BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — Editor's Note: TDEC issued a correction regarding the amount of money the First Utility District of Knox County and the City of Pigeon Forge were given from TDEC grants. The First Utility District of Knox County will receive $5,645,707. The City of Pigeon Forge will receive $9.5 million.
Tennessee is doling out tens of millions of dollars in federal pandemic funds to pay for water infrastructure upgrades in East Tennessee.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced 49 grants totaling $191.2 million that were recently awarded from Tennessee's American Rescue Plan fund. In total, East Tennessee utility groups will receive more than $55 million.
A $6.6 million grant will be used to improve water infrastructure in Townsend and Blount County, Rep. Jerome Moon (R-Maryville) announced Tuesday.
“Every Tennessean deserves to have safe and reliable access to clean drinking water,” Moon said. “It has been a long journey to get this funding secured and ensure we have the necessary critical infrastructure in place to best serve residents. I appreciate the efforts and partnership between TDEC, the Tennessee Comptroller’s office, Blount County and the city of Townsend to make this project possible.”
Blount County Collaborative Utility Projects, in partnership with the Tuckaleechee Utility District, will use the funds to address regional drinking water needs. The project includes the construction of a connection point between the South Blount County Utility District and TUD along with a second pipeline for Townsend.
“I am pleased that Blount County has been recognized by the State of Tennessee through the competitive grant program for a greatly needed utility project serving our residents in the Tuckaleechee Utility District in the Townsend area,” Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell said. “Narrowly escaping the complete interruption of its sole water supply due a rock slide, along with significant fire events in the area, this grant will ensure the Townsend community has reliable drinking water by constructing a duplicate feed to the area, and also allows for the coordination of water supply with South Blount County Utility District and Knox Chapman Utility District.
Other East Tennessee utility groups receiving grants included:
- City of Pigeon Forge - $9,500,000
- City of Harriman - $10,705,550
- City of Crossville - $8,170,000
- First Utility District of Knox County - $5,645,707
- KUB - $4,750,000
- City of Norris - $3,372,500
- Sevierville Water and Sewer - $1,094,040
- Town of Farragut - $2,017,591
- Knox County - $546,800