On October 3, Crockett County was announced as one of 59 counties in Tennessee receiving ThreeStar grants this year.
All requirements were met by 95 counties to reach ThreeStar certification and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) awarded 2.4 million dollars to support a variety of community development initiatives throughout the state. Initiatives include education, workforce development, health, entrepreneurship and economic development programs.
“These 59 ThreeStar grants will help counties all across Tennessee invest in vital community development initiatives,” said Governor Bill Lee. “I’m eager to see these programs strengthen the quality of life access to workforce training programs, and economic opportunities for our residents in rural Tennessee.”
ThreeStar promotes economic and community prosperity through collaboration to positively impact every Tennessean. For the third time in the past four years, all 95 Tennessee counties gained ThreeStar certification.
“The ThreeStar grant program has a proven track record of success, and I’m pleased to announce this year’s gran recipients,” said TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe. “TNECD is proud to assist communities that are committed to improving their workforce readiness and quality of life with these types of innovative local programs.”
Out of 78 counties that applied for ThreeStar grants, Crockett County was one of the 59 counties who received a grant.
The $50,000 grant is the largest ThreeStar grant the county has received and will help conduct studies for infrastructural needs that will help with industry, home development growth and school growth in the future, according to Crockett County Chamber Director Charlie Moore.
To be eligible for the ThreeStar grant, counties must propose a project with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time bound (S.M.A.R.T.) goals that can be completed within 12 to 15 months.
“Thanks to every agency that helped determine the growth needs in Crockett County,” said Moore.
According to Moore, these upcoming studies will help Crockett County grow as well as become eligible for future grants due to the counties ability to present the statistics needed in most applications.
