Legislators Join Putnam Chamber For State Of The State Luncheon

Infrastructure, mental health, and education among the topics of discussion at the first State of the State Luncheon.

Representative Paul Bailey was among the legislators present at Cookeville’s Leslie Town Center Thursday to provide updates on current projects and future initiatives to business leaders in the community. He said the luncheon helps him connect directly with constituents on issues they want to be addressed.

“I think infrastructure is definitely one of these issues,” Bailey said. “We are a growing area, the entire Upper Cumberland region is growing. So I think we have to be able to fund our infrastructure.”

Bailey said education is another important facet of discussion for the State of the State. He said in that way, the state is working boost funding for secondary education opportunities like TCAT and Tennessee Tech.

In addition to education and infrastructure, Representative Ryan Williams said an important Upper Cumberland issue right now is the region’s workforce numbers.

“Obviously we’re always talking about jobs and employees,” Williams said. “It doesn’t matter which business you’re in in Putnam County, you can use some new employees.”

Bailey said he thinks constituents want to know their representatives’ mindsets on legislation and why they pass what they do. He said events like this give them an opportunity to interact and to ask those questions.

“But it also, for me, the biggest benefit is to be able to visit with my constituents, the business community, educators, and let them tell me what they believe would be a big help for them as we start a new session in January 2024,” Bailey said.

The event hosted by the Cookeville Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is part of a new series. Thursday’s luncheon was sponsored by Enbridge.