Washington County, Tennessee, Industrial Site Receives $1 Million State Grant
Washington County, Tennessee's industrial park is getting a $1 million site preparation grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD).
The park has landed two major manufacturers in the past 30 months and is a $1.4 million project, reported WJHL News. The county’s providing $444,500 of matching funds.
County leaders are looking towards a fan and motor manufacturer ebm Papst.
German industrial fan manufacturer ebm Papst and South Korea-based Sung Woo have begun long-term projects since 2019. Papst is creating up to 200 jobs and investing close to $40 million and Sung Woo will invest more than $140 million and also create up to 200 jobs.
The German company is building a new factory next door on land the county prepared using a similar grant four years ago. The park had optioned the last of its developable land and according to Sung Woo, it was coming to the park this summer and has an option on an additional 25 acres.
“We have no inventory,” said Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership Vice President Alicia Summers to News Channel 11, reported WJHL News.
The project will include grading, an access road, wetlands mitigation, storm water detention and the placement of two building pads on 37 acres the county bought to expand the park.
“This grant is a large investment in our community that will help attract more jobs and opportunities for our citizens,” said State Sen. Rusty Crowe, reported WJHL News. “I thank Governor Lee and the Department of Economic and Community Development for seeing the potential this project will have on Washington County and appreciate the hard work of our local officials in helping secure these funds.”
ECD announced a total of 12 site development grants totaling more than $8 million, according to WJHL News.