Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter announced more than $13 million in Site Development Grant (SDG) funding today. The investment spans 10 grants designed to upgrade infrastructure and engineering across local communities, positioning them to attract major economic development projects.

The SDG program, funded under the Rural Economic Opportunity Act, aims to prepare locations for future business investments by achieving “Select Tennessee” site certification.

“Access to a shovel-ready site can be the deciding factor in whether a company chooses Tennessee or another state,” said Deputy Gov. McWhorter, emphasizing the strategic value of the infrastructure funding.

The current round of funding impacts various regions across the state, ranging from initial site assessments to major infrastructure development:

• Morgan County Economic Development Board: $4,372,209 for property clearing, site improvements, road construction, and utility design at the Morgan County East Industrial Park.

• Industrial Development Board of Roane County: $4,049,654 for due diligence and property acquisition at the Buttermilk Road Site.

• Industrial Development Board of Robertson County: $3,136,979 for access road construction at White House Union Springs Business Park.

• Industrial Development Board of McMinnville (Warren County): $975,000 for sewer infrastructure at Mountain View Industrial Park North Site.

• Jackson Energy Authority: $773,500 for sewer infrastructure at Airport Industrial Park Site B.

• Due Diligence & Engineering Grants ($100,000 each): Awarded to the City of Lewisburg, Montgomery County, Scott County, and the Nickajack Port Authority.

• City of Sparta: $71,280 for due diligence at the Sparta/White County Industrial Park Site.

Since its inception in 2016, the SDG program has awarded 220 grants totaling nearly $150 million. State officials note that these targeted infrastructure improvements have successfully generated 8,471 new jobs by securing projects on the upgraded sites.

Applications for this round were vetted by an advisory committee that included representatives from state agencies, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Austin Consulting, and the USDA, with unanimous backing from local state senators and representatives.