Growth in Loudon County spurs $8

LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — An $80-million infrastructure project is underway in Loudon County as officials aim to keep up with business and residential growth in the area.

The Loudon Utilities Board is expanding its water treatment plant to accommodate more people living in the area. The expansion will increase water storage from 14 million to 32 million gallons of water a day.

The project comes after residential and industrial growth in the area. Emily Nichols moved to the area with her dad two weeks ago from Toledo, Ohio.

“Dad and I absolutely love Tennessee, and he’s getting closer and closer to retirement age, so we’re like, ‘you know what? we need a fresh start. Let’s pack up, we’re moving to Tennessee.'”

She said they chose the area because of its location.

“It’s far enough away from the city that we don’t have to deal with the nonsense there, but it’s close enough that you know if we want to go watch a movie, go catch a ballet in Knoxville, we can,” she said.

She also said the schools in Loudon were another reason she and her family made the move. City of Loudon Mayor Jeff Harris said people aren’t the only the new addition to the area.

“There’s three new industries coming in out on State Route 72 at Centre 75. That is going to provide several hundred jobs and with that we feel like there’s people who will want to move here too to actually work here,” he said.

Harris is also currently serving as Interim Utilities Board Manager, overseeing the water plant expansion and a new development in the city’s downtown area.

“We’re in talks now with the developer to develop that into apartments, condominiums, and maybe townhomes so people will be living downtown, and that development will hopefully start in the next few months,” he said.

Growth is expected county wide, and Loudon County Mayor Buddy Bradshaw said are working to improve infrastructure, which is a concern for some residents.

“Schools are a big one. We’re just a few months away from a decision on building a new 7-12 school here in Loudon County. Those are all population based, more traffic comes in with that as well, there are pros and cons with both sides of it and we want to find that balance,” he said.

The water treatment plant expansion is expected to be completed in 2026.