Tennessee Town & City - Tennessee Municipal League

City leaders can help as AI linked to rise in Internet Crimes Against Children

With tablets, laptops, phones, and gaming systems under the Christmas tree, law enforcement officials are asking parents, teachers, and other mandated reporters to educate themselves about the rising...

Meta data center begins operations in Gallatin

Officials with the city of Gallatin were on hand to celebrate the opening of Meta’s Gallatin Data Center.

The new data center is now serving traffic, which means it is serving as part of the global...

Rising tech costs, employee pay among concerns across state budget hearings

Rising technology costs and increased wages needed to recruit and retain employees were among top concerns expressed by multiple state departments as part of Gov. Bill Lee’s yearly budget hearings.

Ready sites can set cities apart for industrial development

As Blue Oval suppliers and other industries look to open facilities in Tennessee, there are several steps municipalities can take to ensure local industrial sites are ready for business.

News Across Tennessee

East Ridge breaks ground on multi-purpose center

Officials with the city of East Ridge were joined by representatives of Pillar Construction, ASA Engineering, and HK Architects to break ground on the new East Ridge Town Center’s Multipurpose Event Center. Serving as a vibrant new space for community events and activities, the multi-purpose 12,000...

HVAC manufacturer to open new Memphis operations

AAON, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAON) will expand its presence to Tennessee, creating 828 new jobs and investing $238 million in Memphis in the next five years. AAON has selected the former American Snuff facility in Memphis to house its new HVAC production operations. The expansion to Tennessee will position...

18 cities receive downtown improvement grants

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter today the 18 Tennessee Main Street and Tennessee Downtowns communities that are recipients of Downtown Improvement Grants.

“Tennessee’s downtown districts are the key focal points for cities...

Modular e-home manufacturer expands Chattanooga operations

Avail Enclosure Systems, part of Avail Infrastructure Solutions (AIS), announced the company will expand its presence in Southeast Tennessee by expanding manufacturing operations at its Chattanooga facility. Avail Enclosure Systems will create 82 new jobs and invest more than $10 million through the...

Cookeville sees improved bond rating, building permit growth

Moody’s Investor Services has upgraded Cookeville’s bond issuer rating and outstanding General Obligation Bonds to Aa1 from Aa2. The city requested the rating on it $10.0 million General Obligation Bonds, Series 2024 which were concurrently rated by Moody’s as Aa1. This comes as Cookeville...

30 municipalities awarded share in $26.6M in CDBG funds

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter recently approved $26.6 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), which will assist communities with infrastructure improvements and health and safety initiatives.

“Forty new...

People

Tullahoma receives two awards for Urban Forestry

The Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC) has recognized two outstanding arborists from Tullahoma for their exceptional contributions to urban forestry and community sustainability. Lyle Russell, community engagement officer and arborist for the city of Tullahoma, has been named the 2024...

Chase Sons

Chase Sons, chief of police for the city of Tullahoma, has been accepted into the 293rd Class of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. The elite training program is by competitive nomination with at less than 1% of law enforcement officers worldwide earning the honor. Sons started with the...

Mayors Coleman, Joyner announce retirements

Two long-time West Tennessee mayors are celebrating their retirements after a combined 46 years of service to their communities.

Cliff Mann

Cliff Mann has been selected as the new stormwater coordinator for the city of Farragut. Mann has served as an engineering technician with the city since 2023. Prior to that, he worked for the city of Knoxville as a stormwater engineering technician and then as a stormwater specialist with Blount...

David Townsend

David Townsend has been selected as the assistant chief of police for the Collierville Police Department. Townsend has been with the department for 29 years and has held numerous leadership roles, most recently as inspector over the Community Services Division. He is a graduate of session 249 of the...

Randy Evans

Randy Evans, chief of the Cookeville Police Department, will retire on Jan. 31, 2025, after more than 41 years of service to the department. Evans began his career as a patrol officer with CPD in 1983 and was promoted to sergeant in 1990, lieutenant in 1998, captain in 2007, major in 2010, and has...

State Briefs

Gov. Lee creates Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed Executive Order 108, to establish the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership and further the state’s commitment to balancing economic growth, water resource management, and environmental and habitat conservation to ensure the long-term sustainability of Tennessee’s...

Tennessee October revenues $30.1M less than budgeted estimates

The Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration announced that revenues for October were $1.5 billion, which is $22.6 million more than October of last year, but $30.1 million less than the budgeted estimate.

The total growth rate for the month was 1.53 percent.

General fund revenues were...

Tennessee October unemployment steady at 3.3%

Tennessee’s October unemployment rate remained near its all-time low and well below the U.S. rate, according to the latest data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.3% in October, an increase of one-tenth of...

TN AG announces opioid settlement with Kroger

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, alongside a bipartisan coalition of 30 state attorneys general, announced the completion of the $1.37 billion settlement agreement with Kroger, addressing the grocery chain’s role in the opioid crisis. Tennessee will receive up to $42.9 million for...

Tennessee's Digital Opportunity Plan approved by NTIA

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) announced the approval of the state’s Digital Opportunity Plan. The department has been allocated $15.8 million to implement the plan, which supports digital skilling and workforce development programs. With this approval from...

Tennessee graduation rate breaks record

Tennessee’s high school graduation rate broke another record in the 2023-24 school year. The rate was 92.1%, above the previous school year’s record-breaking 90.6%. Clay County Schools, McKenzie Special School District, South Carroll Special School District, and West Carroll Special District each...

TML Updates

National Civic League hosts webinars for "Becoming a 2025 All-America City"

Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council opens funding for community grants

Delta Regional Authority announces funding opportunities

Federal departments announce deadlines for major grant applications

Restore Return Relief Advocacy