$1,040,000 federal investment for Crockett County adult education facility

 

March 27, 2009 - ALAMO, Tenn.— U.S. Representative John Tanner joined Crockett County Mayor Larry Griffin, Gibson County Electric Membership Cooperative (GEMC) General Manager Dan Rodamaker and other local leaders to announce a federal investment of $1,040,000 for construction of the new Crockett County Adult Education Center (CCAEC).  The announcement was made at the coop offices in Alamo.

 

"This is an important investment in economic development for Crockett County and West Tennessee," Congressman Tanner said. "Helping local workers continue their education and training not only prepares them for better jobs but will help as we seek to recruit new industry to rural West Tennessee."

 

A Rural Economic Development zero-percent loan of $740,000 and grant of $300,000 will be used by GEMC to provide a $1,040,000 zero-interest loan to the CCAEC to construct a new 12,000 square foot adult educational facility in Crockett County. The Center will serve as a satellite campus of the State Technology Center at Ripley and Newbern.

 

The center will partner with local industries to offer technical and specialized classes and training to workers and students in Crockett, Dyer and Gibson Counties. Classroom space will also be used by Jackson State Community College, University of Memphis, and University of Tennessee at Martin to deliver a wide range of courses. Career counseling and job placement services will also be available.

 

According to Crockett County Technology Center Committee member Clint Williams, $805,250 has been raised locally from private donations for the project. The State of Tennessee is investing $200,000 and Gibson EMC is making an additional $60,000 grant for a total investment in the new educational facility of $2,105,250.

 

USDA Rural Development's rural economic development loan and grant program provides funding to local electric cooperatives to be invested in business development within their service area. The program promotes a healthy economic environment and supports the creation and retention of good private-sector jobs in rural communities.

 

Others participating in the event included Sen. Lamar Alexander's representative Matt Varino, Sen. Bob Corker’s representative Jane Jolley, State Representative Craig Fitzhugh, Gibson EMC's Emily Sullivan, and RD Area Office staff Van Wylie and Tyler Hayes.

 

Committed to the future of rural communities in Tennessee, USDA Rural Development invests financial and technical assistance through housing, community and business development programs.  In Fiscal Year 2008 Rural Development assisted more than 678,000 Tennessee families and businesses with more than $435 million in financial assistance through loans, loan guarantees and grants.

 

For more information on Rural Development programs available in northwest Tennessee contact the Area Office in Union City at 731-885-6480, toll free at (800) 342-3149 ext. 1497, or online at www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn.

 

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