Tennessee
| Program Category | # of Grants per state | Sum of EDA $ |
|---|---|---|
| Assistance to Coal Communities | 1 | $1,500,000 |
| Economic Adjustment Assistance | 1 | $190,916 |
| Planning | 7 | $1,470,000 |
| Public Works | 3 | $3,872,000 |
| Technical Assistance | 2 | $236,000 |
| Grand Total | 14 | $7,268,916 |
Franklin County, which lies in central Tennessee, had long been dependent on the coal-powered plant operated by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in Jackson County, Alabama, for economic opportunity. Closure of the plant, which was one of TVA’s largest coal-powered plants and at one time employed over 500 people, resulted in economic hardship for Franklin County. To further economic growth following the closure, Franklin County identified continuing education as a need to encourage expansion and location of industry to the area.
In FY 2018, EDA awarded $2 million in Public Works funds to Franklin County and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology to construct a facility to house six high-demand and advanced-skill training programs that will support manufacturing and healthcare in the area. In addition, Franklin County was awarded $4.9 million in Community Development Block Grant funding from the state of Tennessee to support the project.
With this investment, Baxter Enterprises, Phoenix Boats, Diversatech Plastics, and Southern Tennessee Regional Health System-Winchester have committed to creating 250 new jobs, retaining 20 jobs and supporting $7.5 million in private investment. In addition, Franklin County is home to Nissan Motor Corporation, which will utilize the facility for their future training needs.