Bredesen, Naifeh, Wilder Announce CDBG Grant for Brownsville

Community Development Block Grant to Assist in Improvements

December 17, 2007

Gov. Phil Bredesen, Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, Sen. John Wilder and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber recently approved a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to improve both wastewater treatment facilities in Brownsville in Haywood County.

“I’m very pleased the state of Tennessee can offer this financial assistance to Brownsville for the improvement of their wastewater treatment facilities,” Bredesen said. “The types of infrastructure repair and modernization projects funded by Community Development Block Grants benefit and boost development at the local level and lead to the continued improvement of our state’s economic health.'

“Our community deserves congratulations for working together to secure this grant,” Speaker Naifeh said. “Community development is impossible without teamwork, and this award is evidence that Brownsville understands that need for cooperation.”

Funding for the $575,000 project will include $75,000 in local funds. The funds were provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and were allocated under a procedure authorized by the Tennessee General Assembly. The grants were approved by the ECD Loan and Grant Committee following an application by each county.

“CDBG grants offer needed support to communities at the most basic levels of infrastructure, including well-kept roads and effective water and sewer facilities,” Kisber said. “ECD is pleased to lend its support to this program that is so essential to the progress of communities across the state.”

The grant was approved following an application by the City of Brownsville and has the support of Mayor Webb F. Banks, Sen. John Wilder and Speaker Jimmy Naifeh. Sen. Lamar Alexander, Sen. Bob Corker and Congressman John Tanner aided in securing the funds.

“To see the fruits of a concerted effort toward development in Brownsville is truly encouraging,” Sen. Wilder said. “This CDBG grant represents a significant step of progress in the economic potential of our community.”

Allocation of CDBG funds is based on priorities set at local levels where community needs are best known. The CDBG program is administered in Tennessee by the Department of Economic and Community Development.