Scott County’s Golden Egg
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Scott County’s Golden Egg
By Shane Gilreath
Senator, Ken Yager
Following an announcement from Senator Ken Yager early last week, Scott County Industrial Development’s Stacey Swann was pleased that much of the hard work that had already gone into developing and expanding aviation in Scott County was finally paying off. The announcement came in the form of grant money, when the Kingston Republican announced that Scott and Fentress Counties would be awarded Site Development Grants from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Boards, the statewide sector known to assist local communities in increasing profitability through competitive grants for workforce training, public infrastructure, and economic development
“I am delighted to share that our district has been awarded these significant funds for site development,” the senator said, via a Monday press release, speaking of the $166,500 awarded to Scott and Fentress. “Supporting our rural communities is vital for the State of Tennessee. This investment will help support Tennesseans by creating more high-quality jobs and further growing our economy.”
For Scott County, who is set to receive $66,500 of the allocation for the Industrial Development Board, the prospects allotted by the grant has been a longtime dream. Following early conversations that led the board to focus attention on aviation and its expansion, an industry that, Swann recalled, has been called Scott County’s “Golden Egg.”
“Late last year,” Swann said, “the board went before the County Commission to deed over acreage near the airport to get infrastructure to pursue aviation.” In preparation for the project and to educate herself in the industry, Swann herself underwent training through McGhee Tyson Airport.
While that program may be years away, Phase I of the project will be an Environmental Assessment to evaluate any environmental risks associated with the property, requirements presented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to guarantee accuracy and regulatory compliance and eliminate the possibility of environmental contaminants. The funding of this phase will be covered by the Site Development Grant with a 5% match from the Industrial Development Board.
Though still in the early stages of development, the Industrial board hopes to see partnerships with Roane State and Tennessee College of Applied Technology to build an aviation industry and establish aviation careers in Scott County. Building small aircraft and aviation mechanics, Swann told SCN, could be a future industry.
Since 2016, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development has awarded nearly $100 Million in assistance to local communities, generating more than 7.000 jobs to Tennessee.
