Governor Lee, Commissioner McWhorter Award ThreeStar Grants to 34 Tennessee Recipients
- Thirty-four grants totaling $9.6 million
- Funds support local workforce training, health and economic development initiatives
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter announced today that 34 communities statewide will receive funding from the latest round of ThreeStar grants.
In total, TNECD is awarding $9.6 million in funding to Tennessee communities to support local workforce training, health and economic development initiatives.
“I commend these 34 communities for their commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Tennesseans,” said Gov. Lee. “Tennessee is consistently recognized as one of the best places to live, work and raise a family, and we know when our communities invest in their own growth and well-being, they strengthen that reputation and make our state even more appealing to businesses and families alike.”
The ThreeStar Program is a strategic community development program developed to assist communities in preparing for a better future. Updated in 2025, the program now incorporates asset-based planning and a two-year timeline to accomplish long- and short-term goals. The program helps communities develop goals to maximize their local assets and drive economic development.
The funding announced today will be used for a variety of local community development initiatives including education, workforce development, health, tourism, small business, entrepreneurship and economic development programs, among others that were prioritized through each community’s strategic planning process.
To date, 94 counties have completed the requirements to be certified ThreeStar counties. Certification results in access to other TNECD programs and grant funding and requires a community to develop long- and short-term goals as well as action steps and responsible parties for the goals. Then, the communities are eligible for funding to help with implementation of their goals. With the program updates, distressed counties are eligible for up to $1 million in grant funding, and other communities are eligible for up to $250,000.
“TNECD’s ThreeStar Grant Program plays a critical role in helping Tennessee communities plan and prepare for future, and to date, 94 of the state’s 95 counties have benefitted from this vital program,” McWhorter said. “We are honored to announce additional funding today that will allow us to partner with local governments as they take strategic steps to enhance quality of life and expand workforce development opportunities.”
TNECD will again accept applications through December 30 of this year.
The grants announced today have been awarded to the following recipients:
| Grantee Name | Total Grant Contract Amount |
|---|---|
| Bledsoe County Board of Education* | $500,000 |
| Cannon County | $250,000 |
| Carroll County | $250,000 |
| Centerville Mainstreet | $74,500 |
| City of Milan | $250,000 |
| Cocke County Partnership* | $100,000 |
| Crockett County | $250,000 |
| Decatur County Chamber of Commerce | $215,000 |
| Economic Development Commission for Pulaski-Giles County, Tennessee, Inc. | $97,500 |
| Economic Development Growth Engine Industrial Development Board of the City of Memphis and County of Shelby, Tennessee | $115,000 |
| Fayette County | $236,355 |
| Fentress County | $50,000 |
| Grundy County* | $1,000,000 |
| Hancock County* | $1,000,000 |
| Hardeman County* | $150,000 |
| Henderson County | $250,000 |
| Jackson County | $157,500 |
Joint Economic Development Board of Unicoi County, Inc. |
$250,000 |
| Lake County* | $750,000 |
| Lauderdale County | $250,000 |
| McMinn County Economic Development Authority | $20,000 |
| McNairy County | $250,000 |
| Meigs County | $238,000 |
| Perry County* | $400,000 |
| Polk County | $249,860 |
| Rhea County | $150,000 |
| Sevier County Economic Development Council, Inc. | $25,000 |
Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Oneida* |
$1,000,000 |
| The Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee | $53,000 |
| Van Buren County | $250,000 |
| Warren County | $250,000 |
Washington County Economic Development Council, Inc. |
$250,000 |
| Wayne County | $10,000 |
| White County | $250,000 |
*Denotes grant for/within distressed county
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD)
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
(615) 934-5879
Chris.OBrien@tn.gov
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