News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
White County has been selected by the Department of Economic and Community Development for a property evaluation program.
County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said a consultant will come to the county and analyze its strengths and weaknesses related to industrial development. Robinson said they will analyze the properties available in the county, determine how much it would cost to prepare them for incoming companies, and figure out which areas are worth developing.
“It’s kind of two-fold,” Robinson said. “Number one, it gives us an idea where we should invest our money. And then number two, when this property has went through this property evaluation process it also opens it up for state grants to help communities make that investment.”
Robinson said the evaluation process will start shortly after the start of 2025 and take six to eight months. Robinson said the long-term goal of the project will be to increase the standard of living and bring higher paying jobs to the county.
“A lot of this stuff is looking fifteen, twenty years down the road,” Robinson said. “‘Cause right now White County is lucky enough that we can be a little more picky about what projects we want to incentivize to come into our area. If it’s not paying more money or it’s not better paying jobs, better paying wages our unemployment, not only in White County but around the Upper Cumberland, is low so we don’t need more low paying jobs is coming in.”
Robinson said that development costs like adding utilities and leveling out land are the most expensive items when preparing for industrial development.
“You don’t just walk up and say, ‘How much is your land?'” Robinson said. “The land is, like I say the lease is the cheapest thing. It’s getting everything in there, so this program helps evaluate what is the best option versus the price of the land versus giving utilities and infrastructure to the site.”
Robinson said this will be White County’s third time taking part in this state program.
“Not only White County, but the Upper Cumberland is general is kind of in need of some industrial development property,” Robinson said. “We’re kind of short on inventory.”
