UCDD, UCHRA Audits Come Back Clean

Audits back for both UCDD and UCHRA, with the annual reports showing no significant findings for either entity.

Executive Director Mark Farley said both agencies reviewed every year because of their size and reliance on grant funding. Farley said UCDD’s non-profits, the Cumberland Area Investment Corporation and the Cumberland Regional Development Corporation, were also audited without issue.

“When we deal with grantor agencies, either at the state or federal level, one of the things they look at before they’re awarding grants is how financially strong is the organization,” Farley said. “So we’re very fortunate that we’ve had multiple years with no audit findings and that allows us to have a higher standing with the state and federal agencies.”

Farley reported to UCDD and UCHRA’s Board of Directors Wednesday that the organization’s grant team brought some $49 million into the Upper Cumberland in the past year. Farley said that figure is just one indication of all the work his team does on behalf of the region.

“If you look at all the communities combined, the cities and the counties pay us $98,728,” Farley said. “That’s what you’re paying us this year to operate this facility.”

The completed audits were accepted by the organization’s executive committee at Wednesday’s meeting. Farley said the finance director does an excellent job keeping both organizations in good standing with their finances.

“The deal with the audit process is it’s an ongoing thing,” Farley said. “So we’ll start again probably in July. So we’ve got about six months and then we’ll have to start the process over again for this year.”

In other business, the UCDD and UCHRA Board of Directors reaffirmed its board members and kept all of the same officers for 2025. The board also recognized Representative Kelly Keisling and Senator Paul Bailey for their support of the Upper Cumberland.

The board implemented a new series of awards called the Stars of the Upper Cumberland to honor one citizen or group in each county for their service to the community. The board gave this honor to Carolyn Motley of Cannon County, Doug Young of Clay County, Oscar “Pepe” Perron of Cumberland County, Justin Cantrell of DeKalb County, Pam and Kevin Baz of Fentress County, Cassie Kessler of Jackson County, Ben Bray of Macon County, Westley Burnett of Overton County, Pam and Dave Bullock of Pickett County, the Putnam County Veteran Honor Guard, Barbara Kannapel of Smith County, Jill Bouldin of Van Buren County, Chad Graves of Warren County, and Marvin Bullock of White County.