Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Stuart McWhorter recently approved $27.3 million in grants that will be distributed across 64 Tennessee counties.
Congratulations to the 64 communities that will receive funding through the latest round of Community Development Block Grants.
The $27M+ awarded will assist Tennessee's cities and towns with improving infrastructure, housing & other safety initiatives. https://t.co/YGlCILpwYk pic.twitter.com/66lJ1PrOgg
— TNECD (@TNECD) December 1, 2022
The distribution of the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) will “assist communities with infrastructure improvements, housing rehabilitations and health and safety initiatives,” according to a press release by TNECD.
“Congratulations to the 64 communities receiving funding through the latest round of Community Development Block Grants,” TNECD Commissioner McWhorter said in a statement. “The CBDG program is an essential tool for TNECD as we partner with local communities across the state to better equip and prepare them for economic development opportunities, and we look forward to seeing the success that follows these projects.”
The grant program is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered in Tennessee by TNECD. Each community grant application was supported by the area’s senator and representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly, TNECD notes.
The funds are meant to “enhance the quality of life in Tennessee’s rural communities” by going toward water and sewer improvements, housing rehabilitation, health and safety projects, and other improvements.
In addition to the traditional projects CDBG funds typically support, this scenic round of funding was also made available for “community development projects, such as sidewalk and walking trail improvements, street paving and community centers,” according to TNECD.
“Quality infrastructure is essential to ensuring that every Tennessee community can thrive,” Governor Lee said in a statement. “I congratulate each grant recipient for receiving funds to support local safety, spur economic growth and secure prosperity across our state.”
For the full list of communities that received CDBG funding and how the total amount of $27.3 million was distributed, please visit https://www.tn.gov/ecd/news/2022/12/1/governor-lee–commissioner-mcwhorter-announce-64-communities-to-receive-community-development-block-grants—.html
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Community Development Block Grants” by TNECD.
