USDA Rural Development Area Director Mary Short today announced two Rural Business Development Grants totaling $53,750 awarded to Hancock County to assist with the development of a call center.
“One of our missions at Rural Development is to help communities create jobs and help businesses grow in rural Tennessee,” Short said. “These funds will provide aided financing needed to support their efforts in constructing and operating the call center.”
Hancock County has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state and the addition of the call center could possibly bring 50-100 jobs to the county. A grant for $25,750 was awarded and will be used for preparation of the design and engineering plans for a spec building/call center. The $28,000 grant will be used for the purchase of equipment for the new spec building/call center that will be constructed in the Hancock County Industrial park. This project was part of the County’s strategic plan for fostering economic development in the area.
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.
For more information on USDA Rural Development programs available in Upper East Tennessee contact the Greeneville Area Office at 423.638.4771 x 4. Visit us online at www.rd.usda.gov/TN.