The Sweetwater Board of Commissioners voted to approve a joint resolution committing city funding toward road and water infrastructure for a proposed industrial park at the I‑75 interchange.

City staff and the developer made a joint presentation describing the project scope and the infrastructure the project requires: widening and improving Pleasant Grove Road to the park entrance, internal park roads and utilities, and a 12‑inch water main capable of supplying about 2,000 gallons per minute for fire suppression. Watts Bar Utility District (W. Bud / Watts Bar) has agreed to build a 2.7‑mile water route from an existing McMinn County connection to the site; Sweetwater would retain electric, gas and sewer service locally while Watts Bar would supply water and be a customer of the Sweetwater utility for sewer service.

The developer’s representative, Tom, presented an economic impact analysis prepared for the project that showed multi‑year growth at full buildout. The developer’s 10‑year projection presented to the board included large numbers (a 10‑year total characterized in one handout at $4.4 billion and, elsewhere in the presentation, a separate statement that retail sales‑tax effects could total about $12 million over 10 years). Tom described an initial phase of roughly 1,200,000 square feet of industrial space with buildout to about 2,100,000 square feet over time, and projected roughly 1,400 jobs and tens of millions in annual wages at full buildout. The board was told these are projections and that results depend on tenant mix and broader market conditions.

Project cost estimates presented during the meeting included: Pleasant Grove Road improvements estimated at about $536,000; the road inside the park estimated at $2,800,000; and the 2.7‑mile waterline estimated at about $1,600,000 — a package the presenter summarized as “just under $5,000,000.” The developer and staff said McMinn County had approved a $750,000 contribution and Watts Bar Utility District had committed $300,000 for the water portion; Monroe County had discussed a $250,000 contribution and an existing $75,000 industrial‑development fund balance was available for this location but their formal vote was scheduled after the Sweetwater meeting. Municipal staff and the developer described protections in the intergovernmental arrangements: Sweetwater would not disburse funds until the infrastructure and the first two buildings were constructed, and McMinn County’s contribution includes a clawback if the first two buildings are not occupied within two years of completion.

Board members asked questions about traffic, fiscal returns, property‑tax shares (presenters said Sweetwater would receive roughly 47% of property taxes and McMinn County about 53% from the project), and whether the proposed tenants would be light‑industrial, non‑nuisance uses. The developer repeatedly described the park as targeted to warehousing, suppliers, and light manufacturing that avoid “stinky” or heavy‑industrial uses.

The board approved the joint resolution on a voice vote after discussion. City staff will work with county and utility partners to finalize intergovernmental agreements and will not issue city funds until the infrastructure milestones and contractual protections described in the presentation are in place.

Actions captured: the board approved the joint resolution supporting the infrastructure funding plan; partner contributions include a $750,000 McMinn County commitment, a Watts Bar commitment toward the waterline, and Monroe County workshop approval pending a formal vote. The developer will proceed with site certification and infrastructure design, and municipal staff will return with final intergovernmental agreements and implementation timelines.