Home

Bredesen Recommends ARC Grants

Released on Fri, May 01, 2009 - 11:58 am under

 NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen today announced the recommendation of 22 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grants to assist state and local agencies, governmental entities, local governing boards or nonprofit organizations with infrastructure improvements.

“I am proud to recommend these 22 communities and organizations for assistance from the Appalachian Regional Commission,” Governor Bredesen said. “Tennessee’s 52 Appalachian counties benefit tremendously from these grants, and we appreciate the ARC’s investment in the economic growth of our communities.” 

The following lists each recommendation and the project it will finance.

Arthur-Shawnanee Utility District Improvement Project: $249,921

The grant will assist in the installation of approximately 3,250 linear feet of 12-inch ductile iron pipe and two new high speed pumps in the Arthur-Shawnanee Utility District. The project will benefit Lincoln Memorial University, the strip of commercial development along Highway 25E and 6,400 residents in the Arthur-Shawnanee area. Funding for the $499,842 project will include $249,921 in local funds.                                                   
 
Children’s Center of the Cumberlands Building Project: $243,200
The grant will assist the Children's Center of the Cumberlands in the purchase of a building. The project will benefit the children who are served by the center. Funding for the $304,000 project will include $60,800 in local funds.                                                                
 
Clay County Water Services Improvement Project: $320,000
The grant will assist in extending water services into the Hogan Road and Chilton Road areas of rural Clay County. The project will benefit 12 households in the area that are in urgent need of a safe and potable water supply and are currently forced to haul water. Funding for the $400,000 project will include $80,000 in local funds.                                                            
 
Cleveland Bradley Business Incubator Building Project: $75,000
The grant will assist the Cleveland Bradley Business Incubator in erecting a building to house a biodiesel, solar and geothermal learning laboratory. The project will be located on the Cleveland State Community College campus. Funding for the $635,000 project will include $560,000 in local funds and other sources.
 
Cookeville Area Chamber of Commerce Regional Workforce Study: $10,100
The grant will assist the Cookeville Area Chamber of Commerce in conducting a regional workforce availability study. The project will benefit Overton, Putnam and White Counties. Funding for the $46,800 project will include $36,700 in local funds.                                                         
 
Dunlap Sewer Pump Station Improvement Project: $210,000
The grant will assist the City of Dunlap in replacing the Industrial Park Sewer Pump Station to increase attractiveness of the area to prospective Volkswagen suppliers. The project will benefit approximately the City of Dunlap, Sequatchie County and surrounding counties. Funding for the $420,000 project will include $210,000 in local funds.
 
Fentress County Children’s Center of the Cumberlands: $200,000
The grant will assist Fentress County Children's Center of the Cumberlands in providing basic services to help abused children recover from their trauma and in documenting abuse to aid in prosecution of offenders. The project will benefit physically and sexually abused children by providing medical examinations and counseling services, as well as providing counseling services, advocacy and prevention education to potential victims, non-offending parents, teachers and students. Funding for the $250,000 project will include $50,000 in local funds.   
 
Friends of the Big South Fork Tourism Guide Distribution: $20,000
The grant will assist Friends of the Big South Fork in the distribution of their tourism guide. The project will benefit the counties surrounding the Big South Fork Park. Funding for the $25,000 project will include $5,000 in local funds.  
 
Governor’s Books From Birth Foundation: $100,000
The grant will assist the Governor’s Books From Birth Foundation in providing books to children up to the age of five in Appalachian Tennessee counties. The project will benefit all 52 ARC Counties in Tennessee. Funding for the $200,000 project will include $100,000 in local funds.    
 
Keystone Dental Care, Inc.: $84,220
The grant will assist Keystone Dental Care, Inc. in providing access to dental care at no cost to adults meeting federal poverty guidelines. The project will benefit approximately 1,000 adults in the Upper Tennessee region of Appalachia. Funding for the $142,746 project will include $58,526 in local funds.            
 
Kid’s Place/A Child Advocacy Project: $7,500
The grant will assist Kid's Place/A Child Advocacy Center Therapy Project with providing therapeutic counseling, forensic interviews, court preparation and family advocate, and prevention and awareness programs for children who are victims of sexual and/or several physical abuse. The project will benefit physically and sexually abused children by providing including medical examinations and counseling services, as well as counseling services, advocacy and prevention education to potential victims, non-offending parents, teachers and students. Funding for the $15,000 project will include $7,500 in local funds.  
 
Kingsport Riverwalk Development Project: $250,000
The grant will assist the City of Kingsport in building phase 1 of the riverwalk plaza to develop tourism in the city and region. The project will benefit the City of Kingsport. Funding for the $500,000 project will include $250,000 in local funds.     
 
