Lewis County Awarded Three-Star Innovation Grant
NASHVILLE - Gov. Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber today awarded the Hohenwald-Lewis County Economic Development Council a $15,000 Three-Star Innovation Grant to fund phase one of a wireless mesh program.
"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 Hohenwald and Lewis 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. Lewis County was awarded the small population category grant and will match 10 percent of the grant. ECD awarded the medium population grant to Cumberland County and the large population grant to Hamilton County.
"This grant will improve Lewis County's business environment, where companies can grow and succeed," said Sen. Doug Jackson. "I commend the county's Three-Star leaders for recognizing the importance of this project and making the necessary plans to secure funding."
"We are very grateful this grant has been approved. This funding support will be a great benefit to Lewis County and provide much needed improvements to grow jobs in our community," said Rep. Joey Hensley.
The wireless mesh project consists of three phases. The grant will finance phase one, which includes surveying needs, mapping, and providing wireless services to all county and city government entities. Phase II will extend wireless services to retail and wholesale businesses and the last phase will provide wireless services for all citizens in Lewis County. The partners for this project include Lewis County, the city of Hohenwald and the Tennessee Technology Center.
"This project will integrate all emergency services communications and open the digital highway in Lewis County, allowing for future economic growth," said Kisber. "Establishing wireless capabilities will help improve the region's marketability to new industry."
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.
