Knoxville placed tenth and remained among one of the best cities in the country to do business according to the 2008 Forbes magazine rankings of the top 10 metros for business and careers. This recognition as one of the top metros is characteristic of a diverse market, and the accolades don't stop there:

• One of the 50 Hottest Cities for Business Relocation and Expansion, Expansion Management, 2005, 2006, 2007.
• Among the top 10 Best Places for Business and Careers, Forbes, 2006, 2007, 2008.
• First among Best Places for Recent College Graduates, Economic Research Institute, 2006.
• Third nationally in Salary Value Index, Salary.com, 2006.
• Ninth among Hottest Mid-size Cities for Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur, 2006.
• One of only 12 Solar Cities chosen for a grant by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2008 to integrate solar technology into public buildings.
• UT's Supply Chain & Logistics graduate program ranked #9 by U.S. News & World Reports for 2010.

Commerce and industry vary, from the media giant Scripps Television Networks (HGTV, DIY, Food Network, GAC, and Fine Living), to Sysco Corporation’s (largest food service marketer and distributor in North America) regional warehouse and distribution center. In addition, many other local companies are recognized as national and global leaders, including Clayton Homes, Brunswick Corporation, Green Mountain Coffee, Bush Brothers, Pilot Corporation, and Ruby Tuesday.

Knox County has a mix of private and quasi-publicly owned business and office parks and a Technology Corridor to meet a wide range of corporate facility needs. In 2008, over 1,000 new jobs were created in Knox County, 1,963 jobs across the metro area.