Moving to
Shelbyville, TN

MARQUEE PROJECT — Duksan Electera America manufacturing facility. South Korea-based Duksan Electera, an electrolyte manufacturer supplying lithium-ion/EV battery cell makers, chose Shelbyville for its first North American plant. The project was announced in July 2022 by Gov. Bill Lee and TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, broke ground, and held its grand opening on January 29, 2025. It is now operational.

Investment & jobs: $95 million capital investment in Bedford County, with a commitment of 100-plus new jobs (101 cited at announcement) over five years.

Size & capacity: roughly 220,000 sq ft of building area plus 50,000 sq ft of outdoor tank storage. The plant is designed to produce about 60,000 tons of electrolytes annually and is described as the largest electrolyte manufacturing facility in the country. The facility (designed by Gresham Smith) includes a two-story Class-A office building, clean rooms, dry rooms, refrigerated warehousing, and enhanced fire protection for sensitive chemicals.

Expansion outlook: company leadership has said it could expand production within the existing footprint and is scouting additional Tennessee locations, with a stated goal of becoming the leading U.S. electrolyte manufacturer by 2028. (Forward-looking company statements, not guarantees.)

SECOND MAJOR PROJECT — Bedford County Higher Education Center (TCAT Shelbyville). A $45.4 million project in Shelbyville serving as the new main campus for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Shelbyville on a 20-acre site. Scope includes a two-story academic building with classrooms, student services, administrative offices, a student commons/eatery, labs (nursing, CAD technology, office technology), and a multi-use atrium. Builder: American Constructors Inc.; design: Bauer Askew Architecture. The City of Shelbyville and Bedford County purchased and donated the land.

Other notable activity: Shelbyville's FY26 budget funds several city projects, including Riverview District/Spring Street improvements, a River Overlook, and a Fairfield Pike turn-lane/sidewalk/signal upgrade. These are public-infrastructure investments rather than a single private megaproject.

Bottom line for context: Duksan Electera is the clear marquee private-sector development (largest single capital investment and a nationally significant facility), while the TCAT Higher Education Center is the largest public/institutional project.