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Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter have announced the 18 Tennessee Main Street and Tennessee Downtowns communities that are recipients of Downtown Improvement Grants.

“Tennessee’s downtown districts are the key focal points for cities and towns statewide and help to drive business, tourism and leisure,” said the Governor. “Congratulations to the communities receiving funding through the latest round of TNECD’s Downtown Improvement Grants. We look forward to seeing the continued prosperity our communities experience because of the economic growth these grants will bring.”

More than $4.76 million in Rural Economic Opportunity funding is being awarded to improve structures in Tennessee Downtowns and Main Street communities. Grants were awarded to organizations that illustrated the need for improvements and the ability to execute an effective design plan for building facades, wayfinding signage, gateways, and streetscapes. As part of the program, each new grant recipient will be required to match 25 percent of the funding received.

The 18 recipients are:

• Guardians of the Gap LLC in Claiborne County ($300,000);
• Columbia in Maury County ($300,000);
• Tracy City in Grundy County ($214,005);
• Fayetteville in Lincoln County ($225,000);
• Operation CityScape in Putnam County ($255,000);
• Winchester in Franklin County ($300,000);
• Downtown Maryville Alliance in Blount County ($233,027);
• Covington Economic Development Corporation in Tipton County ($300,000);
• Main Street Greeneville in Greene County ($300,000);
• Trenton in Gibson County ($300,000);
• Jackson Downtown Development Corporation in Madison County ($300,000);
• Main Street Murfreesboro in Rutherford County ($300,000);
• Downtown Kingsport Association in Sullivan County ($300,000);
• Jonesborough in Washington County ($104,494);
• Tellico Plains in Monroe County ($235,128);
• Somerville, Fayette County ($300,000);
• Oneida in Scott County ($202,775); and
• Morristown in Hamblen County ($300,000).

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