Putnam County participating in a state-led property evaluation program to identify and plan industrial sites for long-term economic growth.
Economic Development and Grants Coordinator Matt Billings said the state will analyze potential sites for industrial expansion. Billings said the program is free for the county to participate in because the state provides the investment to make Tennessee more marketable to industry.
“This is a huge gateway to further funding opportunities,” Billings said. “But it also helps us have a better idea of what good next steps will be for our own planning and looking at a few years out as far as what would be the best areas to go after.”
Billings said the evaluation focuses on properties along the 111 interchange and Tennessee Avenue near the Highlands Business Park. Most of the land is located in the southern and western portions of the county.
“What property evaluation does is opens up the door for things like site development grant that is offered through TNECD or InvestPrep through TVA that can help us do due diligence, procure land, continue with building and development and things of that nature,” Billings said.
Billings said the largest single marketable tract currently available in the county is approximately 30 acres. The evaluation process serves as a gateway to further funding opportunities such as site development grants.
“It all culminates in Austin Consulting and TNECD visiting our county to basically put boots on the ground and see the sites themselves,” Billings said. “And they come up with a list for us to see what would be most beneficial to go after or consider for future development and expansion.”
Billings said the county is targeting higher tech and higher wage opportunities for businesses looking to relocate. The cost of turning these properties into competitive sites will vary based on the size of the land and the proximity to existing utilities.
“A lot of times whenever companies look to relocate to the area, a big role that we can play as a community is being nimble and being able to accommodate what they need and having a variety of different options for them to look at whenever they think about expanding here,” Billings said. “So having land that’s served by utilities or having like in our case in Cookeville, we have a few spec buildings that are ready to move in, having variable options there help us better accommodate to the needs of companies looking to relocate.”
Billings said Putnam County previously participated in the program in 2017 with a different set of properties. He said the current climate of the community requires a new look at growth and expansion plans.
“We’re super excited to go through it and super excited to get some input and insight from third parties and the state,” Billings said. “And really what’s key here is that we’re all working together as partners in thinking about what’s next and what would be a good plan and best foot forward for us as a community.”
Billings said he will work with the Putnam County Mayor to organize and plan for the upcoming site visits.
