Jonesborough

BWXT Will Add 181 Jobs and Invest $714.5 Million in Jonesborough. Here’s What It Means for Washington County Housing

The state announced Nov. 6 that BWXT will create 181 jobs and invest $714.5 million at its Jonesborough site to make high-purity depleted uranium metal for the federal government. Here are the numbers, the air permit questions, and what it could mean for local housing.

Tracy King

10 Nov 2026 • 5 min read

Illustrative stock photo, not the property or development discussed.

Washington County just landed one of the largest job announcements in its recent history. On Nov. 6, Gov. Bill Lee and state economic development officials said BWXT will create 181 new jobs and invest $714.5 million in Jonesborough.

The company will make high-purity depleted uranium (HPDU) metal for the National Nuclear Security Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Energy. The state says the new hires will more than double BWXT's current local workforce.

If you own a home in Jonesborough, Johnson City or the surrounding county, or you are thinking about selling, this is worth understanding. New jobs bring new households. They also bring questions about traffic, schools and the plant itself.

The announcement, by the numbers

The project is backed by a grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD), drawn from the state's Nuclear Energy Fund. Daily Johnson City reported the exact grant amount will be posted to the fund's transparency site within 30 days.

The work ties to a federal contract. In September 2025, the NNSA gave BWXT a 10-year contract worth $1.6 billion to build an HPDU plant at its Jonesborough site. The state says that once it is done, the Jonesborough plant will be the only active site that can do this work for the government.

Daily Johnson City, citing WJHL, reported that construction has begun on a 325,000-square-foot facility.

Item	Figure	Source
New jobs	181	TNECD
Capital investment	$714.5 million	TNECD
Federal contract	10 years, $1.6 billion (awarded Sept. 2025)	TNECD
New facility size	325,000 sq. ft., under construction	Daily Johnson City, citing WJHL
BWXT Oak Ridge project (2025)	60 jobs, $45 million	TNECD
BWXT Erwin expansion (2025)	198 jobs, $122 million	TNECD
Nuclear Energy Fund total	$95 million since inception	TNECD

Part of a bigger nuclear push

This is BWXT's third project funded by the Nuclear Energy Fund, and the 12th project overall. The state says fund projects have pledged nearly 4,000 new jobs and more than $10 billion in investment.

The fund started at $50 million in the 2023-2024 budget. Lawmakers added another $45 million in the 2024, 2025 and 2026 sessions, for $95 million total.

BWXT's two earlier projects were announced in 2025: a new site in Oak Ridge and an expansion in Erwin. Jonesborough's investment is larger than both combined.

"When we created Tennessee's Nuclear Energy Fund, our goal was to cultivate an ecosystem where this industry could thrive," Gov. Lee said in the state's release.

Jeff Messaros, general manager of BWXT Ordnance Tennessee, thanked the state. He said the grant "will help create benefits for the community that will last decades."

State Rep. Rebecca Alexander of Jonesborough pointed to the town's long history with the site, saying Jonesborough "has played a vital role in our nation's security and defense" for more than 50 years.

Deputy Gov. and TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter called energy independence "one of our top priorities in Tennessee" and said BWXT has been a strong partner in that work.

The utility side is on board as well. Heidi Smith, TVA's vice president of economic development, said TVA and BrightRidge, the local power provider, worked with the Washington County Economic Development Council and the state on the project.

The state's release also notes the announcement follows BWXT's 2025 purchase of the former Aerojet Ordnance Tennessee site. That means this is an expansion of an existing plant with decades of history in Jonesborough, not a brand-new company coming to town.

Permit questions from neighbors

Not everyone is cheering. The day before the jobs news, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and BWXT held a question-and-answer session on the company's air contaminant permit application.

Daily Johnson City, citing WJHL and the Johnson City Press, reported these points:

Messaros said the process uses two scrubbers.
TDEC cited a limit of 94 pounds of emissions per year.
The session was a voluntary Q&A, not a public hearing.
Notice was posted on TDEC's website Oct. 15.
The next step is an in-house TDEC review.

Some residents said they had not been told. "We would fill these courtrooms if we were notified," Washington County resident Joe Roylston told officials, according to the Johnson City Press.

If you live near the plant and want to follow the permit, check TDEC's public notice page. A buyer considering a home nearby may ask about it, so it helps to know the facts.

What it could mean for local housing

We do not have a forecast for how many of the 181 jobs will be filled by people moving in. Some will go to current local residents. Still, the basics are simple:

Rentals feel it first. New hires often rent before they buy.
Commute matters. Homes with an easy drive to Jonesborough may draw more interest.
Timing is long. The federal contract runs 10 years, and the plant is still under construction. Hiring is likely to come in stages.

The county is also weighing other changes that affect owners. Earlier this month, planners took up a pause on zoning text changes: Washington County Planners Weigh a Pause on Zoning Text Changes and a Fall Branch Rezoning Nov. 3. On taxes, see Washington County Tables a Senior Property Tax Freeze for About a Year and Looks at Expanding Tax Relief.

Other Washington County dates to know

Nov. 16–25, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday–Friday: Sewer inspections close one lane of North Roan Street in Johnson City, starting between 1808 and 2219 North Roan St.
Early fall 2027: The new Towne Acres Elementary is expected to be finished after a six-month delay. The Johnson City Press reported it remains on budget.
January 2028: Demolition of the existing Towne Acres school is now set for this date.

Families shopping by school zone should note the Towne Acres timeline. It may come up when you list or buy in that area.

Thinking about selling?

Big job news can change how buyers look at a market. If you want to know where your home stands, start with a free home valuation. If you need to sell fast, ask about a cash offer. Also see How much is my Jonesborough home worth in 2026?.

How many jobs is BWXT adding in Jonesborough?

The state announced on Nov. 6, 2026, that BWXT will create 181 new jobs and invest $714.5 million in Jonesborough, more than doubling its current local workforce there.

What will the BWXT Jonesborough expansion produce?

High-purity depleted uranium (HPDU) metal for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, under a 10-year, $1.6 billion contract awarded in September 2025.

What is Tennessee’s Nuclear Energy Fund?

A state fund that started with $50 million and has grown to $95 million. TNECD says its 12 projects have pledged nearly 4,000 new jobs and more than $10 billion in investment.

Was there a public hearing on BWXT’s air permit?

Not a formal hearing. TDEC and BWXT held a voluntary Q&A on the air contaminant permit application. Notice was posted on TDEC’s website Oct. 15, and some residents said they were not notified.

Will the BWXT jobs raise Jonesborough home prices?

No one can promise that. New jobs can add demand for rentals and homes within an easy commute, but hiring will likely come in stages while the plant is built. A current valuation is the best starting point.

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