In recent years, we have partnered with local leaders like Ronnie Brooks, Eddie Crittendon, Jai Templeton, Mike Smith and all of our city mayors and county commissioners to identify solutions to move McNairy County off of the state’s economically distressed list. According to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), counties that are on this list rank among the 10 percent of the most economically distressed in the entire nation.
Recently, we joined with Gov. Lee, Economic & Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe, and Assistant Commissioner Sammie Arnold to announce McNairy County is no longer on this list. This important announcement fulfills a promise we made to the citizens of our community, and it would not have been possible without support from all of these individuals, my predecessor Barrett Rich, as well as local, state, and federal agencies that have provided critical resources to support us in achieving this remarkable economic milestone.
Some of the resources that Sen. Gresham and I have secured in recent years include grants to improve infrastructure, support community development, as well as funding to attract new employers to our community to create more high-quality jobs. Since 2017, 358 new jobs have come to McNairy County through six different projects with a total investment of $18.6 million into our community.
Education tools created by former Gov. Bill Haslam like Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect, as well as the recent expansion of vocational and technical training through the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) Act, and enhanced career and technical education training opportunities for our current and future generations of students have solidified our workforces so they can meet 21st century demands. Strengthening our workforce will enable us to continue attracting new industries to our community and the West Tennessee region to fulfill the employment desires of more Tennesseans.
As Assistant Majority Leader, I want to personally thank Sen. Gresham for her leadership and for her service to McNairy County, Senate District 26, and to Tennessee during her 18 years in the Tennessee General Assembly. As she prepares to retire after a successful career, I know she will long be remembered for her hard work and for her dedication in achieving this economic milestone, as well as her many other extraordinary accomplishments.
While we have experienced tremendous success, we still have more work to do in order to continue addressing our unique and evolving needs. In the years ahead, I will continue partnering with my new Senate colleague to build upon these recent accomplishments, and together, we will ensure House District 94, Senate District 26, and all of Tennessee remains the best place in the entire nation to live, work, raise a family, and retire. God bless all of you, and thank you for the opportunity to serve!
Ron Gant is the Assistant Majority Leader for the 111th Tennessee General Assembly. Gant lives in Rossville and represents Tennessee House District 94, which includes Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy Counties.
Dolores Gresham is the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee for the 111th Tennessee General Assembly. Gresham lives in Somerville and represents Tennessee Senate District 26, which includes Chester, Decatur, Fayette, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, McNairy and Henderson Counties.