Tag Archives: Melinda Keifer

Cookeville’s Economic and Community Development Coordinator Melinda Keifer will retire at the end of April. Keifer began at the department in 2010 after an extensive career with the State Department of Economic and Community Development. City Manager James Mills said that Keifer will continue on a part-time basis assisting in  Cookeville’s economic development needs works through this change. “Melinda Keifer ... Read More »

An existing Cookeville employer could potentially expand to a new location in the Highlands Business Park. Economic and Community Development Coordinator Melinda Keifer said that the expansion will bring 45 new jobs and a $16 million capital investment. “We’re super excited to see that,” Keifer said. “You know as companies grow they can locate anywhere but when you see existing ... Read More »

The City of Cookeville will receive at least $25,000 in state grant money to complete due diligence studies at the Lemon-Farris Industrial Site off Highway 111. The city is one of 12 recipients of state grant monies that total more than $8 million for site development. Economic Development Coordinator Melinda Keifer said that while it’s not the full amount the ... Read More »

When it comes to national retailers and commercial services, Cookeville Economic Development Coordinator Melinda Keifer said that story-telling plays a key role in attracting them. Keifer said that’s why a service like Retail Strategies is a huge benefit to the city, because it tells the city’s story using data-driven points. “And we’ve all driven through parking lots here I Cookeville ... Read More »

Cookeville is applying for a site development grant to clean up the Lemon Farris Industrial Park for development. Economic Development Coordinator Melinda Keifer said that the area off of Highway 111 South was probably initially developed sometime in the 70s or 80s, and has since become overgrown. To make the set more marketable to developers, Keifer said the work would ... Read More »

Businesses remain interested in development and growth, but since COVID their wants have changed. Acreage and building sites are out. Existing buildings with room to expand are in. That is according to Cookeville Economic Developer Coordinator Melinda Keifer. “The good news is we have no vacant existing manufacturing places,” Keifer said. “The bad news is we don’t have any vacant ... Read More »

Over 450 tornado survivors submitted relief applications for Cookeville/Putnam County Tornado Relief Fund before Tuesday’s midnight deadline. Economic and Community Development Coordinator Melinda Keifer said it’s not too late for other survivors to apply. “We have had tremendous outreach to the survivors to complete the needs assessment and get that turned into us,” Keifer said. “Obviously, we’re not going to ... Read More »