State announces 10 new site development grants
Seven municipalities are among the recipients of approximately $3.1 million in new Site Development Grants from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
The grants are designed to help communities invest in infrastructure and engineering improvements to land economic development projects and achieve Select Tennessee site certification.
“When we provide rural communities with the tools needed to attract new jobs and investment to our state, more Tennesseans have opportunities to thrive,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “I thank our General Assembly members for their partnership in funding 10 additional site development grants and look forward to seeing the economic growth and prosperity that will result from these projects.”
The Site Development Grant program, part of the Rural Economic Opportunity Act, works in tandem with TNECD’s Select Tennessee program. Since 2016, TNECD has awarded 143 Site Development Grants across the state, totaling more than $56 million in assistance to local communities and generating nearly 5,600 new jobs for Tennesseans.
“Congratulations to the communities receiving funding through the latest round of the Site Development Grant program,” said TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter. “Having an inventory of shovel-ready industrial sites is an essential component of the recruiting process, and we stand ready to support these communities as they invest in their infrastructure and advance towards achieving Select Tennessee site certification.”
The grants awarded this round include:
| Location | Grant Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
|
Benton County Industrial Board |
$100,000 | Due diligence studies at Smith Property |
| Bolivar | $92,872 | Due diligence at the Hardeman County Industrial Park |
| Industrial Board of Crockett County | $399,150 | Property purchase at Friendship Industrial, Bivens Site |
| Lincoln County | $1 million | Property grading and preparation at the Burlington Site |
| McKenzie Industrial Development Board | $417,525 | Property grading and preparation at McKenzie Airport Industrial Park |
| Industrial Development Board of McMinnville-Warren County | $29,640 | Due diligence studies at Elam Industrial Site |
| Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee | $647,015 | Access road construction, extend water, and sewer utilities at Paris-Henry County Industrial Park |
| Tusculum-Greeneville-Greene County Industrial Development Board | $100,000 | Due diligence studies at Greene Valley Development Center |
| Wayne County | $95,594 | Due diligence studies at Wayne County Industrial Park |
| Greenfield-Weakley County Economic Development Board | $248,400 | Property purchase at Greenfield Pentecost Site |
Applications were reviewed by an advisory committee made up of TNECD, Austin Consulting, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Each application was supported by the community’s senator and representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly.