Tennessee Governor Lee, Commissioner Rolfe Announce Downtown Improvement Grant Recipients

Nashville, TN – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced today 14 Tennessee Main Street and Tennessee Downtowns communities that are receiving Downtown Improvement Grants.

“I congratulate the 14 communities receiving funding through the Downtown Improvement Grants,” said Governor Lee. “These leaders are focusing strategic investments on revitalizing their downtown districts, which are the heart of so many of our communities. This will encourage additional economic development and tourism opportunities for years to come.”

A total of $1.85 million in Rural Economic Opportunity funds is being awarded in amounts up to $150,000 per community. Grants were awarded to organizations that illustrated the need for improvements and the ability to execute an effective design plan for building facades, wayfinding signage, courtyards, gateways and streetscapes in Tennessee Downtowns and Main Street communities.

“With the assistance of the Downtown Improvement Grants, each grantee is taking the initiative to encourage job and business growth in their downtown commercial core areas,” said Commissioner Rolfe. “We applaud the efforts of these communities and look forward to seeing how these projects will positively impact these areas of the state.”

Communities receiving Downtown Improvement Grants are:

• Alamo, Crockett County, $150,000
• Bell Buckle, Bedford County, $150,000
• Centerville, Hickman County, $150,000
• Clifton, Wayne County, $126,758
• Elizabethton, Carter County, $150,000
• Greeneville, Greene County, $150,000
• Humboldt, Gibson County, $150,000
• Linden, Perry County, $66,141
• Lynnville, Giles County, $131,250
• Mount Pleasant, Maury County, $150,000
• Paris, Henry County, $150,000
• Rogersville, Hawkins County, $150,000
• Tiptonville, Lake County, $34,400
• Trenton, Gibson County, $150,000

“This round of Downtown Improvement Grants is an expansion of TNECD’s long-running Commercial Façade Improvement Grant program,” said TNECD Assistant Commissioner of Rural Development Brooxie Carlton. “In addition to funding commercial building façade improvements, communities are working on activating outdoor spaces and providing public amenities in their downtowns.”

To be eligible, communities had to submit applications and be a designated Tennessee Downtowns or Main Street community. To learn more about the Downtown Improvement Grant Program, visit the website here.

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment to the state and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com.

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