An industrial park in Spring City is among nine potential manufacturing sites in rural counties across Tennessee that are getting state grants to help ready properties for new industry.
The Industrial Development Board of Rhea County was awarded $950,000 for property grading to help prepare a site near the General Shale plant in the Rhea County/Spring City Industrial Park. The land was formerly leased by General Shale to help mine material for its brick plant that it built on 47 acres in 2009.
“When they get get through mining the property, General Shale helps level the site, but it’s not really suitable to build on,” Spring City Mayor Woody Evans said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “This grant will help us get this property suitable so it can be built on to be pad ready.”
The Spring City project is among nine industrial site developments in Tennessee collectively sharing $7.6 million this spring to help get sites ready to achieve Select Tennessee site certification and prepare industrial sites for economic development projects. The grant funding comes from the Rural Economic Opportunity Act that since 2015 has awarded 136 grants for a total of $54 million to assist local communities.
“When we provide rural communities with the tools needed to attract new jobs and support economic growth, more Tennesseans have opportunities to thrive,” Gov. Bill Lee said in an announcement Tuesday of the latest round of grants.
As businesses move to adapt to more rapidly changing market conditions, manufacturers are often looking for places where they can immediately begin to build once the business decides to expand, according to Bob Rolfe, commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
“The Site Development Grant program enables Tennessee communities across the state to invest in the infrastructure needed to develop shovel-ready sites,” Rolfe said in a statement.
Evans said Rhea County previously obtained a state site development grant for extending sewer service to the industrial park. General Shale is the only manufacturer in the industrial park, but Evans said Rhea County Economic and Community Development continues to market the Spring City park for new business.
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6340. Follow him on Twitter @dflessner1.