USDA Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode Monday announced a $70,000 grant and $180,000 loan to help the town of Tracy City make downtown more accessible.
“Accessible facilities and downtown infrastructure make it a lot easier for people to come together for the good of the community,” Mr. Goode said. “USDA’s StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity initiative aims to increase investments in rural communities through intensive outreach and strong partnerships. Today we see the benefit of engaging with local leaders and community members to develop long-term economic plans to leverage limited resources through close collaboration with state and federal partners.”
The Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant program funds will be used to provide a multimodal transportation path for pedestrians and bicyclists through the heart of downtown Tracy City connecting with Tracy City Elementary School (and the proposed location of the Mountain Goat Trail pathway from Monteagle to Tracy City) to the north side of downtown at the intersection of US 41 and Nathurst Street. The path is a combination of approximately 1.2 miles of concrete sidewalks and asphalt walkways. ADA compliant trailhead parking will be created downtown at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and US 41.
USDA Rural Development is moving investments to rural America with housing, business and infrastructure loans and grants to create jobs and strengthen rural economies with an emphasis to assist areas of persistent poverty. Since 2009, the agency has assisted more than 1.5 million Tennessee families and businesses in 230 communities in all 95 counties of Tennessee, investing more than $5.4 billion through affordable loans, loan guarantees and grants.
For more information on USDA Rural Development programs available in Southeast Tennessee contact the Chattanooga Area Office at 756-2239, or 800-342-3149 x 1492. Visit www.rd.usda.gov/TN