Monroe County hears presentation on Pleasant Grove industrial park; $250,000 county pledge discussed

Monroe County commissioners heard a detailed presentation on a proposed industrial development called the Pleasant Grove Project at Interstate 75, Exit 60, and discussed a request that Monroe County commit $250,000 toward road improvements to serve the site.

A county staff member who presented the plan described a regional funding package that would include a $300,000 contribution from Watts Bar Utility District, $750,000 from McMinn County, $250,000 from Monroe County (to be reimbursed if the project does not advance) and $696,000 from the City of Sweetwater. The presenter described the initial park footprint as allowing an initial phase of up to 1.2 million square feet with expansion capability and said the project would require road work on Pleasant Grove Road and a 2.7‑mile extension of a 12‑inch water line.

“Each lot is expandable as well. So the initial phase would be up to 1,200,000 square feet with expansion capabilities,” the staff member said during the briefing, summarizing the developer’s projected build‑out and the infrastructure needed to attract manufacturers and suppliers.

The presenter cited regional examples to illustrate potential economic impact, referencing a comparable industrial park that produced long‑term tax and employment benefits in another county. He also described likely secondary development on the Monroe County side of Pleasant Grove Road, including commercial sites and fueling stations, which the presentation estimated could generate tens of thousands of dollars a year in property tax for Monroe County once developed.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about annexation, the timing of payments and risk. A commissioner asked whether the city would annex properties on the industrial side; the presenter answered that the city would likely pursue annexation for the developer’s benefit and that the county’s requested contribution would not be paid until improvements were completed and accepted.

Several commissioners emphasized that Monroe County lacks spec buildings to attract large prospects and that the project could create inventory that would allow the county to compete for commercial and industrial opportunities. The presenter said county residents would likely fill many jobs generated by the park and that local restaurants and businesses could see increased patronage.

A motion to proceed with the resolution referencing county participation in the Pleasant Grove Project was made and taken to roll call; the transcript excerpts provided record the motion and a request for roll call but do not include the roll‑call result verbatim in the supplied excerpts.

The county will weigh the regional cost‑sharing arrangement and infrastructure obligations as the commission considers final action.