June 12, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
The Industrial Development Board of Smithville has been awarded a Site Development Grant by the State of Tennessee’s Department of Economic and Community Development. The grant award of $235,080 will fund ongoing efforts to improve the Moog Boulevard property for industrial use.
“We are so pleased that the state recognizes the potential in this site and we’re looking forward to moving ahead with the next phase of development,” said DeKalb County Mayor Tim Stribling. The grant funds will be used to extend the road into the property, providing a much improved vantage point for prospective companies considering locating in Smithville.
The Site Development Grant program is part of the Rural Economic Opportunity Act, which has the support of the Tennessee General Assembly. Representative Terri Lynn Weaver said, “It’s wonderful to see Smithville and DeKalb County’s success in this competitive grant process. I’m looking forward to seeing the new jobs and investment that will come as a result of their efforts.” “Our rural communities in Tennessee, like Smithville, are full of hardworking people and this grant will complement their efforts to help prepare these communities for local economic development and industrial growth,” said Senator Mark Pody. “I was happy to support the legislation that made these funds possible and look forward to seeing the growth that will result from these investments.”
Mayor Stribling is a member of the Industrial Development Board of Smithville. Stribling presented the grant proposal in Nashville to an advisory committee made up of the Department of Economic and Community Development, Department of Environment and Conservation, Department of Transportation, USDA-Rural Development, Tennessee Valley Authority, and professional site selection consultants. The community received technical support throughout the application process from Rebecca Smith, Megan Choate, and Leah Bane with the Upper Cumberland Development District and Kendrick Curtis with the Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association.
“Today’s industrial recruitment market requires vision and a great deal of preparation. This grant will help us take critical steps toward having a shovel-ready site for a new company or a local business that’s ready to expand,” said Stribling.