Haslam recommends ARC grants, including for Anderson County, Tech 20/20

Bill Haslam

NASHVILLE—Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam this week recommended 19 Appalachian Regional Commission grants, including $200,000 for Anderson County sewer improvements and another $200,000 for a Tech 20/20 project.

The grants are meant to help state and local agencies, governmental entities, local governing boards, or nonprofit organizations with infrastructure improvements, a press release said.

Here are the governor’s recommendations and the project they would finance:

• Alabama Retirees Technical Advisory Group energy audit assistance: $20,000—Funding to conduct 12 energy audits of schools, businesses, and governmental buildings, and project energy cost savings with new lighting and HVAC systems. In addition, funding will assist with Tennessee Valley Authority rebate and incentive applications. Total project cost is $25,000.
• Anderson County sewer improvements: $200,000—Sewer line extension to replace septic tanks serving the 14 businesses and four residences in the Eliza Drive business district. Total project cost is $422,000.
• Boys and Girls Clubs programs: $100,000— After-school and summer educational enhancement programs for Boys and Girls Clubs in Tennessee. The programs will reach 245 students in nine counties. Total project cost is $256,000.
• Carthage wastewater treatment upgrades: $100,000—Improvements to the wastewater treatment plant and lab to stop corrosion, help the plant run more efficiently, and meet Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation standards. Total project cost is $152,050.
• Franklin County Business Development Center rehabilitation: $46,000—Rehabilitation, including the replacement of 10 HVAC units, to a building that houses the Franklin County Business Development Center, a business incubator. Total project cost is $95,250.
• Hamilton County Educational Greenhouse Construction: $46,000—To support and improve STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) training at Hixson High School, Hamilton County will assist with the construction of an educational greenhouse for use by the high school students. Total project cost is $94,500.
• Jacksboro utilities wastewater treatment system improvements: $421,279—Expand capacity for the Caryville-Jacksboro utilities wastewater treatment system in order to accommodate recent and future industry expansions. Total project cost is $526,599.
• Jellico water system upgrades: $500,000—Upgrade water lines to decrease water loss, increase pressure, and allow for system expansion. Total project cost is $850,000.
• Jonesborough Theatre renovation project: $450,000—Renovations to the Jackson Theatre for use during the Storytelling Festival and other local events. Total project cost is $1,365,400.
• Launch Tennessee regional accelerators: $952,698—Funding for the second year of a Regional Entrepreneurial Accelerator in each of the four ARC regions. Total project cost is $1,905,396.
• Lenoir City water line relocation: $140,000—Relocation of 1,500 feet of water line to allow for brownfield remediation and redevelopment. Total project cost is $289,690.
• Livingston water system improvements: $425,000—Water system improvement project to repair two water tanks, purchase a new pump, and provide lighting and electrical protection for four pumping stations. Total project cost is $925,945.
• McMinn County Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Business Innovation: $200,000—The first phase of construction on a center for advanced manufacturing and business innovation that will train workers for technologically advanced manufacturing jobs. Total project cost is $1,200,000.
• Pathway Lending Appalachian Community Capital project: $365,000—Appalachian Community Capital project funds from each state will be leveraged with bank and foundation funding for loans to small businesses. Total project cost is $5,865,000.
• Scott County industrial building purchase: $433,721—Purchase of an existing building and surrounding land to develop a speculative building for industrial recruitment. Total project cost is $563,721
• South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance Youth Entrepreneurial Success Program: $88,000—Development of an entrepreneurial training program consisting of mentoring, training, and education for four schools in Lawrence and Lewis counties. Total project cost is $115,000.
• Tech 20/20 AMP rapid prototyping project: $200,000—Funding for Oak Ridge National Laboratory to work with small manufacturers to produce prototypes and evaluate new technology for introduction into new commercial markets. Total project cost is $700,000.
• Tennessee Appalachian Center for Higher Education grants to schools: $250,000—Funding to award grants to school districts, build capacity for the SEED program across the region, and provide educational services to parents. Total project cost is $450,000.
• Tennessee Institute of Public Health at ETSU regional roadmap for healthier Appalachia: $40,000—Development of region-specific action plans for health improvements through $2,500 grants to 32 communities to assess health metrics and provide training. Total project cost is $80,000.

The press release said the allocation of ARC funds is based on priorities set at local levels where community needs are best known. The recommended projects will now be forwarded to Washington for review and approval.

Haslam said the ARC contributes to the state’s long-term growth and community development.

“As we continue our work to make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high-quality jobs, these 19 grants will help us in our economic development efforts by improving our communities and the lives of Tennesseans,” the governor said.

“Numerous community development projects become a reality through the generous support of the Appalachian Regional Commission,” said Ted Townsend, assistant commissioner of strategy for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. “These Tennessee communities are to be commended for their strategic improvement plans that will provide a solid foundation for sustainable economic development and growth.”

The ARC is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state, and local governments, and it provides resources to help with community development and economic growth in Tennessee’s Appalachian communities.

“Each year, the ARC provides funding for several hundred projects in areas such as business development, education and job training, telecommunications, infrastructure, community development, housing, and transportation,” the press release said. “Serving 52 counties in east and middle Tennessee, the ARC has offered assistance to the region for almost 50 years.”

The ARC program supports the following 52 counties in Tennessee’s Appalachia communities: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Carter, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Coffee, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Franklin, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Lewis, Loudon, McMinn, Macon, Marion, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Smith, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Washington, and White.

About the Appalachian Regional Commission

The Appalachian Regional Commission, or ARC, is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. The commission is a unique alliance comprised of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a presidential appointee representing the federal government. For more information, visit www.arc.gov.