One of eight grants totaling more than $2.3 million
NASHVILLE – Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced today eight new Site Development Grants, totaling more than $2.3 million, including one for $500,000 for Fentress County’s Clarkrange Regional Business Park.
“These funds will continue to help Tennessee communities attract jobs and enhance the quality of life for their residents,” Lee said. “I congratulate the recipients and thank them for their efforts in building and growing businesses here in Tennessee.”
The grants are designed to help communities achieve Select Tennessee site certification and prepare industrial sites for economic development projects. The funding helps communities invest in infrastructure and engineering improvements on project-ready sites.
“As we recruit new industry and support the growth of existing Tennessee companies, it is critical for us to have a robust inventory of shovel-ready sites,” Rolfe said. “I’m proud to announce that TNECD has provided 100 Site Development Grants since 2016 to help our communities build out this inventory. The eight newest grants will enable these communities to prepare their sites and increase their ability to attract new jobs and private sector investment.”
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 100 Site Development Grants across the state, totaling nearly $35 million in assistance to local communities.
The grants awarded this round include:
- Bristol Tennessee Essential Services
Bristol Business Park, $500,000 – Grade and prepare a site
- Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board
Corporate Business Park South, $229,687 – Construct an industrial access road - Decatur County
Highway 641 Industrial Site, $498,750 – Grade and prepare a site and construct an access road - Hawkins County Industrial Development Board
Phipps Bend Industrial Park, $100,000– Conduct due diligence studies - Industrial Development Board of Coffee County
Middle Tennessee I-24 Rail Megasite, $100,000 – Conduct due diligence studies - Industrial Development Board of Fentress County
Clarkrange Regional Business Park, $500,000– Grade and prepare a site
- Joint Economic and Community Development Board of Lawrence County
Lawrenceburg Industrial Park, $87,300 – Conduct due diligence studies - Lexington Industrial Development Board
Timberlake Industrial Site, $294,582 – Grade and prepare a site
Applications were reviewed by an advisory committee made up of TNECD, Austin Consulting, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Department of Transportation and USDA Rural Development.
Each application was supported by the community’s senator and representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly.
