NASHVILLE – Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd announced today that Tennessee will receive a $44.5 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support disaster recovery and resiliency projects.
TNECD will receive a $44,502,374 grant from HUD to implement the Rural by Nature initiative. The grant funds 10 projects in Dyer, Lake, Lauderdale and Madison counties including projects to restore waterways and floodplains, rehabilitate wastewater systems, and create tourism, recreation, and green spaces. The funds are in response to flooding that occurred in West Tennessee in 2011.
“West Tennessee communities have bravely faced challenges from repeated flooding for many years. It is terrific to see federal tax dollars coming back to our communities to help build capacity to mitigate the effects of future disasters. The success of West Tennessee is important to our entire state, and we want to thank HUD for helping to make these grants possible,” Boyd said.
The rural West Tennessee grant package was one of only 13 winning applications in HUD’s National Disaster Resilience Competition, funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant program. TNECD Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Rural Development Brooxie Carlton led the state’s effort in the competition.
“These grants are a wonderful example of leadership at the local, state and federal level working together for a common goal,” Carlton said. “I want to thank HUD, our legislators and local stakeholders for helping to make this possible.”
The proposed projects the HUD grant will fund include:
- Jackson Wastewater System Improvements (Madison County)
- Dyersburg Wastewater System Rehabilitation (Dyer County)
- Henning Wastewater System Rehabilitation (Lauderdale County)
- Mississippi River Levee Pump Installation (Lake County)
- Dyersburg Wetland Creation & Recreation Facilities (Dyer County)
- Forked Deer River Floodplain and Waterway Restoration (Madison County)
- Jackson Flood Control (Madison County)
- Cold Creek Chute Restoration (Lauderdale County)
- Mississippi River Corridor Overlook (Lauderdale County)
- Hazard Mapping, Assessment & Education Program (all counties)
Sen. Ed Jackson (R – Jackson), Rep. Jimmy Eldridge (R – Jackson), Rep. Bill Sanderson (R – Kenton), Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (D – Ripley) and Rep. Johnny Shaw (D – Bolivar) supported the grant.
U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher, Sen. Lamar Alexander and Sen. Bob Corker also aided in securing the funds.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Team Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Tennessee is the only three-time winner of “State of the Year” for economic development by Business Facilities magazine. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.
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