Fast Track Infrastructure Development Program Grants:

Fast Track Infrastructure Development Program funds may be used for infrastructure improvements.  Funds may not be used for "speculative" projects but are restricted to situations where there is a commitment by certain private sector businesses to locate or expand in the state and to create or retain jobs for Tennesseeans.   For more information, please go to the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development website at www.state.tn.us/ecd.

Delta Regional Authority Grants:

            The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is a federal-state partnership serving a 240-county/parish area in an eight-state region.  The DRA is designed to remedy severe and chronic economic distress by stimulating economic and community development through improvements to basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, business development and job training.  For further information, please go to the DRA website at www.dra.gov.

Community Development Block Grant Industrial Infrastructure Grant and Loan Program:

            Eligible economic development projects include grants for industrial infrastructure and loans for industrial buildings and equipment.  Projects are eligible for grants if they are in the public domain, and available for use by a large segment of the community.  CDBG assistance is in the form of a loan when the asset being financed is for the exclusive use of one industry.  Funding levels, interest rates, and terms are structured to provide an incentive for economic development in economically distressed counties whose economic development has lagged behind the rest of the state.  Economically distressed counties are those which are among the worst ten in three year unemployment, per capita income, and poverty rates.  For more information, please go to the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development website at www.state.tn.us/ecd.

Economic Development Administration Grants:

            The Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.  EDA fulfills its mission by investing in the following:  public works infrastructure and development facilities; the crafting and implementation of comprehensive economic development strategies; local, national and University Center-based technical assistance and research projects; and revolving loan funds.  For more information, please go to the EDA website at www.doc.gov/eda.

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy:

            The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a compilation of data, information and economic development priorities for the Northwest Tennessee Development District (Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion, and Weakey Counties).  The purpose of the CEDS is to provide a detailed profile of the district’s vision for the region.  The CEDS serves as a reference guide to the community in times of economic downturn and expansion and facilitates regional discussion concerning the coordination, cooperation, and development of comprehensive regional actions to improve and/or sustain growth.  The development of the CEDS is a multi-faceted process, involving input from the community, businesses, the service sector, government, human and health services, the financial sector, compiled in an effort to identify the region’s priorities.

Regional and Planning

NWTDD