Governor Bredesen Announces $12 Million in Enhancement Grants
Nashville, Tenn. - Governor Phil Bredesen and Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely announced today $12 million in transportation enhancement grants awarded to 32 Tennessee communities and one state university. The grants will assist local communities with the development of a variety of projects designed to enhance the state’s transportation infrastructure.
“The Enhancement Grant Program is a great opportunity for the state to work with local agencies to fund projects that enrich local communities in a variety of ways,” said Bredesen. “Many communities will use these funds to build new sidewalks and bike trails that support healthier lifestyles, while others utilize the program to save historic structures for future generations. All of them are worthwhile projects that truly enhance local communities.”
The Governor will officially award the grants at a ceremony later this month.
Transportation enhancement grants are made possible through a federally-funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
“TDOT has helped fund approximately $200 million in transportation related projects in more than 180 communities through the Enhancement Grant Program,” said Nicely. “The funds can be used for a variety of qualifying projects, such as greenways, bike trails, landscaping, the restoration of historic facilities, and other non-traditional transportation projects.”
The federal grant program was established by Congress in the early 1990’s to fund activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation’s transportation system. In order to qualify for transportation enhancement funds, a project must relate to surface transportation and qualify as one of the 12 eligible activities. A TE project must be accessible to the public.
A complete list of grant awards announced today follows.
| County | Grantee | Awarded Amount | Project Title |
| Bedford | Town of Bell Buckle | $300,000.00 | Bell Buckle Community Walkway – Phase 3 |
| Bledsoe | Bledsoe County | $165,983.00 | Bledsoe County Visitor Center |
| Davidson | Metro Gov. Nashville/Davidson County | $550,624.00 | Amqui Train Station Depot Restoration and Rehabilitation |
| Davidson | Metro Gov. Nashville/Davidson County | $602,467.00 | Demonbreun Street Streetscape Improvements |
| Dickson | City of Charlotte | $117,854.00 | Charlotte Sidewalk & Lighting Improvements - Phase I |
| Franklin | City of Winchester | $418,403.00 | Winchester Community Walkway Project |
| Giles | Giles County | $24,200.00 | Chamber of Commerce Historic Building Renovations |
| Henderson | City of Parker’s Crossroads | $302,699.00 | Parker’s Crossroads Visitor Center |
| Houston | City of Erin | $218,000.00 | Erin Town Square Beautification Project - Phase 2 |
| Lauderdale | City of Ripley | $852,672.00 | Ripley/Lauderdale County Streetscape - Phase I |
| Lawrence | City of Lawrenceburg | $180,042.00 | Crockett Theater Welcome Center |
| Lincoln | City of Fayetteville | $116,286.00 | Fayetteville Sidewalk Connector Enhancement |
| Madison | City of Jackson | $601,029.00 | Community Signatures Project - Phase I |
| Marion | Town of Jasper | $128,260.00 | Trail Lighting Project |
| Marshall | Town of Cornersville | $14,810.00 | Cornersville Community Walkway - Phase 3 |
| Morgan | Morgan County | $263,406.00 | Morgan County Cumberland Trail Pedestrian Connector |
| Obion | City of Union City | $614,747.00 | Union City Pedestrian Walkway |
| Perry | Town of Linden | $542,678.00 | Linden Downtown Improvement Project |
| Putnam | City of Cookeville | $700,000.00 | Rails with Trails Project |
| Roane | Town of Oliver Springs | $28,498.00 | Oliver Springs Train Depot Improvements |
| Scott | Town of Huntsville | $98,349.00 | New River Trail Head |
| Sequatchie | City of Dunlap | $94,494.00 | Dunlap Streetscape Project |
| Shelby | City of Memphis | $175,556.00 | Elvis Presley Blvd - Brooks Road Gateway Project |
| Shelby | University of Memphis | $1,000,000.00 | University of Memphis Railroad Pedestrian Underpass |
| Sumner | City of Gallatin | $648,407.00 | Downtown Gallatin Streetscape Improvement - Phase 2 |
| Tipton | Town of Brighton | $737,280.00 | Brighton Streetscape Enhancements - Phase 2 |
| Trousdale | Metro Gov. Hartsville/Trousdale County | $434,418.00 | Hartsville/Trousdale County Courthouse Rehabilitation |
| Warren | City of McMinnville | $151,686.00 | Sidewalk Connection |
TOTAL | $12,130,516 |