Program population: Rural Focus
The Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant provides flexible, core funding for prevention and health promotion activities in Tennessee. The grant covers several primary areas including: cancer prevention, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, community-based prevention services, healthy weight, injury prevention, dental and oral health services, and poison control.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), is designed to assist states, local governments, and Tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use and improve energy efficiency. The Tennessee program funds audits of and energy efficiency upgrades to county-owned, […]
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund (EERLF) Capitalization Grant Program, funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), provides funding to states to establish revolving loan funds to support energy efficiency audits, upgrades, and retrofits to improve the efficiency, performance, and comfort of buildings. The Tennessee program funds audits […]
The Energy Efficient Schools Initiative (EESI) provides low-interest loans to Tennessee public K-12 school districts for projects that reduce energy consumption and operating costs. The program supports a wide range of efficiency measures, including lighting upgrades, HVAC improvements, insulation, energy management controls, and building retro-commissioning. Loan terms are based on the project’s projected energy savings, […]
Through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and the Centers for Disease Control, the Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program (TBCSP) helps low-income, uninsured women gain access to timely breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services. Individuals requiring treatment for breast or cervical cancer or precancerous conditions of these diseases may […]
The State Industrial Access (SIA) program provides funding and technical assistance to communities for the development of road projects that provide access to industrial sites. Industrial sites generally include facilities for manufacturing, production, processing, and distribution as well as industrial ports and corporate headquarters.
The Veterans Advocacy Program advocates for the rights, benefits, and well-being of veterans through a multifaceted approach. That includes disability and compensation claims advocacy and assistance, guidance and representation in the appeals process, and community engagement and partnerships to increase the awareness and accessibility of services. The program also provides regular training for local service […]
The Tourism Marketing, Outreach, and Visitor Engagement program aims to increase the state’s economic viability and support the growth of tourism in all 95 counties, helping make Tennessee the 11th highest state for direct visitor spending. It does that by inspiring travel, developing programs, digital campaigns, and enhancing industry partnerships which drive job creation, visitor […]
The Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) is a statewide radio communications system available to all state and local first responders allowing them to communicate seamlessly over a non-proprietary radio platform. This allows responders immediate and uninhibited communications across jurisdictional boundaries for daily operations and in disaster situations.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security provides grant funds to law enforcement agencies to support the deployment of school resource officers in every K-12 public and charter school in Tennessee. This is part of Tennessee’s effort to promote school safety.
The Behavioral Highway Safety Grant Program within the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) provides grant funding to implement statewide programs addressing occupant protection, impaired driving, speed enforcement, pedestrian and bicycle safety, crash data collection and analysis, and other initiatives relating to the human behavioral aspects of highway safety. The goal is to change driver behavior […]
Project Rural Recovery provides mobile, integrated primary, mental health, and substance abuse services to rural Tennesseans of all ages regardless of ability to pay. This program uses several evidence-based strategies including, Behavioral Health Integration (BHI), Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), Individual Placement and […]
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training Program (E&T) helps eligible participants achieve their vocational goals and increase self-sufficiency through funded education, skills training, and supportive services. These services include SNAP E&T components that are offered to participants to provide them a direct link to employment. Tennessee currently offers Adult Education, Job Search […]
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutritional assistance initiative administered at the state level. SNAP funding provides SNAP Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), Informational Activities to Low-Income Households (SNAP Outreach), Disaster SNAP, SNAP Employment and Training (individual section), and Online Purchasing programs.
The Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) establishes regional partnerships between Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs), community colleges, industry, economic development/workforce agencies, and K-12 to identify and address “skills gaps” in local workforce pools. The GIVE program facilitates the alignment of local workforce and education partners through a competitive grant process.
The Supporting Postsecondary Access in Rural Communities (SPARC) initiative engages local constituencies and education stakeholders in eligible communities with the goal of increasing access to postsecondary through infrastructure improvements, increased local access to higher education, and resources to expand career & technical education (CTE) dual enrollment opportunities.
