CLEVELAND, Tenn. — For the first time, Bradley County has been honored as a level three community in Tennessee’s Three-Star Program.
While the county consistently has achieved Three-Star status in the past, it never has achieved the program’s highest distinction, level three, until now, said Dan Howell, executive assistant to Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis.
“It shows businesses and industries that the community is ready for economic development,” Mr. Howell said. “The state sends inquiring industries to Three-Star communities first.”
The program also brings greater grant incentives, he said.
Only nine of the state’s 95 counties achieved a level three ranking this year. Last year, 12 counties made it to the top.
It wasn’t until five years ago, however, that Gov. Phil Bredesen began to “put some teeth” in the program and made it “more than just an award,” Mr. Howell said.
Communities now must meet dozens of benchmarks involving everything from average high-school SAT scores to work force development, he said.
“It was not as stringent as it is now,” Mr. Howell said. “They’ve made it worthwhile.”
To reach the highest distinction, Bradley County’s housing committee recently had to assemble a five-year action plan.
Three-Star communities are required to host representatives from another high-ranking county in the state for a tour to promote learning from each other, Mr. Howell said. Councilmen and chamber of commerce officials from Anderson County, Tenn., toured Cleveland near the end of June, he said.
“Most counties have rivalries so intense that they don’t cooperate,” said Doug Berry, vice president of economic development at the Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce. “Sharing improves the region’s economy.”
Mr. Berry said the chamber consistently has worked with Bradley County to coordinate the program, setting it apart from most communities.
“Very few counties across the state are driven by county government to achieve,” he said. “It’s usually the chamber.”
Now that the community has obtained three-star status, Bradley County has its eyes set on a companion awards program offered by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence, Mr. Howell said.
“I don’t know if we’ll make it next year or not,” he said, adding that the program has a slightly different focus, based on training programs and operations.
Nevertheless, Mr. Howell said he believes award programs are worth the work.
“People read it in the paper and say the county got another award, but it really is something more than that,” he said.
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