Aeronautics Economic Development Fund

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must be:

• local government or its funded economic development organization*
• airport authority or comparable entity/commission*
• a subdivision of state government*

^{*Partnerships, collaborative work, and leveraging of funds are encouraged}

Project Eligibility

Eligible

Proposed projects must be used to facilitate economic development endeavors related to the aerospace industry and job creation.

Two project categories are available for consideration:

1. Capital Improvement Projects
2. Non-Capital Improvement Program(s)/Activity Projects

The program requires a minimum 10% local participation of the total requested funds.

Ineligible

Proposed construction projects may not include airport terminals and/or T-hangars.

A private industry that is closing existing facilities or moving locations within Tennessee is not eligible for consideration under this program.

Guidelines for Funding

All eligible projects will undergo review using the evaluation factors below.

Evaluation Criteria

• Aerospace and related program(s)/activities    
  • Impact on the aerospace sector
  • Project scope
  • Project cost
  • Project schedule
  • Performance measures and project goals
• Employment and capital investment
  • New capital investments
  • Net new full-time job creation
  • Median wage of net new full-time jobs in the county
  • Site development for future private industry recruitment
• Community need and support
  • Demonstration of community support
  • Percentage of local participation/local matching funds
  • Current economic status information for the county as applicable to the proposed project, such as unemployment rates, educational attainment data, etc.

Grant Information

This is a reimbursable grant program. A reimbursable grant means that the grantee will (1) spend dollars as agreed upon in the contract for eligible activities, (2) submit respective receipts and other documentation to TDOT, and then (3) receive reimbursement from TDOT for allowable expenditures. All expenditures must take place within the timeframe of the grant period as designated by the grant contract. Grants are not eligible for amendment in scope or dollar amount.

Project proposals must include all applicable information listed in the Application Requirements. Applications and all supporting documentation must be emailed to Aero.Grants@tn.gov by October 16, 2026 for consideration.

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Applicant Information

Contact Information

Please provide the below information.

Applicant Contact Information

• Primary Contact Name
• Primary Contact Phone
• Primary Contact Email
• Complete Physical Address, include county
• Airport Name (if applicable)
• Airport Sponsor (if applicable)

Project: Aerospace and Related Activities

Overview

Concisely describe how your project will impact job creation and investment opportunities in aerospace and related programs and/or activities.

Project Description

Two project categories are available for consideration: 

1. Capital Improvement Projects
2. Non-Capital Improvement Program(s)/Activity Projects.

Provide the information requested in the appropriate category below for your project request.

Note: If an application includesn dollars that fall into both project categories, complete each project Scope, Cost/Budget and Construction Schedule/Timeline respectively, and provide a total overall project budget and grant dollar request with your application.

1. Capital Improvement Projects 

a. Scope

Describe the scope of proposed work to be accomplished for this request. The scope should also include:

- Maps or drawings depicting the location of the proposed industry in relation to city or county submitting the application; and

- If applicable, include a drawing depicting the current and proposed changes to the airport property, including the private industry/corporate site, and any changes to the runway, taxiway, or apron.

b. Cost

Provide a planning estimate of project costs including detail for items such as design, environmental, land acquisition, and construction phases.

c. Construction Schedule

Provide a project schedule including the project start date, appropriate project milestones, and project completion date. What challenges or barriers do you anticipate related to the execution of this project? All projects have challenges/barriers.

2. Non-Capital Improvement Program(s)/Activity Projects

a. Scope

Provide a detailed project description; clearly discuss each of the following:

o   Program(s)/activity, need, and impact:

§  Why is this program(s)/activity
important to aerospace?

§  How and why did you choose the
program(s)/activity proposed?

§  Can you demonstrate existing demand for
this type of program(s)/activity? How did you determine the gap and demand?
Provide relevant data to support program(s)/activity, and include results from
any comparable project(s).

o   Stakeholders/Partners:

§  What are the roles and responsibilities
of the team/individuals implementing the program and their qualifications to
implement a successful program(s)? Who manages the program? What other
facilitators or support staff are involved daily?

§  Who are the key partners and their
roles in the project? Who from the business community will be involved and how?
Who from the public sector (economic development representatives, schools and
local government) will be involved and how?

o   Will any additional funds be used to
complete or increase the impact of this project?

o   How will this project be sustained
after the funding period? Can it be scaled?

b.     
Budget

Provide a budget narrative, including
total project cost, grant funds requested, and the amount and other funding
sources, and local matching dollars. 

c.      
Timeline

Provide a clear timeline that includes
the proposed project start date, program/activity milestones, and projected
completion date.

