Putnam County Mayor Optimistic About Retail Prospects At Fairgrounds Site

Mayor Randy Porter said he’s optimistic about prospects of retailers coming to the Putnam County Fairgrounds site.

Commissioners approved to move forward with Nashville-based Baker Storey McDonald for the fairgrounds at their meeting Monday night.

The developer is now seeking out potential retailers for the site. Porter said it has several groups its in communication with.

“And they’ll work with them to try to get them to Cookeville and Putnam County and the Upper Cumberland region as a whole,” Porter said. “To see the need and the possibilities that a national retailer could bring to our community.”

Porter said the developer has been in communications with several retailers, leaving the possibility for several to come to the site. After the developers find the retailers, the next step is the completion of a letter of intent on the property.

The developer has until February of 2022 to complete the letter of intent, but Porter said he thinks they could know more information within just the next few months.

“Knowing this company and all the big projects that they’ve done before, I think they’re being conservative,” Porter said. “I don’t think it will take that long before we know something one way or the other. Now once you dot all of the i’s and cross all of the t’s in a sales agreement or lease agreement, that may take a little longer.”

The sale of the fairgrounds has been in the works for decades. Porter said that the process has been “excruciating” trying to nationally advertise its sale, but working with Baker Storey McDonald has been a pleasant one.

The commissioners voted unanimously for the sale of the fairgrounds, which Porter said is telling of the commissioner’s dynamic and professionalism.

“I’ve been involved in county government a long time and saw a lot of county commissions,” Porter said. “And this one probably gets along better than some of the previous ones. I think everyone wants to see a big retail development here and also see this new expo center and fairgrounds being built, and they know that we need the money to do it. I’m very proud of this commission and the job that they did tonight.”