The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development has announced the latest recipients of Tennessee Historic Development Grants and among those is Bethel Univerisity in McKenzie. Bethel will receive $196,000 to rehabilitate the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church Building.
Bethel President Dr. Perry Moulds said, “This grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is an incredible opportunity for Bethel University and the McKenzie community. Preserving and revitalizing historic spaces aligns with our mission to honor the past while building a bright future. We are grateful for the state’s investment in our vision and look forward to the economic and cultural impact this project will have for generations to come.”
“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.