THE FAYETTEVILLE Lincoln County Industrial Development Board (FLCIDB) is looking to bring growth to the community as it seeks to attract business to the area.
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) awarded the FLCIDB with a $1 million Site Development Grant, making the board one of 12 recipients of 12 grants that totaled more than $8 million. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe made the announcement last December.
The TNECD is designed to work with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and growth, helping to attract new corporate investment in the state. The Site Development Grant program — part of the Rural Economic Opportunity Act — aims to help communities prepare their industrial sites for business investment, working with TNECD’s Select Tennessee program.
The grants were created to help communities achieve Select Tennessee site certification and prepare industrial sites for economic development projects. The funding aids communities by helping them invest in engineering and infrastructure improvements on project-ready sites.
Elaine Middleton, executive director of the FLCIDB, said the FLCIDB made applications for the grant, to construct a 250,000 square foot, pad-ready site in the Fayetteville-Lincoln County Industrial Park on Highway 64.
“The project will clear, grub, and grade approximately 20 acres of the site,” Middleton said, via email. “Earthwork will establish a ‘pad-ready’ site to accommodate a 250,000 square foot building pad, parking lot, and access drive.”
Middleton said she hopes that construction will begin in June. If the weather is very cooperative, she expects the project to be completed by the end of October. She also hopes that the next project would be helping an industry locate on that property.
“For us, our whole intent to build this pad is to make the site more attractive to a prospect,” Middleton said. “Our end goal is to attract a new industry to that site.
According to a news release by the FLCIDB when it received the grant, Lee said the grants will help communities obtain jobs.
“Thanks to the support of the General Assembly, the Site Development Grants program will enhance an additional 12 industrial sites for future economic development projects,” Lee said. “I remain committed to rural Tennessee, and these grants will help our communities attract jobs and support economic growth across our state.”
According to the same news release, Rolfe also expressed his excitement for the grants.
“The Site Development Grants program is essential to our Tennessee communities, as it not only helps to create shovel-ready sites but serves as a catalyst for achieving the ultimate goal of Select Tennessee site certification,” Rolfe said. “We look forward to seeing the communities’ successes that follow this latest round of awards.”
TNECD has awarded 127 Site Development Grants that totaled more than $47 million across the state to assist local communities since 2016. -GN
