State Sen. Delores Gresham and USDA Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode today joined Brownsville Mayor Bill Rawls to announce a $45,000 Rural Business Development Grant that was used to make improvements to the way-finding sign for the Delta Heritage Center.
“The improvements made to the existing sign will greatly benefit the Delta Heritage Center,” Goode said. “The center has access to potentially hundreds of thousands of visitors off of Interstate 40 and we are happy to help make it easier for them to find this West Tennessee jewel.”
The sign is located at the corner of Sunny Hill Cove and Highway 76 at I-40 Exit 56 and because the actual facility is located on a side street, many visitors have a problem finding the center. The improvements to the sign include adding a digital board and full color graphics that will make it easier to find the facility, as well as share information regarding upcoming events and exhibits.
Others participating in the event include U.S. Sen. Bob Corker Field Representative Jennifer Weems, U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher Field Representative Scott Golden, Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith, Delta Heritage Center Director Sonia Outlaw-Clark, Brownsville Haywood County Chamber of Commerce Director Steve Hilton, Main Street Downtown Corp. Director Mary Sharpe, Area Office Director Arlisa Armstrong and Area Office Specialists Roe Hughes and Josh Wilkerson.
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.