But Wilemon said the commercial aspect of the McDonnell-Douglass project gives it stronger legs on which to stand. The future of thisproject, he said, is not based on any government projects or reliance on tax dollars. That could be the most welcomed news of all. The Yellow Creek site was first developed in the late 1970s to be the future home of a Tennessee Valley Authority nuclear plant. That was shut down in the early 1990s and work began on preparing the site to produce rocket nozzles.
Plans reportedly call for adding another one million square feet to the building.
Wilemon said the McDonnell Douglass project will not have any negative impact on other proposals or plans being considered for the site,including two electric power companies looking at the site. He said the state would ultimately like to see four or five major operationshoused in the park and he is confident that will happen.