White County selected for property evaluation program

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) announced today the three counties selected to participate in the latest round of the Select Tennessee Property Evaluation Program (PEP).

The counties are White, Franklin, and Lake.   

PEP evaluates potential industrial properties, advising counties on industrial site improvements and where investments may be most beneficial. Since its inception in 2015, PEP has helped improve the inventory of industrial sites and buildings across the state, with 454 sites being reviewed.

“Our state is uniquely comprised of three diverse grand divisions, each with varied strengths and differing needs,” said McWhorter. “TNECD’s Property Evaluation Program is a key component of our department’s rural and community development efforts and allows us to better meet the state’s regional needs by supporting all 95 counties in finding and preparing the right site to attract future economic investment.”  

PEP originates from TNECD’s Select Tennessee Certified Site Program. With assistance from site selection firm Austin Consulting, PEP provides participating counties guidance on site planning for future industrial development projects.

PEP includes an on-site visit by Austin Consulting and TNECD, an educational webinar on the site selection process and a comprehensive assessment of the strengths and needs of each community’s inventory of industrial sites. This assessment also offers recommendations to improve marketability.

“As more and more sites are being developed by industrial users, the pool of available, market-ready sites continues to shrink,” said Jonathan Gemmen, senior director of Austin Consulting. “Over the span of my career, never has the need to identify and prepare industrial sites been this urgent.”

These counties were selected based on the demonstrated local need for industrial properties and the county’s ability to assemble properties with viable market potential. The application process begins with a submission of a letter of intent, which is accepted at any time. Upon receipt of the letter, interested communities will receive the PEP application. A new round of communities will be accepted into the program in the Spring of 2025 with letters of intent due by January 16, 2025. Visit here to learn more about the program or submit a letter of intent.