Governor Haslam Announces Transportation Grant for City of Sweetwater

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John Schroer announced today a $377,600 transportation enhancement grant to the city of Sweetwater for the Visitor Center and Trailhead Project.

The proposed facility site is located in Sweetwater’s historic central business district, and will feature racks and kiosks to provide information about nearby attractions. These attractions include the Cherokee National Forest, Cherohala Skyway, and historic trails. The Visitor Center will also serve as a trailhead for the existing Duck Pond Trail and provide a pedestrian link to the central business district, while also creating a needed outdoor plaza in the downtown area. 

“If a town or city is going to thrive, then its downtown must be its heart, and these improvements increase the sense of community and will provide valuable resources to thousands of visitors,” Haslam said. “This project will provide connectivity between Sweetwater’s recreational areas and its downtown, as well as provide new opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists.”

The grant is made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

“Through Transportation Enhancement grants, TDOT has funded more than $270 million in non-traditional transportation projects,” said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer.  “This program has assisted communities all over the state in their efforts to revitalize downtowns, highlight historic areas, provide alternative means of transportation, and increase opportunities for economic development.”

A variety of activities such as the restoration of historic facilities, bike and pedestrian trails, landscaping and other non-traditional transportation projects are eligible for grant funds under the federal program.

State Sen. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge), state Rep. John Forgety (R-Athens), and state Rep. Jimmy Matlock (R-Lenoir City) represent Monroe County in the Tennessee General Assembly.

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