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NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Transportation will use federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to provide rural residents with better access to daily public transit. Vice President Joe Biden announced federal approval of TDOT’s plan to use $3.1 million in Recovery Act funds to expand direct intercity bus routes on Friday, March 5. The funds will be used by existing intercity bus carriers to purchase 23 buses, security equipment, support vehicles, computers, intelligent transportation system software, for ADA enhancements to vehicles and preventive maintenance. TDOT announced the first intercity bus routes in the state in March 2009. The program provides fixed route public transportation services between rural areas and the state’s urban centers.

 

NASHVILLE — Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen announced today that Tennessee is one of 16 finalists in the first round of the federal government’s Race to the Top competition, which will award $4.35 billion in competitive grants designed to encourage and reward states that are pursuing education innovation.

 

The U.S. Department of Education announced the first-round finalists earlier today. Forty states and the District of Columbia submitted applications in January.

 

“I’m very pleased we’ve been named a finalist for the first round of funding, and believe that’s due to our shared commitment to making significant and meaningful improvements to K-12 education,” said Bredesen. “Tennessee is considered competitive in Race to the Top by national education reform experts because of the continued efforts we’ve demonstrated to public education reform. I want to thank the General Assembly, which adopted further landmark education reform legislation earlier this year with the support of the Tennessee Education Association and educators across the state. I have no doubt this was a significant part of our success.”

 

NASHVILLE – Twenty-four Lauderdale County citizens put on their hard hats and safety vests and hit the roads today as new employees of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The new TDOT hires are part of Governor Phil Bredesen’s initiative to reduce unemployment in Lauderdale County by using Recovery Act funds to create job opportunities. The plan calls for the creation of 175 jobs, including 50 new Highway Maintenance workers at TDOT.

 

NASHVILLE – Tennessee will receive $55.3 million in federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grants for two rail projects in the state. The US DOT announced $1.5 billion in federal TIGER grant funds for more than 50 projects across the U.S. on Wednesday, the one year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which funds the competitive TIGER grants.

 

KNOXVILLE – Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Virginia Trotter Betts today participated in the Knoxville grand opening of The Next Door, a transitional residential program for women. The facility is the first expansion of a successful Nashville program that has helped over 600 women from the criminal justice system rebuild their lives since it opened in May 2004.

 

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Transportation has obligated 100% of the $572 million in Highway Infrastructure Investment funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act two weeks ahead of the March 1 deadline required under the Act. TDOT received approval of its last project Tuesday on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Recovery Act. Tennessee is one of the first states to obligate 100% of Recovery Act funds for highway infrastructure. 

 

“I appreciate the work of the Department of Transportation and its local and regional partners in reaching this important milestone for the Recovery Act in Tennessee,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “This accomplishment ensures that all of our Recovery Act dollars for highway infrastructure will stay in Tennessee for needed improvements that will continue to boost local economies.”

 

 

 

NASHVILLE – Gov. Phil Bredesen announced today the state of Tennessee will receive $11.7 million in Recovery Act awards to help health care providers increase the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health information technology in the state.

 

Knoxville, Tenn. – Fifty Hancock County residents have their hard hats and safety vests in hand and are ready to start their new jobs with the Tennessee Department of Transportation.  The employees are part of a plan outlined by Governor Phil Bredesen on December 16, 2009 to use federal Recovery Act funds to reduce unemployment in Hancock County. On Monday, February 1, 45 new hires began their employee and safety training with TDOT and on Tuesday the department hired five more Hancock County residents. 

 

“TDOT has worked quickly to hire, train and place these Hancock County citizens on the job as highway maintenance workers,” said Bredesen. “These new jobs, along with others outlined in the plan to reduce unemployment in Hancock County, should help ease some of the strain caused by the economic downturn.”