December 2025
The Knoxville, TN market is accelerating, driven by major nuclear and tech investments, strong population and workforce growth, new business expansions, and a booming entertainment market that together signal a city on the rise.
Advanced Nuclear Fuel Center to Bring Over 800 Jobs to Oak Ridge
What This Means For You: Oklo Inc., an advanced nuclear technology company, announced plans to move to a 247-acre site at the Oak Ridge Heritage Center as part of a nearly $1.7 billion expansion. It will create the nation’s first privately funded nuclear fuel recycling facility to help meet the need growing fuel demand for advanced reactors.
$280M Nuclear Microreactor Factory in Oak Ridge to Add 175 Jobs
What This Means For You: A California-based nuclear startup with roots in space exploration is headed to Oak Ridge. With a $280 million investment in East Tennessee, Radiant Industries aims to be the first to bring a portable nuclear microreactor to the private market in the U.S. In the process, it would create 175 jobs.
Knoxville Projected to Be 2026’s Most Popular Moving Destination
What This Means For You: A recent moveBuddha report forecasted which U.S. cities will see the most move-ins and growth in the upcoming year. Knoxville topped the list, proving to be the most attractive city for people moving in 2026, according to the report.
New Water-Treatment Manufacturer Moves to Knox County, Creating 94 Jobs
What This Means For You: Aqua Membranes will create 94 new jobs and invest $6.6 million as the company constructs its newest facility in the Forks of the River Valley Industrial Park, its first location outside its headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Through the project, the company will significantly expand its manufacturing capacity, support large-scale customer contracts, and accelerate the adoption of its RO membrane technology across the globe.
University of Tennessee (UT) Posts Record Enrollment & Retention
What This Means For You: Enrollment data shows that UT’s retention rate has risen for the third consecutive year, with more than 92.4% of first-year students from last year returning for their sophomore year. They also experience notable enrollment growth, which hit an institutional record of 40,421 this fall.
Tech Startup Headquarters Moving to Knoxville, Partnering with UT
What This Means For You: Tech startup TreisD is moving its headquarters to the University of Tennessee Research Park at Cherokee Farm before launching its manufacturing facility later this year. The company uses polymer plastics to print 3D images onto a film and objects as an anti-counterfeiting measure, and people can view the 3D images with the naked eye. Additionally, the company is working with the university and the research park to teach a capstone project course with students and lead a feasibility study visualizing sinkholes.
Knoxville Getting a 47,000-square-foot Pickleball Club and a Bar-Dog Park Combo
What This Means For You: Ace Pickleball Club, a national franchise known for its community-focused approach, is expanding to Knoxville with a new 47,000-square-foot facility. The club will feature 15 competition-sized courts and one dinking court, making it the largest climate-controlled indoor pickleball facility in Tennessee. The Knoxville location will create 10 new local jobs.
