500k Grant Awarded To Clarkrange Regional Business Park

The state awarded a $500,000 grant Thursday for the Clarkrange Regional Business Park.

The grant will be used to grade around 140 acres of cleared land. Fentress County Executive Jimmy Johnson said making the land attractive for building is key to recruiting businesses and creating new jobs.

“It is really nice right now. It is all sowed down,” Johnson said. “They have water and electric hooked up to it right now. We are just waiting for someone to come through and say yes we really like this place and this is where we want to be.”

Johnson said several companies have already looked at building at the business park in the past. At this time, half of the 1,250 acres of vacant land is ready to be built on.

“We are just waiting and keeping our fingers crossed,” Johnson said. “The Industrial Development Board is doing a lot of work on it and tying to make it the best looking spot anybody can find in this area. That is their goal to land some type of employment there.”

Fentress’s Industrial Development and Economic Community Development Boards both worked on applying for the grant. Eight grants were awarded totaling for more than $2.3 million. The Site Development Grant program helps communities prepare industrial sites for business investments.

Johnson said winning the grant was overwhelming and is a huge step for Fentress County’s development. Work for a road running to I-40 from Highway 62 is set to begin in 2021, giving the Clarkrange Regional Business Park more appeal.

Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced the winners Thursday.