NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) announced today $1 million will be awarded to two collaborative teams through the Transportation Network Growth Opportunity (TNGO) initiative. Today’s announcement marks the start of the second round of TNGO funding, which will feature eight recipients.
TNGO, which has received a total of $7.5 million in funding through the Tennessee General Assembly, serves as a tool to diversify the state’s economy by leveraging both public and private sector assets to attract mobility research and development (R&D) investment to Tennessee. It also serves as part of the state’s efforts to make Tennessee the No. 1 destination in the Southeast for automotive and mobility R&D investment.
“For decades, Tennessee has been leading the nation with our strong manufacturing workforce,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “In partnership with the General Assembly, we’ve made strategic investments to further diversify our business environment and attract research and development projects that will create more high-quality jobs. I congratulate the communities who have demonstrated a commitment to furthering our pro-business climate that can support the entire mobility supply chain.”
The selected projects exemplify how Tennessee can lead in industry-driven and collaborative mobility R&D and will serve as catalysts to attract additional industry-related R&D investment to the state.
“Research, development and innovation are a top priority in our state, and I’m proud to take part in announcing $1 million in funding today through TNGO,” said TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter. “I’m grateful to these two teams who have shown a desire to further innovate Tennessee, and I look forward to seeing all the success they will continue to have throughout the future.”
The grant recipients listed below include students and faculty from Tennessee’s leading research institutions who will partner with industry, economic developers and community leaders to bring their plans to fruition.
Tennessee Tech and Whisper Aero, Putnam County — $500,000
Taking a step toward developing low-cost regional flights from small airports to serve rural Tennessee needs
Through the use of an existing Whisper Aero glider with two eQ250 propulsors for UltraQuiet flight demonstrations, Tennessee Tech faculty and students will be engaged in copper-bird ground testing to ensure the safe integration of engines, batteries and controllers. This project will also kickstart the university’s new Crossville Mobility Incubator.
“This project will help position Tennessee’s as a leader in mobility innovation and highlights the power of state partnerships in advancing transformative technologies,” said Whisper Aero co-found and CEO Mark Moore.
“At Tennessee Tech, one of the ways we put students first is by seeking out hands-on, experiential learning opportunities just like those that will be provided through this TNGO award,” said Tennessee Tech President Phil Oldham. “We look forward to using these award dollars to place students in internships working directly with Whisper Aero leaders. By learning from an electric propulsion innovator like Whisper Aero, our students will gain invaluable perspective and can take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it right here in Tennessee.”
University of Memphis and FedEx, Shelby County — $500,000
Designing and implementing a comprehensive trucking fleet management framework for short, medium and long-haul trucks
This unified fleet maintenance plan will leverage historical data from each depot or agency within the logistics hub to optimize operations based on remaining life (RL) and live telematics data. This project will also underscore the importance of fleet management for longevity, cost efficiency and strategic application.
“The University of Memphis is working to create industry-aligned research that helps to ensure Tennessee companies are competitive nationally,” University of Memphis executive vice president for research and innovation Jasbir Dhaliwal said. “TNGO and the statewide efforts to move Tennessee into a leadership position in the transportation space strengthens Memphis’ established position as a transportation and supply chain hub globally. The opportunity to work closely with FedEx, a highly valued UofM partner, in these efforts is of great benefit to our students, faculty and community.”
“FedEx is looking forward to collaborating with the University of Memphis to test and design predictive fleet maintenance systems to minimize vehicle breakdowns, and help enhance reliability and performance,” said FedEx VP of global vehicles Patrick Donlon.
Each proposed project aligns with Tennessee’s key automotive and mobility technology strengths and opportunities outlined in a 2022 mobility assessment report from Guidehouse Consulting, which was supported by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the University of Tennessee System and Vanderbilt University.
For more information or questions, please reach out to [email protected].
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
TNECD is the state’s primary agency committed to fostering economic growth through job creation and community development. By attracting new corporate investment and facilitating the growth of existing businesses, the department works to strengthen Tennessee’s competitive landscape. Additionally, TNECD strives to increase the economic prosperity for all Tennesseans by providing grants to communities statewide, helping them to become vibrant, business-friendly environments where companies can flourish. For more information, visit us at tnecd.com. Join the conversation on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
TNECD Media Contact:
Chris O’Brien
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
(615) 934-5879
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