Committee of 100 focuses on need

Committee of 100 focuses on need for EDA

Kayli Martin news-herald.net

The Lenoir City Committee of 100 spent about an hour Thursday discussing the community impact of the Loudon County Economic Development Agency.

The local group, which has been in existence about 50 years and was revitalized a decade ago, meets monthly about a variety of topics at The Venue at Lenoir City.

The meeting comes after Loudon County Commission voted Aug. 7 to review the 2008 interlocal agreement with the EDA.

A July 26 letter from Commission Chairman Henry Cullen indicates the county will withdraw from the agreement effective Aug. 1, 2025.

The letter was sent to Loudon County Mayor Rollen “Buddy” Bradshaw, County Clerk Riley Wampler, Loudon City Recorder Melissa Huskin, Loudon Mayor Jeff Harris, Lenoir City Mayor Tony Aikens and Lenoir City Recorder-Treasurer James Wilburn III.

The letter was included in a packet for members of the Committee of 100 to review. Also included was an overview by the EDA on the community impact the agency has made since 2016, including $2.35 million in community development grants and $7.6 million in Tennessee Department of Transportation projects.

The EDA was formed as a joint venture between the county, Lenoir City and Loudon to provide economic and community development programs. The agency markets the community and works with schools in the county and city to increase engagement in the workforce.

John Evans, president of the Committee of 100, said the EDA was born out of the organization and is integral for controlled county growth.

“With the county commission deciding to defund for reasons that they may feel are valid, I feel it’s incumbent on the Committee of 100 to actually bring to the forefront the importance of the Economic Development Agency and what it would mean in the future for Loudon County if it didn’t exist,” Evans said.

He said he wanted to show through individuals and entities the necessity of the EDA. He said he doesn’t really think the county wants to defund the organization long-term and believes differences can be addressed before the two-year period.

Without the EDA, each industrial development board would have organizations or individuals to handle grants, which would likely be more expensive than what the city and county pay now, Evans said.

After a brief introduction by Evans, Harris addressed the crowd as the first speaker.

“… In my position as an elected official, I totally support the EDA, no doubt, no question,” Harris said.

He described his first encounter with the EDA in 2007-2008 when he was general manager of a factory looking to relocate. He said at the time he didn’t know how to go about the move, and the EDA was instrumental in helping the company navigate the process.

Harris said he disagrees with the belief that the county gets no benefit from the EDA. He explained how an executive board comprised of Bradshaw, Aikens, Evans and Harris recommend the EDA budget to a board of directors, serve as advisers and more.

The budget later goes through each of the three governing bodies for a vote.

Harris said the interlocal agreement might need fine tuning but serves a purpose for the community.

Jack Qualls, EDA executive director, is the main reason there was a recent announcement that Hanon Systems, a supplier of thermal and energy management solutions for the automobile industry headquartered in South Korea, is opening a new facility in Loudon, Harris said.

He also said Qualls helped Harris gain a grant for sidewalks in the city and brought Monkey Town Brewing Company to Loudon.

Jody Sliger, community development director for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and director of the statewide ThreeStar program, gave an overview of what the department does to help counties in the state.

Sliger said because the EDA handles Three Star paperwork and certification, the county is eligible for grants. She said the county has had 25 awards, grants or technical service from the Community Rural Development Division of ECD since 2012.

Rodney Grugin, president of the Loudon County Chamber of Commerce, spoke on business develop and the role the EDA plays.

Jeanne Barker, director of Lenoir City Schools, and Mark Weeks, director of career, technology and education programs at Lenoir City High School, talked about how the EDA helps connect students with businesses in the county through a signing day and other opportunities for employment and internships.

Evans closed the meeting by encouraging members and attendees to take a look at all the county has gained from having the EDA.