TDEC Announces additional $125.9M in water infrastructure investments
Nashville – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced 24 grants totaling $125,954,007 from the state’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) fund, part of which TDEC is administering in the form of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure grants.
The grants announced today follow the announcement of 18 grants totaling $72,496,030 from the ARP fund in August and October, bringing the total awarded by TDEC year-to-date to $198,450,037. The grants announced today include two collaborative grants and 22 non-collaborative grants to execute drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure planning, design and construction projects.
Tennessee received $3.725 billion from the ARP, and the state’s Financial Stimulus Accountability Group dedicated $1.35 billion of those funds to TDEC to support water projects in communities throughout Tennessee. Of the $1.35 billion, approximately $1 billion was designated for non-competitive formula-based grants offered to counties and eligible cities.
The remaining funds will go to state-initiated projects and competitive grants.
“These grants will address important water infrastructure needs throughout our state, especially those among disadvantaged communities,” Gov. Bill Lee said. “We look forward to the improvements the projects will bring, and we commend the communities who have gone through the application process.”
Growth is continuing throughout the state and the Upper Cumberland.
“We continue experiencing considerable growth across the state, and many of our communities require additional resources to address their evolving needs,” said Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville. “These grants will play a major role in ensuring cities and towns have access to infrastructure solutions that will enable them to continue thriving so Tennessee remains a preferred destination for both businesses and families.”
Grants announced are for:
| City of Bluff City – $747,874 | City of Lebanon – $3,979,492 |
| City of Brentwood – $2,201,675 | City of Manchester – $1,647,819 |
| Town of Byrdstown – $3,365,267 | City of Martin – $3,066,446 |
| Carroll County – $260,869 | City of McMinnville – $2,515,822 |
| Carter County – $7,478,770 | Morgan County – $5,084,639 |
| City of Columbia – $4,819,505 | Metro Nashville Davidson – $63,418,244 |
| City of Cookeville – $5,341,691 | City of Newbern – $1,426,282 |
| City of Elizabethton – $2,431,279 | City of Oak Hill – $738,569 |
| City of Gatlinburg – $403,670 | Town of Obion – $702,241 |
| City of Harriman – $3,191,759 | Town of Rogersville – $1,864,744 |
| Town of Jonesborough – $1,005,596 | Town of Rogersville – $1,864,744 |
| City of Kingsport – $6,955,642 | Town of Surgoinsville – $826,137 |
Details for each award in the Upper Cumberland are:
Collaborative Grants
City of Cookeville – $5,341,691
The City of Cookeville, in collaboration with Putnam County, will leverage ARP and State Revolving Fund (SRF) funding for their Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project. The Water Treatment Plant currently serves over 100,000 residents and the expansion project will increase the capacity of the plant enabling it to serve more residents.
Non-Collaborative Grants
City of McMinnville – $2,515,822
The City of McMinnville will use ARP and SRF funds to conduct a large-scale drinking water project to address the city’s critical needs. This project will replace the existing filter building and laboratory, upgrade the existing settling basins, rehabilitate the existing chemical storage building, and upgrade the pumps and piping at the raw water intake.
TDEC is focusing these grants on the following goals:
- Protect and promote human health and safety and improve the quality of water by supporting water systems in non-compliance to work toward compliance with water quality requirements;
- Improve the technical, managerial, and financial capabilities of small, disadvantaged, or underserved water infrastructure systems; and
- Address critical water infrastructure needs across the state
TDEC’s strategy for deployment of ARP funds is described in the Water Infrastructure Investment Plan. This plan was developed by TDEC based on input from leaders and experts from agencies internal and external to state government. All funds from the ARP must be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024 and expended by Dec. 31, 2026.
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