Performance Measures

Applicants must provide performance
measures that will be included in quarterly status updates to TDOT
Aeronautics.  Applicants must provide
performance measures that apply directly to their proposed project. Consider
the following:

·      
What does success
look like for this project?

·      
What metrics,
quantitative and qualitative, will you use to determine success?

·      
How will you
track these metrics?

·      
What challenges
or barriers do you anticipate related to the execution of the proposed Capital
Improvement and/or Non-Capital Improvement Program(s)/Activity Project(s)? All
projects have challenges/barriers.

Private
Industry Commitment to Creating New Jobs /Capital Investment

Private Industry/Corporate Commitment

If applicable, provide a letter of
commitment, letter of interest, or lease agreement from the prospective private
industry.  A qualifying industry
must be new to or expanding its operations within the state of Tennessee. 

Note: A
private industry closing its facilities or moving locations within Tennessee is
not eligible for consideration under this program.

Provide private
industry/corporate contact information, including:

·      
Private
Industry/Corporate Name

·      
Current Private
Industry/Corporate Address (Mailing and Physical)

·      
Primary Contact
Information:

o   Name

o   Phone

o   Email

       Additional
Private Industry/Corporate Information Requested:

·      
Has the company
received incentives or grants from Tennessee (e.g., job creation or capital
investment)? If yes, which and when?

·      
Is the business
entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction(s) in which the
entity is organized or authorized to conduct business and not delinquent in
taxes owed to any taxing entity?

·      
Do any of the
following persons have a direct or indirect ownership interest of greater than
2% in the applicant, act as a member of the applicant’s board of directors or
serve as senior management of the applicant?

o   Employee of the Tennessee Department of
Transportation or any other state agency/commission (or his or her immediate
family)

o   Current member of the TN General
Assembly (or his or her immediate family)

o   Senior state official (or his or her
immediate family)

              If
yes to any of the above, please provide the name and position of those
individuals.

Employment Impact

Applicants
with private industry commitment should provide the below information:

·      
Anticipated date
facility will be operational

·      
Initial
employment number

·      
Full employment
number

·      
Anticipated date
of full employment

·      
Net new full-time
jobs

·      
Median wage of
net new jobs

Note: All positions filled prior to
execution of a grant contract resulting from this application may not be
counted towards the above figures.

Community
Benefit

Objectives and
Need for Assistance

Demonstrate how this grant program will
address a need or solve a problem. Include current economic status information
for the county as applicable to the proposed Capital Improvement and/or
Non-Capital Improvement Program(s)/Activity Projects, such as unemployment
rates, educational attainment data, etc. Use the data at tnecd.com/county-profiles to address the specific county
economic items.

Revenue Generated

If applicable, provide estimates of
annual revenue or taxes generated to the local government and/or the airport
once the project is complete.

Community Support

Include at least two and no more than
five letters of support that clearly outline how that entity/ organization will
contribute to the project. The letters should concise and submitted on the
letterhead of the entity/organization; emails are acceptable with the
respective signature blocks intact.

Local Matching Funds

A minimum match of 10% of the total
requested funds is required.  Provide a
breakdown of all funding sources that will be utilized for this project.  The match may come from public or private
sources.

Shared Funding
Responsibility among Local Governments  

If multiple
local government agencies are sharing any portion of the funding
responsibility, a written agreement between local government agencies should
also be submitted with the application. 

Compliance

By submitting
an application for the Aeronautics Economic Development Fund the applicant
affirms the following:

·       Authorization and Certification of
Applicant

As an authorized representative of my
organization, I understand the eligibility requirements and affirm that, if
accepted, the organization is prepared to meet all financial and time
expectations in order to participate. On behalf of the organization, I affirm
that the information provided in this application and any ancillary documents
is true and accurate; Further, on behalf of the organization, I affirm that the
organization is eligible to receive funds, is in good standing with the state
of Tennessee, will serve as a conduit for the associated grant, and has the
financial resources required for the proposed project.

·      
On behalf of the organization, I acknowledge and understand that TDOT will
not reimburse any costs incurred prior to the execution and approval of a
contract. TDOT will notify the recipient if and when the contract is approved.

Application
Checklist

Your application must include all
applicable items in each section below:

o  Applicant Information

o  Project:
Aerospace and Related Activities

o  Private Industry
Commitment to Creating New Jobs/New Capital Investments

o  Community Benefit       

Compliance – Authorization