Tennessee State Loan Repayment Program (TSLRP) provides loan repayment to qualified primary care practitioners in exchange for a two-year service obligation (full or part-time) at a non-profit or private non-profit within an eligible health professional shortage area (HPSA). Loan repayment can apply to a variety of relevant medical school loans, including primary care doctors, dentists, […]
The Clinical Dental Services program provides oral health education, emergency and basic dental services to adults and children in health department settings. By providing these services, this program seeks to improve the oral health and ultimately the overall health of Tennesseans.
TDH’s Primary Care program provides primary care services to uninsured and underinsured Tennesseans in 52 counties (57 Local Health Department Sites), increasing access to quality healthcare. Our clinics offer comprehensive services such as managing chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, including necessary labs and medications, preventive services such as cancer screenings and immunizations, […]
The Rural Hospital Improvement Program supports and sustains small rural hospitals through both operational and financial improvement through federal grants from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). It includes the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (FLEX) Program that works specifically with the Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) that have 25 beds or less. It also includes […]
The Healthcare Workforce Shortage Designation, within the Primary Care Office, works to find the areas of the state that need health care providers. It does that by maintaining a database of primary care providers within the state and then using mapping technology to create workforce shortage designations, based on federal standards. These designations help increase […]
Reducing Diesel Emissions for a Healthier Tennessee provides funding to replace older, diesel vehicles, including school buses and work trucks, with new alternative fuel or diesel vehicles. Funding can also be requested for efforts towards replacing engines in older diesel vehicles with new alternative-fueled or diesel engines, converting OEM diesel vehicles to run on alternative […]
The Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Fast Charge TN Network Grant Program is a partnership between the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to develop a statewide electric vehicle (EV) fast charging network. The goal is to power the growth of EVs across Tennessee and reduce barriers to transportation electrification. […]
The Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Vehicle Replacement Programs support environmental mitigation projects that reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Projects include replacing or repowering older diesel engines with new diesel, Alternate Fueled (propane, compressed natural gas, or diesel-electric hybrid), or all-electric engines; replacing older diesel vehicles, vessels, and equipment with new diesel, alternate fueled, or all-electric […]
The Recycling, Diversion, and Solid Waste Materials Management Grants Program provides financial assistance through non-profit organizations to counties, municipalities, and nonprofits within Tennessee to support solid waste planning, recycling, and other ways to divert waste from landfills. Grants promote activities like education, used oil disposal, convenience center development, household hazardous waste disposal, and food waste […]
The Tire Environmental Act Program uses funds degenerated by a flat fee assessed on the purchase of new vehicles—creating the Tire Environmental Fund—to provide grants to organizations in Tennessee for projects that best use waste tires. Projects may include tire recycling, tire-derived end products, or research and development.
The Unwanted Household Pharmaceuticals Takeback Program places permanent prescription drug takeback boxes in secure locations where unused prescription drugs can be safely disposed. These boxes prevent prescription and over-the-counter medications from getting into the hands of children or into the waterways, and ensure the safe, environmentally friendly disposal of pharmaceuticals. The program is a partnership […]
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan program provides grants and subsidized loans to wastewater and stormwater utilities, cities, and counties for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects, including municipal wastewater facilities, nonpoint source pollution control, decentralized wastewater treatment systems, stormwater runoff mitigation, green infrastructure, and water reuse. The CWSRF focuses its […]
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan program provides grants and subsidized loans to drinking water utilities, cities, and counties for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects, including improving and updating drinking water facilities, assistance with maintaining and improving compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, regionalization, and water reuse. The DWSRF […]
The Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition (MWTCF) provides technical assistance to organizations and local governments seeking to understand the landscape of alternative fuels, advanced vehicle technologies, and available funding opportunities. Additionally, MWTCF tracks, validates, analyzes, and reports on critical information and performance metrics necessary to gauge consumer acceptance and track the growth/adoption of technologies and […]
The Pollution Prevention (P2) Program provides webinars, workshops, and technical assistance support to Tennessee manufacturers to achieve measurable results in pollution prevention, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and associated cost savings. It also provides on-site technical assistance to spirits producers through the Tennessee Sustainable Spirits program. Additionally, P2 supports the Tennessee Green Star Partnership (TGSP) and […]
The Small Business Environmental Assistance Program supports small businesses in understanding and complying with environmental regulations related to the federal Clean Air Act and other environmental regulations in Tennessee. The program provides free confidential assistance including permitting assistance, onsite visits, training, a toll-free hotline, regulatory notifications, outreach, and support in preventing and eliminating non-compliance.
