Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Deputy Gov. and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter announced the latest recipients of Site Development Grant (SDG) funding.
Ten grants, totaling more than $13 million, are designed to help communities invest in infrastructure and engineering improvements to land economic development projects and achieve Select Tennessee site certification.
“Our administration has made significant investments to strengthen the competitiveness of communities across Tennessee, specifically in our rural areas,” said Gov. Lee. “We appreciate the local leaders who are laying the groundwork for future economic development and positioning their communities to attract new investment and job creation.”
The SDG program is part of the Rural Economic Opportunity Act, which provides funding to improve the economies of Tennessee’s rural communities. Since 2016, TNECD has awarded 220 SDGs across the state, totaling over nearly $150 million in assistance to local communities and generating 8,471 new jobs for through projects that landed on sites improved through the program.
“Access to a shovel-ready site can be the deciding factor in whether a company chooses Tennessee or another state,” said Deputy Gov. and Commissioner McWhorter. “I applaud the communities receiving grants today for their commitment to preparing for future economic growth and investment through TNECD’s Site Development Grant program, and I look forward to seeing the impact these investments will have in their regions.”
The grants awarded this round include:
City of Lewisburg - I-65 Commerce Park, $100,000
I-65 Commerce Park, $100,000 – Due diligence
City of Sparta
Sparta/White County Industrial Park Site, $71,280 – Due diligence
Industrial Development Board of McMinnville
Warren County
Mountain View Industrial Park North Site, $975,000 – Sewer infrastructure
Industrial Development Board of Montgomery
County
Clarksville-Montgomery County Corporate Business Park North Tract 7, $100,000 – Due diligence
Industrial Development Board of Roane County
Buttermilk Road Site, $4,049,654 – Due diligence and property purchase
Industrial Development Board of Robertson County
White House Union Springs Business Park, $3,136,979 – Access road construction
Industrial Development Board of Scott County
Airport Industrial Site, $100,000 – Engineering and due diligence
Jackson Energy Authority
Airport Industrial Park Site B, $773,500 – Sewer infrastructure
Morgan County Economic Development Board
Morgan County East Industrial Park, $4,372,209 – Property clearing, site improvements, access road construction and water and sewer infrastructure design
Nickajack Port Authority
Nickajack Industrial Site, $100,000 – Due diligence
Applications were reviewed by an advisory committee made up of TNECD, Austin Consulting, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Each application was supported by the community’s senator and representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly.