[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6700669,"mediaKeyId","2381721-4c0e7feb15d9390ed279bda4198f0fe9","parentId",2381721,"title","Tennessee economic development requests $62.2M in new state funds, highlights nuclear pipeline and FastTrack demand","audioSeconds",624,"startMs",1069000,"endMs",1693000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381721-4c0e7feb15d9390ed279bda4198f0fe9&start=1069&end=1693","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381721-4c0e7feb15d9390ed279bda4198f0fe9/thumbnail_1069000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6700669/Tennessee-economic-development-requests-622M-in-new-state-funds-highlights-nuclear-pipeline-and-FastTrack-demand","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6700669-793c1bb89d61a5d65b70a631d124121c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773593164&Signature=L3vMHYuZP3AV3FWxBjg3tFp1ktc5Xlx2qmZ4Agx3w-dX7pkWGr42Q5Lqfq6jaGNq57oaJy-1Re7jE5L3AuWCp-O6N9Bmyd~Et3ArQkrorPcdTWoh~MuiUntGvpkS0OcYuqWOAIHxZk2HH3nUFc6Vcxlx2xYq1~4NnmAjmpCwgU-UtCyg4fDarhsTVT6GnjjNaxDejfwm8NzAZ8qTOwBoLB0fx0bUB5dw-UR1c2t5r54dc9wCtE4bWEfSP35rxa2jiH9XirnOnUs0Uq7CU3wPcocEY2HndtpMYtFdadvqGeufgA36ljlfBUvOkoGR3PVubhDXUtoVaauSBzt2L64-Qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","article","Tennessee’s Department of Economic and Community Development asked the state House Finance, Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 2025 to approve a $213.3 million budget package that relies primarily on existing department resources and requests $62.2 million in new state funds to support workforce development, site development and targeted economic initiatives.

Stuart McWhorter, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, said the department proposes to fund $151.1 million from carryforward and other internal resources and seeks $62.2 million in additional state appropriations — $10.2 million recurring and $52 million nonrecurring. “This year’s budget represents a pivotal shift from our traditional models of economic growth,” McWhorter said, adding the plan prioritizes workforce development, research and development, and infrastructure.

ECD told the committee the department has landed just over 600 projects during the current administration, producing roughly 100,000 net new jobs and about $41 billion in capital investment over six years. McWhorter noted that 53% of recent projects were in rural counties and singled out site-development funding, broadband deployment and SBIR/STTR assistance as priority programs.

Nut graf: The budget hearing focused on how limited new recurring dollars will be targeted to sustain the department’s work while responding to immediate demands — particularly in the emerging nuclear supply-chain pipeline and in communities tied to large private investments such as Blue Oval City.

Nuclear funding and demand

McWhorter described the state’s nuclear energy fund as a focal point of ECD’s requests. The department said the state has appropriated $60 million to date for nuclear supply‑chain development — $50 million in an earlier biennium and an additional $10 million last year — and the current budget seeks another $10 million. Of the $60 million to date, ECD reported $13.5 million has been announced and accepted and $17.3 million is pending acceptance. “We have just over 20 projects that we’re evaluating right now,” McWhorter said, and that preliminary demand suggests many more grant requests than available dollars.

McWhorter and members also discussed how Tennessee’s dependence on the Tennessee Valley Authority for most electricity affects the timeline for large industrial power demand. “TVA is our partner … they decide if these are projects they can do or not,” McWhorter said, noting that TVA is pursuing additional generation and that natural gas remains a short-term bridge while modular nuclear is a longer-term solution.

FastTrack incentives and site-development

Committee members asked about FastTrack incentives and the state’s ability to deploy them quickly for large prospects. McWhorter said ECD still manages a large pipeline — roughly 200 projects under evaluation — totaling more than 30,000 jobs and $21 billion of capital investment in various stages. He said the department relies on FastTrack carryforward and wants flexibility to respond rapidly to time-sensitive opportunities.

Blue Oval planning and community supports

Brooksy Carlton, assistant commissioner for community and rural development, described a $5 million initiative funded earlier to provide a single consultant for regional planning around Ford’s Blue Oval City. Carlton said the first tranche — roughly 95% allocated and about half drawn down — produced housing-market studies, population projections and local planning work; the new $5 million request would expand coverage across West Tennessee. Carlton said the state met with each community and tailored planning to local needs, from wastewater to transportation and governance.

SBIR/STTR, innovation and workforce

McWhorter urged continued funding for SBIR/STTR assistance: ECD said $33 million of state investments have leveraged about $140 million in federal SBIR/STTR awards, which ECD said helped generate hundreds of jobs. On workforce, McWhorter described a proposed multiagency initiative, “Tennessee Works,” to map regional training assets and better match institutional programs (TCATs, high schools) to employer demand.

