Announcing the award of ThreeStar Grant in the amount of $50,000 for Sumner County Government. Executive Summary of the Sumner County project:
The project work of the Sumner County FY 2021-2022 ThreeStar program is to align and maximize the efficiency of the workforce development system for the benefit of those seeking employment with a specific focus to promote the high skill and high wage jobs and career opportunities with our employers. The Sumner County Workforce Cabinet will lead the alignment of the local workforce development programs and services through data and collaboration. The Sumner County Center for Labor Market Intelligence will be the repository of the workforce development research data and reports that will showcase the pathways of skills development and higher wage opportunities. The project work includes aligning with the Sumner County Public Health partners to support and promote health education and wellness throughout the workforce development initiatives. The Workforce Cabinet will require a third-party facilitator to achieve collaboration and alignment. The Center for Labor Market Intelligence (created with the support of the FY 2019-2020 ThreeStar grant) will require a third-party research firm to customize the identified data gaps (i.e. jobs being posted and who is posting them, together with the required hard skills and credential gaps as identified by the employers). The increasingly relevant data will drive the collaboration and alignment.
The alignment with the public health partners will require funds to support and enhance ongoing and new initiatives with Healthy Sumner, the public health partners plan to purchase a PA system for use at the Sumner County Health Council sponsored events and for public health education programming located in the community. The project work will involve the continuation of the Healthy Sumner campaign with development of Healthy Sumner signage. The Healthy Sumner signage with the QR code will be posted across the Sumner County ThreeStar community at local business, industry, hotels, parks, City/County buildings, local Health Departments, and the City Chamber locations. The QR code signage will direct citizens, workforce employees, and tourists to the Healthy Sumner website to promote physical activity and wellness, and highlight the health education and programming offerings. The Healthy Sumner initiative will also include Healthy Happenings/Tips of the Week posted at the Healthy Sumner website. There will be a coordinated effort for signage posted at local business, industry, and hospitality locations to assist with Tourism for access to parks/greenways, improve Employee health programs– access to parks during lunch break with partnerships with business industry and healthy tips of the week, include nutrition and public health education aligning with the business and industry needs.
This FY 2021-2022 project provides a comprehensive and collaborative approach to amplify and tell the Sumner County workforce development system and story. For questions for this ThreeStar Grant project, please contact the Sumner County Mayor’s office at (615) 452-3604.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Governor Lee, Commissioner Rolfe Award ThreeStar Grants to 54 Tennessee Counties
- 54 grants total $2.4 million
- Funds support local workforce training, health and economic development initiatives

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced today that 54 counties will receive ThreeStar grants.
In total, TNECD is awarding $2.4 million in funding to Tennessee communities through this round of the ThreeStar grant program.
“I congratulate these 54 counties that are receiving ThreeStar grants and thank them for strengthening the quality of life and enhancing workforce development in their communities,” Lee said. “This will help local communities to make Tennessee an even better place to live.”
The funding will be used for a variety of local community development initiatives including education, workforce development, health, tourism, small business, entrepreneurship, and economic development programs, among others that were prioritized through a strategic planning process. ThreeStar promotes economic and community prosperity through collaboration to positively impact every Tennessean.
“The ThreeStar grant program is a valuable tool that assists counties focused on making strides in key areas,” Rolfe said. “TNECD is proud to assist these 54 counties as they develop asset-based strategic plans and invest responsibly in their communities.”
Ninety-four counties have completed the requirements to be certified ThreeStar counties. To be eligible for ThreeStar grants, each county must meet all certification requirements, develop an asset-based strategic plan and design a program to implement a goal from its strategic plan.
“The ThreeStar Grants provide communities with resources to make strategic improvements and support their priority initiatives,” said Jody Sliger, TNECD community development director. “I congratulate these 54 recipients on their efforts to build their economies today with tomorrow in mind.”
The grants have been awarded to the following counties:
Anderson $50,000
Bradley $50,000
Campbell $25,000
Cannon $38,000
Carter $50,000
Clay $50,000
Cocke $50,000
Crockett $50,000
Cumberland $50,000
Decatur $50,000
DeKalb $50,000
Dickson $50,000
Fentress $21,000
Giles $50,000
Grundy $50,000
Hancock $50,000
Haywood $50,000
Henry $10,000
Hickman $50,000
Houston $50,000
Humphreys $50,000
Jackson $50,000
Johnson $50,000
Lauderdale $35,000
Lewis $50,000
Lincoln $37,000
Loudon $50,000
Macon $50,000
Maury $50,000
McMinn $21,000
McNairy $50,000
Meigs $25,000
Monroe $50,000
Morgan $50,000
Overton $50,000
Perry $35,000
Pickett $25,000
Polk $50,000
Putnam $20,100
Rhea $50,000
Roane $50,000
Robertson $50,000
Scott $50,000
Sequatchie $50,000
Sevier $50,000
Smith $50,000
Stewart $50,000
Sullivan $50,000
Sumner $50,000
Trousdale $47,500
Warren $25,000
Washington* $50,000
Wayne $50,000
White $50,000
*Washington County grant is a regional project impacting Carter and Unicoi counties.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment to the state and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.
TNECD Media Contact
Molly Hair
Public Information Officer
(615) 878-0063molly.hair@tn.gov