News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Housing, childcare, and infrastructure needs: those are the takeaways from Cumberland County’s annual Economic Strategy Session.
Mayor Allen Foster said the county meets with economic development partners each year with the Upper Cumberland Development District. He said he specifically wants to hone in on infrastructure improvements for this term and get the county to where it needs to be.
“We’ve spent quite a bit of money to help us out in the situation, broadband we’re getting closer to having a fix there, our roads are not good, our water and sewer we’ve got a lot of expansion needs,” Foster said. “And you know we’re a county that’s really rapidly growing.”
Foster said as the fourth largest county in the state, they have the room for more growth. He said they discussed how to market the county for tourism, transportation, and industrial development.
Foster said the next biggest issue they need to tackle is childcare. He said discussions centered on the growing need for more childcare facilities and the difficulties facing those in that industry.
“It’s a tough business to get into with all the regulations and restrictions,” Foster said. “Of course, you want the children to be safe and things like that, but there can’t be such a barrier that no one wants to get into that business. So we’re looking into things like that.”
Foster said there were over 40 people to discuss the issues facing Cumberland County, including House Speaker Cameron Sexton. He said they will continue moving forward looking at the county’s needs and how they can improve them.
