 in Appalachian Regional Commission funds to expand the roadways which serve Modine Manufacturing and eleven other companies in the Lawrenceburg Industrial Park.