B

Properties in Greene and Cocke counties were among 13 properties statewide to receive new Site Development Grants.

Wednesday, Gov. Bill Lee and Deputy Gov. and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter announced 13 new Site Development Grant (SDG) recipients.

The East Moon Property, submitted by the Tusculum-Greeneville-Greene County Industrial Development Board, qualified for a $1,155,075 grant to be able to access road construction/property clearing and due diligence.

Meanwhile, the Stokley Moore Site, submitted by the Industrial Development Board of the City of Newport and Cocke County, qualified for a $100,000 grant for due diligence.

The 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.

“Since taking office in 2019, we have made it an administration-wide mission to create greater opportunity in rural Tennessee because we know what happens in our rural communities matters to all Tennesseans,” said Lee. “I am proud to announce funding that will strengthen these communities and position them for future economic 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 210 SDGs across the state, totaling over $130 million in assistance to local communities and generating 8,417 new jobs for through projects that landed on sites improved through the program.

The announcement ensures that 13 communities will take advantage of TNECD’s Site Development Grant program,” said McWhorter.

“Since its inception, the program has brought more than $130 million in funding to communities across the state, and companies, both nationally and internationally, are seeing the commitment we’ve made to community and rural development, reinforcing the importance of this program.”

Applications were reviewed by an advisory committee made up of TNECD, Austin Consulting, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Each application was supported by the community’s senator and representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly.