(The Center Square) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said next week’s trip to the Paris Air Show is part of the state’s international recruitment efforts.
The governor will be accompanied by Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter on the journey, which will include several meetings, according to a release from Lee’s office.
They traveled to the show in 2023 as part of a trip to Paris and Bologna, Italy, according to a previous report from The Center Square. More than $117,000 of taxpayer funds was reportedly spent over a six-day economic development trip.
Lee’s group stayed at a five-star hotel next to the Eiffel Tower while scheduling two days of free time in Paris, according to a report from the Tennessean. Lee was one of 10 governors at the Paris Air Show.
The Center Square was unsuccessful getting comment from Lee’s office on the cost of the upcoming trip.
One of the meetings on this trip is with Orano USA, which announced plans in September to build a multi-billion dollar uranium enrichment facility in Oak Ridge, according to a release. The company’s headquarters is in France.
“For more than 40 years, Orano has supplied U.S. reactors with enriched uranium from our Tricastin facility in the south of France,” said Jean-Luc Palayer, CEO of Orano USA. “By visiting this commercial enrichment center, Tennessee leadership will see the same technology and processes planned for the Oak Ridge site.”
McWhorter said it’s important for the state to prioritize international recruitment.
“In the last two years, we have tracked commitments made in Tennessee as a direct result of meetings held during our international trips,” McWhorter said. “I am proud to share that 1,200 new jobs have been created and nearly $270 million has been invested by companies we have visited abroad like Schneider Electric, Landmark Ceramics and Howmet Aerospace.”
More than 70 French-based companies employ more than 12,000 in the Volunteer State, according to the release. The state added 12 French-based projects, leading to the creation of 2,826 jobs and $4.9 billion in capital investment since the governor took office in 2019, Lee’s office said.
“Tennessee consistently ranks as a top state for business thanks to our strong economy, low taxes, and talented workforce, but companies consider more than these factors when choosing where to invest,” Lee said. “As states across the country compete for economic investment, we prioritize relationships – so that leading global brands know we’re committed to delivering greater opportunity for Tennesseans through successful, lasting partnerships.”
