Most football fans will be familiar with Dayton-based T.C. Thiolon USA’s product. The Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints have each recently installed Thiolon’s synthetic grass fiber on their home playing fields, shunning the injury-inducing Astroturf as well as the upkeep cost of natural grass. Increasingly, though, the installation of synthetic turf is trickling down to the college and high school levels as school officials discover the cost savings of a one-time expenditure (roughly $700,000) in a synthetic surface versus the ongoing capital costs of maintaining a natural field.

The math looks good for Thiolon. America currently boasts around 1,800 synthetic turf fields. One-third of them were installed in the past year alone, but another 50,000 college and high school athletic surfaces exist.

Already the nation’s largest polyethylene manufacturer—2005 company sales approached $60 million—Thiolon broke ground in November on a $10 million addition. It is the second expansion since 2000 when Holland’s oldest textile manufacturer, 300-year-old Ten Cate Thiolon, acquired the former Polyloom plant. As a result, Thiolon will soon have two new operating production lines, 82,000 additional square feet of space and 40 new employees.

Managing Director Ian Petrie says he expects the company to continue its current 20% annual growth clip in each of the next five years.

“This recent expansion is big enough to put in six new production lines,” Petrie says. “We’ll add capacity as needed.”

Other increasingly popular commercial applications may drive that need. Thiolon recently inked a contract with the city of Las Vegas to provide synthetic turf for street medians—interestingly, marking a return to the very purpose for which Chevron Oil founded Polyloom back in 1968.

For now, Thiolon’s core product remains athletic turf. One client, the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, installed a football field last year in hopes of eliminating any possibility of a repeat of 2004’s Division I-AA college football title game at Finley Stadium, one marred by loose sod.

Game Director Scott Smith says the new field greatly enhances the city’s chances of extending its NCAA contract. An important economic driver for Chattanooga dating back nine years, city and private sources combined to pay the $350,000 installation cost.

For Thiolon, UTC’s field provides a nearby showcase for prospective buyers. It’s one reason the company manufactured the field—another $350,000 value—free of charge. feedback: ruble@businesstn.com,/p> In the News

The Chattanooga City Council approved Mayor Ron Littlefield’s capital improvement budget, which includes widening Igou Gap Road and repairing the Wilcox Tunnel. The $29.6 million capital budget represents an increase of $1.2 million over last year. Much of the budget covers renovations to City Hall.

Chattem Inc. announced that Ruth W. Brinkley, president & CEO of Memorial Health Care System of Chattanooga, has joined the company’s board of directors. Brinkley is chair of the Chattanooga Area Hospital District of the Tennessee Hospital Association, and serves on the boards of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, SunTrust Bank of Chattanooga, and The Women’s Leadership Institute.

Chattanooga, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Cumberland Improvement District reached a memorandum of understanding to take the next step in plans for a magnetic levitation train intended to someday make the trip from Chattanooga to Atlanta a 30-minute experience. Currently, the only commercially operated maglev train is in Shanghai, China. The federal government has set aside $45 million for maglev projects nationally. Construction of the line, if approved, is estimated to take eight years.

Erlanger Hospital’s board settled a federal investigation for $40 million. The government alleges the hospital offered physicians improper incentives for referrals and overpaid them. Erlanger denies those allegations. Erlanger will pay the $40 million out of savings, forcing it to reconsider planned capital improvement projects. Medicare and Medicaid trust funds will receive most of the settlement money. TennCare will receive $3 million.

Minnesota-based privately held candy company Farley’s & Sathers (makers of “Now and Later” among other brands) announced plans to add production to its Lookout Valley site, a packaging and distribution center. The amount of the investment was not disclosed. The plant’s work force will increase to 245 from 200.

Integrated Data Solutions Inc. (IDSI) announced plans to locate the company’s headquarters at Enterprise South Industrial Park. IDSI provides automated data collection and data management solutions for over 500 manufacturing and distribution operations. They become the third company to locate at Enterprise South. The $2.5 million investment includes construction of a 20,000-square-foot facility expected to be completed by December 2006.

Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey announced he would seek another term in the office he has held since 1994. Ramsey cited his desire to follow through on negotiations to bring major industry to Enterprise South Industrial Park as a key component of his decision. Potential replacement candidates that had surfaced included Assessor of Property Bill Bennett, state Sen. David Fowler and district director for U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, Doug Fisher.

RWE AG, Germany’s second-biggest utility, announced plans to sell or spin off the American Water Works Co., the parent of Tennessee-American Water Co. in Chattanooga. RWE acquired the company in 2003. The company, which began as Chattanooga Water Works in 1856, is the only private water utility regulated by the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. The city of Chattanooga could get involved in a bid.

United Enertech Corp., a supplier of parts to manufacturers of heating and air conditioning systems, announced plans to invest $3 million and create 150 new jobs over the next three years. Currently the company employs 75. United Enertech also produces storm-proof louvers specifically to comply with the strict building codes in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Tampa, Fla.-based Walter Industries announced it would close the U.S. Pipe manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, transferring its valve and hydrant production to Mueller Water Products in Chattanooga and an Albertville, Ala., plant. Walter recently bought Mueller. Approximately 243 people are expected to lose their jobs.

BY THE NUMBERS

Ins and Outs,/p>

Hamilton County’s Commuting Connection

Georgia Counties (inflow/outflow) Catoosa12,320/215 Dade 3,091/183 Walker 9,098 1,695 Whitfield 807/2,133

Alabama Counties DeKalb1,114/110 Jackson1,693/119

Census 2000, complied by Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce-Business Information Center—Economic Development Department,/p>

M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore MD