Bredesen, Kisber, Announce 18 Recovery Act CDBG Grants
Additional Community Development Block Grants Funded by Federal Stimulus
NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber awarded more than $7 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Recovery Act dollars will fund 18 additional projects submitted in the 2008 CDBG funding cycle for community livability, water and sewer, and housing rehabilitation.
“I appreciate the additional Recovery Act dollars to improve the lives of Tennessee citizens and assist communities in meeting their basic needs. The Community Development Block Grants bolster growth and development at the most fundamental level, and I’m very pleased that our state can be a partner in this vital financial assistance program,” said Governor Bredesen.
The CDBG program enables local governments to undertake a wide range of activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide decent affordable housing and create economic opportunities, primarily for persons of low and moderate income. Under the Recovery Act recipients shall give priority to projects that can award contracts based on bids within 120 days of the grant agreement.
“The Recovery Act CDBG funds will be put to good use in assisting our communities, while creating new jobs and retaining current ones. The building blocks for economic development are simple infrastructure necessities like water systems and road improvements, and CDBG grants help communities meet those basic needs,” said Commissioner Kisber.
Allocation of CDBG funds is based on priorities set at local levels where community needs are best known. The CDBG program is administered in Tennessee by the Department of Economic and Community Development’s Office of Program Management.
Below is a list of communities who were awarded grants:
• Baileyton – $225,000 for improvements to the Baileyton wastewater treatment plant.
• Charleston – $500,000 to construct a sewer line extension to 38 homes not currently served.
• Crossville - $500,000 for improvements to the Crossville sewer treatment plant.
• Enville - $62,938 to purchase a siren system alerting residents of severe weather conditions.
• Gainesboro – $500,000 to rehabilitate the city’s water distribution system, which is currently experiencing a water loss of more than 46 percent per month.
• Gates – $390,060 to update the clarifier and pressure filter system of the Gates water treatment plant, serving 604 residential customers, of whom 95.3 percent are low to moderate income.
• Maury County - $474,000 to rehabilitate the Mt. Pleasant water system by replacing old water mains and customer water meters and installing pump controls to eliminate storage tank overflows, serving 5,534 residents, of whom 71.7 percent are low to moderate income.
• McMinn County - $500,000 to construct a water line extension to 64 occupied households along two country roads in the northwestern area of the county.
• Oneida - $500,000 for improvements to the Oneida sewer system.
• Polk County - $450,000 to construct a sewer line extension to serve 38 homes in the Welcome Valley Road area.
• Sharon – $188,873 to purchase a new fire truck/pumper for the fire department.
• Smith County – $300,000 for use in building two new Emergency Medical Systems buildings.
• Smithville – $500,000 to renovate the Smithville water treatment plant, serving 5,226 residents, of whom 74.5 percent are low to moderate income.
• Somerville – $400,000 for the expansion and modification of the Somerville wastewater treatment plant to correct operational problems.
• South Carthage – $225,000 to construct a new fire hall.
• Tiptonville – $200,000 for improvements to Tiptonville’s sewer treatment plant.
• Trenton – $500,000 for improvements to the Trenton sewer system.
• Woodland Mills – $500,000 for the rehabilitation of 12 residential dwellings.
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.
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Contact: Laura Elkins
Phone: (615) 532-1910
E-mail: laura.elkins@tn.gov
