State Briefs

Gov. Bill Le delivers the State of the State address

Gov. Lee announces fourth State of the State Address for Jan. 31

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced he will deliver his fourth State of the State address to the General Assembly and fellow Tennesseans on Monday, January 31 at 6 p.m. CT. The joint session will take place in the House Chamber of the Tennessee State Capitol.

 “I look forward to sharing my...

State December revenues $437.2M above estimates

Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Butch Eley announced today that revenues for December were higher than expected and exceeded the monthly revenues from the previous year.

State revenues for December were $1.9 billion - or $437.2 million more than the budgeted...

December unemployment

Tennessee's December unemployment rate lowest since January 2020

Unemployment in the state of Tennessee reached a two-year low in December, according to new data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The state ended 2021 with an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which was 0.2 of a percentage point lower than the rate it recorded in November.
 
...

Firefighters

Tennessee Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant now accepting applications

The grant period for the Tennessee Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant program has opened.

The program for this fiscal year was expanded to $1 million to assist volunteer firefighters. The application period opened Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, and will close at 2 p.m. CST on Friday, Feb...

Tennessee to receive $302M for bridge repairs

The state of Tennessee is due to receive $302 million for bridge repair from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s new Bridge Formula Program. The historic program focuses on rehabilitation, replacement, preservation, protection, and construction for bridges across the nation as part of nationwide...

State parks

Grand Opening of Lodge at Fall Creek Falls State Park

State officials recently celebrated the grand opening of the Lodge at Fall Creek Falls, a $40.4 million, 85-room hotel with conference space and a full-service restaurant and lounge at Fall Creek Falls State Park, located near Sparta in Van Burren County. The lodge is built to be an ideal

Tennessee ninth cheapest state for retirees

Tennessee is in the top ten cheapest places to retire with a cost of living for retirees 10.3% less than the national average. New findings from financial planning website 24/7 Wall Street found Tennessee ranked as the ninth cheapest state to retire in with a savings of $937,660 needed to fund...

November 2021 unemployment

Unemployment rate in Tennessee at 4% for November 2021

Tennessee’s unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest level since March 2020, the last month before COVID-19 business closures impacted workers across the state. According to new data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD), Tennessee recorded an unemployment rate of 4% in

State finds majority of maternal deaths preventable

While the number of maternal deaths decreased in Tennessee, 79% of pregnancy-related deaths were found to be preventable. The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth found that cardiovascular and coronary conditions are the leading causes of maternal mortality while more than one-in-three...

Tennessee certificate

Tennessee Honored Nationally for 2021 Use of Data

Tennessee is being honored by a national group for its use of data and evidence in making budget and policy decisions. Results for America today named Tennessee a leading state in evaluation leadership and governance. It’s the second time the group has spotlighted Tennessee for its efforts in using

State November revenues exceed estimates

 Tennessee revenue collections for November exceeded the budgeted estimate. Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Butch Eley announced that overall November state revenues were $1.4 billion, which is 21.73% more than November 2020 and $286.5 million more than the budgeted estimate.

...

The state of Tennessee will share in $3 million in funds from the USDA to promote rural development

The state of Tennessee will share in $3 million in funds from the USDA to promote rural development. The University of Tennessee will receive $248,821 to support the Tennessee RiverLine Community Planning Initiative, which supports investments in rural communities along the 652-mile Tennessee River...