I'm here at Warehouse Row where Access America Transport's CEO made a huge announcement for the local economy earlier today.
AAT started as a two person company and now they work with 72 fortune five hundred companies.
With Chattanooga's history of shipping the Chattanooga Chamber President and CEO described this growth as a perfect fit.
Access America Transport is en route to becoming the type of company CEO Ted Alling envisions.
"When we first started I said I was going to be a 100 million dollar company and people thought I was nuts, but obviously we've far exceeded that. Now I say we're going to be a billion dollar company and all our people believe that," Alling says.
AAT announced the addition of 550 more jobs throughout the next five years.
450 of those jobs will be in Chattanooga, while nearby Knoxville will get a hundred more jobs...
AAT serves as a middleman between shipping companies and shipments.
Alling says the company helps make the most of the trips big trucks are already taking also lowers the carbon footprint by utilizing those empty miles.
Bill Hagerty, Tennessee's Commissioner of Economic Development, says the announcement is in keeping with Governor Bill Haslam's statewide goals.
"Today is typical of the kind of thing Governor Haslam is trying to achieve across the state," Hagerty says.
Chattanooga Chamber CEO Ron Harr described AAT as a perfect fit with the city.
Harr says "It's exactly the type of job that we're always looking for to bring to Chattanooga, and here it is coming from a company that's already here and growing and that makes it even more exciting."
And as for the requirements of potential employees, Alling jokes he prefers a "Ph.D." but not the kind you might expect.
"Poor, hungry, and driven. I kinda just look for people that are positive, that are a good fit with our culture. So we have this very upbeat, positive, enthusiastic workforce."
Access America Transport is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
Alling says they've never stopped hiring.
