Kathy Knight tapped to head McMinn EDA

Kathy Knight, assistant director at the Loudon County Economic Development Agency, has joined the McMinn County Economic Development Authority.

Knight will serve as executive vice president, replacing the recently retired Jack Hammontree.

“Kathy has played a key leadership role in Loudon County's successes. She has an impeccable reputation for hard work and she brings extensive subject knowledge,” McMinn County Mayor John Gentry said in a statement. “I am excited that she has agreed to bring her experience and skill set to McMinn County.”

At Loudon County’s EDA, Knight was responsible for industrial recruitment and investment, business retention and expansion, community development, downtown redevelopment, and grant writing and administration.

During her tenure in Loudon County, she and the economic development team recruited more than $600 million of capital investment and some 1,600 new jobs to the area, according to a news release.