Tanner delivers funding for four Haywood County projects

 

July 1, 2009 - STANTON, Tenn.—U.S. Representative John Tanner and USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Robert Connelly, Jr. today announced federal investments totaling $705,500 to fund four economic development projects in Haywood County. The announcement was made at Stanton City Hall.

 

"These are important investments in the ongoing economic recovery of our community," Rep. Tanner said. "To help spur economic growth and private-sector job creation, we must make investments in the infrastructure improvements that fuel that private-sector job creation."

 

A Rural Development grant of $25,000 and $11,000 from Haywood County will fund needed equipment upgrades at the Stanton Cannery. The Cannery is one of 13 created by the state in 1972 to help families preserve home-grown fruits and vegetables, lowering their food bill while providing a healthy diet. The Stanton Cannery is the only one of the 13 still operating. Last year a record 30,000 quarts of vegetable and fruits were preserved at the facility by families in Haywood and the six neighboring counties.

 

A $60,000 grant from Rural Development and an additional $26,500 from the County will pay for the engineering designs necessary before work can begin on the new Brownsville/Haywood County Industrial Park. Phase one of the Industrial Park will include approximately 166 acres located south of Hwy 78 bypass, west of Windrow Road and east of CSX railroad line.

 

A Rural Development loan of $193,000 and grant of $77,500 will fund construction of a new 200,000-gallon elevated water tank to meet state capacity regulations. The system supplies safe, reliable water to more than 600 families and businesses in Haywood County. The new tank will be built on Tibbs Road near Brownsville. An additional $500,000 Community Development Block Grant will complete funding for this project.

 

A $300,000 loan and $50,000 grant from Rural Development will be combined with $20,700 in county contributions to fund needed improvements for the County Sanitation Department. A maintenance building will be constructed at the county landfill and a trash collection truck. Construction will start in the next 60 days. Additional equipment to be purchased includes industrial trailers outfitted for mass garbage collection and vehicles equipped to transport industrial trailers.

 

Connelly said, "Thanks to the support of Congressman John Tanner, Rural Development has the financial resources to fund economic development projects that will improve the quality of life for thousands of people living and working in Haywood and the surrounding counties."

 

Others participating in the presentation included Sen. Alexander's representative Matt Varino, Sen. Corker's representative Nick Kistenmacher, Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith, Stanton Mayor Allan Sterbinsky, Brownsville Mayor Webb Banks, Southwest Tennessee Development District Executive Director Joe Barker, Southwest Tennessee Economic Development Authority President Duane Lavery, and RD Area Director Harriet Cannon and staff.

 

USDA Rural Development invests in rural communities through business development, community infrastructure and homeownership programs. Last year Rural Development assisted more than 678,000 Tennessee families and businesses by investing more than $435 million through affordable loans, loan guarantees and grants.

 

For more information on Rural Development programs available in Southwest Tennessee contact the Rural Development Area Office in Jackson at 731-668-2091, toll free at 1-800-342-3149 ext. 1495 or visit us online at www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn.

 

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