State Representative Dennis Powers (R-Jacksboro) was elected by his colleagues to serve as chairman of the Tennessee-Ireland Trade Commission, an 11-member commission formed in 2024 to advance bilateral trade and investment between Tennessee and Ireland.
The commission focuses on encouraging mutual investment in infrastructure and human capital while also promoting business, educational, and cultural exchanges between the two regions.
Powers, who sponsored the original 2024 legislation creating the commission and was appointed to serve on the initiative last year by House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville), said the partnership represents a major opportunity for economic growth and international collaboration between Ireland and the Volunteer State.
“I’m honored to serve as chairman of the Tennessee-Ireland Trade Commission and excited about what this partnership means for our state’s future,” Powers said in a statement. “By strengthening our relationship with Ireland, we can open new doors for investment, innovation and job creation in Tennessee. I look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.”
Tennessee became the first state in the nation to establish a formal trade commission with Ireland through the legislation passed in 2024, later inspiring similar efforts in several other states.
The Volunteer State is home to more than 1,000 foreign-based businesses that have invested over $49 billion and employ more than 160,000 Tennesseans, according to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD). Irish companies alone account for roughly 60 establishments, employing more than 8,000 people across the state.
In total, over 150 United Kingdom and Irish-owned businesses operate in Tennessee, supporting approximately 17,000 jobs and contributing more than $1.7 billion in investment, TNECD notes on its website.
Ties between Tennessee and Ireland have also strengthened on the tourism front, as in April 2025, Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus launched a new nonstop route between Nashville International Airport and Dublin Airport, providing direct access between Nashville and Dublin four days a week.
A measure passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee this month extended the Tennessee-Ireland Trade Commission to remain active through June 30, 2028.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
