Published: April 01, 2008 05:32 pm      

Three-county partnership moves forward with industrial development plan

Development Area Director Joe Woody recently joined community leaders from Cumberland, Morgan and Roane counties to announce Rural Development will fund the Plateau Partnership Park (PPP) feasibility study necessary to move forward on this industrial development project. The announcement was made at Rockwood Municipal Airport.

Rural Development is funding the project through a Rural Business Enterprise Grant of $15,000. The study will be conducted by the engineering firm of David T. Harrell, P.E. A final report is expected in the fall.

"I'd like to give a special thanks to Rural Development for their work. They have always been there for many projects in Cumberland County ... These funds will be used for the feasibility study. It's a vital part of the plan ... this could eventually parlay into a million dollar grant," said Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill.

"Federal, state and even private funding often hinges on the results of an industrial development project’s initial feasibility study, so this is a necessary step for the Plateau Partnership," said Woody. "It’s not always easy to find funding at this stage of a project, but it is impressive that these leaders have come together across county lines to build an economic resource that will benefit workers and businesses across the whole region."

With two parcels totaling more than 1,000 acres, the proposed industrial park would be one of the largest in the state to offer potential manufacturing tenants multimodal transportation options. One parcel to be studied is visible from and convenient to Interstate 40 access and could also provide rail service. The second parcel is adjacent to Rockwood Municipal Airport. Both parcels are located near the junction of Cumberland, Morgan and Roane County lines at Rockwood.

Cumberland County is providing administration for the project start-up. The three partner counties will share equally in the development costs for the project.

Rural Development’s rural business enterprise grant program provides assistance to public or not-for-profit entities to support community economic development programs that assist small businesses in developing local business infrastructure, providing job training, conducting feasibility studies and providing technical assistance to businesses and community leaders.

Local leaders participating in the announcement included Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill and Morgan County Mayor Becky Ruppe.

Joining them were PPP board members from the three counties Dana Carter, Jimmy Davis, John Davis, V. J. Dodson, Randy Graham, Tim Johnson, Bowden Ladd, Chris Mason and Louis Newberry and State Senator Tommy Kilby.

Rural Development Specialist Jimmy Allen and Area Technician Alisa Farmer have been working with the partnership to help make this initial federal funding possible.

USDA Rural Development is committed to the future of rural communities in Tennessee by investing financial and technical assistance through housing, community and business development programs. In Fiscal Year 2007 Rural Development assisted more than 600,000 Tennessee families and businesses with more than $308 million in financial assistance through loans, loan guarantees and grants.

For more information on business development, affordable housing or community facilities programs contact the Rural Development Area Office in Cookeville at (931) 528-6539 ext. 2, toll free at 1-800-342-3149 ext.1493 or the Area Office in Knoxville at (865) 523-3338 ext. 4, toll free at 1-800-342-3149 ext. 1491. Information is also available online at www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn.