Water, wastewater planning grants awarded to 23 cities
Funds for water and sewer system planning were awarded to 23 municipalities as part of 36 grants totaling $7.5 million awarded by the state.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter announced recipients of funds through the Infrastructure Planning Grant (IPG) program. The funding is part of the Rural Economic Opportunity Act and will assist communities and utility districts across Tennessee with long-term planning for their water and sewer systems.
“Efficient utility infrastructure is crucial to economic development,” said Gov. Lee. “I thank the General Assembly for funding this program and commend the 36 grantees for stepping up to help our communities strengthen local infrastructure and plan for the future.”
The IPG program is open to utility systems that serve distressed counties and rural communities on the financially distressed utility system referral list. Funds can be used in the following program categories: water system mapping and modeling, water system analysis, sewer system mapping and modeling, sewer system analysis, asset management related activities and regionalization studies.
“Having strong infrastructure in place is critical to a community’s economic growth. These grantees will be able to use this funding to attract other grants and funding that will prepare their systems for growth,” said Commissioner McWhorter. “I congratulate those receiving funding through the IPG program and look forward to seeing how these 36 projects will spur future economic growth.”
The grants awarded include:
| Municipality | Grant Amount |
| Bulls Gap | $190,000.00 |
| Byrdstown | $100,000.00 |
| Centerville | $250,000.00 |
| Collinwood | $152,000.00 |
| Dresden | $357,500.00 |
| Henning | $200,000.00 |
| Jasper | $461,344.00 |
| Dunlap | $199,500.00 |
| Loretto | $71,751.00 |
| Madisonville | $200,000.00 |
| Mason | $305,000.00 |
| Rocky Top | $149,625.00 |
| Rutledge | $224,438.00 |
| Sharon | $210,000.00 |
| South Pittsburg | $97,375.00 |
| Spencer | $95,000.00 |
| Spring City | $118,750.00 |
| Springfield | $199,500.00 |
| Tellico Plains | $249,375.00 |
| Surgoinsville Utility District | $130,000.00 |
| Tennessee Ridge | $200,000.00 |
| Trenton | $211,400.00 |
| Woodbury | $350,000.00
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Applications from communities and utility districts were based on comptroller eligibility, and these systems have been referred to the Board of Utility Regulation (formerly the Utility Management Review Board or the Water and Wastewater Financing Board) because of their net position, non-revenue water or high levels of debt. For more information, visit here.