White and Van Buren counties each receive $250,000 ThreeStar grant

Gov. Bill Lee recently announced millions of dollars in grants from the ThreeStar Program, and White County as well as Van Buren County were among the recipients.

The ThreeStar Program was made as a development program for communities in Tennessee, helping communities to improve education, workforce development, health, tourism, or other infrastructure needs. White and Van Buren received $250,000 each from the grants.

In White County, the grant will fund a pavilion with restrooms at the White County Recreation Complex, off Smithville Highway. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said it was a highly requested feature.

“It was one of the biggest comments and feedback we got from the folks playing frisbee and golf down there,” Robinson said. “It’ll also help with cross country and track, plus with the baseball and football teams that use the complex down there.”

Van Buren County will also be putting the grant to good use. The $250,000 will go toward the fairgrounds, redoing the stairs at the arena. County Mayor David Sullivan felt it was a necessity for the sake of safety.

Executive Robinson said Nov. 5 is when he and others will travel to Nashville to have the grant officially awarded.