What was not decided

No formal votes were taken in the hearing. Committee members asked how ECD would prioritize recurring versus nonrecurring requests and whether funds targeted to incentives (FastTrack) should be reallocated to new priorities; McWhorter urged retaining FastTrack flexibility to respond to unanticipated projects.

Ending: ECD staff offered to provide further written details on specific FastTrack carryforwards and to follow up with TVA and local partners on transmission and power planning when requested by legislators.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance, Ways, and Means Committee\tFeb 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Tennessee’s Department of Economic and Community Development asked the state House Finance, Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 2025 to approve a $213.3 million budget package that relies primarily on existing department resources and requests $62.2 million in new state funds to support workforce development, site development and targeted economic initiatives.","taxTitle","taxId",0,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6700660,"TDOT seeks new recurring $80M for maintenance and $775M nonrecurring to expedite projects; officials warn of $38B backlog",1646,4666000,6312000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381721-4c0e7feb15d9390ed279bda4198f0fe9&start=4666&end=6312","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381721-4c0e7feb15d9390ed279bda4198f0fe9/thumbnail_4666000.jpg","/articles/6700660/TDOT-seeks-new-recurring-80M-for-maintenance-and-775M-nonrecurring-to-expedite-projects-officials-warn-of-38B-backlog","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6700660-f912d3ec25aba0337c8f40b6a7096374/orig.mp4?Expires=1773593164&Signature=GcDVVCd2dT3QAQDMRwvCRICDtiyriGjNiUFPk7wP-fF0tNXqAzI4Nzt30wcqO~BeylhFTXbYfupbk2QuB9ijG7NPhiUttTBlL2qxAcwPs9Ljh1ylWBPSjNVGL9-pLkBvAkK9tbsfopUnWfGAeCIyV5TkoAY-9oAlXgTeYl0nv3Ae1ZQ4y7VUroc~~uVXmTvdTc8nKUsDScWwo~5sAD55lzaBs9G~wno877~sYmeMrKaG5I3E0EAPYv~y0ojiOShPktisHBSqrOsF6cKBCX0zwsLv3WJheDER7l5IZAeOz805771C0~7Um4fE2NngujecGM-ZU7dM5INX01rlzhvQqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tennessee Department of Transportation leaders told the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee that the governor’s proposed budget adds recurring and nonrecurring funds aimed at preserving existing assets, accelerating priority projects and expanding maintenance and safety services.

Joe Galbato, TDOT deputy commissioner and CFO, and Will Reid, deputy commissioner and chief engineer, described a financing plan that would add $80 million in recurring state dollars for items such as pavement and bridge preservation, mowing and litter cycles, and rural service patrols, plus a $775 million nonrecurring allocation the governor proposed to expedite projects and support local partnerships.

Nut graf: TDOT officials framed the request as a response to a growing maintenance need: rising construction inflation, an aging bridge inventory and flat gas/diesel tax revenue have combined to increase the department’s estimated backlog to roughly $38 billion.

State of good repair and backlog

“One of the things we do is we manage to certain targets,” Will Reid said, explaining TDOT’s asset‑management priorities. He noted Tennessee’s average bridge age is 48 years and said the department wants to limit the share of bridges rated “poor” to 6% or less. Reid added, “You don't go put in a swimming pool if your house needs painting,” a shorthand TDOT used to explain prioritizing maintenance over new projects.

TDOT reported that inflation in construction materials and equipment — and increased federal program match obligations and salary costs — have reduced discretionary capacity to fund new projects. The department cited the Department of Transportation Modernization Act (TMA) work and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as major federal and state influences on project planning.

Recurring and nonrecurring requests

TDOT described specifics for recurring asks: $16 million for pavement preservation (about 130 lane miles), $16 million for bridge preservation (deck treatments), $6 million for additional mowing and litter cycles, and funding for rural service patrol expansion. For nonrecurring requests TDOT said $109 million would accelerate 47 paving projects already on the three‑year plan and $59 million would move 15–18 bridges earlier in the queue. The administration also proposed a $50 million state infrastructure loan fund to provide low‑interest loans to cities and counties.

Projects and project delivery

Commissioners and members discussed several high‑profile corridors and projects, including the I‑55 bridge in Memphis (TDOT said it plans to move to construction next year, and received a large federal grant), the Knoxville corridor from the Split to I‑640 (a multi‑phase preliminary design and environmental effort), and capacity/wastewater needs tied to Blue Oval City in West Tennessee. TDOT said it is pursuing a corridor planning approach rather than piecemeal fixes and will phase work to create a financial plan for long corridors.

