You may recall, three Rutherford County cities were approved to receive over $14-million in funding for water related infrastructure projects this past April. Specifically, funds will go towards water projects in Murfreesboro, LaVergne and Eagleville. Since that time, WGNS has learned that several nearby communities have since been approved to receive funds.

On Friday, June 16, 2023, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced grant approval for Bedford County, Coffee County, DeKalb County, Williamson County, Shelbyville, Nolensville and Watertown, Tennessee.  

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced 131 grants totaling $299,228,167 from the state’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) fund, part of which TDEC is administering in the form of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grants. Since August, TDEC has awarded and announced $933,632,711 in grant funds through ARP programming.

Of the 131 grants announced today, 29 are collaborative grants and 102 are non-collaborative grants. Collaborative grants involve multiple entities (cities, counties, or water utilities) partnering on projects to work toward a shared purpose. All grants awarded represent 469 individual drinking water, wastewater, and/or stormwater infrastructure projects.  

Tennessee received $3.725 billion from the ARP, and the state’s Financial Stimulus Accountability Group dedicated $1.35 billion of those funds to TDEC to support water projects in communities throughout Tennessee. Of the $1.35 billion, approximately $1 billion was designated for non-competitive formula-based grants offered to counties and eligible cities to address systems’ critical needs. Those include developing Asset Management Plans, addressing significant non-compliance, updating aging infrastructure, mitigating water loss for drinking water systems, and reducing inflow and infiltration for wastewater systems.

The grants announced today are part of the $1 billion non-competitive grant program. The remaining funds ($269 million) will go to state-initiated projects and competitive grants. 

“As Tennessee continues to experience unprecedented growth, we’re prioritizing critical infrastructure investments that will address the needs of Tennesseans and give local communities the resources needed to thrive,” Gov. Bill Lee said. “We look forward to the improvements these projects will bring, and we commend the communities who have gone through the application process.”

“More than ever, infrastructure is critically important to our local communities,” said Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge. “This money will allow cities and towns to address deficiencies and make improvements that will pay dividends not just in the present but in the years to come as well. I greatly appreciate the work of the governor and my colleagues on the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group for their work in making sure these funds were spent appropriately and efficiently.”

“We continue experiencing considerable growth across the state, and many of our communities require additional resources to address their evolving needs,” said Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville. “These grants will play a major role in ensuring cities and towns have access to infrastructure solutions that will enable them to continue thriving so Tennessee remains a preferred destination for both businesses and families.”

“We are grateful to the local applicants, and we anticipate excellent results from these grants,” said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. “This shows that Tennessee recognizes the need for improved water infrastructure, and we are grateful for the leadership of Governor Lee and the General Assembly in seeing that communities get this assistance.”

Grants announced today are awarded to: 

Bedford County, $4,045,328 - Bedford County, in collaboration with Bedford County Utility District, will use ARP funds to address critical needs and modernize their drinking water infrastructure. Projects include upgrades to their Water Treatment Plant by adding a 2-million-gallons-per-day (MGD) filtration system to increase capacity and continue providing safe, reliable drinking water in northern Bedford County. 

DeKalb County, $700,000 - Dekalb County, in collaboration with the Baxter Utility District, will use ARP funds to modernize aging infrastructure and reduce water loss. The county will replace approximately 12,150 linear feet of existing water line, which will improve operations in the City of Baxter's water system and reduce leak responses. 

Williamson County, $5,632,193  - Williamson County, in collaboration with the City of Brentwood, Harpeth Wastewater Cooperative, H.B.&T.S. Utility District, Milcrofton Utility District, Mallory Valley Utility District, and Nolensville College Grove Utility District, will use ARP funds to develop Asset Management Plans and address critical needs. Projects include the purchase of emergency generators and a portable sewer bypass pump, electrical site improvements, and the removal and replacement of existing water storage tanks. 

Non-Collaborative Grants 

Coffee County, $3,412,500 - Coffee County will use ARP funds to develop an Asset Management Plan and address critical drinking water and wastewater needs. Projects include the construction of a 500,000-gallon water tank within the Beech Grove community of Coffee County and the replacement of an aged 200,000-gallon elevated water tank. Coffee County will also improve its wastewater treatment plant through tree removal, drip line replacement, and drip area vegetation improvements. The county will provide a state-of-the-art control panel and control system updates that will assist in reducing the occurrence of effluent violations. 

Grant Funding:

Williamson County – $5,632,193 

Bedford County – $4,045,328

Coffee County – $3,412,500 
City of Shelbyville – $2,967,622 

Town of Nolensville – $1,061,607

City of Watertown – $699,907