Over $4.3 million in CDBG grants awarded to UC communities

By Michelle Price
Special to the UCBJ

NASHVILLE – Eleven communities across the Upper Cumberland were recently selected to receive $4,377,772 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Grants will assist communities in making sewer system improvements, housing rehabilitations and improving emergency medical services and fire protection.

Putnam County’s $318,750 grant will be used to purchase a new fire truck for the western end of the county and will be based near the Gentry community. The total cost of the fire truck is estimated to be $390,000, and by using grant funds the county will be able to purchase it for only $71,250, a savings to county taxpayers of 81%.

Overton County’s $420,000 grant will be used to purchase 12 new mini pumper trucks for all Volunteer Fire Departments in the county to increase their response times.  

The town of Carthage also received funding for fire protection. Their $296,000 grant will help pay to replace an old 1986 engine-pumper with an apparatus featuring many safety features not available on the 1986 model.

CDBG grants were awarded to the following U.C. communities:

“Investing in local infrastructure is one of our top priorities, and these funds will play a vital role as communities work to update their assets and keep their communities safe,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “These recipients are proactively preparing their communities for future economic opportunities and continued growth.”

“Community Development Block Grants are an enormous asset to communities across Tennessee,” Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe said. “Communities receiving CDBG funding will be better equipped for future economic opportunities, which in turn, will help our state continue to grow and succeed. I congratulate these recipients and look forward to seeing the successes in each community in the years to come.”