The Costco Strategy: Building Clarksville's Next Growth Corridor

Buck Dellinger, CEO, Josh Ward Executive Director and Janet Wilson, Vice President of Urban Development of the Economic Development Council of Montgomery County discus the strategic recruitment of Costco as a foundational element for the new Freedom Farms mixed-use development. The project involves a massive land assembly effort near Interstate 24, combining private trust property with county-owned acreage to create a master-planned regional hub. To secure the retailer, the local government utilized a performance-based incentive model, ensuring taxpayers only provide rewards after specific sales tax and revenue milestones are achieved. Officials emphasized that the store will act as an anchor tenant, attracting high-end retailers like Nordstrom Rack and Trader Joe's while keeping millions in local tax dollars from "bleeding" to nearby cities. Beyond shopping, the development aims to improve infrastructure and traffic flow through internal road networks that alleviate pressure on existing main thoroughfares. Ultimately, the project is framed as a transformational win that will provide hundreds of high-paying jobs and elevate the community's overall quality of life.