USDA Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode today joined City of Brownsville Mayor Bill Rawls to break ground on a new public restroom facility made possible through a $25,000 USDA RD Community Facilities Grant.
“As more downtown events and shopping opportunities become available, having a permanent structure that is ADA compliant will offer a more positive experience to citizens and visitors,” Goode said. “It will also eliminate the cost of temporary restroom facilities.”
The Rural Development funds, along with a $50,000 State of Tennessee Tourism Enhancement Grant will be used to build an ADA compliant public restroom facility adjacent to the recently constructed amphitheater in Brownsville’s downtown district. Currently, the city relies on temporary restroom facilities to meet the demand during musical events, which is expensive and less-than-ideal for a city focused on downtown revitalization. This facility will reduce expenditures on temporary facilities and will offer permanent restrooms for future musical events, downtown businesses, shoppers and visitors.
Haywood County is one of 53 counties in Tennessee designated for support under USDA’s StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity initiative, which aims to increase investments in rural communities through intensive outreach and strong partnerships with community leaders, businesses, foundations and other groups that are working to combat persistent poverty.
Others participating in the event include Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith, Main Street Downtown Corp. Director Mary Sharpe, Brownsville Haywood County Chamber Director Steve Hilton, USDA Area Office Director Arlisa Armstrong, USDA Area Office Specialists Josh Wilkerson and Roe Hughes.
USDA Rural Development is moving investments to rural America with housing, business and infrastructure loans and grants to create jobs and strengthen rural economies with an emphasis to assist areas of persistent poverty. Since 2009, the agency has assisted more than 1.5 million Tennessee families and businesses in 230 communities in all 95 counties of Tennessee, investing more than $6.6 billion through affordable loans, loan guarantees, and grants.
For more information on USDA Rural Development programs available in Southwest Tennessee contact the Jackson Area Office at 731-668-2091. Visit us online at www.rd.usda.gov/TN.