Two new spec buildings at I-75 Exit 60 are under construction for 2027, in a park planned for 12 buildings and build-to-suit projects up to 1 million square feet, plus or minus.
SWEETWATER, Tenn. (Oct. 20, 2026) The Hollingsworth Companies broke ground on Monday, Oct. 19, marking the start of Phase I at the new SouthPoint Industrial Business Park in Sweetwater, a 150-acre industrial park directly adjacent to Interstate 75 at Exit 60, between Knoxville and Chattanooga. The first two spec buildings, TM-192 and TM-193, are under construction and targeted for occupancy in the second quarter of 2027. For manufacturers, site selectors and brokers looking at East Tennessee, that means new Class A industrial buildings on the I-75 corridor on a 2027 timeline.
A Groundbreaking Built on Partnership
The City of Sweetwater, McMinn County, Monroe County and The Hollingsworth Companies hosted the ribbon cutting and groundbreaking. U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, the featured speaker, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann joined Sweetwater Mayor Angie Arp Kyle, McMinn County Mayor John Gentry, Monroe County Mayor Mitch Ingram, Sweetwater City Administrator Jessica Morgan and Joe A. Hollingsworth, Jr., CEO of The Hollingsworth Companies. Commissioners, state legislators, county economic development leaders and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development representatives also attended. Mayor Kyle thanked the Sweetwater Utilities Board, McMinn County, Monroe County and Watts Bar Utility District for their partnership, and Morgan noted that work toward an industrial site here began in 2018. Congressman Fleischmann called the project “exactly what we need on this I-75 corridor.”
“We recognize that projects of this size do not happen overnight. They require vision, planning, collaboration, and a shared commitment to the future,” said Morgan, who led the program. “We look forward to seeing this vision take shape and to the opportunities it will bring to Sweetwater, Monroe County, McMinn County, and the broader East Tennessee region.”
“Imagine this: 12 buildings, 2,000 jobs. Not that far away,” said Joe A. Hollingsworth, Jr., who closed the program. “We’re too great to dream small dreams. Together, let’s make the big dreams happen. Onward and upward.”
Two Spec Buildings and Room to Grow
SouthPoint Tennessee in Sweetwater is developed by The Hollingsworth Companies in partnership with Sweetwater Developments LLC. The plan calls for 12 new Class A industrial buildings, eight in Phase I and four in Phase II, and the park can accommodate build-to-suit projects of up to 1 million square feet, plus or minus. The first two spec buildings are:
- TM-192: 130,477 square feet, expandable to 195,277 square feet, with 32-foot clear height and 13 dock doors
- TM-193: 173,824 square feet, expandable to 325,024 square feet, with 32-foot clear height and 21 dock doors
Both buildings are targeted for Q2 2027 and include 60-by-60-foot column spacing, ESFR fire suppression and planned expansion capacity. Both are also listed on TVA Sites.
Why Sweetwater
Sweetwater sits directly on I-75 with convenient connectivity to I-40. Knoxville is about 50 minutes away, Chattanooga about 60 minutes, and McGhee Tyson Airport about 30 minutes. More than 500,000 workers are within a 50-mile radius, and many already commute to major employers in the region, including Oak Ridge and TVA’s Watts Bar and Sequoyah plants. Tennessee is a right-to-work state with no state personal income tax, and the area offers competitive, stable utility rates.
What’s Next
Phase I site work has been underway since this summer, and construction on TM-192 and TM-193 continues toward Q2 2027 delivery. We will share construction progress here and on LinkedIn as the buildings take shape.
Let’s Talk Early
If your company or client needs new industrial space in East Tennessee in 2027, or a build-to-suit site on I-75, we would welcome the conversation now. Building details for TM-192 and TM-193 are on our website.
Contact: John Bainer, Vice President of Industrial Real Estate, The Hollingsworth Companies
jbainer@hollingsworthcos.com
(865) 719-3902
See our LinkedIn recap of the SouthPoint Sweetwater groundbreaking.
About The Hollingsworth Companies
The Hollingsworth Companies develops and operates Class A industrial buildings across the Southeast, helping manufacturers and distributors secure strategic space for long-term growth. Since 1972, we have delivered industrial real estate solutions through high-quality buildings, flexible development approaches, and a long-term commitment to the businesses and communities we serve.
