Monterey Approves Annexing Hwy 70 Property

Monterey will move forward with the annexation of some 30 acres between I-40 and Highway 70, just east of exit 301.

Mayor Alex Garcia said a Nashville-based manufacturing business plans to build on the property, while the rest of the property will feature commercial warehousing. Garcia said the annexation will bring jobs to Monterey.

“We already know there is one business coming and it’s going to be manufacturing and that is going to have five to seven jobs,” Garcia said. “Then we don’t know what the others are going to create you know, if somebody wants to rent a 20,000-square-foot warehouse I don’t know how many jobs that would make.”

Monterey will also apply for an Appalachian Regional Commission Grant to cover costs to provide sewer to the property.

“The owner is already going after some grants to get the buildings put up,” Garcia said. “What we are going to do is provide sewer since we are annexing it into the city that’s one of the utilities that we have to provide for him.”

The grant allows the town to apply up to $1 million. Grant Consultant Amanda Maynard said there is a match that is required and that Monterey would not have a good match percentage as they are in Putnam County. Aldermen Bill Wiggins made a motion to still apply for the grant as he said the town has the money to make the match.

Garcia said the commercial warehousing will provide adequate space for businesses that require large amounts of space to come to Monterey. Garcia said many people are moving to Monterey and he hopes this is one step in keeping people happy in Monterey.

“It would be great,”  Garcia said. “We are already seeing more people moving to this area. We want to keep them here you know, so if they can live here and work here that would be awesome.”

Monterey will have a public hearing regarding the annexation of the property in December.