2001 Annual Report Executive
Summary
Clinch - Powell Enterprise Community
The Clinch-Powell Enterprise Community continues to surpass expectations as over $41 million for projects and works of improvement was brought into the region as a result of the EC status. Over $24 million of this was from USDA Rural Development. The EC was designated by Vice President Al Gore on January 13, 1999 and includes all or portions of Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins and Union counties in East Tennessee. The Clinch-Powell Resource Conservation and Development Council serves as the lead entity and fiscal agent for the Enterprise Community: the EC is governed by a Board of Directors from the region. A community of opportunity where People and Business prosper. The Clinch-Powell Enterprise Community celebrates tremendous success to date on implementation of a Ten Year Strategic Plan put together solely based on public input. More than 1,300 citizens contributed to the Strategic Plan. The EC Annual meeting held in November 2001 showcased Year 2000-2001 grant recipients with exhibits of grantees.
Eighteen EC projects were funded with EC grant funds and matched by community recipients for over $191,000. Clinch-Powell EC received the Dental Crowbar Award from Rural Development for the highest leveraging ratios in the Benchmarking system with a ratio of 834:1. More detailed information on funding received can be found in our Annual Report which may be downloaded at www.clinchpowell.net. Partners and agencies such as Clinch Powell Educational Cooperative, Douglas Cherokee Economic Authority, Utility Districts, School Systems and many others are directly benefiting from the designation of the EC. Most importantly, the quality of life is improving with better water, housing, education and a brighter economic future. Here is a brief summary of projects listed by focus area made possible for partners with assistance from many public and private funding agencies and the Enterprise Community designation.
Sustainable Economic Development Clinch-Powell Community Kitchen All Counties Economic Development Feasibility Studies in Value-Added Wood and Food Products and Heritage Industries All Counties Clinch-Powell Revolving Loan Fund All Counties Phipps Bend Small Business Park - Hawkins Industrial Park Child Care Center - Claiborne Natural Resource Base Protection Hancock, Claiborne, Grainger, Hawkins Technology Centers Grainger, Hancock DTR plant location in Tazewell Custom AirPlenums plant location in Grainger County Southern Appalachian Economic Development Partnership (www.saedp.org) Work Opportunity Tax Credit brochure and mailing to all businesses Clinch-Powell EC economic development marketing materials Small business revolving loan fund Tourism Production of TN Wilderness Road CD-ROM All Counties Randall Heritage Tourism Study: cultural inventory Education and Arts Evenstart Grainger, Hancock 21st Century Community Learning Center - Claiborne Safe Schools, Healthy Students All Counties School Bond Hancock Appalachia CARES All Counties Bringing Up Grades Hancock Not Barn Yesterday- Community public art project in Grainger & Hancock Infrastructure Water and Waste Grants and Loans Hawkins, Hancock, Grainger Tele-Democracy Video-Conferencing Network All Counties Water and Waste Revolving Loan Fund Award winning website at www.clinchpowell.net Basic Needs Single Family Housing Grants and Loans All Counties Community Facility Grant and Loan Union Volunteer Firefighters grant assistance Board The EC Board of Directors includes three voting members from each EC counties and six other non-voting members including the County Executives and a representative of the Clinch-Powell RC&D Council. The 2000-2001 board of directors were: Claiborne Tom Mottern, Joyce Hopson, Frances Rasnic, Darrell Brittain Grainger Fred Parker, Larry Fox, Dana Dalton, Michael Hammer Hancock Steve Hodges, Kim Belcher, Danita Dodson, Michael Harrison Hawkins Nancy Barker, Nancy Bell, Betty Barrett, Heiskell Winstead Union Jane Bowman, Marie Rhyne, Kathleen Graves, Larry Lay Clinch-Powell RC&D Marvin Hammond