United Rare Earths update

‘We are ready to start seeing some things happening on site’- JECDB Chairman Jay Willoughby

TOP PHOTO: United Rare Earths CEO Jeffrey Willis, left, is officially welcomed to Caryville in December 2023 by then Caryville Mayor Bobby Stooksbury, right, and Caryville Alderman Josh Monday.

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The Campbell County Joint Economic Community Development Board met Thursday evening at LaFollette Utilities. Board chairman Jay Willoughby gave an update on United Rare Earths which is building its magnet recycling facility and Rare Earths company in Caryville and bringing jobs to the county.

Company CEO Jeff Willis with United Rare Earths had planned to attend Thursday’s meeting, but had to cancel to make another trip to Washington, D.C.

“He was called Tuesday from the White house and had to be there, so he asked me to give an update,” Willoughby said.

Willoughby, along with Willis went to the nation’s capital recently to make a presentation for the company and what it will mean to Campbell County. 

“We went to Washington several weeks ago, we did a presentation on the economic importance of this. We are losing 30 percent of our Industrial jobs in the county; if we can get the United Rare Earths up and running in its first phase, and onto the second phase, after a three or four year period, we should be able to offset these job, plus gain additional annual revenue in Campbell County,” Willoughby said.

He said this company coming to the area will raise household average incomes in Campbell County.

“It’s a very important project and it’s slower than we like… but it is moving and gaining momentum and significant interest from state and federal agencies, and we keep plugging away because the need for our nation is there and the need for our community is there, so it’s worth fighting for,” Willoughby said.

Willoughby said architects were working on plans for the building and had gotten all the information they needed to determine pressure points for supporting what will most likely be a 300,000 square foot building in for the first phase project.

“We are ready to start seeing some things happening on site; we have a flag pole up and have an American flag flying up there,” Willoughby said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-08/15/2025-6AM)