Newsroom

Nashville, Tenn. -- Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the creation of the Stimulus Financial Accountability Group to ensure proper fiscal management of stimulus funds received by the state through the Coronavirus Relief Fund created by the CARES Act. The State of Tennessee projects a distribution of approximately $2.3 billion from the Fund.

NASHVILLE – Despite the current spike in unemployment across Tennessee, March’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remains relatively unchanged, only increasing 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.5%. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development did not see an unprecedented increase in unemployment claims until the third and fourth weeks of March.

Tennessee New Unemployment Claims Filed for the week ending on April 11, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced free COVID-19 testing will be available for any Tennessean, regardless of traditional symptoms, as the Unified-Command group ramps up an aggressive effort to expand testing capacity across the state.

Nashville, Tenn. -- Today, Governor Bill Lee announced the appointment of Butch Eley to serve as the Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration (F&A). Eley currently serves as Chief Operating Officer in the Governor’s Office and will continue to coordinate efforts between departments in the interim.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers are still raising livestock and planting and harvesting crops. At this time, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture sees no evidence of agricultural shortages in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is prepared to provide replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to families who suffered losses in Sunday’s severe weather event.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry is now accepting urban forestry tree planting project proposals through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP). The program encourages local governments to increase and enhance city tree populations.

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, TDMHSAS is sharing public service announcements with broadcasters to increase awareness of its Statewide Crisis Line.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry is closing Lone Mountain State Forest until further notice to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced $200 million in grants to be distributed to every county and city government across Tennessee for one-time, local expenses in fiscal year 2021.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the State of Tennessee will allocate $10 million in Small and Rural Hospital Readiness Grants to support hospitals that are facing financial strain due to the ongoing response to COVID-19.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Revenue has extended the due date for filing and paying the professional privilege tax from June 1, 2020 to July 1, 2020. Governor Bill Lee included the tax extension in Executive Order No. 24.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe today announced $19.7 million in broadband accessibility grants that will expand service to support 31,000 unserved Tennesseans in nearly 12,700 households and businesses.