excellent reliability at costs below the national average.

The land, air and rail transportation systems provide convenient and efficient access to all major markets in the U.S.

Communications

Communications infrastructure is outstanding and competitive with larger metropolitan areas.

• Redundant Fiber Optics Cable
• Asynchronous Transfer Mode
• SONET Ring (Self healing OC-12, OC-48) – offering ultra-high bandwidth speeds
• DSL, Cable Internet, ISDN
• Multi-carrier local telecom, digital and analog wireless services

Utilities

Electricity

Supplied by the municipal and cooperative distributors of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and by American Electric Power, TVA’s electricity rates are well below the national average:

• Industrial rates are 26% lower
• Commercial rates are 15% lower
• Residential rates are 25% lower

The largest power producer in the nation, TVA is also among the most reliable.

In 2007, for the eighth year in a row, TVA’s transmission system delivered power to customers with 99.999 percent reliability. During August 2007—the Valley’s hottest month on record—the TVA power system met a string of record high demands. In the month of August, TVA met its 13 highest-ever peak power demands. TVA’s transmission system lived up to its reputation for strength and reliability by delivering record amounts of power without interruption to its customers.

TVA is ready for the future. TVA has a diverse mix of power sources, including coal, hydro, nuclear generation, combustion turbines, and renewable resources that keep power flowing to its customers. In May 2007, TVA successfully restarted Browns Ferry Unit 1, the first new nuclear generating capacity of this century in the United States.

Natural Gas

Atmos Energy is the largest natural gas supplier in the U.S. and is the major supplier to the region.

• Lines are 12" and smaller
• 1030 BTU per cubic foot
• Firm gas available up to 60,000 therms per month
• Large volume available with prior notifi cation
• Interruptible gas available

Other

• Industrial and specialty chemicals readily available
• Industrial and ultra-pure gases readily available.
• Excess water processing capacities available in most of the region.
• Sewer districts operating under capacity in most of the region.

Transportation

The NETVRIDA region is a mid-point between Canada and Florida and one of the best locations in the country for distribution of your products to major markets in the U.S. based on population concentration. The region has been recognized by transportation providers as the most ideal location for distribution reaching 76 percent of the nation’s population in one-day’s travel.

Highway

• The junction of three major interstate highways located in the region – I-40, I-26, and I-81.
• Six U.S. highways, and numerous state highways and county roads interconnect the region.
• Firm gas available up to 60,000 therms per month
• Large volume available with prior notifi cation
• More than 55 general commodity motor carriers and many specialized and irregular route carriers provide service to the area.

Rail

• Two major railroads in the region- Norfolk/Southern and CSX, provide access to the port of Norfolk and port of Charleston.
  
• Both railroads also have access to north-south and east-west routes.

Air

Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) is a full-service commercial airport offering:

• 40 flights per day, including non-stop service to six hubs: Atlanta, Memphis, Orlando, Charlotte, Cincinnati, and Detroit. You can get to most destinations in the U.S. and many international locations with one connection.
• Primary runway is 8,000 feet by 150 feet. Runway 5 has a category II Instrument Landing System (ILS) and 23 has a category I ILS. Secondary runway is 4,447 feet by 150 feet. Upgraded ILS, Mark 20 ILS, GPS compatible, remote maintenance and monitoring.
• Air Cargo Logistics Center features a new 13,000 square-feet cargo facility, with 174,000-square-feet of cargo apron. The facility has a 4,000-linear-feet of parallel taxiway and new cargo apron connector, and industrial access road to handle tractor trailer traffic.
• The Customs & Border Protection Port at Tri-Cities Regional Airport offers full customs services. The Center has a Foreign-Trade Zone designation (FTZ), that included 8 designated FTZ areas in the region. This is a considerable advantage in cost savings to companies that import components or export products.
• Other general aviation airports are located throughout the region.