The Rural Principal Network (RPN) builds instructional leadership capacity for participants from rural communities throughout the state. This program develops school leaders to address the unique needs of rural schools
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia.
Infrastructure Planning Grants help financially distressed counties and rural communities with financially distressed utility systems to plan for improvements so their utility systems can serve their communities and be financially sustainable. These funds, provided as matching grants between the state and communities, support water loss studies, sewer investigation studies, system mapping for water or wastewater […]
The Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) provides cost share dollars to agricultural producers for the purpose of making long-term investments in Tennessee farms and communities. Participation allows producers to maximize farm profits, adapt to changing market situations, improve operation safety, increase farm efficiency, and make a positive economic impact in their communities.
TDA offers scholarships to participants who earn their master’s certification through the University of Tennessee’s and Tennessee State University’s educational programs related to Tennessee’s agricultural industry. These programs are designed to provide hands-on experience in current management practices that are important to the profitability and sustainability of the industry.
Specialty Crop Block Grants (SCBG) support specialty crop producers through funding for research, education, marketing, and innovative projects. Tennessee produces a wide range of specialty crops, and these funds enhance production and competitiveness of specialty crops, including fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, floriculture, and other nursery crops.
The Agricultural Resources Conservation Fund provides resources to projects that lessen erosion, minimize livestock impact on Tennessee’s waters, and encourage proper use of nutrients on farms by increasing knowledge of best practices, which is an evidence-based practice. These projects help maintain or improve farm productivity while also maintaining, protecting, or improving the conditions of Tennessee’s […]
The Forest Management program educates, empowers, and facilitates forest management activities on Tennessee’s private and public forest lands. Those activities focus on forest health, water quality protection, urban forest management, rural forest management, reforestation, and forest inventory and analysis. The foundation for Forest Management in Tennessee is the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, which provides […]
The Forest Protection Program works to minimize damage to forest resources and personal property while giving priority to firefighter and public safety. The program prevents and suppresses wildfires, promotes hazard reduction activities, implements beneficial prescribed fire, and supports wildland fire training for volunteer fire departments and other wildland firefighters. The program also includes presentations for […]
The Nonpoint Source Grant Program works to reduce water pollution from nonpoint sources (e.g., polluted runoff) by funding restoration projects in watersheds impaired by nonpoint sources. It also funds educational initiatives that raise awareness and knowledge about nonpoint sources of pollution. Grantees can include local and state governments, higher education institutions, and nongovernmental organizations.
The Gulf Hypoxia Program works to reduce excessive nutrients from watersheds in Tennessee that can harm fish and other aquatic life. It does this by providing financial incentive payments to farmers to plant cover crops that reduce the potential for nutrient runoff.
FFA engages middle and high school students enrolled in agricultural education courses, preparing them for careers in agriculture, natural resources, and related industries. The program emphasizes leadership development, personal growth, and career readiness through classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), and participation in FFA competitions, conferences, and community service projects. By equipping students with technical […]
The Ag Growth Initiative is a set of grant programs designed to help farmers expand or improve their operations by providing industry representation and marketing opportunities. It includes the Statewide Agricultural Producer Association Grant Program and Farmers Market Grant Program. For example, the purpose of the latter is to increase income to Tennessee farmers by […]
The Agricultural Enterprise Fund (AEF) is a grant program that supports job creation and economic development in Tennessee’s agriculture and forestry sector. It supports efforts to increase farm income, boost access to markets, expand the capacity of existing agricultural and forestry businesses, and market new technological innovation with the potential to impact Tennessee’s agriculture or […]