State Building Commission Approves West TN Megasite

Citing its potential to bring jobs to an economically-struggling area, the State Building Commission Executive Subcommittee gave its approval Tuesday to the West Tennessee “megasite” project.

The subcommittee’s vote clears the way for state officials to spend $40 million to purchase about 3,836 acres near Interstate 40 in southwest Haywood County. The site is envisioned as a future home for companies which will provide a new economic engine for West Tennessee.

ARRA Compliance Checklist

The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury has released a memo entitled “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Ten Steps to Compliance for Tennessee Counties.” This three page memo is in pdf. format and may be accessed here. The memo includes links to important websites related to ARRA funds and has a compliance checklist. If you have not already heard, ARRA funds, which your county, or one particular office in your county, may have applied for and received, come with a series of accountability and transparency provisions. This helpful memo from the Comptroller’s Office can be used to guide your county toward compliance with these requirements. Compliance with the checklist does not guarantee compliance with ARRA or other monitoring or auditing, however, it will help your county become informed about new requirements and responsibilities. If you have questions about these requirements, the UT County Technical Assistance Service has been working with county governments to help them comply.

Regional Meetings Conclude

Thanks to all of you who came out to one of our 8 regional meetings. They wrapped up last night at Henry Horton State Park in Marshall County. We had excellent attendance this year, good discussions and heard some great ideas and thoughts from county officials. Also this year we had wonderful participation from state legislators with numerous House and Senate members joining us at meetings across the state.

The association will continuing working to formulate its platform and set of legislative initiatives for next year as we move toward our annual fall conference in Chattanooga next month.