Economic Development

McGhee Tyson Airport, located 30 minutes from Oak Ridge, serves the East Tennessee region with five airlines making 120 flights daily and 22 non-stop destinations. Additionally, an Oak Ridge general aviation airport is in the planning phase.

Serviced by both Norfolk Southern and CSX, the city benefits from the extensive rail networks of these major railway systems. With its strategic location at the junction of significant east-west and north-south routes, Oak Ridge becomes a vital link in the transportation chain. The presence of intermodal transportation further enhances its connectivity, providing seamless transfers between different modes of transportation.

Oak Ridge Utility District has been safely delivering natural gas to Anderson and Roane Counties communities since it became an independent non-profit utility with its own charter in 1951. Since then, their commitment to distributing safe, reliable energy remains unchanged. Today, they proudly serve nearly 14,000 customers and are continually growing.

Oak Ridge is not only well-connected by rail but also by water. With a staggering 62 barge lines providing service in the region, the city benefits from a robust water transportation network. One of the highlights is the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway, stretching for 234 miles and connecting an impressive 16,000 miles of waterways. This waterway serves as a crucial link, connecting Oak Ridge with 13 other states and providing access to the Gulf of Mexico. 

Supplied by the City of Oak Ridge Electric Department, a distributor of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Oak Ridge's electricity rates are well below the national average. The largest government-owned power producer in the nation, TVA is also among the most reliable, boasting a reliability rate of 99.999%.