Distressed Counties Receive $2 Million to Increase Postsecondary Education Access

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              
Contact:  Jessica Powers
615-532-0428
Jessica.powers@tn.gov
Please Note: If you would like access to a downloadable/printable version of this press release, please contact Jessie Greene at jessie.greene@tn.gov.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – October 16, 2019 – The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) today announced grant awards for distressed and at-risk Tennessee counties totaling $2 million as part of the Supporting Postsecondary Attainment in Rural Counties (SPARC) program.

In total, 39 counties will receive funds for the purchase of career and technical education equipment (CTE) such as welding booths and health science simulators as well as provide industry certifications in rural high schools. The grants will also establish dual enrollment and adult learner opportunities.

“Providing high quality career and technical education opportunities that link to college coursework is a key strategy for building the workforce in rural areas," said Executive Director Mike Krause. “Our goal is to provide the training necessary to enhance technical skills and increase opportunity in these counties.”

Counties are classified by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) index of economic status as at-risk or distressed based upon their three-year average unemployment rate, per capita market income, and poverty rates. Distressed counties rank among the 10% most economically distressed in the nation. At-risk counties rank between the bottom 10% and 25% of the nation’s counties.

The 2019 distressed counties are Bledsoe, Clay, Cocke, Fentress, Grundy, Hancock, Hardeman, Jackson, Lake, Lauderdale, McNairy, Perry, Scott, and Wayne. These counties will each receive $75,000 grants.

The at-risk counties are Benton, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Claiborne, Decatur, Grainger, Hardin, Hawkins, Haywood, Henderson, Houston, Johnson, Lewis, Meigs, Monroe, Obion, Overton, Rhea, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, and Weakley. These counties will each receive $36,000. These grants mark the second year of funding for SPARC.

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The Tennessee Higher Education Commission was created in 1967 by the Tennessee General Assembly. The Commission develops, implements, evaluates postsecondary education policies and programs in Tennessee while coordinating the state’s systems of higher education, and is relentlessly focused on increasing the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary credential.