State announces plans to help Polk County identify potential industrial sites

NASHVILLE (WDEF) – Tennessee plans on helping Polk County identify possible industrial development sites.

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development chose Polk to represent East Tennessee in their latest PEP initiative (Property Evaluation Program).

It’s a state program started by Governor Lee to help the state’s rural counties identify and develop locations for industrial growth.

A consulting firm will visit the county to evaluate locations.

And then TNECD advises on how to market themselves to companies.

“The Property Evaluation Program allows our team to recommend the top property or properties for future industrial development in each participating county,” said Jonathan Gemmen, senior director at Austin Consulting. “An intangible benefit of PEP is current and future community leaders building consensus around readying a particular property, and understanding, in most cases, that it’s a near-term priority.”