Hamilton County Awarded Three-Star Innovation Grant
NASHVILLE - Gov. Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber today awarded Hamilton County a $15,000 Three-Star Innovation Grant to fund marketing initiatives for ChooseChattanooga, a new campaign to recruit young professionals, baby boomers and retirees to the Chattanooga-Hamilton County area.
"This grant program offers communities an opportunity to improve quality-of-life, grow jobs and attract new industry," said Gov. Bredesen. "I applaud the leaders of Hamilton County for taking advantage of the Three-Star Innovation Grant to improve their community."
The Three-Star Innovation Grant is a competitive, matching grant program that encourages communities to develop new and innovative projects to enhance their overall community. One grant was awarded in three population categories, with the local match based on population. Hamilton County was awarded the large population category grant and will match 50 percent of the grant. ECD awarded the small population category grant to Hohenwald-Lewis County and the medium population grant to Cumberland County.
"I commend the county's Three-Star leaders for recognizing the importance of this project and making the necessary plans to secure funding," said Sen. Ward Crutchfield.
"A lot of planning has gone into this project and we are very grateful this grant has been approved," said Rep. Gerald McCormick.
Commissioner Kisber added, "ECD recognizes community development is the first step to successful economic development and we are pleased to offer financial resources to Hamilton County."
ChooseChattanooga was launched earlier this year in conjunction with the region earning the American Association of Retirement Communities (AARC) Seal of Approval as a retirement destination. Chattanooga-Hamilton County was the first community in Tennessee to receive this designation.
Three-Star is a value-added program for Tennessee communities and places emphasis on a number of important community development steps, including strategic planning, identifying educational resources and making routine existing industry visits. Three-star communities are eligible for several other grant programs including, the Small Business Energy Loan Program and the Local Government Energy Efficiency Loan Program.
Last year, 87 Tennessee community programs received Three-Star certification. The department's goal is to have all 95 counties in the state involved in the program. For more information about Three-Star, visit http://state.tn.us/ecd/3star.htm.