Lawrence County Water Storage Project: $295,000
The grant will assist Lawrence County in constructing a 250,000 gallon elevated water storage tank to serve Acu-Cast Technologies, LLC. The project will benefit approximately 80 employees of Acu-Cast Technologies, LLC. Funding for the $590,000 project will include $295,000 in local funds.              
 
Monteagle Water System Improvement Project: $500,000
The grant will assist the Town of Monteagle in rehabilitating approximately 6,000 L.F. of pipe bursting repairs, replacing and repairing 110 manholes and point repairs with associated service line reconnections and repairs. The project will benefit 590 current Monteagle residential customers and an additional 350 residential customers of the the Assembly and Tracy City. Funding for the $1,330,000 project will include $830,000 in local funds.
 
Newport Utilities Improvement Project: $500,000
The grant will provide a new storage tank and water main extensions that are required to satisfy storage deficiencies and to extend water service to the remaining residents of the Edwina-Bridgeport area in need of a potable water supply. The project will benefit 229 households in the Edwina-Bridgeport area. Funding for the $850,500 project will include $350,500 in local funds.
 
Powell Valley Utility District Improvement Project: $393,477
The grant will assist the Powell Valley Utility District in improving safety and operation sustainability, including the installation of 40 six-inch gas valves, 30 two-inch gas valves, 30 service taps and meters, 2,250 feet of service lines and six feet of casing pipe. The project will benefit current and future customers of the Powell Valley Utility District. Funding for the $491,846 project will include $98,369 in local funds.      
 
Schools Together Allowing No Drugs (STAND): $150,000
The grant will assist Schools Together Allowing No Drugs (STAND) in Scott County in implementing an aggressive education and awareness campaign related to drug and alcohol prevention. The project will benefit approximately 3,500 middle- and high-school-aged youth and the entire community of 21,926 residents. Funding for the $187,500 project will include $37,500 in local funds. 
 
South Pittsburg Sewer System Improvement Project: $500,000
The grant will assist the City of South Pittsburg in finishing wastewater treatment plant improvements. The project will benefit the South Pittsburg sewer customers. Funding for the $3,000,000 project will include $2,500,000 in local funds.   
 
South Pittsburg Water, Sewer and Natural Gas Improvement Project: $180,000
The grant will assist the City of South Pittsburg in providing water, sewer and natural gas service to Chicago Bridge & Iron and its nuclear reactor vessel fabrication plant. The project will benefit South Pittsburg through the creation of 250 jobs, with the potential for 100 more jobs in the future. Funding for the $360,000 project will include $180,000 in local funds.  
 
Southeast Educational, Inc.: $360,000
The grant will assist Southeast Educational, Inc. in increasing both high school retention and graduation and access to post-secondary education. The project will benefit up to 19 schools in 15 counties in Appalachian Tennessee. Funding for the $455,000 project will include $95,000 in local funds.    
 
Southeast Tennessee Development District GIS Upgrade Project: $11,055
The grant will assist the Southeast Tennessee Development District in upgrading the Association's Geographic Information System (GIS) capability to assist local governments in the recruitment of Volkswagen suppliers to the region, which includes Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, McMinn, Marion, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Sequatchie Counties. The project will be located on the Cleveland State Community College campus. Funding for the $22,110 project will include $11,055 in local funds and other sources.    
 
Warren County Educational Expansion Program at Motlow State Community College: $250,000

The grant will assist with the development of a Mechatronics program at Motlow State Community College in Warren County aimed at retaining and creating jobs. The project will benefit residents of Middle Tennessee, and in particular, residents of Warren County and the surrounding counties. It is anticipated that a total of 75 people per semester will receive training. Funding for the $500,000 project will include $250,000 in local funds.

“Investing in basic infrastructure and quality of life improvement projects is a pre-requisite to successful economic development, and ARC grants make that kind of investment possible in many Tennessee communities,” ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber said. “The funds benefit not only the local communities, but ultimately their region and the state.”

Allocation of ARC funds is based on priorities set at local levels where community needs are best known. The recommended project will now be forwarded to Washington for review and approval. The Department of Economic and Community Development administers the ARC program in Tennessee. The program provides resources to help leverage community development and economic growth opportunities in Tennessee’s Appalachian communities.
 
The Appalachian Regional Commission 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 partnership composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a presidential appointee representing the federal government. For more information, visit www.arc.gov.
 
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
 
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to create higher skilled, better paying jobs for all Tennesseans. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. To find out more, go to www.tnecd.gov.
###
 
Contact: Michaela Jackson   
Office: (615) 253-4897