TDOT also noted pilot and programmatic changes: performance‑based maintenance contracting in Region 3 (preliminary results mixed on costs but improved customer service), choice‑lane and managed‑lane projects in other regions and exploration of public‑private partnerships to accelerate work.

What was not decided

No formal committee action occurred. TDOT said it will return with a refined project plan showing where nonrecurring dollars would be spent if the legislature approves the budget.

Ending: TDOT officials asked lawmakers to consider sustainable revenue approaches over time and pledged to present detailed spending plans for any new statewide funds before releasing them for projects.","Tennessee Department of Transportation officials told the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee that recurring and nonrecurring funding in the governor’s proposal is aimed at shoring up the state’s road and bridge condition, expanding rural service patrols and expediting high‑priority projects as the statewide backlog grows.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6700664,"State broadband push: ECD says unserved/underserved households fall from ~20% to about 5%; federal NTIA dollars expected in March",481,2646000,3127000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381721-4c0e7feb15d9390ed279bda4198f0fe9&start=2646&end=3127","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381721-4c0e7feb15d9390ed279bda4198f0fe9/thumbnail_2646000.jpg","/articles/6700664/State-broadband-push-ECD-says-unservedunderserved-households-fall-from-20-to-about-5-federal-NTIA-dollars-expected-in-March","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6700664-7083974b92b0330b1fff407f6e96b99a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773593164&Signature=ZYFMobWnA~jGeHPJvYlaKaMT3JCoL-mm-X5Q5k~9mHUQ5WQCvQCc5hkFDMLYhkNRkmCMX8HvZuR85Q0aWdld-KDpVl212Rx7TUZkanvCPnuXlS7y8207bl1CPGhi17rtHBQdPILmxrpJzfb75cbkKz1f5I8rmVG6d4UvuBs7Ba9CF~iGNEmd7aAQA31G-Fcu-XvwuvL0CBSKk~gfbI0tx1v7~2Pqs1mRi-lYtwFwQiS41tsWezQkhtPNMiMQpHN9qrIUI3egIowu-lO1xbHSme67ILhN6NSO02vGOvptNnlMyeiMz1agQPWf8oiMibK52L0ZPhBESNMlrAnw6hNeWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brooksy Carlton, assistant commissioner for community and rural development at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, told the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee that state broadband efforts have reduced the percentage of Tennesseans lacking adequate fixed broadband service from about 20% several years ago to roughly 5% today.

“When we started the broadband program through the $10 million allocation that y’all gave us in 2017 about 20% of the state was unserved with broadband; now it's about 5 percent,” Carlton said. She added the federal definition has evolved: earlier benchmarks used 25/3 megabits per second; current federal guidance generally targets 100/20 and prefers 100/100 where feasible.

Nut graf: Carlton described a three‑part funding picture: prior state allocations and ARPA dollars already committed, an $800 million NTIA allocation by formula that the state must assign to provider applications, and separate TCAT workforce grants to train fiber installers.

Federal funds, timing and program mechanics

Carlton said Tennessee has allocated the $500 million in ARPA broadband funds and is nearing contract execution for much of that money; all ARPA broadband money must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026. She said the state expects final NTIA approval of an $800 million amendment any day and said the department plans to open the provider application window “probably in March.” \"We will be accepting applications in March. We have to tell NTIA by July how we will serve every household in Tennessee,\" she said.

Carlton and committee members discussed definitions and coverage counts. Carlton said the state’s 5% figure includes both “unserved and underserved” locations; she defined underserved as locations that previously met 25/3 but do not meet 100/20. She noted the last stretch of service—“the last 5%”—is the most expensive to reach.

Workforce and TCAT grants

Carlton said the department awarded roughly $4.9 million to several Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) for fiber‑installation training and that contractor drawdowns were underway. She said the state used a single regional consultant model for Blue Oval City planning to avoid inconsistent population projections and that a single-source approach gave a regional view.

What was not decided

No new statutory changes were proposed. Carlton said the NTIA amendment review was pending; the department will notify providers and legislators when the application window opens.

Ending: Carlton said the department will provide updates to the committee as NTIA approval arrives and urged local officials to prepare to participate in the application process.","Brooksy Carlton of ECD told the committee that Tennessee’s broadband program has reduced the share of unserved/underserved locations from roughly 20% to about 5%. Carlton said the state has allocated ARPA funds and expects to open applications for an $800 million NTIA broadband grant amendment in March.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tennessee economic development requests $62.2M in new state funds, highlights nuclear pipeline and FastTrack demand

TDOT seeks new recurring $80M for maintenance and $775M nonrecurring to expedite projects; officials warn of $38B backlog

State broadband push: ECD says unserved/underserved households fall from ~20% to about 5%; federal NTIA dollars expected in March