On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, the Blount County Industrial Development Board finalized a land sale and use agreement with Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., a Delaware-based corporation managed under the Siemens Healthineers umbrella. Board members voted unanimously to approve the contract selling approximately 11.61 acres between Jackson Hills Drive and Clayton Drive for $1.875 million to Siemens Medical Solutions.

"This investment by Siemens represents a major win for Blount County. This is the largest research and development project the Industrial Development Board of Blount County and the cities of Alcoa and Maryville have secured, (and) it’s also one of the largest in the region,” said Jeff Muir, director of communications for Blount Partnership."

"Construction is anticipated to last roughly 18 months and will be split into two phases. In the first, developers will focus on constructing a production facility expected to measure roughly 66,000 square feet."

In the 2nd phase, "Developers expect to use the remaining 22,500 square feet to craft a limited-use R&D space."

Siemens has an existing production facility in the Stock Creek Industrial Park just down the road near the Knox County line. There appears to be plenty of space available at the Stock Creek location.

Pellissippi Place is "a research and development park, a technology hub, a business park and a live-work-play destination, all rolled into one."

Why is it Siemens has elected to build a production facility in an R&D park? It has been 15 or so years that there have been efforts to develop Pellissippi Place with only one business 11 years ago. Are there unreported incentives influencing Siemens' decision?