Greene, Hamblen each receive $500K to restore their courthouses

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) last week announced the latest recipients of Tennessee Historic Development Grants.

Among the Northeast Tennessee recipients were Greeneville, Hamblen County and Morristown.

Hamblen County was awarded $500,000 to rehabilitate the Hamblen County Courthouse in Morristown.

Greene County was awarded $500,000 to rehabilitate the Greene County Courthouse in Greeneville.

Morristown Corner Development was awarded $500,000 to rehabilitate the Whittaker-Holtsinger Hardware Co. 113, 115, 117 North Cumberland in Morristown.

“Through the Historic Development Grant Program, we are helping restore and revitalize some of Tennessee’s most historic buildings so that they once again can flourish, attracting further economic opportunity across our state,” said TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter. “Thank you to the Tennessee Historical Commission for partnering with TNECD on this program. We look forward to seeing the growth and prosperity that will follow in our communities.”

Approved by the Tennessee General Assembly in April 2021, the program will provide $6.1 million to projects that aim to renovate and preserve historic buildings across the state. The program encourages communities and private developers to invest in buildings that have contributed to a community’s history but now sit idle. These buildings can once again contribute to the economy through job creation and commercial opportunities.

For this round of the program, the state’s $6.1 million investment is expected to leverage more than $13 million in private investment.

TNECD partnered with the Tennessee Historical Commission (THC) to structure application requirements and review grant applications to ensure that each proposal would rehabilitate the structures while maintaining the historical integrity. The THC’s mission is to protect, preserve, maintain and administer historic places and encourage the inclusive diverse study of Tennessee’s history for the benefit of future generations.

“We are honored to participate with TNECD in this successful program that revitalizes historic buildings and energizes communities across our state,” said THC Executive Director and State Historic Preservation Officer Patrick McIntyre. “This round of funding will help restore iconic properties — such as county courthouses — as well as activate formerly vacant historic spaces for new and creative uses.”

Other recipients

Meigs County government — $500,000 to rehabilitate the Meigs County Courthouse in Decatur

N6GH Investments LLC — $500,000 to rehabilitate the Greyhound Bus Lines Complex in Memphis

Sterling Hedrick LLC — $500,000 to rehabilitate the Sterick Building in Memphis

Henry County government — $500,000 to rehabilitate the Henry County Courthouse in Paris

Lewis County government — $350,000 to rehabilitate the Lewis County Courthouse in Hohenwald

Bethel University — $196,000 to rehabilitate the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church building in McKenzie

City of Dickson — $60,000 to rehabilitate the Dickson War Memorial building in Dickson

Montgomery Alumni Association Inc. — $50,000 to rehabilitate the Montgomery High School building in Cunningham

Haywood Historical Foundation — $500,000 to rehabilitate the North Washington Historic District, 127 N. Lafayette Ave. in Brownsville

City of Cleveland — $500,000 to rehabilitate the Cherokee Hotel, 44 Inman Street E in Cleveland

Rhea County Government — $250,000 to rehabilitate the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton

Bledsoe County Government — $460,894 to rehabilitate the Bledsoe County Courthouse in Pikeville