Haslam announces more than $800,000 for Oliver Springs, Clinton

Oliver Springs and Clinton have received more than $800,000 in grants for water system improvements and housing rehabilitation, Gov. Bill Haslam announced Tuesday.

Haslam also announced about $1 million total in Community Development Block Grants for sewer system improvements in Lenoir City and a water line extension in Cocke County.

Haslam also announced grants from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for two local parks. One $100,000 grant will help Oliver Springs develop Carmichael Park and expand Arrowhead Park, and a second $22,000 grant will aid the continued development of Marlow Park in Anderson County, a press release said.

The $500,000 CDBG grant awarded to Oliver Springs for water system improvements is expected to be matched by $37,700 in local funds. The $339,000 grant for Clinton does not have a local match.

The federal CDBG program is administered in Tennessee by the Department of Economic and Community Development. The funds were allocated under a procedure authorized by the Tennessee General Assembly, the press release said.

“Community development block grants allow communities to complete projects that will ultimately lay the ground work for future economic development opportunities,” Haslam said. “I am pleased the state of Tennessee is able to partner with our local communities to make this project a reality.”

The release said more CDBG recipients will be announced this month and in October. Allocation of the money is based on priorities set at local levels where community needs are best known, the release said.

“CDBG has such a huge impact on our rural communities where we have some of our biggest challenges in economic development,” Haslam said. “Having the proper infrastructure in place can lead to additional jobs and investments for a community and enhance the quality of life for its residents.”

The grants were approved following an application by each community and were supported by Tennessee senators Ken Yager, Steve Southerland, and Randy McNally; representatives Julia Hurley, Kelly Keisling, Jeremy Faison, John Ragan, and John Mark Windle; and mayors Chris Helper, Tony Aikens, Vaughn Moore, and Scott Burton, the release said.

U.S. senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and representatives Scott DesJarlais, John Duncan, Phil Roe, and Chuck Fleischmann aided in securing the funds, the release said.